The town provides some background on their
website:
"Olathe is located in the heart of the Uncompahgre Valley on the western slope of Colorado along U.S. Highway 50 halfway between Montrose and Delta, Colorado. Olathe follows that of the typical western Colorado settlement pattern of river-railroad-highway. Sitting at 5,346 feet above sea level Olathe is surrounded by fertile mesa lands such as the Ash, High and East Mesas. The valley is approximately forty miles long and twelve miles wide in a succession of mesas rising from the river. Surrounding this quiet community are the Gunnison River which flows through a ridge of granite northeast of Olathe, the Grand Mesa to the north, San Juan Mountain Range to the south, and the Uncompahgre Plateau to the west. The sheltered valley, moderate climate, rich soils and good irrigation system supply Olathe with thousands of acres of irrigated cropland, fruit orchards, vineyards and ranch land. Beyond the mesas lie a scenic wonderland abundant with some of Colorado’s best hunting, fishing, camping, skiing and snowmobiling which are all easily accessible. Primarily the town provides goods, services, and housing for its agricultural community.
HISTORY OF OLATHE
The Town of Olathe was established in 1882 and incorporated in 1907. Although "Olathe" is the Shawnee Indian name for "beautiful", the Uncompahgre Valley Territory of Western Colorado was inhabited by the Ute Indian for hundreds of years. The present day site of Olathe was at one time a Ute village, with plenty of hunting and fishing to keep them satisfied. In the late 1870’s, Western expansion brought settlers to Western Colorado because of the gold and silver boom and settlers began to build small homesteads to raise their families.
In 1882, after Indians had been moved from the Uncompahgre Valley, many prospectors and homesteaders began to fill the valley. The Roberts brothers owned a ranch where the town now is.
In 1882-1883, the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad built their narrow-gauge line through western Colorado and raised a section house halfway between Montrose and Delta. The section house was called Colorow, after an Indian who was thought to be a Ute Chief. Later it was found that he was actually a renegade Comanche and horse thief.
The first Post Office was located in the section house and was known as Brown’s Post Office after the Postmaster. In 1883, L. L. Mears built a cabin and the Post Office was moved into it from the section house.
In 1896, the D. & R. G. W. Railroad sent a man from Olathe, Kansas, to be Colorow’s first railroad agent. Because the depot was called Colorow and the Post Office was called Brown, it was very confusing. By this time, people had discovered that Chief Colorow was a renegade and not a Ute Indian Chief, and decided to change the name. In a town meeting; the new railway agent attended and made the suggestion to change the name to Olathe, after the beautiful and prosperous town in Kansas he had just come from. A vote was taken and the name Olathe was chosen.
Olathe has always been a town rich in colorful history and of charming character. The Uncompahgre Valley is a very fertile, irrigated region. Farming and livestock are a major source of revenue. The title 'The Hub of the Uncompahgre' is claimed by Olathe because it is the business center and shipping point for a large area in the center of the Uncompahgre Valley. Crops include vegetables, wheat, oats, onions, barley, pinto beans, potatoes, hay, apples, cherries and peaches. Grade 'A' bulk milk is transported to larger metropolitan areas from dairies in Olathe. From this bustling town radiate roads like spokes of a wheel to tap the produce of the region.
Olathe has changed little over the years since its incorporation in 1907. Population figures were relatively constant until the 1980’s when the population increased significantly. The reason included a trend involving newcomers, working in Delta and Montrose, taking advantage of cheaper housing costs in Olathe."