Olney, Maryland facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Olney, Maryland
Census-designated place
Olney's St. John's Episcopal Church in 2013.
Location of Olney in Maryland
Country	United States
State	Maryland
County	Montgomery
Area
• Total	16.22 sq mi (42.02 km²)
• Land	16.18 sq mi (41.91 km²)
• Water	0.04 sq mi (0.11 km²)
Elevation	499 ft (152 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	35,820
• Density	2,213.57/sq mi (854.69/km²)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	20830, 20832, 20833
Area code(s)	301, 240
FIPS code	24-58900
GNIS feature ID	2389620

Olney is a special kind of community in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It's called a census-designated place, which means it's an area identified for statistics, but it's not officially a city or town with its own local government.

Olney is located in the north-central part of Montgomery County. It is about 10 miles (16 km) north of Washington, D.C.. For a long time, Olney was mostly farms. But in the 1960s, as Washington, D.C.'s suburbs grew, Olney changed. It became a place where many people live, with homes and neighborhoods. In 2020, about 35,820 people lived there.

Discovering Olney's Past: A Look at Its History

Olney has a rich history that dates back to the 1700s. It started as a small farming community and grew into the lively place it is today.

How Olney Got Its Name

In 1763, a man named Richard Brooke received an official document for a piece of land in Province of Maryland. The village that became Olney was first called Mechanicsville. It was started around 1800. The area was mostly farmland, but soon, skilled craftspeople called artisans began to move there.

Two early residents, Sarah Brooke and Dr. Charles Farquhar, really admired the English poet William Cowper. They named their home after the poet's hometown, Olney in England. Later, the entire area was named after their home, which is still standing today and is known as the Olney House.

Early Life in Olney

The center of the early town had important businesses. There was a blacksmith shop, a shop where William Kelley made and repaired wheels, and a pottery factory run by Canby. Benedict Duley also had a store there.

The Brooke family owned most of the land in Olney. The main village was located where two important roads met: the road from Rockville to Baltimore, and the road connecting Washington with Westminster to the north. A strong Quaker community lived just east of Olney in Sandy Spring. You can learn more about the area's history at the Sandy Spring Museum. St. John's Episcopal Church, which was built in 1842, is still an active church today.

Olney During the Civil War

Even though Olney wasn't as involved in the Civil War as other parts of Maryland, its residents still felt the conflict. People had to choose between supporting the Southern plantation economy or the Federal government. Both Union and Confederate soldiers passed through Olney during the war.

In 1862, Union Generals George B. McClellan and Ambrose Burnside led their troops through Olney during the Maryland Campaign. A year later, in 1863, Confederate General J. E. B. Stuart marched a large group of soldiers, between 10,000 and 20,000, north through the village during the Gettysburg Campaign. They took supplies like horses and crops from local farms where they camped out.

Olney's Role in Civil Defense

Olney was once the first home of the Emergency Management Institute. This institute was started in 1951 as the Civil Defense Staff College (CDSC). Its goal was to train people for civil defense, which means protecting citizens in case of emergencies or attacks.

While in Olney, the college built a special training area called "Rescue Street." It was designed to look like a town after an atomic bomb attack. However, the CDSC soon moved to Battle Creek, Michigan. This move happened because of worries about a possible attack on Washington, D.C., during the Cold War.

Olney's Location and Surroundings

Olney covers a total area of about 13.0 square miles (33.7 square kilometers), and all of it is land.

Where is Olney's Town Center?

The main part of Olney, its town center, is located where two state roads cross. These roads are Route 97 (also known as Georgia Avenue) and Route 108 (Olney-Laytonsville Road).

Olney is larger than the towns nearby. It is located south of Brookeville and west of Sandy Spring. It is also east-northeast of Gaithersburg, north-northeast of Rockville, and north of Aspen Hill.

Who Lives in Olney? A Look at the Population

Olney is home to a diverse community. Understanding the population helps us learn more about the people who live there.

Population Numbers and Growth

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
2010	33,844	—
2020	35,820	5.8%
source: 2010–2020

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, there were 33,844 people living in Olney. These people made up 11,606 households, and 9,447 of these were family households. The population density was about 2,603 people per square mile (1,005 people per square kilometer).

There were 11,879 homes in the area. The average household had about 2.91 people, and the average family had about 3.25 people.

Diversity in Olney

The people living in Olney come from many different backgrounds. In 2010, the ethnic makeup of the area was:

75.1% White
11.9% African American
12.0% Asian
8.5% Hispanic or Latino
0.53% Native American
3.1% identified with "Some Other Race."

Families and Age Groups

Many families live in Olney. Of all the households, 81.4% were family households.

41.7% of households had children under 18 living with them.
67.2% were married couples living together.
11.0% had a woman as the head of the household with no husband present.
3.1% had a man as the head of the household with no wife present.
22.8% of households had individuals aged 65 or older.

The median age in Olney was 41.9 years. This means half the people were younger than 41.9 and half were older.

28.9% of residents were under 20 years old.
25.8% were between 20 and 44 years old.
34.4% were between 45 and 64 years old.
10.8% were 65 years of age or older.

Income in Olney

A survey from 2015 showed that the average income for a household in Olney was $126,762. For families, the average income was $138,072. The income per person in the area was $48,289. Only a small percentage of the population, 2.8%, and 2.3% of families, were living below the poverty line.

Arts, Culture, and Fun in Olney

Olney offers many places to explore history, enjoy performances, and have fun.

Historic Places to Visit

You can visit several historic sites in Olney. These include the Olney Ale House, the Sandy Spring Museum, and the Woodlawn Manor Living History Museum. These places help you learn about the past.

Annual Events and Celebrations

Every April, Olney hosts a special event called "Olney Days." This celebration includes a parade and a charity bike ride and walk. It's a great way for the community to come together.

The Olney Theatre Center

The Olney Theatre was founded in 1938. It is one of only two state theaters in Maryland. This theater puts on live plays and musicals. It's a wonderful place to see talented actors perform.

Local Library and Historic Farms

Olney also has a branch of the Montgomery County Library, where you can find books and resources. Falling Green was an active farm since 1764. A house and barn from the original farm still exist. The Falling Green house is a Georgian-style house built in 1770 by a Quaker farmer.

Parks and Recreation in Olney

Olney has many parks and places for sports and outdoor activities.

Olney's Graham S. Little Natatorium

Public Parks and Facilities

There are several public parks where you can play and relax. These include Olney Manor Park, which has the Olney Swim Center. Other parks are Southeast Olney Park, Longwood Park, Cherrywood Park, Bowie Mill Park, and the OBGC Park at Freeman Fields.

Sports and Golf

Olney is also home to a private country club. You can find a golf driving range and the Norbeck golf course for those who enjoy golf.

Education in Olney: Schools and Learning

Olney has a strong focus on education, with several public and private schools.

Public School System

Olney is served by three different Montgomery County Public School areas. This means some children attend elementary and middle schools that lead to Sherwood High School. Others go to schools that send students to Magruder High School or James Hubert Blake High School.

Some of the elementary schools in Olney include Brooke Grove Elementary School, Olney Elementary School, Belmont, and Sherwood. Middle schools serving the area are William Farquhar and Rosa Parks. Brooke Grove Elementary School was recognized as a Blue Ribbon School for Excellence in 1999. Cashell Elementary School also received this honor in 2014.

Private Schools in Olney

In addition to public schools, Olney has private schools. The Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, a Roman Catholic high school, opened its new building in Olney in January 2007. It moved there from Wheaton, Maryland. The new building for Washington Christian Academy also opened in Olney in 2008.

Famous People from Olney

Many notable people have connections to Olney.

Joe Aitcheson Jr., a famous jockey in the Racing Hall of Fame.
Hilda Counts, the first woman to earn an electrical engineering degree from the University of Colorado.
Stefon Diggs, a wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills who attended Our Lady of Good Counsel in Olney.
Katie Feeney, a social media personality and correspondent for the Washington Commanders.
Moira Geoffrion, a talented sculptor.
Harold L. Ickes, who served as the U.S. Secretary of the Interior and bought a farm in Olney in 1937.
Justin Maxwell, an outfielder who played for the Washington Nationals and other teams.
Frank Miller, a well-known artist and film director.
Evan Vucci, a professional photographer.
"Montana Jack" Ziegler, a physician.