Olney History

The following information was taken largely from the plaque located at the Georgia Ave/Route 108 intersection which was dedicated by the Rotary Club of Olney.

For a much more detailed history, please visit the Sandy Spring Museum.

1720: Original land grant of 2,550 acres from King George II of England
1760: Area known as Fair Hill after first house built
1800: Olney House built and named after Olney, England
1826: Mechanicsville Post Office established at Fair Hill, then a Quaker school.
1849: Toll gates here on the Brookeville-Washington Turnpike
1851: Olney Post Office established by the U.S. Postal Service
1864: Rebel and Union soldiers passed through
1873: Olney Grange Hall #7 built on this site
1875: Olney public school located west of present St. John's Church
1880: Population of Olney 80 persons
1978: Crossroads of Routes 97 and 108 demolished for widening of intersection
1980: Greater Olney population at 15,300
1994: Greater Olney population over 29,500
1994: Brookeville celebrated its Bicentennial
1995: Montgomery General Hospital celebrated its 75th anniversary
1999: Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department celebrated its 75th anniversary
2000: Greater Olney population over 40,000