Page Contents for Olney, Illinois

Statistics & Facts

Location

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Government

Chamber of Commerce.

Organizations, Churches, and Sports.

Libraries.

Schools.

Miscellany

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Statistics & Facts

The Illinois state capital is Springfield.
The population of Olney is approximately 8,470 (2005), 9115 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 4,283 (2000), 3847 (2010).
The amount of land area in Olney is 12.363 sq. kilometers.
The amount of land area in Olney is 5.8 sq. miles.
The amount of surface water is 0 sq kilometers.
The distance from Olney to Washington DC is 628 miles.
The distance to the Illinois state capital is 114 miles. (as the crow flies)
Olney is positioned 38.73 degrees north of the equator and 88.08 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Olney elevation is 490 feet above sea level.
Olney per capita income is $ 16,218 (2000).
Olney median income is $ 29,500 (2005).
The Olney median home price is $ 61,900 (2005).

Location

in southeastern Illinois. Nearby cities include Dundas, Claremont, Parkersburg, Noble, Ste Marie, Sumner, West Salem, Mount Erie and Calhoun. It is about 30 miles west of Vincennes, Indiana.
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History & History Related Items

Olney was settled around 1842 and was chartered as a city in 1867.

When Richland County was formed from Lawrence and Clay Counties in 1841, several sites were proposed for the county seat. One of these was proposed by Judge Aaron Shaw who suggested it be named for his friend, Nathan Olney. The new city and its name were eventually approved by the voters. The courthouse was built in 1842 near where the present-day courthouse is located.
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Attractions

Olney, Illinois is the Home Of The White Squirrels. They have pure white fur and are known as albino squirrels by some. The city policemen have a patch on the shoulder of their uniforms of the white squirrel. The squirrels are protected by the city and there is an annual count of them by a group of volunteers. Here is a page about the White Squirrels that gives varied information about the squirrels including two accounts of their origins in 1902.

Richland Heritage House Museum
A beautiful home from the late 1800s that has been restored. Guided tours are available.

Fall Festival of Arts & Crafts
The Olney Arts Council hosts the Fall Festival of Arts and Crafts every year on the last Saturday in September.
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Olney City Government

City of Olney
300 S. Whittle
Olney, IL 62450
Phone: 618-395-7302
Fax: 618-395-7304

Olney is the county seat of Richland County.

Olney Chamber

Olney Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Richland County Chamber of Commerce
210 East Chestnut
PO Box 575
Olney, IL 62450
Phone: 618-392-2241

Olney Organizations

Olney Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Richland County Chamber of Commerce
210 East Chestnut
PO Box 575
Olney, IL 62450
Phone: 618-392-2241

Olney Libraries

Olney Public Library
400 West Main Street
Olney, IL 62450
Phone: 618-392-3711

Olney Schools

East Richland Community Unit School District 1
1100 E. Laurel
Olney, IL 92450
Phone: 618-395-2324 Olney

Miscellany

The population of Olney was:
1890 - 3,831
1900 - 4,260
1910 - 5,011
1990 - 8,664
2000 - 8,631
2004 - 8,494
2005 - 8,470

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Median household income:
2000 - $ 28,084
2005 - $ 29,500

Median house value:
2000 - $ 57,600
2005 - $ 66,900

Median age:
2000 - 39.3 years