Stroud, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Stroud is a city in Creek
and Lincoln
counties in the U.S. state
of Oklahoma
. The population was 2,758 at the 2000 census
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 12.5 square miles (32.3 km²), of which, 11.5 square miles (29.8 km²) of it is land and 1.0 square miles (2.6 km²) of it (7.93%) is water.
of 2000, there were 2,758 people, 1,139 households, and 731 families residing in the city. The population density
was 239.9 people per square mile (92.6/km²). There were 1,325 housing units at an average density of 115.3 per square mile (44.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.72% White, 3.66% African American, 8.45% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.47% from other races
, and 3.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.45% of the population.
There were 1,139 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples
living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,222, and the median income for a family was $31,742. Males had a median income of $26,076 versus $18,250 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,010. About 12.3% of families and 17.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.6% of those under age 18 and 14.8% of those age 65 or over.
. These days were short-lived, however, because Oklahoma statehood forced Stroud to become "dry" as well.
On March 27, 1915 Stroud became the victim of the legendary outlaw
Henry Starr
as he attempted to rob two banks at one time. "Henry Starr, along with six other men, decided to rob two banks at the same time... The [Stroud] robbery would prove... disastrous for Henry Starr. Proceeding to rob the Stroud National Bank and the First National Bank, word of the holdup spread quickly and the citizens took up arms against the bandits. Henry and another outlaw named Lewis Estes were wounded and captured in the gun battle. The rest of the gang escaped with $5815...". Henry would be sentenced to prison at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary
, but would be paroled after serving only four years.
The town became quiet until about 1926 when U.S. Route 66
was built through it. When construction was completed, Stroud became a rest stop with amenities like motels, gas stations and restaurants. The most notable restaurant is the Rock Cafe, built from rocks removed during the construction of Route 66. A fire gutted the restaurant in 2008; it has since been rebuilt and is now open for business once more.
Stroud was devastated by the 1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak, which destroyed the town's 53-store Tanger Outlet Center, as well as a distribution center owned by foodservice company Sygma. Neither of these facilities were rebuilt, causing a significant amount of economic distress to the city.
Creek County, Oklahoma
Creek County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010, the population was 69,967. Its county seat is Sapulpa.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and is water....
and Lincoln
Lincoln County, Oklahoma
Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population as of 2010 was 34,273. It is part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Statistical Area.Its county seat is Chandler....
counties in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. The population was 2,758 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...
.
Geography
Stroud is located at 35°45′33"N 96°39′8"W (35.759098, -96.652162).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 city has a total area of 12.5 square miles (32.3 km²), of which, 11.5 square miles (29.8 km²) of it is land and 1.0 square miles (2.6 km²) of it (7.93%) is water.
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 2,758 people, 1,139 households, and 731 families residing in the city. 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 239.9 people per square mile (92.6/km²). There were 1,325 housing units at an average density of 115.3 per square mile (44.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.72% White, 3.66% African American, 8.45% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.47% 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 3.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.45% of the population.
There were 1,139 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% 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, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,222, and the median income for a family was $31,742. Males had a median income of $26,076 versus $18,250 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 city was $15,010. About 12.3% of families and 17.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.6% of those under age 18 and 14.8% of those age 65 or over.
History
Stroud was founded in 1892 and named for James Stroud, a trader. Early in its history the town had a reputation as a "wild" town due to its many saloons and other businesses catering to thirsty cowboys and travelers arriving from "dry" Indian TerritoryIndian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
. These days were short-lived, however, because Oklahoma statehood forced Stroud to become "dry" as well.
On March 27, 1915 Stroud became the victim of the legendary outlaw
Outlaw
In historical legal systems, an outlaw is declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, this takes the burden of active prosecution of a criminal from the authorities. Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
Henry Starr
Henry Starr
Henry Starr was an American outlaw: specifically, a horse thief and train robber. He was also convicted of murder once, of U.S. Deputy Marshal on December 13, 1892. Henry Starr claimed in court to not have known he was a U.S. Marshal and only to know that a man had opened fire on him without...
as he attempted to rob two banks at one time. "Henry Starr, along with six other men, decided to rob two banks at the same time... The [Stroud] robbery would prove... disastrous for Henry Starr. Proceeding to rob the Stroud National Bank and the First National Bank, word of the holdup spread quickly and the citizens took up arms against the bandits. Henry and another outlaw named Lewis Estes were wounded and captured in the gun battle. The rest of the gang escaped with $5815...". Henry would be sentenced to prison at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary
Oklahoma State Penitentiary
The Oklahoma State Penitentiary is located in McAlester, Oklahoma, on . It is a prison of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. Opened in 1908 with 50 inmates in makeshift facilities, today the prison holds more than 1,200 male offenders, the vast majority of which are maximum-security inmates...
, but would be paroled after serving only four years.
The town became quiet until about 1926 when U.S. 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...
was built through it. When construction was completed, Stroud became a rest stop with amenities like motels, gas stations and restaurants. The most notable restaurant is the Rock Cafe, built from rocks removed during the construction of Route 66. A fire gutted the restaurant in 2008; it has since been rebuilt and is now open for business once more.
Stroud was devastated by the 1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak, which destroyed the town's 53-store Tanger Outlet Center, as well as a distribution center owned by foodservice company Sygma. Neither of these facilities were rebuilt, causing a significant amount of economic distress to the city.
National Register of Historic Places
- Bon Ton House
- Joseph Carpenter HouseJoseph Carpenter HouseThe Joseph Carpenter house is the oldest and best preserved Prairie Style house in Stroud, Lincoln County, Oklahoma. It was erected at 204 West 6th Street in 1913 as the residence of Joseph R. and Lovenia Carpenter. A -story structure, it features a hipped roof with a combination of stucco and...
- Graham Hotel
- Hadley House
- Walter Hadley House
- Hotel Lincoln
- George Hughes House
- William Alfred Mensch Building
- Rock Café
- Southwestern Bell Telephone Building
- James W. Stroud House
- Stroud Trading Company Building
- Moses Keokuk House
- Old Stroud School
- Ozark Trails Section of Route 66
External links
- http://www.cityofstroud.com/