Olyphant, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Olyphant, Pennsylvania
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Borough
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Borough hall
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Location of Olyphant in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
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 Olyphant, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Olyphant, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Lackawanna |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.50 sq mi (14.25 km2) |
| • Land | 5.44 sq mi (14.08 km2) |
| • Water | 0.06 sq mi (0.17 km2) |
| Elevation | 843 ft (257 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,383 |
| • Density | 990.07/sq mi (382.27/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
18447-18448
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| Area code(s) | 570 |
| FIPS code | 42-56792 |
Olyphant is a small town, called a borough, located in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is about 6 miles (9.7 km) northeast of Scranton. The town sits along the Lackawanna River in an area known for its anthracite (a type of hard coal).
In the past, Olyphant's main jobs came from mining and shipping coal. It was even the main office for the Lackawanna Coal Company. Other old industries included making blasting powder, iron and steel items, cigars, and silks. The town faced tough times in the 1950s. For a long time, the biggest industry was Cinram, which made CDs and DVDs, until 2018. The population of Olyphant was 5,395 people in 2020.
Contents
Where is Olyphant Located?
Olyphant is found at coordinates 41°27′45″N 75°35′44″W.
The borough covers a total area of about 5.5 square miles (14.25 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 5.4 square miles (14.08 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.1 square miles (0.17 square kilometers), is water.
How Many People Live in Olyphant?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 2,327 | — | |
| 1880 | 2,094 | −10.0% | |
| 1890 | 4,083 | 95.0% | |
| 1900 | 6,180 | 51.4% | |
| 1910 | 8,505 | 37.6% | |
| 1920 | 10,236 | 20.4% | |
| 1930 | 10,743 | 5.0% | |
| 1940 | 9,252 | −13.9% | |
| 1950 | 7,047 | −23.8% | |
| 1960 | 5,864 | −16.8% | |
| 1970 | 5,422 | −7.5% | |
| 1980 | 5,204 | −4.0% | |
| 1990 | 5,222 | 0.3% | |
| 2000 | 4,978 | −4.7% | |
| 2010 | 5,151 | 3.5% | |
| 2020 | 5,395 | 4.7% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 5,380 | 4.4% | |
| Sources: | |||
In 2010, Olyphant had 5,151 residents living in 2,324 households. About 23.8% of these households had children under 18. The average household had 2.22 people.
The population includes people of all ages. About 19.3% of residents were under 18 years old. The median age in Olyphant was 42.6 years.
Learning and Schools in Olyphant
Olyphant is part of the Mid Valley School District.
Past Schools in Olyphant
When coal mining was a big industry, Olyphant had many small neighborhood schools. These included the Columbus School, Washington School, Roosevelt School, and Lincoln School. There were also smaller schools in Underwood Village and Marshwood.
The Central School served elementary students downtown. The Olyphant Senior High School was in an annex of the Central School. There was also a separate Olyphant Junior High School building.
Changes in the School System
As the town's population got smaller, many of these neighborhood schools closed down. In 1969, the school districts of Olyphant, Dickson City, and Throop joined together to form the Mid Valley School District.
The old Olyphant Junior High School became the Mid-Valley Senior High School. Later, the Olyphant Elementary School building was closed because it was unsafe. Students had to move to other schools. Eventually, new schools were built.
Today, the Mid-Valley School District has one elementary school and one secondary school. Both are located on Underwood Road in Throop.
Catholic Schools
Until the mid-1970s, many Catholic churches in Olyphant had their own schools, like St. Patrick's, St. Michael's, and Holy Ghost. The Saints Cyril and Methodius Ukrainian Catholic School stayed open longer but eventually closed too.
Now, students who want to attend private Catholic schools can go to nearby towns. These include La Salle Academy in Dickson City and Jessup for younger students. High school students can attend Bishop O'Hara High School in Dunmore or Scranton Preparatory School in Scranton.
Famous People from Olyphant
Olyphant has been home to several notable individuals:
- Nestor Chylak – A famous baseball umpire who is in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
- Patricia Crowley – An actress who starred in many films and the TV show Please Don't Eat the Daisies.
- Mike Gazella – A former baseball player who was part of the New York Yankees team that won their first World Series in 1923.
- Joe Kotys – An Olympic gymnast.
- Loretta Perfectus Walsh – The first woman to officially join the U.S. Navy and the first woman allowed to serve in any branch of the United States armed forces.
Images for kids
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Holy Ghost Catholic church on Willow Street
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Saints Cyril & Methodius Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
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Former post office
See also
In Spanish: Olyphant para niños
