Holly, Colorado

Holly first began as a ranching supply center and was named for Hiram S. Holly, a prominent local rancher. Holly just happened to be the first settler in the area and he arrived with some 1,300 cattle in hand. He'd moved to the area in 1871 and did well for many years.

In 1905, Holly Sugar was founded and its first product came from the sugar beet harvest that year. Sugar beet production worked very well in the lower Arkansas River Valley and shortly, the success of Holly Sugar had the company expanding to other states. By 1911, Holly Sugar had built its first facility outside the State of Colorado. In the 1960s the Holly Sugar plant in Holly shut down ad the company completely left the area. In 1988, Holly Sugar merged with Imperial Sugar but kept the Holly name.

In 2007 a massive tornado ripped through Holly late on a Wednesday evening. The twister killed one and injured 10 others as it virtually destroyed the town.

First United Methodist Church in Holly