Colcord, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Colcord is a small farming town in southern Delaware County
, Oklahoma
, United States
. The community lies in the northeastern part of the state in a region known as Green Country. At the 2000 census
, the population was 819.
was established on May 20, 1905.
In the 1920s, a road (later known as Oklahoma State Highway 116
) was built that passed 1 miles (1.6 km) south of the then-healthy town of Row. A rural mail carrier, Charles Burbage, who owned land to the south where the new road was established, platted 64.8 acre (0.262236528 km²) into blocks, lots and streets.
The area grew into a community known as "Little Tulsa" to locals, until residents changed the name in September 1928 to "Colcord," after Charles Francis Colcord
. Mr. Colcord was a successful and prominent cattle rancher, oil
businessman, and early Oklahoma Territory
lawman from Oklahoma City
, who owned a large ranch west of the two towns. The ranch employed many local residents, and was very important to the economy and spirit of the area.
Due to better transportation and a disastrous fire that wiped out many Row businesses, most of the Row community eventually moved to Colcord. The Row post office was moved to Colcord on February 1, 1930, and the new town was approved to build a high school. A feud between the two towns ensued, and in the first eleven years of Colcord's existence, the school was involved in eleven lawsuits.
The community hosts a parade called "Old Settlers Day" in June each year to honor its heritage and the many people that settled in the area and established the town.
camp which functions as a summer camp for kids in grades 3-12 and a retreat center throughout the rest of the year. Children and teenagers from all over the United States attend the camp, participating in one-week resident sessions June through August. In 2007, approximately 10,000 people attended camp and retreats hosted at NLR.
Summer camp activities are primarily outdoor, including archery
, biking, canoeing
, rappelling, horseback riding, riflery, ropes course
s, swimming, and tennis
.
The area surrounding Colcord is mostly farming and cattle, poultry and dairy operations.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 819 people, 285 households, and 198 families residing in the town. The population density
was 326.7 people per square mile (126.0/km²). There were 322 housing units at an average density of 128.5 per square mile (49.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 65.08% White, 0.12% African American, 25.03% Native American, 0.12% from other races
, and 9.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.95% of the population.
There were 285 households out of which 42.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples
living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.50.
In the town the population was spread out with 35.0% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $21,181, and the median income for a family was $23,750. Males had a median income of $23,333 versus $17,045 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $10,440. About 30.0% of families and 30.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.8% of those under age 18 and 33.8% of those age 65 or over.
Delaware County, Oklahoma
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 37,077 and the newest population estimate is 45,000. Its county seat is Jay. The county was named for the Delaware Indians resettled in what was then Indian Territory in the 1830s. .Delaware County...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The community lies in the northeastern part of the state in a region known as Green Country. At the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, the population was 819.
History
Colcord's history starts decades before the establishment of the town itself, with the community of Row, Indian Territory, in the 1890s. As settlers moved to the area, the town of Row grew and businesses formed, including a bank, a school, a hotel, and others. A Post OfficePost office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
was established on May 20, 1905.
In the 1920s, a road (later known as Oklahoma State Highway 116
Oklahoma State Highway 116
State Highway 116 is a state highway in Delaware County, Oklahoma, USA. It runs for 11.5 miles and has no lettered spur routes.-Route description:...
) was built that passed 1 miles (1.6 km) south of the then-healthy town of Row. A rural mail carrier, Charles Burbage, who owned land to the south where the new road was established, platted 64.8 acre (0.262236528 km²) into blocks, lots and streets.
The area grew into a community known as "Little Tulsa" to locals, until residents changed the name in September 1928 to "Colcord," after Charles Francis Colcord
Charles Francis Colcord
Charles Francis Colcord was a successful cattle rancher, U.S. Marshal, Chief of Police, businessman, and pioneer of the Old West...
. Mr. Colcord was a successful and prominent cattle rancher, oil
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
businessman, and early Oklahoma Territory
Oklahoma Territory
The Territory of Oklahoma was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 2, 1890, until November 16, 1907, when it was joined with the Indian Territory under a new constitution and admitted to the Union as the State of Oklahoma.-Organization:Oklahoma Territory's...
lawman from Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
, who owned a large ranch west of the two towns. The ranch employed many local residents, and was very important to the economy and spirit of the area.
Due to better transportation and a disastrous fire that wiped out many Row businesses, most of the Row community eventually moved to Colcord. The Row post office was moved to Colcord on February 1, 1930, and the new town was approved to build a high school. A feud between the two towns ensued, and in the first eleven years of Colcord's existence, the school was involved in eleven lawsuits.
The community hosts a parade called "Old Settlers Day" in June each year to honor its heritage and the many people that settled in the area and established the town.
New Life Ranch
New Life Ranch (NLR) is a nearby 1000 acres (4 km²) ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
camp which functions as a summer camp for kids in grades 3-12 and a retreat center throughout the rest of the year. Children and teenagers from all over the United States attend the camp, participating in one-week resident sessions June through August. In 2007, approximately 10,000 people attended camp and retreats hosted at NLR.
Summer camp activities are primarily outdoor, including archery
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
, biking, canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
, rappelling, horseback riding, riflery, ropes course
Ropes course
A ropes course is a challenging outdoor personal development and team building activity which usually consists of high and/or low elements. Low elements take place on the ground or only a few feet above the ground...
s, swimming, and tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
.
Geography
Colcord is located at 36°15′55"N 94°41′32"W (36.265179, -94.692240).The area surrounding Colcord is mostly farming and cattle, poultry and dairy operations.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 819 people, 285 households, and 198 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 326.7 people per square mile (126.0/km²). There were 322 housing units at an average density of 128.5 per square mile (49.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 65.08% White, 0.12% African American, 25.03% Native American, 0.12% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 9.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.95% of the population.
There were 285 households out of which 42.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.50.
In the town the population was spread out with 35.0% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $21,181, and the median income for a family was $23,750. Males had a median income of $23,333 versus $17,045 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $10,440. About 30.0% of families and 30.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.8% of those under age 18 and 33.8% of those age 65 or over.