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Colcord, Oklahoma

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Colcord, Oklahoma
Town
Location of Colcord, Oklahoma
Location of Colcord, Oklahoma
CountryUnited States
StateOklahoma
CountyDelaware
Area
 • Total2.44 sq mi (6.33 km2)
 • Land2.44 sq mi (6.33 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation
1,148 ft (357 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total815
 • Density333/sq mi (128.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
74338
Area code(s)539/918
FIPS code40-16100[1]
GNIS feature ID1091553[2]

Colcord is a small farming town in southern Delaware County, Oklahoma, United States. The community lies in the northeastern part of the state in a region known as Green Country. The population was 815 at the 2010 census,[3] a slight decline from 819 at the 2000 census.[4]

History

Colcord's history starts decades before the establishment of the town itself, with the community of Row, Indian Territory, in the 1890s. As settlers moved to the area, the town of Row grew and businesses formed, including a bank, a school, a hotel, and others. A Post Office was established on May 20, 1905.[4]

In the 1920s, a road (later known as Oklahoma State Highway 116) was built that passed 1 mile (1.6 km) south of the then-healthy town of Row. A rural mail carrier, Charles Burbage, who owned land to the south where the new road was established, platted 64.8 acres (0.262 km2) into blocks, lots and streets. The area grew into a community known as "Little Tulsa" to locals, until residents changed the name in September 1928 to "Colcord," after Charles Francis Colcord. Mr. Colcord was a successful and prominent cattle rancher, oil businessman, and early Oklahoma Territory lawman from Oklahoma City, who owned a large ranch west of the two towns.[4] The ranch employed many local residents, and was very important to the economy and spirit of the area.

Colcord High School

Due to better transportation and a disastrous fire that wiped out many buildings in Row, most businesses moved to Colcord, [5] and the new town was approved to build a high school. A feud between the two towns ensued, and in the first eleven years of Colcord's existence, the school was involved in eleven lawsuits.

Colcord High School, August 2011

The community's "Old Settlers Day" on the second Saturday of June each year[4][6] to honor its heritage and the many people that settled in the area and established the town.

New Life Ranch

New Life Ranch

New Life Ranch (NLR) is a nearby 1,000-acre (4.0 km2) Christian camp which functions as a summer camp for kids in grades 3-12 and a retreat center throughout the rest of the year.[7] Children and teenagers from all over the United States attend the camp, participating in one-week resident sessions June through August. In 2013 approximately 20,000 people attended camps and retreats hosted at NLR.[7]

Summer camp activities are primarily outdoor, including archery, biking, canoeing, rappelling, horseback riding, riflery, ropes courses, swimming, and tennis.[8]

Natural Falls State Park

Highway 412 West, Colcord, OK 74338 Natural Falls State Park is one of the most beautiful scenic wonders in the state of Oklahoma. Where the Red Fern Grows... The natural setting and scenic beauty of the waterfall is known to millions of movie lovers. The popular 1974 film Where the Red Fern Grows was filmed in part at Natural Falls (then called Dripping Springs). The movie tells the story of a young boy growing up in rural Oklahoma during the hard times of the Great Depression and is considered an American classic.

Geography

Colcord is located in southeastern Delaware County at 36°15′55″N 94°41′32″W / 36.26528°N 94.69222°W / 36.26528; -94.69222 (36.265179, -94.692240).[9] It is 9 miles (14 km) northeast of Kansas, Oklahoma, 18 miles (29 km) southeast of Jay, the Delaware county seat, and 6 miles (10 km) west of the Oklahoma-Arkansas state line.[10]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.44 square miles (6.33 km2), all of it land.[3]

Economy

The area surrounding Colcord is mostly farming and cattle, poultry and dairy operations.[4]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1960173—
1970438153.2%
198053021.0%
199062818.5%
200081930.4%
2010815−0.5%
2015 (est.)815[11]0.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 819 people, 285 households, and 198 families residing in the town. The population density was 326.7 people per square mile (126.0/km²). There were 322 housing units at an average density of 128.5 per square mile (49.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 65.08% White, 0.12% African American, 25.03% Native American, 0.12% from other races, and 9.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.95% of the population.

There were 285 households out of which 42.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.50.

In the town the population was spread out with 35.0% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $21,181, and the median income for a family was $23,750. Males had a median income of $23,333 versus $17,045 for females. The per capita income for the town was $10,440. About 30.0% of families and 30.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.8% of those under age 18 and 33.8% of those age 65 or over.

References

  1. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ a b "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Colcord town, Oklahoma". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e Beals Clark, Donna. "Colcord". In Everett, Dianna (ed.). Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Oklahoma State University Library Electronic Publishing Center. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
  5. ^ Shirk, George H. (1987). Oklahoma Place Names (2, illustrated ed.). University of Oklahoma Press. p. 55. ISBN 0-8061-2028-2.
  6. ^ "Talbot Library and Museum to host Old Settler's Day on June 6 in Colcord". The Herald-Leader. June 3, 2009. [dead link]
  7. ^ a b "New Life Ranch marks 50th". Tulsa World. 2008-08-02. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
  8. ^ "New Life Ranch - An ACA-Accredited Camp". American Camp Association. Archived from the original on 2007-06-08. Retrieved 2008-12-30. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  10. ^ Google Maps
  11. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  12. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
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