Beaver, Oklahoma
Beaver, Oklahoma | ||
---|---|---|
FIPS code 40-04750[6] | | |
GNIS ID | 2411674[5] | |
Website | Town website |
Beaver is a town and
History
Beaver is located by
Beaver began as a stop on the
Although the Oklahoma Panhandle is noted for its lack of rainfall, it is occasionally subjected to flash floods. One such event occurred early in Beaver's history, and flooded Main Street, where many of the businesses had been built. Another street, Douglas, had already been built, running south up a hill from the river, where the businesses relocated to prevent a recurrence.[1]
The population grew to 112 in 1900, the main reason for its existence was to support cattle ranches located in the Panhandle area. In 1901–02, the
During the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression most of the Panhandle and its communities suffered great economic hardships and lost population. The city of Beaver actually gained population. In 1920, it had 920 residents, which grew to 1028 in 1930 and 1146 in 1940.[1]
Between Beaver and Guymon along Beaver Creek there are several plains Indians ruins. They are on private property and not accessible to the public. These ruins are associated with the Buried City Plains Indian Ruins near Perryton, Texas.[12]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2), all land.
A mile north of the town is Beaver Dunes Park, now owned by the City of Beaver, featuring sand dunes left by ancient seas that once covered the area.
Climate
Beaver experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) with cool, dry winters and hot, much wetter summers.
While not the snowiest location in Oklahoma ranked by highest annual average snowfall, Beaver has the distinction of holding the State snowfall record for 1 season, being the 87.3" which fell during 1911–1912.[13]
Climate data for Beaver, OK | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 82 (28) |
89 (32) |
94 (34) |
102 (39) |
108 (42) |
113 (45) |
110 (43) |
110 (43) |
108 (42) |
99 (37) |
89 (32) |
87 (31) |
113 (45) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 46.0 (7.8) |
52.3 (11.3) |
60.7 (15.9) |
70.8 (21.6) |
78.9 (26.1) |
89.1 (31.7) |
95.1 (35.1) |
93.2 (34.0) |
84.8 (29.3) |
73.8 (23.2) |
58.7 (14.8) |
48.3 (9.1) |
71.0 (21.7) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 31.8 (−0.1) |
37.2 (2.9) |
45.5 (7.5) |
55.3 (12.9) |
64.8 (18.2) |
75.0 (23.9) |
80.7 (27.1) |
79.0 (26.1) |
70.1 (21.2) |
57.8 (14.3) |
43.6 (6.4) |
34.0 (1.1) |
56.2 (13.5) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 17.5 (−8.1) |
22.0 (−5.6) |
30.3 (−0.9) |
39.7 (4.3) |
50.7 (10.4) |
60.8 (16.0) |
66.2 (19.0) |
64.7 (18.2) |
55.4 (13.0) |
41.8 (5.4) |
28.4 (−2.0) |
19.7 (−6.8) |
41.4 (5.2) |
Record low °F (°C) | −23 (−31) |
−19 (−28) |
−10 (−23) |
15 (−9) |
26 (−3) |
41 (5) |
46 (8) |
45 (7) |
27 (−3) |
13 (−11) |
−6 (−21) |
−13 (−25) |
−23 (−31) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.53 (13) |
0.73 (19) |
1.75 (44) |
1.82 (46) |
3.04 (77) |
3.24 (82) |
2.75 (70) |
2.39 (61) |
1.78 (45) |
1.32 (34) |
1.11 (28) |
0.78 (20) |
21.24 (539) |
Source 1: NOAA (normals, 1971–2000)[14] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: The Weather Channel (Records)[15] |
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1900 | 112 | — | |
1910 | 326 | 191.1% | |
1920 | 920 | 182.2% | |
1930 | 1,028 | 11.7% | |
1940 | 1,166 | 13.4% | |
1950 | 1,495 | 28.2% | |
1960 | 2,087 | 39.6% | |
1970 | 1,853 | −11.2% | |
1980 | 1,939 | 4.6% | |
1990 | 1,584 | −18.3% | |
2000 | 1,570 | −0.9% | |
2010 | 1,515 | −3.5% | |
2020 | 1,280 | −15.5% | |
U.S. Decennial Census |
As of the
There were 606 households, out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.1% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the city the population was spread out, with 25.4% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 21.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,560, and the median income for a family was $44,107. Males had a median income of $34,167 versus $19,511 for females. The
Economy
At the start of the twenty-first century, Beaver's economy was primarily based on cattle ranching, hog farms, wheat and milo farming and oil and gas production. Supporting these industries were such businesses as two banks, oil field suppliers, a hospital, a nursing home and two medical clinics.[1]
Education
Transportation
Highways
U.S. Route 270 runs concurrently with State 23 north/south through the town.[17]
Airport
The Beaver Municipal Airport is located at the southern end of town, at coordinates 036° 47' 52.44"N 100° 31' 36.84"W. The FAA Identifier is K44, and it has two runways used primarily for general aviation. Runway 17/35 is 4050' x 60' with an asphalt surface, while 04/22 is a grass/turf field that is 2000' x 130'.[18] Commercial air service is available at Liberal Mid-America Regional Airport in Liberal, Kansas, about 38 miles west-northwest.[19][20]
Historical sites
The Jones & Plummer Trail Museum offers a glimpse into the early days in and around the town through displays of historical artifacts and prototype rooms.[21]
NRHP-listed sites include the Beaver County Courthouse, the Presbyterian Church, and the Lane Cabin at Main Street and Avenue C.
Notable people
- Nick Bobeck (1980-), football player and coach
- George Dobson (1851–1919), lawyer and politician
- Timothy Leonard (1940-), United States federal judge for the Western District of Oklahoma (since 1992; senior status since 2006)
- Robert Loofbourrow (1873–1926), pioneer settler, attorney and Associate Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court (1913–1915)
- Ross Rizley (1892–1969), politician and U.S. Representative from Oklahoma
See also
- Otasco
- Jones Plummer Trail
- Black Sunday, one of the worst dust storms during Dust Bowl
- Presbyterian Church (Beaver, Oklahoma)
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Beaver County, Oklahoma
Notes
- ^ The Lane House a/k/a the Lane Cabin still stands, and is on the National Register of Historic Places.[1]
- ^ Although the paper's name was later changed to the Herald Democrat, It has continued doing business for over 100 years, into the 21st century.[1]
- ^ The ranchers derisively called the farmers "pumpkin rollers."[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k V. Pauline Hodges, "Beaver," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, 2009. Accessed April 15, 2015.
- ^ "Town-of-Beaver". Archived from the original on June 28, 2017. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
- ^ a b "Board-of-Trustees". Archived from the original on February 23, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
- ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Beaver, Oklahoma
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "Beaver (Town), Oklahoma". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
- ^ "Oklahoma Panhandle: Badmen in No Man's Land". June 12, 2006. Retrieved July 10, 2013.
- ^ Graham, Marti. "No Man's Land - Oklahoma Territory - OK/ITGenWeb". Retrieved March 25, 2017.
- ISBN 0-403-09837-8Accessed August 20, 2018
- ^ "Villagers > Buried City Main". Retrieved March 25, 2017.
- ^ "Oklahoma Annual Rainfall and Climate Data". CoolWeather.net. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
- ^ "Climatography of the United States NO.81" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 13, 2014. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
- ^ "Monthly Averages for Beaver, OK". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
- ^ a b "2010 City Population and Housing Occupancy Status". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved April 27, 2011.[dead link]
- ^ "Beaver, Oklahoma". Google Maps. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
- ^ "Beaver Municipal Airport". AirNav.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Liberal Airport". City of Liberal. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Liberal Airport to Beaver, Oklahoma". Google Maps. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Jones & Plummer Trail Museum". TravelOK.com. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
Further reading
- Gould, Charles Newton (1926). Geology of Beaver county, Oklahoma, by Chas. N. Gould and John T. Lonsdale. Fossil leaves from Beaver county, by E. W. Berry. Agriculture of Beaver county, by Ernest Slocum. History of Beaver county, by F. C. Tracy. Norman, Oklahoma. LCCN gs26000324.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - A History of Beaver County. Beaver, Oklahoma: Beaver County Historical Society. 1970–71. LCCN 70021830. 2 v. illus. (part col.) 32 cm.