Olive Branch, Mississippi

Olive Branch is a city in DeSoto County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 21,054 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Olive Branch is less than 5 miles (8 km) from Memphis, Tennessee, the largest city in the area.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 94.0 km (36.3 mi). 93.7 km (36.2 mi) of it is land and 0.2 km (0.1 mi) of it (0.25%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 21,054 people, 7,546 households, and 6,036 families residing in the city. The population density was 224.6/km (581.7/mi). There were 7,935 housing units at an average density of 84.7/km (219.2/mi). The racial makeup of the city was 86.60% White, 11.30% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.75% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.46% of the population.

There were 7,546 households out of which 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.8% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.0% were non-families. 16.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 34.7% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $55,187, and the median income for a family was $60,851. Males had a median income of $42,288 versus $28,287 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,680. About 3.9% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

Attractions

Olive Branch has one of the largest municipal parks in the state. The 135 acre (0.5 km) park, Olive Branch City Park, includes five tennis courts, four softball fields, eight baseball fields, one football field with a running track, two lakes, 3.6 miles (6 km) of walking trails, and facilities for youth football and soccer.

Olive Branch Old Towne is a historic downtown area home to many antique shops, Olive Branch's new City Hall, and the historic Wesson House, one of only three dedicated historic landmarks in De Soto County, Mississippi.

History

What is now the downtown area of Olive Branch was purchased by Milton Blocker and Stephen Flinn more than a century and a half ago, on April 13, 1836, from Chickasaw Indian Chief Lush-Pub-Tubby. The 1,280 acres were purchased for $1.20 per acre.

The town was originally known as Cowpens, named for the cow pens that lined the primary road.

The town was later renamed to Watson's Crossroads in honor of Sam Watson, a Methodist minister at Methodist Church of Olive Branch. This church, originally founded in 1840, is now known as Maples Memorial Methodist Church.

In 1846, the town gets its first Post Office and changes its name to Olive Branch.

29 years later, on May 1, 1875, the area composed of 150 people was formally incorporated as Olive Branch.

The first mayor of Olive Branch was Ben Wesson. In 1875, he constructs a new home, what is now known as Wesson House.

Miscellaneous Facts

Olive Branch shares its namesake with two other towns in the United States: Olive Branch, North Carolina, and Olive Branch, Illinois.

Courtesy of Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia