Olivehurst

History

Olivehurst was first largely settled by people from the Midwest during the Great Depression who were looking for fertile land, availability of jobs and a better future. People from the town have been known to refer to this group of people as "Okies", a term originally for those from Oklahoma who were escaping the "dust bowl" Oklahoma had become during the Great Depression. This is why some of the streets are named after cities in Oklahoma. These "Okies" were following migrant workers such as those of Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Mexican and Native American background. The economy has been largely focused on agriculture, but, since the 1950s, jobs have been increasingly focused on mill and manufacturing work. Today's economy is centered on a "commuter economy" where many of the residents work outside of the town. A post office opened at Olivehurst in 1941.

Geography

Olivehurst is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 8.4 square miles (21.8 km), all land. Olivehurst is located near the confluence of the Yuba and Feather rivers. In 1987, a severe flood of the Yuba River, complete with a broken levee, devastated Olivehurst, followed by similar devastation from the 1997 Merced River flood. Businesses left the area, and unemployment skyrocketed.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,467
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  2,431
• Black Phoebe

  Sayornis nigricans (Swainson, 1827) · Aves
  2,314
• Great Egret

  Ardea alba Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  2,266
• Red-tailed Hawk

  Buteo jamaicensis (Gmelin, 1788) · Aves
  2,244
• House Finch

  Haemorhous mexicanus (P.L.Statius Müller, 1776) · Aves
  2,166
• California/Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay

  Aphelocoma californica (Vigors, 1839) · Aves
  2,075
• White-crowned Sparrow

  Zonotrichia leucophrys (J.R.Forster, 1772) · Aves
  1,982

Largest nearby schools

• Lindhurst High
  High · Olivehurst · 1,237 students · 21.7:1 ratio
• Wheatland Union High
  High · Wheatland · 1,048 students · 21:1 ratio
• Marysville High
  High · Marysville · 1,028 students · 21.4:1 ratio
• Yuba Gardens Intermediate
  Middle · Olivehurst · 767 students · 21.3:1 ratio
• Kynoch Elementary
  Elementary · Marysville · 714 students · 23.8:1 ratio
• Linda Elementary
  Elementary · Marysville · 632 students · 22.6:1 ratio
• Arboga Elementary
  Elementary · Olivehurst · 617 students · 25.7:1 ratio
• Ella Elementary
  Elementary · Olivehurst · 567 students · 25.8:1 ratio