Olney is a city in

Young County, Texas Young County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 17,867. Its county seat is Graham. The county was created in 1856 and organized in 1874. It is named for William Cocke Young, an early Tex ...

, United States. Its population was 3,007 as of the 2020 census.

History

On May 18, 1951, the city was devastated by a violent F4 tornado. Thomas P. Grazulis noted this tornado was a possible F5 on the

Fujita scale The Fujita scale (F-Scale; ), or Fujita–Pearson scale (FPP scale), is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation. The official Fujita scale category is determ ...

Geography

Olney is located at (33.368181, –98.758012). According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the city has a total area of 2.0 sq mi (5.2 km), all land. The town is 45 miles south of

Wichita Falls Wichita Falls ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Wichita County, Texas, United States. It is the principal city of the Wichita Falls metropolitan statistical area, which encompasses all of Archer, Clay, and Wichita Counties. According to ...

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the

Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...

, Olney has a

humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...

, ''Cfa'' on maps.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,007 people, 1,370 households, and 821 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2000, 3,396 people, 1,405 households, and 896 families were residing in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

was 1,654.8 people/s mi (639.6/km). The 1,668 housing units averaged 812.8/sq mi (314.2/km). The racial makeup of the city was 89.78% White, 2.47% African American, 0.80% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 4.62% from other races, and 2.21% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 14.43% of the population. Out of the 1,405 households, 31.0% had children under 18 living with them, 47.3% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were not families. About 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.34, and the average family size was 2.97. In the city, the age distribution was 25.9% under 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who were 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.3 males. The median income for a household in the city was $21,991, and for a family was $29,274. Males had a median income of $27,500 versus $16,466 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the city was $13,723. About 18.3% of families and 21.4% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 24.8% of those under age 18 and 20.3% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Olney Municipal Airport is three miles southwest of the city, and includes the Air Tractor company with 450 employees, manufacturing

agricultural aircraft An agricultural aircraft is an aircraft that has been built or converted for agricultural use – usually aerial application of pesticides (crop dusting) or fertilizer (aerial topdressing); in these roles, they are referred to as "crop duste ...

(some of which has been modified for military and first responder use). The airport is the flight test site for the Carter PAV,Aircraft Completes First Phase Of Flight Testing
'' KAUZ-TV NewsChannel 6'', January 26, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2011."" '' Carter Aviation Technologies'', August 29, 2013. Accessed: September 2, 2013. as well as training for the 2014

Red Bull Air Race World Championship The World Championship Air Race is a series of air races sanctioned by the World Air Sports Federation (FAI). Originally established in 2003 as the Red Bull Air Race, and created by Red Bull GmbH, the event involves competitors navigating a ...

Education

Olney is served by the

Olney Independent School District Olney Independent School District is a school district headquartered in Olney, Texas, Olney, Texas (United States, USA). The district serves portions of Young County, Texas, Young County (including the city of Olney), Archer County, Texas, Arch ...

. The designated community college for most of Young County (including Olney ISD) is Ranger Junior College.Texas Education Code Sec. 130.196. RANGER JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.
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Olney Community Library and Arts Center

The Olney Community Library and Arts Center is located on the Olney school campus at 807 W. Hamilton.

Notable people

* Kyle Clifton, former

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

(NFL) player * Jim Grisham, former NFL player * George D. Keathley,

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...

recipient *

Bob Lilly Robert Lewis Lilly (born July 26, 1939), nicknamed "Mr. Cowboy", is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. He played college footb ...

, Dallas Cowboy defensive tackle and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame * Bob Oliver, American football player * Johnny Vaught, Ole Miss head coach, member of the

College Football Hall of Fame The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and interactive Tourist attraction, attraction devoted to college football, college American football. The National Football Foundation (NFF) founded the Hall in 1951 to immortalize the players ...

James Vick James William Vick (born February 23, 1987) is an American former mixed martial artist who competed in the welterweight and lightweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Background Vick was born to a modest Texan family on ...

, UFC lightweight fighter

Gallery

File:Olney, Texas.jpg, South side of Olney's Main Street, Texas State Highway 114. File:One-Arm Dove Hunt Sign.jpg, Sign promoting the One-Arm Dove Hunt. File:Olney City Hall.jpg, City Hall. File:Olney Texas water tower.jpg, Olney water tower.

References

External links

City of Olney, Texas official website

Olney Chamber of Commerce website

The Handbook of Texas Online: Olney, Texas

One Arm Dove Hunt official website
{{authority control Cities in Texas Cities in Young County, Texas