Gene Autry, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Gene Autry is a town in Carter County
, Oklahoma
, United States
. The population was 99 at the 2000 census
. It is part of the Ardmore, Oklahoma
Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
(re)named for stations on the "Main Line" of the Pennsylvania Railroad
. Finally, on November 16, 1941, it was renamed Gene Autry to honor the singer and motion picture star, Gene Autry
. Born in Texas
, Autry's family had moved to Oklahoma
while he was an infant. He was raised in the southern Oklahoma towns of Achille
and Ravia
. In 1939 he bought the 1200 acres (4.9 km²) Flying A Ranch on the west edge of Berwyn and the town decided to honor him by changing its name. Approximately 35,000 people attended the ceremonies broadcast live from the site on Autry's Melody Ranch radio show.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 99 people, 46 households, and 25 families residing in the town. The population density
was 362.7 people per square mile (141.6/km²). There were 55 housing units at an average density of 201.5 per square mile (78.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 78.79% White, 5.05% African American, 7.07% Native American, 1.01% Asian, 5.05% from other races
, and 3.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.08% of the population.
There were 46 households out of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples
living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.5% were non-families. 37.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.2% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 115.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $16,667, and the median income for a family was $20,833. Males had a median income of $31,000 versus $13,750 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $8,295. There were 27.3% of families and 30.0% of the population living below the poverty line, including 39.3% of under eighteens and 22.2% of those over 64.
Carter County, Oklahoma
Carter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010, the population was 47,557. Its county seat is Ardmore.Carter County is part of the Ardmore, Oklahoma, Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, 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...
. The population was 99 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. It is part of the Ardmore, Oklahoma
Ardmore, Oklahoma
Ardmore is a business, cultural and tourism city in and the county seat of Carter County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 24,283, while a 2007 estimate has the Ardmore micropolitan statistical area totaling 56,694 residents...
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Ardmore micropolitan area
The Ardmore Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in South Central Oklahoma, anchored by the city of Ardmore....
.
History
Originally named Lou by C.C. Henderson for his wife, the post office was established July 11, 1883. On November 22, 1883, it was renamed Dresden. The name was changed to Berwyn on September 1, 1887, one of several towns along the Santa Fe railroad line through the Oklahoma TerritoryOklahoma Territory
The Territory of Oklahoma was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 2, 1890, until November 16, 1907, when it was joined with the Indian Territory under a new constitution and admitted to the Union as the State of Oklahoma.-Organization:Oklahoma Territory's...
(re)named for stations on the "Main Line" of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
. Finally, on November 16, 1941, it was renamed Gene Autry to honor the singer and motion picture star, Gene Autry
Gene Autry
Orvon Grover Autry , better known as Gene Autry, was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television for more than three decades beginning in the 1930s...
. Born in Texas
Tioga, Texas
Tioga is a town in Grayson County, Texas, United States. The population was 754 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Sherman–Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, Autry's family had moved to 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...
while he was an infant. He was raised in the southern Oklahoma towns of Achille
Achille, Oklahoma
Achille is a town in Bryan County, Oklahoma, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 506.The town's name comes from a Cherokee word, "atsila", meaning fire.-History:...
and Ravia
Ravia, Oklahoma
Ravia is a town in Johnston County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 459 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Ravia is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
. In 1939 he bought the 1200 acres (4.9 km²) Flying A Ranch on the west edge of Berwyn and the town decided to honor him by changing its name. Approximately 35,000 people attended the ceremonies broadcast live from the site on Autry's Melody Ranch radio show.
Geography
Gene Autry is located at 34°16′55"N 97°2′13"W (34.281858, -97.036927).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 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
Climate
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 99 people, 46 households, and 25 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 362.7 people per square mile (141.6/km²). There were 55 housing units at an average density of 201.5 per square mile (78.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 78.79% White, 5.05% African American, 7.07% Native American, 1.01% Asian, 5.05% 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 3.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.08% of the population.
There were 46 households out of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% 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, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.5% were non-families. 37.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.2% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 115.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $16,667, and the median income for a family was $20,833. Males had a median income of $31,000 versus $13,750 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 $8,295. There were 27.3% of families and 30.0% of the population living below the poverty line, including 39.3% of under eighteens and 22.2% of those over 64.