Editing Olney, Illinois

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Olney
| official_name = 
| native_name = 
| native_name_lang = 
| other_name = 
| settlement_type = [[List of municipalities in Illinois|City]]
| image_skyline = Chestnut and Whittle in Olney.jpg
| imagesize = 
| image_alt = 
| image_caption = Front and northern side of the former Olney CNB Bank, located at 202 S. Whittle Street in Olney
| image_flag = Flag of Olney, Illinois.png
| image_seal = 
| image_blank_emblem = Logo of Olney, Illinois.png
| blank_emblem_type = logo
| etymology = 
| nickname = 
| motto = "Home of the White Squirrel"
| anthem = 
| image_map = File:Richland County Illinois Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Olney Highlighted.svg
| mapsize = 
| map_alt = 
| map_caption = Location of Olney in Richland County, Illinois
| image_map1 = Illinois in United States (US48).svg
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| map_caption1 = Location of Illinois in the United States
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| coordinates = {{coord|38|43|42|N|88|05|02|W|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint = 
| coordinates_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| grid_name = 
| grid_position = 
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = United States
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = Illinois
| subdivision_type2 = County
| subdivision_name2 = [[Richland County, Illinois|Richland]]
| subdivision_type3 = Township
| subdivision_name3 = 
| subdivision_type4 = 
| subdivision_name4 = 
| established_title = Founded
| established_date = 1848 
| established_title1 = 
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| seat = 
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| government_footnotes = 
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| governing_body = 
| leader_party = 
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Mark Lambird 
| leader_title1 = Mayor
| leader_name1 = 
| total_type = 
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_17.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 15, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 17.95
| area_total_sq_mi = 6.93
| area_land_km2 = 17.95
| area_land_sq_mi = 6.93
| area_water_km2 = 0.00
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.00
| area_water_percent = 
| area_metro_footnotes = 
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| area_metro_sq_mi = 
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| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft = 489
| elevation_point = 
| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total = 8701
| pop_est_as_of = 
| pop_est_footnotes = 
| population_est = 
| population_rank = 
| population_density_km2 = 484.70
| population_density_sq_mi = 1255.37
| population_metro_footnotes = 
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| timezone1 = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset1 = -6
| timezone1_DST = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST = -5
| timezone2 = 
| utc_offset2 = 
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| postal_code_type = [[ZIP code|ZIP Code(s)]]
| postal_code = 62450
| postal2_code_type = 
| postal2_code = 
| area_code_type = 
| area_code = [[Area code 618#United States|618]]
| geocode = 
| iso_code = 
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 17–55912
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 2396060<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2396060}}</ref>
| blank_name_sec2 = 
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| blank1_name_sec2 = 
| blank1_info_sec2 = 
| blank2_name_sec2 = Wikimedia Commons
| blank2_info_sec2 = Olney, Illinois
| website = {{URL|http://www.ci.olney.il.us/}}
| footnotes = 
}}

'''Olney''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɔː|l|n|i}} {{respell|AWL|nee}}) is the [[county seat]] in [[Richland County, Illinois|Richland County]], [[Illinois]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Morrison |first=Kate |url=https://archive.org/details/historicalsketch00firs/ |title=Historical Sketch of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Olney, Illinois, 1841&ndash;1909 |chapter=The Church |via=Internet Archive}}</ref>{{rp|5}}<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=2011-06-07|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref>  The population was 9,115 at the time of the 2010 census.

== History ==
[[File:Olney, IL, Baseball Team, 1893. Ollie Pickering, top row, far right.jpg|thumb|left|Olney, IL, Baseball Team, 1893. Ollie Pickering, top row, far right.]]

Settlement of the Richland County area began around 1815 when Thaddeus Morehouse, a native of Vermont, arrived by wagon and built a log cabin along a stagecoach route that ran from Vincennes, Indiana to St. Louis. This log cabin operated as a hotel and tavern.

Richland County was organized as a county in 1841, when it was formed by a partitioning of [[Clay County, Illinois|Clay]] and [[Lawrence County, Illinois|Lawrence]] counties. There was some controversy regarding the location of the county seat; however, Olney was determined as the choice based on a donation of land and the central location. The name of the town Olney was suggested by Judge Aaron Shaw who desired to honor a friend, Nathan Olney. It was not until 1848 that Olney was incorporated as a village.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}

The Civil War brought a great deal of turmoil to the county as there were sympathies for both sides. While most citizens rallied around the Union it was necessary to have troops stationed in Olney to enforce the draft as union deserters found refuge among local citizens. Overall, the county was pro-Union and an estimated 1,700 Richland County citizens fought for the Union in the Civil war. Nearly 1,000 Olney residents served in World War I, and during World War II, Richland County may have been the only Illinois county outside of Cook that provided four generals for the war effort.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}

Among the mayors of Olney was J. B. Porter, noted as an ex-mayor in a 1912 note about his being wounded by gunfire after whipping a man over some unresolved quarrel.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045487/1912-12-23/ed-1/seq-26/|title=Outside News From Wire and Cable|last=Staff|date=December 23, 1912|work=The Day Book|issue=73|location=Chicago, Illinois|volume=2|page=26|via=Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers (Lib. of Congress)}}</ref>

The first census of Richland County was in 1850 at which time 4,012 people resided in the county. One hundred years later the 1950 census found a spot north of Olney near [[Dundas, Illinois|Dundas]] to be the [[Mean center of United States population|population center]] of the United States.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}

== Geography ==

Olney is located at {{Coord|38|44|N|88|5|W|type:city}} (38.7306, -88.0819).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the 2010 census, Olney has a total area of {{convert|6.664|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|6.66|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 99.94%) is land and {{convert|0.004|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 0.06%) is water.<ref name="census-g001">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1755912
  |title=G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1
  |access-date=2015-12-27
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213071040/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1755912
  |archive-date=2020-02-13
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

===Climate===
{{Weather box
|location = Olney 2S, Illinois (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1896–present)
|single line = Y
|width = auto
| Jan record high F = 75
| Feb record high F = 78
| Mar record high F = 89
| Apr record high F = 91
| May record high F = 98
| Jun record high F = 106
| Jul record high F = 112
| Aug record high F = 109
| Sep record high F = 106
| Oct record high F = 97
| Nov record high F = 83
| Dec record high F = 74
| year record high F = 112
| Jan high F = 37.8
| Feb high F = 42.7
| Mar high F = 53.4
| Apr high F = 65.6
| May high F = 75.1
| Jun high F = 84.1
| Jul high F = 86.8
| Aug high F = 85.8
| Sep high F = 80.4
| Oct high F = 68.5
| Nov high F = 53.9
| Dec high F = 42.3
| year high F = 64.7
| Jan mean F = 29.3
| Feb mean F = 33.3
| Mar mean F = 42.9
| Apr mean F = 54.2
| May mean F = 64.2
| Jun mean F = 73.2
| Jul mean F = 76.2
| Aug mean F = 74.8
| Sep mean F = 68.1
| Oct mean F = 56.4
| Nov mean F = 43.7
| Dec mean F = 34.0
| year mean F = 54.2
| Jan low F = 20.8
| Feb low F = 23.9
| Mar low F = 32.3
| Apr low F = 42.7
| May low F = 53.3
| Jun low F = 62.4
| Jul low F = 65.6
| Aug low F = 63.8
| Sep low F = 55.8
| Oct low F = 44.3
| Nov low F = 33.5
| Dec low F = 25.7
| year low F = 43.7
| Jan record low F = −24
| Feb record low F = −25
| Mar record low F = −15
| Apr record low F = 21
| May record low F = 29
| Jun record low F = 36
| Jul record low F = 45
| Aug record low F = 41
| Sep record low F = 27
| Oct record low F = 17
| Nov record low F = -2
| Dec record low F = −19
| year record low F = -25
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 3.52
| Feb precipitation inch = 2.57
| Mar precipitation inch = 4.21
| Apr precipitation inch = 5.02
| May precipitation inch = 5.60
| Jun precipitation inch = 4.79
| Jul precipitation inch = 4.96
| Aug precipitation inch = 3.19
| Sep precipitation inch = 3.31
| Oct precipitation inch = 3.83
| Nov precipitation inch = 4.26
| Dec precipitation inch = 3.50
| year precipitation inch = 48.76
| Jan snow inch = 3.6
| Feb snow inch = 2.6
| Mar snow inch = 1.1
| Apr snow inch = 0.0
| May snow inch = 0.0
| Jun snow inch = 0.0
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 0.0
| Oct snow inch = 0.0
| Nov snow inch = 0.5
| Dec snow inch = 2.7
| year snow inch = 10.5
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 10.6
| Feb precipitation days = 8.7
| Mar precipitation days = 11.8
| Apr precipitation days = 11.2
| May precipitation days = 12.7
| Jun precipitation days = 10.5
| Jul precipitation days = 9.2
| Aug precipitation days = 8.1
| Sep precipitation days = 7.7
| Oct precipitation days = 9.1
| Nov precipitation days = 9.6
| Dec precipitation days = 10.9
| year precipitation days = 120.1
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 2.9
| Feb snow days = 2.1
| Mar snow days = 0.7
| Apr snow days = 0.0
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.0
| Nov snow days = 0.4
| Dec snow days = 1.9
| year snow days = 8.0
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name= nws>
{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=ilx
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = July 21, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00116446&format=pdf
| title = Station: Olney 2S, IL
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = July 21, 2021}}</ref>
}}

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
|1860= 1435
|1870= 2680
|1880= 3512
|1890= 3831
|1900= 4260
|1910= 5011
|1920= 4491
|1930= 6140
|1940= 7831
|1950= 8612
|1960= 8780
|1970= 8974
|1980= 9026
|1990= 8664
|2000= 8631
|2010= 9115
|2020= 8701
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 8,631 people, 3,755 households, and 2,301 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,498.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 4,283 housing units at an average density of {{convert|743.5|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.67% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.48% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.16% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.64% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.32% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.70% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] people of any race were 0.96% of the population.

There were 3,755 households, out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.7% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.8% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,084 and the median income for a family was $37,365. Males had a median income of $29,547 versus $18,440 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,218. About 13.0% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 21.9% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
The City of Olney government consists of a part-time mayor, four city council members, and a full-time city manager. The current mayor is Mark Lambird.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Elected officials<ref>{{cite web |title=The City of Olney, Illinois |url=https://www.ci.olney.il.us/departments/index.php |website=www.ci.olney.il.us |publisher=City of Olney |access-date=27 February 2021}}</ref>
|-
! Office !! Office holder
|-
| Mayor || Mark Lambird
|-
| City councilperson (District 1) || John McLaughlin
|-
| City councilperson (District 2) || Belinda Henton
|-
| City councilperson (District 3) || Morgan Fehrenbacher
|-
| City councilperson (District 4) || Greg Eyer
|- 
| City manager || Allen Barker
|-
| City clerk || Kelsie Sterchi
|-
| City treasurer || Jane Guinn
|-
| City attorney || Bartley Zuber
|}

== Education ==

===Post-secondary education===
* [[Olney Central College]]

===Public Education===

* [[Richland County High School]]
* [[Richland County Middle School]]

===Private Education===

* [[St. Joesph Catholic School Pre-K to 8th Grade]]
* [[Full Armor Christian School Pre-K to 8th Grade]]

== Notable people ==
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· The article must mention how they are associated with Olney, whether born, raised, or residing.
· The fact of their association should have a reliable source cited.
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· All others will be deleted.
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* [[Terry L. Bruce]], Illinois state senator and United States congressman; born in Olney<ref>{{cite web|url=  http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000971|title= BRUCE, Terry Lee, (1944 - )|publisher=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|access-date= February 11, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Glenn Brummer]], catcher for the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] and [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]]<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/brummgl01.shtml |title=Glenn Edward Brummer |publisher=Baseball-Reference.Com|access-date= February 11, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Glenn Goodart]], hotel manager and politician; died in Olney in 1948<ref>{{cite news | title=Commissioner Glenn Goodart dies in Olney | work=Daily Republican Register | date=8 November 1948 }}</ref>
* [[Reginald C. Harmon]], first [[United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps|U.S. Air Force judge advocate general]]; mayor of [[Urbana, Illinois]]; born in Olney<ref>{{cite book|last=Kerns|first=Patricia|title=The First 50 Years: U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General's Department|date=2004|publisher=Government Printing Office|page=190|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z3-MlqecsWgC&q=Reginald+C.+Harmon+Olney%2C+Illinois&pg=PA190|isbn=9780160515903}}</ref>
* [[James R. Lindsay]], U.S. Army brigadier general; born in Olney<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/6474275?mark=7b22746f6b656e223a227a2b78374a5a592b5330515759493277346a63597a2b53586c636772327655353557455779537a66764a303d222c22746f6b656e5f76657273696f6e223a225632227d |title=Kentucky Death Records, 1852-1965, Entry for James R. Lindsay |date=April 25, 1940 |website=Ancestry.com |publisher=Ancestry.com LLC |location=Lehi, UT |access-date=September 23, 2023 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name="General">{{cite news |date=February 13, 1919 |title=General "Bob" Lindsay |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/olney-advocate-general/132292606/ |work=Olney Advocate |location=Olney, IL |page=4 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/6474643?mark=7b22746f6b656e223a225575484c6a6e7361514c566e69486f4c466a32546c464e464c4b5a51496e6863764647544e6e456b7679553d222c22746f6b656e5f76657273696f6e223a225632227d |title=U.S., Civil War and Later Wars, Remarried Widow Pension Applications Index, Entry for Milton C. Lindsay and Melissa Berninger |website=Ancestry.com |publisher=Ancestry.com LLC |location=Lehi, UT |access-date=September 23, 2023 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
* [[Butch Lockley]], reality television personality known for ''[[Survivor: The Amazon]]''
* [[Herbert Murphy]], shortstop for the [[Philadelphia Phillies]]; born in Olney<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/murphdu01.shtml|title=Herbert Murphy Stats|publisher=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=May 18, 2021}}</ref>
* [[Ollie Pickering]], outfielder for the six [[Major League Baseball]] teams; born in Olney<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pickeol01.shtml |title=Ollie Pickering  |publisher=Baseball-Reference.Com|access-date= February 11, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Stan Royer]], infielder for the [[Boston Red Sox]] and [[St. Louis Cardinals]]; born in Olney<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/royerst01.shtml|title=Stanley Dean Royer|publisher=Baseball-Reference.Com|access-date= February 11, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Elaine Shepard]], actress; born in Olney

== Media ==

Olney is served by the ''Olney Gazette'',<ref>[http://www.olneygazettenews.com ''Olney Gazette'']</ref> a weekly newspaper founded in 2017.

[[WUSI-TV]] (Channel 16) is licensed to Olney. Its studio and transmitter are located outside of town. WUSI-TV is a PBS affiliate operated by the Broadcasting Service of Southern Illinois University.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{EB1911 poster|Olney, U.S.A.}}
*{{Official website|http://www.ci.olney.il.us/}}

{{Richland County, Illinois}}
{{Illinois county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Richland County, Illinois]]
[[Category:Cities in Illinois]]
[[Category:County seats in Illinois]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1848]]
[[Category:1848 establishments in Illinois]]