Elbert, CO

Set along the Kiowa Creek valley southeast of Denver, Elbert is a quiet rural community where life moves at an easy pace. With fewer than 200 residents in town, it offers wide-open prairie views, starry night skies, and plenty of room for buyers looking for acreage or horse property. Elbert originally grew as a busy railroad stop in the late 1800s. Even after a major creek flood in 1935 washed out the tracks for good, the community kept its independent ranching roots.

ATTRJeffrey Beall / CC BY 4.0

A handful of turn-of-the-century buildings give the town center genuine historic character. Landmarks like the 1889 Presbyterian Church and the old Russell Gates Mercantile anchor the area, alongside a local cafe where neighbors stop in for breakfast and conversation. Families are served by the small, close-knit Elbert School, and the surrounding country roads see visitors heading out to the nearby Peaceful Valley Scout Ranch. For people searching for open space and peaceful country living, Elbert provides a quiet retreat within driving distance of both Denver and Colorado Springs.