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 | |
| 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 city in Mississippi, United States. It is the sixth largest city in the state. Olive Branch is located in DeSoto County. In 2020, about 39,711 people lived there.
Olive Branch is part of the larger Memphis metropolitan area. This area includes parts of Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas.
Contents
History of Olive Branch
The first people to settle permanently in this area were Stephen Flinn and Milton Blocker. In 1836, they bought 1,280 acres of land. They bought it from a Chickasaw chief named Lush-Pun-Tubby for $1,600.
How Olive Branch Got Its Name
A small community started here in the early 1840s. It was first called "Cowpens." In 1842, the name changed to "Watson's Crossroads."
In 1846, a post office was opened. The name changed again to "Olive Branch." Frances Wilson Blocker, whose family helped found the community, suggested this name. It was inspired by the Bible story of a dove bringing an olive branch to Noah. This symbolized peace and new beginnings.
Becoming a Town and Growing
Olive Branch officially became a town on May 1, 1874. Ben Wesson was chosen 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 Fast Growth
By 1900, nearly 200 people lived in Olive Branch. Over the years, new things came to the village. A cotton gin opened in 1910. A public water system was built in 1922. Electricity arrived 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 streets were paved.
The village grew steadily. The population went from 441 in 1940 to 642 in 1960. In the 1960s, growth sped up. By 1970, the population was more than double, reaching 1,513 people.
New Developments and Infrastructure
In 1971, a Holiday Inn University and Conference Center was built near Olive Branch. Holiday Inn also started building a large industrial park.
The Olive Branch Airport opened in January 1973. It has a 6,000-foot runway. It is one of Mississippi's busiest airports for planes taking off and landing. U.S. Route 78 was built through Olive Branch in 1974. These new roads and facilities brought many jobs and people to Olive Branch.
The 1990s saw huge growth. In 1990, 3,567 people lived there. In 1996, the city's land area doubled. By 2000, the population jumped to 21,054. This was a 490% increase from 1990!
Geography and Climate
Olive Branch is in the northeast part of DeSoto County. It is where U.S. Route 78, Mississippi Highway 302 (Goodman Road), and Mississippi Highway 305 (Germantown Road/Cockrum Street) meet. Memphis is about 22 miles northwest via US 78.
The northern edge of Olive Branch is the state line between Mississippi and Tennessee. Part of Memphis touches Olive Branch's northern border. The city of Southaven, Mississippi is to the west. Unincorporated areas are to the east and south.
The city covers about 56 square miles (145 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water.
| 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 | |||||||||||||
Population and People
| 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
| 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% |
In 2020, there were 39,711 people living in Olive Branch. There were 13,252 households and 9,645 families.
2010 Census Information
In 2010, the city had 33,484 people.
- About 70.2% were White.
- About 23.8% were African American.
- About 0.5% were Native American.
- About 1.6% were Asian.
- About 4.2% were Hispanic or Latino.
The average income for a household in the city was $68,287. For families, the average income was $75,107.
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 companies like Bancorpsouth and Holiday Inn also have locations here.
In 2011, a new indoor ice rink opened in Olive Branch. This was important because the Memphis area had lost its only indoor rink in 2003.
Education
Students in Olive Branch attend schools in the DeSoto County School District.
There are also private schools:
- Cross Creek Christian Academy
- Park Academy School
- Desoto County Academy
Transportation and Infrastructure
Highways
The main roads in Olive Branch are U.S. Route 78, Mississippi Highway 302 (also called Goodman Road), and Mississippi Highway 305 (Cockrum Road or Germantown Road).
Railroad
A railroad line runs through Olive Branch. It connects Memphis to Birmingham. This line is used by BNSF for freight trains. R.J. Corman’s Tennessee Terminal also helps move goods in the industrial park.
Airport
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 away.
Notable People from Olive Branch
Many interesting people have connections to Olive Branch:
- Daren Bates – a former NFL football player.
- Charles Boyce – a cartoonist who created Compu-toon.
- Carl Byrum – a former NFL football player.
- Shon Coleman – a former NFL football player.
- Jalen Collins – a former NFL, XFL, and Canadian Football League football player.
- Ed Easley – a former baseball catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals.
- Andy Fletcher – a Major League Baseball umpire.
- Mark Guy – a former Canadian Football League and Arena Football League player.
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – a NASCAR driver and winner of the 2023 Daytona 500.
- Marko Stunt – a retired professional wrestler.
- K. J. Wright – a coach and former NFL football player.
See also
In Spanish: Olive Branch para niños
