Olney Springs

History

A post office called Olney Springs has been in operation since 1909. The town was named after one Mr. Olney, a railroad official.

Geography

Olney Springs is located in southwestern Crowley County. Colorado State Highway 96 leads east to Ordway, the county seat, and west to Pueblo. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land. Slightly west of the town is the Crowley County Correctional Facility, owned by the Corrections Corporation of America. It has 1,794 prisoners from various states. Built as a speculative venture in 1998, it had a massive riot in 1999 when operated by the now-defunct Community Services Corporation. The builder, Dominion Ventures, took over its management, and in January 2003 ownership and operation transferred to CCA. Another devastating riot took place on July 20, 2004, once again requiring massive intervention by local and state law enforcement and correctional personnel.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  555
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  503
• Eurasian Collared-Dove

  Streptopelia decaocto (Frivaldszky, 1838) · Aves
  472
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  446
• Western Meadowlark

  Sturnella neglecta Audubon, 1844 · Aves
  417
• House Sparrow

  Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  368
• Killdeer

  Charadrius vociferus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  338
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  324