Olean

History

The community was laid in 1881-1882 by the Jefferson City, Lebanon and Southwestern Railway which became the Missouri Pacific Railroad. It was originally called "Proctor", after James G. Proctor, who was an early settler. The name was rejected because there was another Procter in Missouri. It was then changed to "Cove" because of its semicircular shape. That name was also rejected because of another similar name in the state. "Chester" was suggested but again was rejected because there was another Chester on the rail line. Ultimately, the railroad company imposed the name "Olean", after Olean, New York, apparently on a lark, as no documentation survives explaining any reasoning for choosing a city with no connections to the town in Missouri, which in turn had no connection to oil. Attribution to Dr. W.S. Allee appear not to be true, as Allee never lived in or visited New York State. At the turn of the 20th century, Olean contained a gristmill and a canning factory. The railroad left the community in 1962; its station is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Since 1993, the community has hosted an annual Testicle Festival featuring cooked testicles from various animals. The festival wasn't held for several due to COVID-19 pandemic. The Olean Railroad Depot was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

Geography

Olean is in northern Miller County, north-northeast of Eldon and southwest of Jefferson City, the state capital. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Olean has an area of , all land. Blythe Creek passes through the southeast part of the town, flowing northeasterly toward South Moreau Creek, part of the Moreau watershed leading to the Missouri River.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  600
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  494
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  473
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  450
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  439
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  439
• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  421
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  406