Olathe, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Olathe, Colorado
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Olathe in 2014
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Location in Montrose County, Colorado
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 Olathe, Colorado
Location in the United States
Olathe, Colorado
Location in Colorado
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| County | Montrose |
| Incorporated (town) | October 16, 1907 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Statutory Town |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.50 sq mi (3.89 km2) |
| • Land | 1.50 sq mi (3.89 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 5,358 ft (1,633 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,019 |
| • Density | 1,346/sq mi (519.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
81425
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| Area code(s) | 970 |
| FIPS code | 08-55540 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2413078 |
Olathe is a small town in Montrose County, Colorado, United States. It's called a "statutory town," which means it follows general laws set by the state for towns. In 2020, about 2,019 people lived there. This was a bit more than the 1,849 people counted in 2010.
Contents
The Story of Olathe
Olathe wasn't always called Olathe! It was first named Brown. The post office in Brown, Colorado, opened on April 2, 1883. But then, on June 4, 1896, its name was changed to Olathe. The town was named after another city called Olathe, Kansas.
Where is Olathe Located?
Olathe is in the northeastern part of Montrose County. It sits in the valley of the Uncompahgre River. U.S. Route 50 runs along the east side of the town. This highway goes southeast about 10 miles (16 km) to Montrose, which is the main city of the county. It also goes northwest about 11 miles (18 km) to Delta.
The town covers an area of about 1.5 square miles (3.89 km²), and all of it is land. The Uncompahgre River flows along the western edge of Olathe. It then continues northwest to join the Gunnison River near Delta. To the west of Olathe, there's a raised area called Ash Mesa, which is about 100 feet (30 m) higher than the town.
How Many People Live in Olathe?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 458 | — | |
| 1920 | 491 | 7.2% | |
| 1930 | 593 | 20.8% | |
| 1940 | 705 | 18.9% | |
| 1950 | 810 | 14.9% | |
| 1960 | 773 | −4.6% | |
| 1970 | 756 | −2.2% | |
| 1980 | 1,262 | 66.9% | |
| 1990 | 1,263 | 0.1% | |
| 2000 | 1,573 | 24.5% | |
| 2010 | 1,849 | 17.5% | |
| 2020 | 2,019 | 9.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 1,573 people living in Olathe. These people lived in 520 households, and 383 of those were families. The town had about 1,187 people per square mile (458.2/km²).
Many different groups of people live in Olathe. In 2000, about 74% of the people were White. About 20% were from other racial backgrounds, and about 4% were from two or more races. Also, about 35% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
About 41.5% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 2.88 people. The average family had about 3.44 people.
The town's population was quite varied in age. About 31.8% were under 18 years old. The median age was 31 years. This means half the people were younger than 31 and half were older.
Getting Around Olathe
The closest airport with regular flights is Montrose Regional Airport. It is about 9 miles (14 km) southeast of Olathe.
Main Roads in Olathe
U.S. Route 50 (US 50) is a major highway that crosses 12 states from California to Maryland. In Colorado, it connects Olathe to nearby cities like Montrose, Grand Junction, and Pueblo. There's also a special business loop of US 50 that goes through the town.
State Highway 348 is mostly a country road that runs next to US 50. It starts in Olathe and goes through the countryside before entering Delta.
Fun Things to Do in Olathe
Olathe Sweet Corn Festival
Since 1992, Olathe has held a special festival every summer. It happens on the first Saturday in August. This festival celebrates the town's famous "Olathe Sweet Corn," which is a very important crop for the area. The festival has fun things to do like craft shows and karaoke. It also features local music groups and concerts by famous bands and singers. Some big names who have performed include Three Dog Night (1996), Kansas (1998), Styx (2004), LeAnn Rimes (2007), Travis Tritt (2008), and Clint Black (2009). Money raised from the festival helps local non-profit groups.
Olathe BMX
Olathe BMX is a special track for bicycle motocross (BMX) racing. The Town of Olathe created it in 2007. It's part of the American Bicycle Association. Volunteers run Olathe BMX, and it has been self-supporting since it started. Many state champions have come from Olathe BMX!
Schools in Olathe
Olathe is part of the Montrose County School District RE-1J. There are three schools right in town.
- Olathe Elementary School teaches students from kindergarten through 5th grade. It has about 500 students.
- The middle school and high school are connected and form Olathe Middle High School.
Images for kids
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Olathe in 2014
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Location in Montrose County, Colorado
See also
In Spanish: Olathe (Colorado) para niños
