Blanchard, Oklahoma

Blanchard, Oklahoma
City
Main Street in Blanchard
Location of Blanchard, Oklahoma
Coordinates: 35°8′56″N 97°39′2″W / 35.14889°N 97.65056°W / 35.14889; -97.65056Coordinates: 35°8′56″N 97°39′2″W / 35.14889°N 97.65056°W / 35.14889; -97.65056
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
Counties	McClain, Grady
Area
• Total	11.1 sq mi (28.8 km2)
• Land	11.1 sq mi (28.8 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	1,270 ft (387 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	7,670
• Density	253.7/sq mi (97.8/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	73010
Area code(s)	405
FIPS code	40-06700[1]
GNIS feature ID	1090249[2]

Blanchard is a city in Grady and McClain counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 7,670 at the 2010 census. Blanchard is part of a rapidly growing area of northern McClain and Grady Counties known as the "Tri-City Area" with Newcastle and Tuttle.

History

Early history

Blanchard is situated in Township 8 North, Range 4 West, Section 30 in northwestern McClain County. The town is served by U.S. Highway 62 and State Highway 76. Named after William G. "Bill" Blanchard,^[3] the community was organized originally by the Canadian Valley Construction Company, which also planned to build a railroad. However, the company went into bankruptcy, and the railroad came under the control of the Oklahoma Central Railroad which also experienced financial problems. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway took over and completed the line.

The townsite was established by three lot sales beginning with the Canadian Valley Construction Company sale on September 19, 1906. The second sale was held on July 18, 1907, and final lots were sold on March 25, 1908, by the Blanchard Townsite Company. Within a year the town was described as having forty business establishments, including a state and national bank, four blacksmith shops, three livery barns, two grain elevators, and a weekly newspaper.

Several incorporation dates are reported in various publications pertaining to the history of Blanchard, and in the town offices as well. The most reliable source seems to be the Blanchard Record of October 25, 1907, which reported, "That Blanchard is now an incorporated town is realized by but a few of our citizens. The petition praying for incorporation was favorably acted upon at the [federal] courts at Chickasha [sic] last week. On or about November 19 notice of an election of officers will be given. In the meantime candidates will be chosen."

A population of 629 was reported by 1910, and 2,116 in 1996. The Blanchard post office charter was granted by the Post Office Department on December 19, 1906. Mail had previously been received at Womack. When Arthur H. "Art" and Bill Blanchard moved their store from Womack to the new townsite in 1906, they took the post office with them.

In 1909, the Northern District Court was established whereby McClain County was divided into two sections for legal matters for the convenience of the citizens. A court house was built in Blanchard, and the first case began on December 13, 1909. The district was disestablished in the late 1920s and combined with District One in Purcell, the county seat. At the turn of the 21st century Legal records could be found at Blanchard.

Blanchard today

Blanchard consists of a one square mile "core" of streets roughly laid out in a grid pattern situated atop a gentle hill surrounded by newer development and agricultural areas within about a four mile (6 km) radius of the center. Central Blanchard consists of homes (about half built before 1960), several churches and a historic Main Street downtown area. The commercial downtown features antique shops, eating establishments, city services, senior center and a fitness center.

On the periphery of the city center are schools, businesses and modern housing subdivisions. These subdivisions tend to be low-density (typically one to 5-acre (20,000 m²) lots.)

While Blanchard is often described as a commuter town with much of its workforce commuting to nearby Norman and Oklahoma City, local businesses are beginning to surge. As of 2008, local amenities include a supermarket, several restaurants, public library, banks, a large building supply center, new hardware store and a large car dealership.

Residents of Blanchard tend to view it as a small town environment with character and charm, however, the rapid growth in the area has brought change. In an effort to keep the town from being swallowed by urban sprawl, a large annexation was effected in 2004 to provide Blanchard with a "buffer zone". A Main Street beautification project is underway and infrastructure is being improved to handle the rise in population. In 2007, several older buildings in central Blanchard were removed to allow the widening of U.S. Highway 62, yet the historic downtown commercial buildings were preserved.

Geography

Topography

Blanchard is located at 35°8′56″N 97°39′2″W / 35.14889°N 97.65056°W / 35.14889; -97.65056 (35.148830, −97.650677)^[4] at the intersection of Oklahoma State Highways 76 and 62.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.1 square miles (20.8 km²), all land.

Climate

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 2816 people. The population density was 253.7 people per square mile (97.8/km²). There were 11 housing units at an average density of 105.8 per square mile (40.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.62% White, 0.32% African American, 3.23% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.53% from other races, and 4.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.41% of the population. There were 1,085 households which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.0% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 4 years. For every 100 females there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,121, and the median income for a family was $43,028. Males had a median income of $31,691 versus $23,182 for females. The per capita income for the city was $2.00 About 7.8% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.5% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Blanchard is served by four secondary schools with an average enrollment (as of 2008) of about 1,460 students. The elementary school is of recent construction and houses grades Pre-K through third. There is also an intermediate school for fourth and fifth grades and a middle school for sixth through eighth grades. Dr. Jim Beckham is the Superintendent for Blanchard Public Schools.^[6]

Blanchard High School is home to "The Lions" football team (class 3A) and has won 2 football state championships 2012(class 3A), and 1979 (class A). The athletic program also includes baseball, softball, basketball, golf , cheerleading, powerlifting and wrestling. . The school also includes a successful Marching Band program.

Libraries

Blanchard is served by the Blanchard Public Library, which is part of the Pioneer Library System spanning many of the suburbs of Oklahoma City.^[7]

Culture

Recreation

There are currently two parks in Blanchard as well as an athletic stadium and three nearby golf courses.

Annual festivals include "May Daze" in early May. Blanchard also boasts one of the largest Veterans' Day Parades in Oklahoma around Veteran's Day. Blanchard has also built a new high school in 2011.

Media

Residents of Blanchard and nearby Dibble, Oklahoma are served by the weekly newspaper The Blanchard News. The radio station KKNG-FM ("King Country 97.3 KKNG") identifies Blanchard as its home, however, only the transmitter is located in Blanchard, while the operating offices are in Oklahoma City.

Notable people from Blanchard

• Jody Miller - country and pop singer
• Bonnie Owens - country singer

References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
2. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
3. ↑ Rex, Joyce A. "Oklahoma Encyclopedia of History and Culture - Blanchard". Retrieved 2011-03-04. 
4. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
5. ↑ "Historical Weather for Blanchard, Oklahoma, United States". 
6. ↑ "Blanchard Public Schools". Blanchard Public Schools. Retrieved 2012-03-06. 
7. ↑ Pioneer Library System (accessed May 24, 2013)

External links

• Official City of Blanchard website
• Blanchard Chamber of Commerce
• Blanchard Public Schools
• Blanchard Public Library
• Blanchard Historical Society
• Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Blanchard
• City of Blanchard News & Information Forum

v t e Municipalities and communities of Grady County, Oklahoma, United States County seat: Chickasha Cities Blanchard‡ Chickasha Minco Tuttle Towns Alex Amber Bradley Bridge Creek Ninnekah Norge Pocasset Rush Springs Verden Unincorporated communities Agawan Chitwood Cox City Middleberg Tabler Ghost towns Acme Bailey Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

v t e Municipalities and communities of McClain County, Oklahoma, United States County seat: Purcell Cities Blanchard‡ Newcastle Purcell‡ Towns Byars Cole Dibble Goldsby Rosedale Washington Wayne Unincorporated communities Criner Payne Stealy Woody Chapel Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties