Denison's water tower makes a bold statement: "It's A Wonderful Life." Playing off the title of the 1946 holiday film classic that stars Denison Native Donna Reed, the community uses this slogan to reflect Denison's spirit. This spirit is evident in all aspects of life in Denison and Crawford County, including business, community, education, and recreation.

The history of Denison speaks volumes about how this dynamic city came to be.

The early settlers of Crawford County came from three sources: the natural oncoming from the east starting in 1849, the Mormon migration from the west in 1846, and the promotion of land on the frontier by the Providence Western Land Company of Providence, Rhode Island. The company had purchased 20,000 acres in the center of Crawford County. Jesse W. Denison was chosen by this company to carry on the work of beginning a settlement and encouraging settlers to buy the company's land.

He arrived in Crawford County in 1856 to find about 235 settlers scattered throughout the county. He pointed out the advantages to the district judge and three county commissioners of locating the county seat in the center of county: the central location, equidistant from other settlements in the county, and the future route of the railroad.