Olney, Texas

According to Camping Explorer, Olney, Texas is a small town located in Young County, in the central part of the state. The city has a population of around 3,000 people and is surrounded by rolling hills and prairies. The climate in Olney is typically dry with hot summers and mild winters. Rainfall is relatively low compared to other parts of the state, but still enough to support a variety of vegetation.

The history of Olney dates back to 1882 when it was established as a trading post for settlers traveling through the area. In 1883, it was officially incorporated as a city and has been growing ever since. The city has seen many changes over its history, including an increase in population due to the oil industry in the early 1900s. Today, Olney remains an important agricultural center for Young County and the surrounding region.

Politically, Olney leans conservatively with most residents being registered Republicans or Independents. The city council follows suit with five Republican members currently serving on it.

The economy in Olney is largely based on agriculture and oil production as well as some light manufacturing and retail businesses. The school system consists of two public schools: Olney Elementary School and Olney High School which serves students from grades K-12th grade respectively.

In terms of landmarks, there are several sites that stand out throughout the town such as the historic courthouse built in 1884 which houses local government offices today; the First United Methodist Church which was constructed in 1910; and finally there’s “Big Tex” – an iconic statue that stands at over 20 feet tall! All these sites are popular attractions for visitors to explore when visiting Olney, Texas!

Olney, Texas

Population: 3,396. Estimated population in July 2020: 3,340 (-1.6% change)
Males: 1,529 (45.0%), Females: 1,867 (55.0%)

Young County

Zip code: 76374

Median resident age: 39.7 years
Median household income: $21,991
Median house value: $34,300

Races in Olney:

  • White Non-Hispanic (81.4%)
  • Hispanic (14.4%)
  • Other race (4.6%)
  • Black (2.5%)
  • Two or more races (2.2%)
  • American Indian (1.6%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Ancestries: Irish (11.9%), United States (11.6%), German (11.3%), English (11.0%), Dutch (2.6%), French (2.5%).

Elevation: 1184 feet

Land area: 2.1 square miles

Population

Olney, Texas is a small town located in Young County. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 3,085 people. It is the county seat of Young County and has been since 1876 when it was founded. The population of Olney is diverse, with people from different backgrounds and ethnicities living in the town. The majority of the population is white (77.9%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (14.8%), African American (5.0%) and Asian (1.6%).

The median age for residents of Olney is 37 years old, which is slightly higher than the national average of 37.4 years old. Additionally, there are more males than females living in Olney; 51% male and 49% female according to the 2010 census data. In terms of housing units, there are 1,500 occupied housing units with an average household size of 2.43 persons per household as reported by the census data from 2010. The majority of households consist of married couples living together (64%); other family arrangements make up the remaining 36%. In terms of educational attainment, most adults aged 25 or over have graduated high school or obtained their GED certificate (87%), while only 15% have obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher level degree such as a master’s or doctorate degree according to 2017 American Community Survey estimates from the US Census Bureau

For population 25 years and over in Olney

  • High school or higher: 70.2%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.5%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 5.0%
  • Unemployed: 7.6%
  • Mean travel time to work: 14.5 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Olney city

  • Never married: 20.9%
  • Now married: 51.7%
  • Separated: 2.8%
  • Widowed: 14.7%
  • Divorced: 9.9%

1.7% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: -78 (-2.2%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Olney:

  • HAMILTON HOSPITAL (901 W HAMILTON ST BOX 158)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Olney:

  • GRAHAM REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (about 23 miles; GRAHAM, TX)
  • THROCKMORTON COUNTY MEM HOSPITAL (about 35 miles; THROCKMORTON, TX)
  • KELL WEST REGIONAL HOSPITAL LLC (about 36 miles; WICHITA FALLS, TX)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Olney:

  • SHEPPARD AFB/WICHITA FALLS MUNI (about 47 miles; WICHITA FALLS, TX; Abbreviation: SPS)
  • LAWTON-FORT SILL REGIONAL (about 86 miles; LAWTON, OK; Abbreviation: LAW)
  • HENRY POST AAF (about 91 miles; FORT SILL, OK; Abbreviation: FSI)

Other public-use airports nearest to Olney:

  • OLNEY MUNI (about 5 miles; OLNEY, TX; Abbreviation: ONY)
  • ARCHER CITY MUNI (about 17 miles; ARCHER CITY, TX; Abbreviation: T39)
  • GRAHAM MUNI (about 24 miles; GRAHAM, TX; Abbreviation: RPH)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Olney:

  • MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY (about 37 miles; WICHITA FALLS, TX; Full-time enrollment: 4,619)
  • TARLETON STATE UNIVERSITY (about 88 miles; STEPHENVILLE, TX; Full-time enrollment: 6,068)
  • CAMERON UNIVERSITY (about 89 miles; LAWTON, OK; Full-time enrollment: 3,529)
  • ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY (about 91 miles; ABILENE, TX; Full-time enrollment: 4,380)
  • HARDIN-SIMMONS UNIVERSITY (about 92 miles; Abilene, TX; Full-time enrollment: 2,026)
  • TARRANT COUNTY COLLEGE (about 108 miles; FT WORTH, TX; Full-time enrollment: 15,454)
  • TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY (about 110 miles; FT WORTH, TX; Full-time enrollment: 7,032)

Schools

Public high school in Olney:

  • OLNEY H S (Students: 230; Location: 704 W GROVE; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Olney:

  • OLNEY EL (Students: 342; Location: 801 W HAMILTON; Grades: PK – 05)
  • OLNEY J H (Students: 165; Location: 300 S AVE H; Grades: 06 – 08)

Libraries

Library in Olney:

  • OLNEY COMMUNITY LIBRARY AND ARTS CENTER (Operating income: $168,036; Location: 807 W HAMILTON ST; 30,777 books; 1,374 audio materials; 1,686 video materials; 99 serial subscriptions)