Foss, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Foss is a town in Washita County
, Oklahoma
, United States
. At one time the town had a population of nearly 1000 residents. During World War II
, the town boasted a population of over 300 residents, relying primarily on Route 66
travellers (which passed half a mile south of the city) and a U.S. naval base south of the town that operated during wartime. A gas station and a café
also operated in the town around that time. The population was 151 at the 2010 census
.
to be called Graham, but since that name was already taken it was named Maharg. A flash flood
on May 2, 1902 wiped out the town on Turkey Creek, destroying businesses and drowning several people. The town rebuilt on higher ground and was named Foss. The post office began operation on September 15, 1900.
The town expanded rapidly. By 1905 the town had a population between 900 and 1000 residents. It boasted two bank
s, three cotton gin
s, and by 1912 had an electric plant, two hotel
s and an opera house
. The population stabilized near 500. In the 1920s the town began to have problems and the nearby cities of Clinton
and Elk City
absorbed more and more trade.
During the Great Depression
more people moved away; though in the 1950s and 1960s there was an economic revival due to the nearby Air Force
installation at Burns Flat. When the base closed and Interstate 40
bypassed Foss the town declined further. The last bank left in September 1977.
Foss had two newspaper
s, the Foss Enterprise and the Foss Banner. It was served by the Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad (Rock Island)
railroad.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 127 people, 55 households, and 38 families residing in the town. The population density
was 174.9 people per square mile (67.2/km²). There were 69 housing units at an average density of 95.0 per square mile (36.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 81.89% White, 7.09% Native American, 0.79% Asian, 3.94% from other races
, and 6.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.87% of the population.
There were 55 households out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were married couples
living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 31.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $29,375, and the median income for a family was $33,750. Males had a median income of $35,750 versus $15,625 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $12,168. There were 11.1% of families and 10.4% of the population living below the poverty line, including 11.4% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.
Washita County, Oklahoma
Washita County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 11,508. Its county seat is New Cordell. It was formerly located in Cloud Chief, Oklahoma....
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. At one time the town had a population of nearly 1000 residents. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the town boasted a population of over 300 residents, relying primarily on Route 66
U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. Highway System. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year...
travellers (which passed half a mile south of the city) and a U.S. naval base south of the town that operated during wartime. A gas station and a café
Café
A café , also spelled cafe, in most countries refers to an establishment which focuses on serving coffee, like an American coffeehouse. In the United States, it may refer to an informal restaurant, offering a range of hot meals and made-to-order sandwiches...
also operated in the town around that time. The population was 151 at the 2010 census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...
.
History
The history of Foss began when settlers from the area of the Wilson post office moved four miles north to the valley of Turkey Creek in the late 1890s. They initially wanted their new post officePost office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
to be called Graham, but since that name was already taken it was named Maharg. A flash flood
Flash flood
A flash flood is a rapid flooding of geomorphic low-lying areas—washes, rivers, dry lakes and basins. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a storm, hurricane, or tropical storm or meltwater from ice or snow flowing over ice sheets or snowfields...
on May 2, 1902 wiped out the town on Turkey Creek, destroying businesses and drowning several people. The town rebuilt on higher ground and was named Foss. The post office began operation on September 15, 1900.
The town expanded rapidly. By 1905 the town had a population between 900 and 1000 residents. It boasted two bank
Bank
A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...
s, three cotton gin
Cotton gin
A cotton gin is a machine that quickly and easily separates cotton fibers from their seeds, a job formerly performed painstakingly by hand...
s, and by 1912 had an electric plant, two hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
s and an opera house
Opera house
An opera house is a theatre building used for opera performances that consists of a stage, an orchestra pit, audience seating, and backstage facilities for costumes and set building...
. The population stabilized near 500. In the 1920s the town began to have problems and the nearby cities of Clinton
Clinton, Oklahoma
Clinton is a city in Custer and Washita counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 9,033 at the 2010 census.-History:The community began in 1899 when two men, J.L. Avant and E.E...
and Elk City
Elk City, Oklahoma
Elk City is a city in Beckham County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 11,693 at the 2010 census. Elk City is located on Interstate 40 and Historic U.S. Route 66 in Western Oklahoma, approximately west of Oklahoma City and east of Amarillo....
absorbed more and more trade.
During the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
more people moved away; though in the 1950s and 1960s there was an economic revival due to the nearby Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
installation at Burns Flat. When the base closed and Interstate 40
Interstate 40 in Oklahoma
Interstate 40 is an Interstate Highway in Oklahoma that runs 331 miles across the state from Texas to Arkansas. West of Oklahoma City, it parallels and replaces Old US-66, and east of Oklahoma City, it parallels US-62, US-266 and US-64.Cities along the route include Erick, Sayre, Elk City,...
bypassed Foss the town declined further. The last bank left in September 1977.
Foss had two newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
s, the Foss Enterprise and the Foss Banner. It was served by the Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad (Rock Island)
Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad
The Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad , known informally as the "Choctaw Route," was an American railroad located in located in Arkansas, and Oklahoma. The company, originally known as the Choctaw Coal and Railway Company, completed its main line between West Memphis, Arkansas and western...
railroad.
Geography
Foss is located at 35°27′12"N 99°10′15"W (35.453305, -99.170754), elevation 1,629 feet (497 m).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 127 people, 55 households, and 38 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 174.9 people per square mile (67.2/km²). There were 69 housing units at an average density of 95.0 per square mile (36.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 81.89% White, 7.09% Native American, 0.79% Asian, 3.94% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 6.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.87% of the population.
There were 55 households out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 31.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $29,375, and the median income for a family was $33,750. Males had a median income of $35,750 versus $15,625 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $12,168. There were 11.1% of families and 10.4% of the population living below the poverty line, including 11.4% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.