Olney Springs, CO

Olney Springs is a quiet rural community of around 550 people along Colorado Highway 96 in Crowley County. Located about an hour east of Pueblo and just a short drive from Ordway, it offers wide-open plains and a slow-paced lifestyle while keeping larger city amenities within driving distance. The town dates back to the early 1900s when the railroad came through local ranchland, and it still holds onto that unhurried, small-town character.

ATTRJeffrey Beall / CC BY 4.0

Daily life centers around a compact main strip featuring the post office, town hall, the All Veterans Museum, and a community park with a playground and ballfield. Neighbors gather at the senior center, local church events, and annual traditions like the December chili supper and holiday parade of lights. Most residents work in farming and ranching, at regional facilities, or commute to Pueblo for work. With scenic plains all around and nearby fishing ponds just down the road, it is a peaceful, grounded place for anyone seeking affordable rural living.