Located in the north central party of Montgomery County, Olney was number 17 in Money Magazine's 2007 ranking of the 100 Best Places to Live edition. It was originally known as Mechanicsville and was established in 1800. Its unincorporated area encompases 13 square miles. Although not as involved in the Civil War as its neighbors to its West in Maryland, they experienced the mix of loyalty to the plantation economy of the South and the Federal Government so close by.Today Olney has about 32,000 residents with a median household income just under $130,000. Although Olney is largely a residential area it has many cultural opportunities, playing fields, transportation, and parks. It offers the amenities of small town living with the benefits of easy access to DC.