Olive Branch is a city in DeSoto County, Mississippi, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population is 39,711. Olive Branch is part of the Memphis Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region that consists of three counties in southwest Tennessee, five counties in northwest Mississippi, and two counties in eastern Arkansas. Olive Branch was the fastest growing city in the United States, with a buildup rate of 838% as of 2010 in a thirty year times frame. Along bearing in mind other suddenly growing places in DeSoto County, Olive Branch attributes most of its growth and onslaught to the exodus of large numbers of families from central Memphis.

The first permanent Anglo settlers in the Place were Stephen Flinn and his wife’s brother-in-law, Milton Blocker. On April 13, 1836, they purchased 1,280 acres (520 ha) of land – known as Sections 34 and 35 – in newly created DeSoto County from Chickasaw chief Lush-Pun-Tubby for $1,600. Flinn conveyed the house to Blocker for $6,400 in 1840. A small community initially known as “Cowpens” sprang up in the in front 1840s. The publicize was untouched to “Watson’s Crossroads” in 1842. In 1846, when a publish office was established, the post was changed another time to “Olive Branch”. Frances Wilson Blocker, a descendant of one of the community’s founders, suggested the name as a exaggeration to symbolize the biblical description of a dove bringing a branch to Noah. With the exception of a few skirmishes occurring in an area southwest of the community, Olive Branch escaped much of the destruction and mistreat during the Civil War.

Olive Branch was incorporated as a town on May 1, 1874. Ben Wesson was elected as the first mayor. At the first census conducted after incorporation in 1880, the population was 73. Kansas City, Memphis & Birmingham built a railroad lineage through Olive Branch in 1885, connecting the town to Memphis and Birmingham. The town was officially designated a village on March 6, 1888.

At the twist of the 20th century, nearly 200 people lived in Olive Branch. In the ensuing years, several militant amenities were introduced in the village, including the first cotton gin (1910), a public water system (1922), and electrical service (1927). T.H. Norvell’s cheese plant (at the side of present-day BancorpSouth) opened in 1929, becoming the first major industry in Olive Branch. A public sewer system was built, and local streets were paved c. 1940. The village experienced modest accumulation during the bordering few decades, rising from 441 in the 1940 census, to 534 in 1950, and 642 in 1960. Growth accelerated in the 1960s, and by 1970 the population had beyond doubled to 1,513. In 1971, a site located a few miles from downtown Olive Branch was chosen as the home of Holiday Inn University and Conference Center. Simultaneous next construction of the university, Holiday Inn began work upon a 3,000-acre (1,200 ha) industrial park. This was followed by the opening of Olive Branch Airport in January 1973. With a landing field length of 6,000 feet (1,800 m), it is currently one of Mississippi’s five most active airports for landings and takeoffs. U.S. Highway 78 was built through Olive Branch in 1974. Such developments and infrastructure improvements brought an influx of jobs, industries, and people to DeSoto County and Olive Branch.