Velma, Oklahoma

Velma is a town in Stephens County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 620 at the 2010 census.

Velma, Oklahoma
Town
Location of Velma, Oklahoma
Coordinates: 34°27′9″N 97°40′6″W
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
County	Stephens
Area [1]
• Total	1.42 sq mi (3.66 km^2)
• Land	1.41 sq mi (3.64 km^2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.02 km^2)
Elevation	1,043 ft (318 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	620
• Estimate  (2019)[2]	595
• Density	423.49/sq mi (163.49/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	73491
Area code(s)	580
FIPS code	40-76900[3]
GNIS feature ID	1099237[4]

History

A post office was established at Velma, Indian Territory on September 25, 1886. It was named for Velma Dobbins, daughter of a local merchant and longtime resident.[5]

At the time of its founding, Velma was located in Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation.[6]

Geography

Velma is located at 34°27′9″N 97°40′6″W (34.452394, -97.668439).[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all of it land.

Home of the "Annual Old Settler's Picnic and Rodeo", since statehood has been held on the first weekend of August with few interruptions. Known for attracting the best Calf Ropers in the nation.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1970	611		—
1980	831		36.0%
1990	661		−20.5%
2000	771		16.6%
2010	620		−19.6%
Est. 2019	595	[2]	−4.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 664 people, 247 households, and 187 families residing in the town. The population density was 470.6 people per square mile (181.8/km²). There were 290 housing units at an average density of 205.5 per square mile (79.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.96% White, 8.28% Native American, 0.30% from other races, and 0.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.05% of the population.

There were 247 households out of which 40.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.3% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.9% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the town, the population was spread out with 29.1% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,341, and the median income for a family was $34,286. Males had a median income of $32,083 versus $16,136 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,010. About 16.3% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.7% of those under age 18 and 15.8% of those age 65 or over.

Church History

Velma Church of Christ

As far as can be determined, the first congregation of the Church of Christ in the Velma area met in the Colley school house located north of Alma corner near the Joe Aldridge farm. This was about the year 1910, and continued until about 1935. One of the members instrumental in establishing this congregation was John Preston Scott, who had come from Pontotoc county about 1907 to Alma and then to Colley about 1910. Some other families who worship at Colley were: Hollis, Moore, Trawick, Camp, Aldridge, McQuistion, Gates, Ballard, Uzzel, Yount, Pierce, along with others. Brother Cox was the first preacher. Other early day preachers who serviced the Colley congregation were: George Moore, Brother Dodd, and A. P. Davis.

Near the same time the Colley congregation began, a congregation of the Church of Christ was established in the Caddo school house on the southeast of Alma on what is now known as Pinto road. Three Waller brothers: Henry, Ike and Tom, had purchased a farm in the Caddo area and were instrumental in establishing the Caddo congregation. This congregation met at this location as late as 1933.

In 1935, several families who had been worshipping at Colley, but lived near Sante Fe, established a congregation at Santa Fe. The remainder of the Colley congregation went to the Countyline congregation which had been established in 1933. Those families who met at Santa Fe included: Gilmore, Gates, Ballard, Wilson, Martin, McClanahan, Howton, Castleman, Dunn, Bohannon, Kincannon, Peters, Landram, and possibly others. Those who preached at Santa Fe included: Richard Romine, A. P. Davis, J. U. Bristo, Elvis Landon and Jesse Maddux.

In 1947, those from the Colley area and the Santa Fe congregation pooled resources and efforts, bought property in Velma and erected a concrete block building, and began the present Velma Church of Christ. After four additions to the original building (spread over 31 years), it was replaced in 1979 in favor of a spacious, modern brick building which is currently still in use.

In 1952, George Ballard, John Peters and Glen Milford were selected as the first elders of the Velma congregation. In later years Marvin Anderson was added to the eldership as well as T. J. Golson.

Those who have preached for the Velma congregation are: Richard Romine, Virgil Bryant, Bob Camp, Luther Savage, Leland O'Neal, G. W. Allison, Danny Boyd, Norman Easter, Glenn Jeffery, Loy Hardesty, Ector Watson, Lyndal Werner, Alan Eck, Rodger Schween, and Delbert McLoud, among others.

Notable residents

Joe Diffie

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
5. George H. Shirk. Oklahoma Place Names (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1965), p. 212.
6. Charles Goins, Historical Atlas of Oklahoma (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2006), plate 105.
7. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
8. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.