Beaver, Oklahoma
Beaver, Oklahoma | |
---|---|
Town | |
Nickname(s): Cowchip Throwing Capital of The World | |
Motto: "No Man's Land – Every Man's Town" [1] | |
Location within Beaver County and Oklahoma | |
Coordinates: 36°48′49″N 100°31′27″W / 36.81361°N 100.52417°WCoordinates: 36°48′49″N 100°31′27″W / 36.81361°N 100.52417°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Oklahoma |
County | Beaver |
Government | |
• Mayor | Kirk Fisher [2] |
• Administrator | Marc Davis [2] |
Area | |
• Total | 1.2 sq mi (3.0 km2) |
• Land | 1.2 sq mi (3.0 km2) |
• Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
Elevation | 2,395 ft (730 m) |
Population (2010)[3] | |
• Total | 1,515 |
• Estimate (2015)[4] | 1,454 |
• Density | 1,300/sq mi (510/km2) |
Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
• Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
ZIP code | 73932 |
Area code | 580 |
FIPS code | 40-04750 [5] |
GNIS feature ID | 1089924 [6] |
Website | BeaverOklahoma.net |
Beaver is a town and county seat in Beaver County, Oklahoma, United States.[7] The community is located in the Oklahoma Panhandle. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 1,515,[3] a 3.5 percent decrease from 1,570 at the 2000 census.
The city is host to the annual World Cow Chip Throwing Championship.[8] Held in April, "Cow Chip" brings attention from nearby cities with a parade, carnival, and of course, the cowchip throwing.
History
It is located by Beaver River,also known as North Canadian River, and began as the location of a fur-trading post in 1879. Its original name was Beaver City,[9] and was planned to be the capital of the short-lived Cimarron Territory. The Federal government never recognized the proposed Territory, but Beaver City remained the center of business and law enforcement for the area.[8] In 1890, the territory was assigned to Oklahoma Territory, and Beaver City became the seat for the entire Oklahoma Panhandle, then known as Seventh County.[10]
Beaver began as a stop on the Jones and Plummer Trail. In 1880, Jim Lane built a house on the south side of Beaver Creek, that also served as a general store, saloon, hotel, and restaurant.The first post office had been established on the north side of the river in 1883. In 1884 Lane moved the post office to his store and became the postmaster. He also added a corral and livery stable to accommodate freighters and cattle drivers. The Presbyterian Church was built in 1887. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as ""the oldest church in Oklahoma Territory".[8]
Between Beaver and Guymon Oklahoma 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.[11]
Geography
Beaver is located at 36°48′49″N 100°31′27″W / 36.81361°N 100.52417°W (36.813486, −100.524298).[12] 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 State Park, featuring the formation of sand dunes left by ancient seas that covered the area.
Climate
Beaver experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) with cool, dry winters and hot, much wetter summers.
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) |
Average high °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) |
84.8 (29.3) |
73.8 (23.2) |
58.7 (14.8) |
48.3 (9.1) |
70.98 (21.66) |
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) |
56.23 (13.46) |
Average low °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) |
66.2 (19) |
64.7 (18.2) |
55.4 (13) |
41.8 (5.4) |
28.4 (−2) |
19.7 (−6.8) |
41.43 (5.24) |
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 (13.5) |
0.73 (18.5) |
1.75 (44.4) |
1.82 (46.2) |
3.04 (77.2) |
3.24 (82.3) |
2.75 (69.9) |
2.39 (60.7) |
1.78 (45.2) |
1.32 (33.5) |
1.11 (28.2) |
0.78 (19.8) |
21.24 (539.4) |
Source #1: NOAA (normals, 1971–2000) [13] | |||||||||||||
Source #2: The Weather Channel (Records) [14] |
Demographics
Historical population | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
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% | |
Est. 2015 | 1,454 | [4] | −4.0% |
U.S. Decennial Census |
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,515 people residing in the city.[3] The population density was 1,300 people per square mile (510/km²). There were 702 housing units at an average density of 590 per square mile (230/km²).[3] The racial makeup of the city was 92.48% White, 0.57% African American, 1.53% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 3.69% from other races, and 1.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.68% of the population.
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 per capita income for the city was $19,897. About 6.8% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.9% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
The economy of Beaver and the surrounding area is based on cattle ranching, wheat and sorghum farming, corporate hog farms, and oil and gas production. In 2015 Dollar General opened up in Beaver. Also, there is a Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores in Beaver.
Education
Notable people
- Nick Bobeck (1980-), American 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 worst dust storms during Dust Bowl
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Beaver County, Oklahoma
- Beaver County Courthouse
- Lane Cabin
- Presbyterian Church
References
- ↑ "Town-of-Beaver". Retrieved 25 March 2017.
- 1 2 "Board-of-Trustees". Retrieved 25 March 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 "2010 City Population and Housing Occupancy Status". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
- 1 2 "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
- ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- 1 2 3 V. Pauline Hodges, "Beaver," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, 2009. Accessed April 15, 2015.
- ↑ "Oklahoma Panhandle: Badmen in No Man's Land". Retrieved 2013-07-10.
- ↑ Graham, Marti. "No Man's Land - Oklahoma Territory - OK/ITGenWeb". Retrieved 25 March 2017.
- ↑ "Villagers > Buried City Main". Retrieved 25 March 2017.
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ↑ "Climatography of the United States NO.81" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
- ↑ "Monthly Averages for Beaver, OK". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Beaver, Oklahoma. |
- City of Beaver
- Beaver Chamber of Commerce
- Beaver Dunes State Park
- Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture – Beaver
- Oklahoma Digital Maps: Digital Collections of Oklahoma and Indian Territory