Along with other rapidly growing places in DeSoto County, Olive Branch attributes most of its growth and development to the exodus of large numbers of families from central Memphis.

[citation needed] Among the first permanent settlers in the area 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, equal to $44,393 today.

Frances Wilson Blocker, a descendant of one of the community's founders, suggested the name as a way to symbolize the biblical story of a dove bringing a branch to Noah.

In the ensuing years, several modern amenities were introduced in the village, including the first cotton gin (1910), a public water system (1922), and electrical service (1927).

Norvell's cheese plant (at the side of present-day Cadence Bank) opened in 1929, becoming the first major industry in Olive Branch.

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 with construction of the university, Holiday Inn began work on a 3,000-acre (1,200 ha) industrial park.

Such developments and infrastructure improvements brought an influx of jobs, industries, and people to DeSoto County and Olive Branch.

[citation needed] The 1990s were a period of explosive growth in the city; 3,567 people lived in Olive Branch at the 1990 census.

[citation needed] Olive Branch is located in northeastern DeSoto County, at the junction of U.S. Route 78, and State Highways 302 (known locally as Goodman Road) and 305 (Germantown Road/Cockrum Street).