Olean, Missouri Explained

Official Name:Olean, Missouri
Settlement Type:Town
Mapsize:250px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Missouri
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Miller
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:0.45
Area Land Km2:0.45
Area Water Km2:0.00
Area Total Sq Mi:0.17
Area Land Sq Mi:0.17
Area Water Sq Mi:0.00
Population As Of:2020
Population Footnotes:[2]
Population Total:114
Population Density Km2:254.58
Population Density Sq Mi:658.96
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Ft:781
Coordinates:38.4103°N -92.53°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:65064
Area Code:573
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:29-54560[3]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:2396832

Olean is a town in northern Miller County, Missouri, United States. The population was 114 at the 2020 census.[2]

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.[4] [5] Attribution to Dr. W.S. Allee appear not to be true, as Allee never lived in or visited New York State.[6]

At the turn of the 20th century, Olean contained a gristmill and a canning factory.[7]

The railroad left the community in 1962; its station is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[8]

Since 1993, the community has hosted an annual Testicle Festival featuring cooked testicles from various animals.[9] [10] [11] 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, 6miles north-northeast of Eldon and southwest of Jefferson City, the state capital. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Olean has an area of 0.17sqmi, all land.[1] 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.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census[12] of 2010, there were 128 people, 57 households, and 29 families residing in the village. The population density was 752.9PD/sqmi. There were 67 housing units at an average density of 394.1/sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 90.6% White, 5.5% African American, and 3.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.1% of the population.

There were 57 households, of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.3% were married couples living together, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 1.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 49.1% were non-families. 38.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 3.10.

The median age in the village was 42.5 years. 21.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.9% were from 25 to 44; 35.9% were from 45 to 64; and 8.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 53.1% male and 46.9% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 157 people, 62 households, and 40 families residing in the town. The population density was 922sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 67 housing units at an average density of 393.4sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the town was 97.45% White, 1.27% Native American, and 1.27% from two or more races.

There were 62 households, out of which 41.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.7% were married couples living together, 22.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the town the population was spread out, with 36.9% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 12.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was foodstamps. Males had a median income of $24,167 versus -$22,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $10,296. About 17.4% of families and 24.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.4% of those under the age of eighteen and 48.1% of those 65 or over.

References

  1. Web site: 2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Missouri . United States Census Bureau . April 16, 2024.
  2. Web site: P1. Race – Olean town, Missouri: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171). U.S. Census Bureau. April 17, 2024.
  3. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. January 31, 2008.
  4. Web site: Miller County, Missouri Place Names, 1928-1945 - The State Historical Society of Missouri. shs.umsystem.edu.
  5. Web site: Olean Community - Miller County Historical Society. www.millercountymuseum.org.
  6. Web site: State and Union: Seeking Out Olean, Mo..
  7. Book: The State of Missouri . Williams, Walter . 1904 . 447.
  8. Web site: Info . https://web.archive.org/web/20100529052245/http://www.dnr.mo.gov/shpo/nps-nr/93001452.pdf . May 29, 2010 . live . www.dnr.mo.gov .
  9. Web site: The 20th Annual Olean Testicle Festival! A Favorite event at the Lake of the Ozarks : Lake of the Ozarks Events and Vacation Guide . June 4, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130504001214/http://lakeoftheozarksvacation.com/june-1-2013-20th-annual-olean-testicle-festival/ . May 4, 2013 . dead .
  10. Web site: 2018-05-29 . Olean Testicle Festival to celebrate 25th anniversary Jefferson City News-Tribune . 2024-06-12 . www.newstribune.com . en.
  11. Web site: Olean, Missouri, Goes Balls-Out for Turkey Testicles - St. Louis - Restaurants and Dining - Gut Check . June 4, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130604031208/http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/gutcheck/2010/05/olean_missouri_testicle_festival_jaycees.php . June 4, 2013 . dead .
  12. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. July 8, 2012.