A Brief History of Olathe
Olathe developed along the railroad in the Uncompahgre Valley, where a narrow-gauge line was built in 1882–1883. The town incorporated in 1907 and became a shipping and service center for surrounding farms. Its cooperative history began in 1901, when the Olathe Producers CO-OP formed at the Pea Green Community Hall. A cooperative building followed in 1912, serving the area's agricultural businesses. Montrose County designated that building, at 430 Fifth Street, a historical landmark in January 2022, recognizing a surviving link to the farming economy that shaped Olathe.