Mount Olive, North Carolina

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This article is about the town in Wayne County, North Carolina. For the unincorporated community in Stokes County see Mount Olive, Stokes County, North Carolina.

Mount Olive is a town in Wayne County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is included in the Goldsboro, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town's population was 4,567 at the 2000 census. Geographically located south of Goldsboro, NC on U.S. Highway 117, the town is part of the Coastal Plain region.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Pickles
4 Higher education
5 External links

[edit] Geography

Mount Olive is located at 35°11′42″N, 78°4′3″W (35.195086, -78.067528)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 6.5 km² (2.5 mi²). None of the area is covered with water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 4,567 people, 1,770 households, and 1,125 families residing in the town. The population density was 702.5/km² (1,819.3/mi²). There were 2,012 housing units at an average density of 309.5/km² (801.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 42.98% White, 54.30% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 1.34% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.17% of the population.

There were 1,770 households out of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.8% were married couples living together, 22.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the town the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 14.0% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 77.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $23,984, and the median income for a family was $31,176. Males had a median income of $26,814 versus $19,224 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,184. About 16.4% of families and 22.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.6% of those under age 18 and 21.6% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Pickles

The town is also the home of the Mount Olive Pickle Company, established in 1926. The plant is located, appropriately enough, on the corner of Cucumber and Vine streets.

The Mount Olive Pickle Festival is held the last full weekend of April each year. This will be the 20th year anniversary of the festival. The annual celebration is put on by both the community of Mount Olive and the Mount Olive Pickle Company.

[edit] Higher education

Mount Olive College, a private, Christian, co-educational, liberal arts college is located in the town. The college serves approximately 700 traditional students and 2600 working adults. The school has numerous satellite locations in eastern NC. Mount Olive College was founded in 1951 by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists. The college currently offers over 40 major and 20 minor courses of study for recent high school graduates and college transfer students. The student to faculty ratio is 14 to 1, and the average class size is 24. Degrees offered include Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Applied Science. Nearly 35% of the student body participates in intercollegiate athletics (NCAA Division II). More than 90% of all undergraduate students receive some type of financial aid.