Medford, Oklahoma

Medford is a city in and the county seat of Grant County, Oklahoma, United States.[6] As of the 2010 census, the city population was 996.[2]

Medford, Oklahoma
City
Grant County Courthouse (2017)
Location of Medford within Oklahoma
Coordinates: 36°48′23″N 97°44′13″W
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
County	Grant
Area [1]
• Total	1.08 sq mi (2.79 km^2)
• Land	1.08 sq mi (2.79 km^2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km^2)
Elevation	1,093 ft (333 m)
Population  (2010)[2]
• Total	996
• Estimate  (2019)[3]	939
• Density	872.68/sq mi (337.03/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	73759
Area code(s)	580
FIPS code	40-47300[4]
GNIS feature ID	1095284[5]
Website	MedfordOklahoma.com

History

Medford was founded by Hobart Johnstone Whitley, a land developer, banker, farmer and Rock Island Railroad executive. The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture states only that the town name was for Medford, Massachusetts, which it says was the home town of a railroad official.[7]

Before the opening of the Cherokee Outlet to non-Indian settlement on September 16, 1893, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway (later the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad) built a line from southern Kansas that passed through the future Medford townsite in a north-south direction. A post office was established October 31, 1893. The townsfolk voted to incorporate on March 10, 1894. In 1897 the Gulf Railroad (later the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway) built a line that passed through Medford from northwest to southeast.[7] Located in a wheat-growing region, Medford served as an agricultural trade center with a flour mill and several grain elevators. By 1909 the local economy supported three banks and three weekly newspapers.

Voters in Grant County chose Medford as the county seat by an election on May 27, 1908. A courthouse was dedicated July 4, 1910. A fire destroyed five blocks of businesses and residences on June 25, 1911.[7]

Geography

Medford is located at 36°48′23″N 97°44′13″W (36.806457, -97.736918).[8] It is located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 81 (Chisholm Trail Highway) and State Highway 11.[7] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1900	551		—
1910	1,110		101.5%
1920	1,050		−5.4%
1930	1,084		3.2%
1940	1,121		3.4%
1950	1,350		20.4%
1960	1,223		−9.4%
1970	1,304		6.6%
1980	1,419		8.8%
1990	1,172		−17.4%
2000	1,172		0.0%
2010	996		−15.0%
Est. 2019	939	[3]	−5.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 1,172 people, 480 households, and 304 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,099.1 people per square mile (422.9/km²). There were 591 housing units at an average density of 554.3 per square mile (213.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.82% White, 0.17% African American, 2.30% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 1.02% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.96% of the population.

There were 480 households out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the city, the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 24.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,708, and the median income for a family was $38,571. Males had a median income of $29,167 versus $18,667 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,848. About 10.4% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Medford has a council-manager form of government.[7]

Notable people

• James Kilian, professional football player
• Dennis Reimer, U.S. Army general and former Army Chief of Staff
• Apollo Soucek (1897 - 1955), test pilot and vice-admiral in the U.S. Navy[7]
• Travis Unwin (aka Evo Terra), An American podcaster, author, radio broadcaster, and businessman. Terra is the author of Podcasting For Dummies, originator of The Beer Diet, a travel blogger, and an early pioneer in podcasting.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Grant County, Oklahoma

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
2. "2010 City Population and Housing Occupancy Status". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
5. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
6. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
7. Wilson, Linda D. "Medford". The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
8. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.