Corn, Oklahoma
| Corn, Oklahoma | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
.jpg) | |
 Location of Corn, Oklahoma | |
| Coordinates: 35°22′45″N 98°46′54″W / 35.3791227°N 98.7815413°WCoordinates: 35°22′45″N 98°46′54″W / 35.3791227°N 98.7815413°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Washita |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.357000 sq mi (0.924627 km2) |
| • Land | 0.357000 sq mi (0.924627 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,581 ft (482 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 503 |
| • Density | 1,400/sq mi (540/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 73024 |
| Area code(s) | 580 |
| FIPS code | 40-17300[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1091690[2] |
Corn is a town in Washita County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 503 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Corn, Oklahoma is located 13 miles northeast of Cordell in western Oklahoma. Its geographic coordinates are 35°22′42″N 98°47′0″W / 35.37833°N 98.78333°W (35.378269, -98.783200).[3] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2), all land.
History
Originally the name of the town of Corn was spelled Korn, but it was changed during World War I due to anti-German sentiment.[4] There are several stories as to how the town received the name Corn. One such story is that the town received its name because its first post office was located in a corn field.[5] However, "Korn" is a German word for "grain"[6] - and the bringing of the Turkey Red wheat by the Mennonites who homesteaded here is the most likely reason for the name.
The town was originally settled by German-speaking Russian Mennonites.[4] In the late 1800s, around the time of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Land Run, a Mennonite Brethren missionary stationed nearby invited fellow Mennonites from Kansas to homestead in the area. They brought with them a variety of winter wheat known as "Turkey Red", which grew well in the western Oklahoma soil.[7][8] On its one-hundredth birthday the town received a historical marker celebrating this accomplishment.
On April 27, 1896, the Korn post office was established in a rural home, two and one-fourth miles north of present-day Corn. Shortly thereafter, the post office was moved three miles north of the original site to store owned by James Kendall. After Kendall's planned townsite failed to develop, it was moved once again to the present day site of the town of Corn in 1903, to the merchandise store of George B. Flaming.[4]
World War I brought harassment both from vigilantes and the Washita county Council of Defense upon many of the Germans and Mennonites that lived in and around Corn. This was due to their German heritage and their Mennonite/Anabaptist theology which dictated a conscientious objection to participation in war.[9] Not only did the town change its name during this time, but nearby Cordell Christian College closed and a German newspaper, the Oklahoma Vorwärts, ceased operation.[9]
A private Christian academy, under the name "Washita Gemeinde Schule", was established by the Mennonite Brethren Church as a Bible and language school in 1902.[10] Now known as Corn Bible Academy, it has continuously educated students into the twenty-first century, [4] and is the oldest Christian school west of the Mississippi, currently serving grades 7-12.[11] In 1968, the public school of nearby Colony merged with Corn public schools, forming the Washita Heights School District.[12] On April 23, 2010 the public school in Corn, Washita Heights, closed due to lack of students in the district and lack of funding from the state. The nearby town of Cordell annexed the district.
The town is also known for being the second tornado filmed in history (and the first in the United States), on June 8, 1951. The first known tornado captured on film was a waterspout in Cuba in 1933.
Corn was home to the grandmother of Henry John Deutschendorf Jr., otherwise known as John Denver.[13]
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 317 | — | |
| 1970 | 409 | 29.0% | |
| 1980 | 542 | 32.5% | |
| 1990 | 548 | 1.1% | |
| 2000 | 591 | 7.8% | |
| 2010 | 503 | −14.9% | |
| Est. 2014 | 501 | [14] | −0.4% |
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 591 people, 198 households, and 136 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,630.2 people per square mile (633.9/km²). There were 226 housing units at an average density of 623.4 per square mile (242.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.71% White, 0.34% African American, 1.86% Native American, 2.88% from other races, and 3.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.57% of the population.
There were 198 households out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.1% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 15.2% from 45 to 64, and 33.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 78.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,154, and the median income for a family was $33,281. Males had a median income of $23,750 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,632. About 14.4% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 2.4% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Agriculture has been a primary base for Corn and the surrounding county.[9] Crops include wheat, cotton, sorghum, barley, rye, and peanuts.[9]
References
- 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- 1 2 3 4 Heinrichs, Don. "Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Corn". The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
- ↑ "Profile for Corn, Oklahoma, OK". ePodunk. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
- ↑ "Linguee Dictionary - grain". Linguee Dictionary. Linguee GmbH. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
- ↑ Fretz, J Winfield (1956). "Farming Among Mennonites in North America". Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. GAMEO. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
- ↑ "Turkey Hard Red Winter Wheat". Heritage Seed Co. Heritage Seed Co. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 O'Dell, Larry. "Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Washita County". The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
- ↑ Vogt, JW; Steiner, Sam (July 2008). "Corn Bible Academy (Corn, Oklahoma, USA)". Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. GAMEO. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
- ↑ "Corn Bible Academy home page". Corn Bible Academy. Corn Bible Academy. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
- ↑ Rolland, Megan (March 14, 2010). "Washita Heights community faces loss of schools". News OK. newsok.com. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
- ↑ Reilly, Debra"," (accessed September 23, 2011).
- ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
External links
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