Olive Branch, Mississippi

Olive Branch, Mississippi
City

Location of Olive Branch in the State of Mississippi
Coordinates: 34°57′37″N 89°50′30″W / 34.96028°N 89.84167°WCoordinates: 34°57′37″N 89°50′30″W / 34.96028°N 89.84167°W
Country United States
State Mississippi
County DeSoto
Government
 • Mayor Scott Phillips
Area
 • Total 36.3 sq mi (94.0 km2)
 • Land 36.2 sq mi (93.7 km2)
 • Water 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2)
Elevation 387 ft (118 m)
Population (United States Census 2007 estimate)
 • Total 30,675
 • Density 847/sq mi (327/km2)
Time zone CST (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 38654
Area code(s) 662
FIPS code 28-54040
GNIS feature ID 0690369
Website http://www.obms.us/

Olive Branch is a city in DeSoto County, Mississippi. The population was 33,484 at the 2010 census. Olive Branch is a suburb of Memphis, Tennessee and is part of the Memphis Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region that consists of three counties in southwest Tennessee, five counties in northwest Mississippi, and two counties in eastern Arkansas. From 1990 to 2010 Olive Branch was the fastest growing city in the United States with a growth rate of 838%.[1] Along with other rapidly growing suburbs in DeSoto County, Olive Branch attributes most of its growth and development to the exodus of large numbers of middle-class families from central Memphis.

Geography and climate

Olive Branch is located at 34°57′47″N 89°50′30″W / 34.96306°N 89.84167°W (34.963007, -89.841627)[2] in northeastern DeSoto County, less than 5 miles (8.0 km) from Memphis at the junction of U.S. Route 78, and State Highways 302 (known locally as Goodman Road) and 305 (Germantown Road/Cockrum Street). The city's northern border is the Mississippi/Tennessee state line. The city of Southaven borders Olive Branch on the west, and unincorporated areas border the city to the east and south.[3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 36.3 square miles (94 km2), of which 36.2 square miles (94 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (0.25%) is 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)
Average high °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)		 71.3
(21.9)
Average low °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)		 49.7
(9.8)
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
(99.6)		 4.39
(111.5)		 5.18
(131.6)		 5.36
(136.1)		 4.97
(126.2)		 4.36
(110.7)		 4.64
(117.9)		 2.52
(64)		 3.40
(86.4)		 3.31
(84.1)		 6.10
(154.9)		 5.48
(139.2)		 53.63
(1,362.2)
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)		 0.1
(0.3)		 0.6
(1.5)		 5.1
(13)
Source #1: Average Weather for Olive Branch[4]
Source #2: NOAA [5]

History

Historic downtown in Olive Branch, Mississippi

The first permanent Anglo settlers in the area were Stephen Flinn and his wife's brother-in-law, Milton Blocker. On April 13, 1836, they purchased 1,280 acres (5.2 km2) of land – known as Sections 34 and 35 – in newly created DeSoto County from Chickasaw chief Lush-Pun-Tubby for $1,600.[6][7] Flinn conveyed the land to Blocker for $6,400 in 1840. A small community initially known as Cowpens sprang up in the early 1840s. The name was changed to Watson's Crossroads in 1842. In 1846, when a post office was established, the name was changed again to Olive Branch. Mrs. Frances Wilson Blocker, a descendant of one the community's founders, suggested the name as a way to symbolize the biblical story of a dove bringing a branch to Noah. With the exception of a few skirmishes occurring in an area southwest of the community, Olive Branch escaped much of the destruction and violence during the Civil War.[6][7]

Olive Branch was incorporated as a town on May 1, 1874. Ben Wesson was elected as the first mayor.[8] At the first census conducted after incorporation in 1880, the population was 73. A railroad line was built through Olive Branch in 1885, connecting the town to Memphis and Birmingham. The town was officially designated a village on March 6, 1888.[6]

At the turn of the century, nearly 200 people lived in Olive Branch. In the ensuing years, several modern amenities were introduced in the village, including the first cotton gin (1910), a public water system (1922), and electrical service (1927).[7] T.H. Norvell's cheese plant (at the side of present-day BancorpSouth) opened in 1929, becoming the first major industry in Olive Branch. A public sewer system was built and local streets were paved circa 1940. The village experienced modest growth during the next few decades, rising from 441 in the 1940 census, to 534 in 1950, and 642 in 1960. Growth accelerated in the 1960s and by 1970, the population had more than doubled to 1,513. In 1971, a site located a few miles from downtown Olive Branch was chosen as the home of Holiday Inn University and Conference Center. Simultaneous with construction of the University, Holiday Inn began work on a 3,000-acre (12 km2) industrial park. This was followed by the opening of Olive Branch Airport in January 1973. With a runway length of 6,000 feet (1,800 m), it is currently one of Mississippi's five most active airports for landings and takeoffs.[9] U.S. Highway 78 was built through Olive Branch in 1974. Such developments and infrastructure improvements brought an influx of jobs, industries, and people to DeSoto County and Olive Branch.

The 1990s were a period of explosive growth in the city; 3,567 people lived in Olive Branch at the 1990 census. In 1996, a land annexation to the west doubled the city's total land area.[7] By 2000, the population had risen to 21,054, a 490 percent increase over the 1990 figure.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
188073—
1890199172.6%
1900198−0.5%
191022111.6%
1920197−10.9%
193033670.6%
194044131.3%
195053421.1%
196064220.2%
19701,513135.7%
19802,06736.6%
19903,56772.6%
200021,054490.2%
201033,48459.0%

As of the census[10] of 2010, there were 33,484 people. The racial makeup of the city was 70.2% White, 23.8% African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.6% Asian, and Hispanic or Latino were 4.2% of the population.[11] The median income for a household in the city was $68,287, and the median income for a family was $75,107.[12]

Notable people

Economy

Many locally owned, small businesses have been operating in Olive Branch for several decades. Examples are Old Style Barbecue, Olive Branch Printing, etc. Several regional businesses, such as Bancorpsouth and Holiday Inn are also located in the area. Also,in 2003, Memphis lost its only permanent indoor ice rink with the closure of the deeply troubled Mall of Memphis. A new rink opened in Olive Branch in August 2011.

Education

The City of Olive Branch is served by the DeSoto County School District and Northpoint Christian School.

Transportation

Highways

U.S. Route 78, which turns into Lamar Avenue after crossing the border in Memphis, and Mississippi Highway 302 (MS-302/Goodman Road) are the main thoroughfares in the Olive Branch area.[3]

Railroad

A railroad line to Birmingham from Memphis runs through Olive Branch. It is used by BNSF.[6]

Airport

Olive Branch is served by Olive Branch Airport. It is one of the busiest airports in Mississippi.[6]

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Olive Branch, Mississippi.
  1. ↑ http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/apr/28/desoto-city-fastest-in-growth/
  2. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Maps". Olive Branch Old Towne Association. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
  4. ↑ "Olive Branch Historic Weather Averages". May 2012.
  5. ↑ "Snowfall - Average Total In Inches". National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2012-01-09.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 "Our History". City of Olive Branch. Retrieved 2009-07-12.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "Dates in Our History". City of Olive Branch. Retrieved 2009-07-12.
  8. ↑ "Wesson House". Olive Branch Old Towne Association. Retrieved 2009-07-12.
  9. ↑ "History". Olive Branch Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 2009-07-12.
  10. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  11. ↑ http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_DP_DPDP1
  12. ↑ http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_5YR_DP03

External links