Olive Branch

History

Olive Branch, originally named Watson's Crossroad, was established in 1846 near Chickasaw Indian Trails and incorporated in 1873. It was long inhabited by the Chickasaw people, who settled in northern Mississippi, western Tennessee, northwestern Alabama, and southwestern Kentucky, building homes with local materials. They nurtured park-like lands and utilized abundant waterways for sustenance and trade. Governed democratically, minkos (or chiefs in Chickasaw) led councils of elders. The Natchez Trace Parkway and National Scenic Trail protect parts of the historic trading route. European explorers, including Hernando de Soto in the 1500s, encountered Chickasaw communities and made unfavorable impressions. The Chickasaw minko provided supplies but resisted Spanish demands for enslaved laborers, launching an attack. In the 1700s, they allied with the British, notably defeating the French alongside the Choctaw in the Battle of Ackia. In 1836, among the first permanent settlers in the area were Stephen Flinn and his wife's brother-in-law, Milton Blocker. Blocker acquired his brother-in-law's share of land near Olive Branch, earning him the title “Father of Olive Branch.” Following the Pontotoc Treaty, which allocated specific lands to the Chickasaw, DeSoto County was established in 1836. Blocker paid $1,600 for Sections 34 and 35 from Lush-Pun-Tubby, who shared the story of his tribe's removal during the “Trail of Tears.” Many Choctaw perished on this journey. The Chickasaw resisted removal until 1834, when, despite negotiating with President Andrew Jackson, they were told to move to Indian Territory, leading to the death of Chief Levi Colbert during the journey. Other tribes, such as the Cherokee and Seminole, also faced removal. The Chickasaws signed the Treaty of…

Geography

Olive Branch is located in northeastern DeSoto County, at the junction of U.S. Route 78, and State Highways 302 (known locally as Goodman Road) and 305 (Germantown Road/Cockrum Street). Via US 78 it is northwest to the center of Memphis. The city's northern border is the Mississippi/Tennessee state line. The Memphis city limits touch the western portion of Olive Branch's northern border. The city of Southaven, Mississippi, borders Olive Branch on the west, and unincorporated areas border the city to the east and south. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Olive Branch has a total area of , of which is land and , or 0.56%, is water.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  10,127
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  7,921
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  7,818
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  7,770
• Carolina Chickadee

  Poecile carolinensis (Audubon, 1834) · Aves
  7,480
• House Finch

  Haemorhous mexicanus (P.L.Statius Müller, 1776) · Aves
  7,158
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  6,983
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  6,571

Largest nearby schools

• DESOTO CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
  High · Southaven · 1,995 students · 19:1 ratio
• SOUTHAVEN HIGH SCHOOL
  High · SOUTHAVEN · 1,850 students · 16.5:1 ratio
• DESOTO CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL
  Middle · SOUTHAVEN · 1,468 students · 19.1:1 ratio
• SOUTHAVEN MIDDLE SCHOOL
  Middle · SOUTHAVEN · 1,456 students · 16.4:1 ratio
• LEWISBURG HIGH SCHOOL
  High · OLIVE BRANCH · 1,275 students · 17.2:1 ratio
• OLIVE BRANCH HIGH SCHOOL
  High · OLIVE BRANCH · 1,117 students · 15.5:1 ratio
• PLEASANT HILL ELEMENTARY
  Elementary · Olive Branch · 1,110 students · 14.2:1 ratio
• CENTER HILL HIGH SCHOOL
  High · OLIVE BRANCH · 1,075 students · 17.1:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.75 — 2024-11-16
  8 km W of Henning, Tennessee
• M 3.8 — 2023-12-27
  6 km NE of Etowah, Arkansas
• M 2.86 — 2023-10-11
  10 km W of Henning, Tennessee
• M 2.5 — 2022-11-11
  8 km S of Manila, Arkansas
• M 3.6 — 2020-08-30
  3 km WNW of Marked Tree, Arkansas
• M 2.54 — 2016-11-29
  10 km N of Garland, Tennessee