Olive Branch, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Olive Branch, Mississippi
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Olive Branch water tower
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Location of Olive Branch in the State of Mississippi
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 Olive Branch, Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Mississippi | |
| County | DeSoto | |
| City | May 1, 1874 | |
| Founded by | Stephen Flinn and Milton Blocker | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Mayor-council | |
| • Body | Board of Alderman | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 56.05 sq mi (145.17 km2) | |
| • Land | 55.84 sq mi (144.62 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.21 sq mi (0.56 km2) | |
| Elevation | 387 ft (118 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 39,711 | |
| • Density | 711.18/sq mi (274.59/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) | |
| ZIP code |
38654
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| Area code(s) | 662 | |
| FIPS code | 28-54040 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2404429 | |
Olive Branch is a large city in Mississippi, USA. It is located in DeSoto County. In 2020, about 39,711 people lived there. Olive Branch is part of the Memphis Metropolitan Statistical Area. This area includes parts of Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas. Many families have moved to Olive Branch from central Memphis, helping the city grow a lot.
Contents
History of Olive Branch
Early Settlers and Name Changes
The first people to settle permanently in this area were Stephen Flinn and Milton Blocker. In 1836, they bought a large piece of land from a Chickasaw chief named Lush-Pun-Tubby.
At first, the small community was called "Cowpens" in the early 1840s. Then, in 1842, its name changed to "Watson's Crossroads." In 1846, when a post office was opened, the name changed again to "Olive Branch." This name was suggested by Frances Wilson Blocker. She was a descendant of one of the founders. The name "Olive Branch" comes from the Bible story of a dove bringing an olive branch to Noah, symbolizing peace.
Becoming a Town and Growth
Olive Branch officially became a town on May 1, 1874. Ben Wesson was elected as the first mayor. By 1880, 73 people lived in the town.
In 1885, a railroad line was built through Olive Branch. This connected the town to Memphis and Birmingham. On March 6, 1888, Olive Branch was officially called a village.
Modern Changes and Development
By 1900, nearly 200 people lived in Olive Branch. Over the years, many new things came to the village. These included the first cotton gin in 1910, a public water system in 1922, and electricity in 1927.
In 1929, T.H. Norvell's cheese plant opened. This was the first big industry in Olive Branch. Around 1940, a public sewer system was built, and local streets were paved. The village grew steadily. Its population went from 441 in 1940 to 642 in 1960.
Rapid Growth in Recent Decades
Growth sped up in the 1960s. By 1970, the population was more than double, reaching 1,513 people. In 1971, a large conference center and a big industrial park were built near Olive Branch.
The Olive Branch Airport opened in January 1973. It is now one of Mississippi's busiest airports. In 1974, U.S. Highway 78 was built through Olive Branch. All these new developments brought many jobs, businesses, and people to the area.
The 1990s saw huge growth for Olive Branch. In 1990, 3,567 people lived there. In 1996, the city's land area doubled. By 2000, the population had jumped to 21,054. This was a massive increase from 1990.
Geography and Climate
Location of Olive Branch
Olive Branch is in the northeastern part of DeSoto County. It is where U.S. Route 78, State Highway 302 (Goodman Road), and State Highway 305 (Germantown Road/Cockrum Street) meet. Memphis is about 22 miles northwest of Olive Branch via US 78.
The northern edge of Olive Branch is the state line between Mississippi and Tennessee. Parts of Memphis touch the western side of Olive Branch's northern border. The city of Southaven, Mississippi, is to the west. Other areas around Olive Branch are not part of a city.
City Area
The city of Olive Branch covers about 56.05 square miles (145.17 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.
Weather in Olive Branch
Olive Branch has a varied climate. Here is some information about its average weather:
| Climate data for Olive Branch, Mississippi (1987-2013) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 77 (25) |
77 (25) |
89 (32) |
94 (34) |
96 (36) |
100 (38) |
102 (39) |
106 (41) |
101 (38) |
93 (34) |
86 (30) |
78 (26) |
106 (41) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 48 (9) |
53 (12) |
62 (17) |
72 (22) |
80 (27) |
88 (31) |
91 (33) |
90 (32) |
84 (29) |
74 (23) |
62 (17) |
51 (11) |
71 (22) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 28 (−2) |
32 (0) |
40 (4) |
48 (9) |
58 (14) |
67 (19) |
71 (22) |
69 (21) |
62 (17) |
49 (9) |
40 (4) |
32 (0) |
50 (10) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 6 (−14) |
3 (−16) |
14 (−10) |
26 (−3) |
32 (0) |
48 (9) |
57 (14) |
51 (11) |
40 (4) |
29 (−2) |
19 (−7) |
−6 (−21) |
−6 (−21) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.92 (100) |
4.39 (112) |
5.18 (132) |
5.36 (136) |
4.97 (126) |
4.36 (111) |
4.64 (118) |
2.52 (64) |
3.40 (86) |
3.31 (84) |
6.10 (155) |
5.48 (139) |
53.63 (1,363) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 2.2 (5.6) |
1.4 (3.6) |
0.8 (2.0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.6 (1.5) |
5.1 (12.95) |
| Source 1: Average Weather for Olive Branch | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: NOAA | |||||||||||||
People of Olive Branch
Population Growth Over Time
The population of Olive Branch has grown a lot over the years.
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 73 | — | |
| 1890 | 199 | 172.6% | |
| 1900 | 198 | −0.5% | |
| 1910 | 221 | 11.6% | |
| 1920 | 197 | −10.9% | |
| 1930 | 336 | 70.6% | |
| 1940 | 441 | 31.3% | |
| 1950 | 534 | 21.1% | |
| 1960 | 642 | 20.2% | |
| 1970 | 1,513 | 135.7% | |
| 1980 | 2,067 | 36.6% | |
| 1990 | 3,567 | 72.6% | |
| 2000 | 21,054 | 490.2% | |
| 2010 | 33,484 | 59.0% | |
| 2020 | 39,711 | 18.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 Census Information
In 2020, there were 39,711 people living in Olive Branch. There were 13,252 households and 9,645 families.
Here is a breakdown of the different groups of people in Olive Branch:
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White | 21,638 | 54.49% |
| Black or African American | 13,827 | 34.82% |
| Native American | 72 | 0.18% |
| Asian | 691 | 1.74% |
| Pacific Islander | 26 | 0.07% |
| Other/Mixed | 1,597 | 4.02% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,860 | 4.68% |
2010 Census Information
In 2010, there were 33,484 people in Olive Branch. About 70.2% of the people were White, and 23.8% were African American. Hispanic or Latino people made up 4.2% of the population.
Economy and Businesses
Olive Branch has many local businesses that have been around for a long time. Some examples are Old Style Barbecue and Olive Branch Printing. Larger regional businesses like BancorpSouth and Holiday Inn also have locations here.
In 2011, a new indoor ice rink opened in Olive Branch. This was good news for the area, as the main city of Memphis had lost its only indoor ice rink years before.
Arts and Culture
Fun Places to Visit
Olive Branch has several places where people can have fun and relax:
- Mississippi Ale House
- Sam Scales Park
- Southridge Community Park
- Brussel's Bonsai
- Cherokee Valley Golf Club
- Old Towne Main Street
- Whispering Woods Hotel and Conference Center
Movie Theaters
- Malco Olive Branch Cinema Grill
Education
Colleges and Universities
- Northwest Mississippi Community College
Public High Schools
Students in Olive Branch attend schools in the DeSoto County School District.
- DeSoto County Career and Technology Center East
- Center Hill High School
- Olive Branch High School
- Olive Branch Intermediate School
- Olive Branch Middle School
Public Elementary Schools
- Center Hill Elementary School
- Chickasaw Elementary School
- Olive Branch Elementary School
- Overpark Elementary School
- Pleasant Hill Elementary School
Private Schools
- Cross Creek Christian Academy
- Park Academy School
- Desoto County Academy
Infrastructure and Transportation
Main Roads
Several important roads run through Olive Branch:
I-269
I-55
US 78
MS 302
MS 305
U.S. Route 78, Mississippi Highway 302 (Goodman Road), and Mississippi Highway 305 (Cockrum Road, Germantown Road) are the main roads in the Olive Branch area.
Railroad Lines
A railroad line that connects Memphis to Birmingham runs through Olive Branch. This line is used by BNSF for freight trains. Another company, R.J. Corman’s Tennessee Terminal, also works with trains in the Olive Branch industrial park.
Airports
Olive Branch has its own airport, Olive Branch Airport. For commercial flights, the closest airport is Memphis International Airport. It is about a 30-minute drive from Olive Branch.
Government
The mayor of Olive Branch is Ken Adams. He is a member of the Republican Party. He became mayor on July 6, 2021.
Notable People
Many interesting people have connections to Olive Branch:
- Daren Bates, a former professional football player (NFL linebacker)
- Charles Boyce, a cartoonist
- Carl Byrum, a former professional football player (NFL running back)
- Shon Coleman, a former professional football player (NFL offensive tackle)
- Jalen Collins, a former professional football player (NFL, XFL, CFL cornerback)
- Ed Easley, a former professional baseball player (St. Louis Cardinals catcher)
- Andy Fletcher, a Major League Baseball umpire
- Mark Guy, a former professional football player (CFL and Arena Football League wide receiver)
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., a NASCAR race car driver and 2023 Daytona 500 winner
- Marko Stunt, a retired professional wrestler
- K. J. Wright, a coach and former professional football player (NFL linebacker)
See also
In Spanish: Olive Branch para niños
