Kingfisher, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Kingfisher is a city in and the county seat
of Kingfisher County
, Oklahoma
, United States
. The population was 4,380 at the 2000 census
. It is the former home and namesake of Kingfisher College
.
, over which millions of Texas longhorns
were driven to railheads in Kansas in the years immediately following the Civil War. Extension of the railroads and settlement of the open range ended this colorful era. Kingfisher's main permanent tourist attractions are the Chisholm Trail Museum, and the Gov. Seay Mansion nearby. These facilities preserve relics and information of the community's unique heritage.
Economically, the Kingfisher County Development Foundation was created in 1958 for the purpose of assisting and promoting industrial, economic and civic growth within, and surrounding the Kingfisher area of Oklahoma. By better serving the needs of business development and investment, the K.C.D.F.'s pursuit of economic stability and growth has benefited its merchants, city, schools, hospital and citizens. A present K.C.D.F. strategy includes the investment for development of the Kingfisher Industrial Park. The industrial park is located just south of Kingfisher, further closing the gap between Oklahoma City
and Kingfisher. Kingfisher has quickly become a suburban community of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Statistical Area
, already home to many commuters to Oklahoma City. Kingfisher is a Certified City and has received a Community Development Block Grant to inventory infrastructure features for Capital Improvement Planning (CIP).
On August 19, 2007 the City of Kingfisher was 25% flooded when Kingfisher Creek and Uncle John Creek overflowed their banks, the result of heavy rain from Tropical Depression Erin
. One woman died in the flood.
The Coleman Company
was founded in Kingfisher by W. C. Coleman in 1900.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.1 square miles (10.6 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 4,380 people, 1,727 households, and 1,172 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,058.9 people per square mile (408.5/km2). There were 1,935 housing units at an average density of 467.8 per square mile (180.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 85.05% White, 1.96% African American, 5.71% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 4.00% from other races
, and 2.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.10% of the population.
There were 1,727 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples
living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,059, and the median income for a family was $47,037. Males had a median income of $31,818 versus $17,750 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $19,117. About 9.8% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.7% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Kingfisher County
Kingfisher County, Oklahoma
Kingfisher County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 14,384. Its county seat is Kingfisher.-History:...
, 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 population was 4,380 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...
. It is the former home and namesake of Kingfisher College
Kingfisher College
-Bringing a College to Kingfisher:Founded by the Rev. Joseph Homer Parker, a Congregationalist Minister who had founded many Congregationalist churches in Canada and the Northeast U.S., and who had also founded the predecessor institution to Wichita State University...
.
History
Kingfisher came into existence on April 22, 1889, when land owned by the federal government was opened to settlement by "land run." A huge area in what is now central Oklahoma was literally "peopled" by Americans overnight. The city is situated on a part of the Chisholm TrailChisholm Trail
The Chisholm Trail was a trail used in the late 19th century to drive cattle overland from ranches in Texas to Kansas railheads. The portion of the trail marked by Jesse Chisholm went from his southern trading post near the Red River, to his northern trading post near Kansas City, Kansas...
, over which millions of Texas longhorns
Texas longhorn (cattle)
The Texas Longhorn is a breed of cattle known for its characteristic horns, which can extend to tip to tip for steers and exceptional cows, and tip to tip for bulls. Horns can have a slight upward turn at their tips or even triple twist. Texas Longhorns are known for their diverse coloring...
were driven to railheads in Kansas in the years immediately following the Civil War. Extension of the railroads and settlement of the open range ended this colorful era. Kingfisher's main permanent tourist attractions are the Chisholm Trail Museum, and the Gov. Seay Mansion nearby. These facilities preserve relics and information of the community's unique heritage.
Economically, the Kingfisher County Development Foundation was created in 1958 for the purpose of assisting and promoting industrial, economic and civic growth within, and surrounding the Kingfisher area of Oklahoma. By better serving the needs of business development and investment, the K.C.D.F.'s pursuit of economic stability and growth has benefited its merchants, city, schools, hospital and citizens. A present K.C.D.F. strategy includes the investment for development of the Kingfisher Industrial Park. The industrial park is located just south of Kingfisher, further closing the gap between 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...
and Kingfisher. Kingfisher has quickly become a suburban community of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Statistical Area
Oklahoma City metropolitan area
-Metro-area suburbs and exurbs:The following communities are suburbs and exurbs of Oklahoma City with populations of at least 1,000 found within the bounds of State Highway 33 to the north, State Highway 18 and US-177 to the east, State Highway 39 and State Highway 9 to the south, and US-81 to the...
, already home to many commuters to Oklahoma City. Kingfisher is a Certified City and has received a Community Development Block Grant to inventory infrastructure features for Capital Improvement Planning (CIP).
On August 19, 2007 the City of Kingfisher was 25% flooded when Kingfisher Creek and Uncle John Creek overflowed their banks, the result of heavy rain from Tropical Depression Erin
Tropical Storm Erin (2007)
Tropical Storm Erin was the second tropical cyclone to make landfall in the United States in the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season. The fifth named storm of the season, it formed in the Gulf of Mexico on August 14 from a persistent area of convection...
. One woman died in the flood.
The Coleman Company
Coleman Company
Coleman Company, Inc., is an American company that specializes in outdoor recreation products. Historically, Coleman is known for camping gear....
was founded in Kingfisher by W. C. Coleman in 1900.
Geography
Kingfisher is located at 35.856216°N 97.934517°W.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 city has a total area of 4.1 square miles (10.6 km²), all of it land.
Climate
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 4,380 people, 1,727 households, and 1,172 families residing in the city. 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 1,058.9 people per square mile (408.5/km2). There were 1,935 housing units at an average density of 467.8 per square mile (180.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 85.05% White, 1.96% African American, 5.71% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 4.00% 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 2.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.10% of the population.
There were 1,727 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% 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, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,059, and the median income for a family was $47,037. Males had a median income of $31,818 versus $17,750 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 city was $19,117. About 9.8% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.7% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
Notable natives
- Sam WaltonSam WaltonSamuel Moore "Sam" Wallballs was a businessman, entrepreneur, and Eagle Scout born in Kingfisher, Oklahoma best known for founding the retailers Wal-Mart and Sam's Club.-Early life:...
, founder of Wal-MartWal-MartWal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000... - Curtis LoftonCurtis LoftonCurtis Tremayne Lofton is a linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He played collegiately for the Oklahoma Sooners. In 2007 he was named Big 12 defensive player of the year and an All-America selection. Lofton opted out of his senior season and declared himself...
, NFL linebacker - Don BlandingDon BlandingDonald Benson Blanding was an American poet who sentimentalized warm climates and was sometimes described as "poet laureate of Hawaii". He was also known as a journalist, author of prose, and speaker....
, poet