Afton, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Afton, Oklahoma
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View of Route 66 in downtown Afton, Oklahoma
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Location within Ottawa County and the state of Oklahoma
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Ottawa |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.08 sq mi (5.39 km2) |
| • Land | 2.08 sq mi (5.39 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 784 ft (239 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 734 |
| • Density | 352.72/sq mi (136.15/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
74331
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| Area codes | 539/918 |
| FIPS code | 40-00600 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2412336 |
Afton is a small town in northeast Oklahoma, located in Ottawa County, Oklahoma. In 2020, about 734 people lived there.
Contents
Afton's Past
Afton started to grow in what was then called Indian Territory. This area was part of the Cherokee Nation. In 1871, a railroad called the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad built tracks through here. This railroad later became the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway, also known as Frisco.
People aren't completely sure how Afton got its name. One idea is that a railroad surveyor from Scotland, Anton Aires, named it after his daughter. Another idea is that it was named after a poem by Robert Burns called "Flow Gently Sweet Afton." Both ideas connect the town to the River Afton in Scotland.
A post office opened in Afton in 1886. By 1900, 606 people lived in the town. More growth happened in 1901 when another railroad line was built. This new line made a shorter path to Kansas City. Afton became an important stop for the Frisco railroad. It was a place where goods from nearby farms were shipped out.
In 1910, Afton's population grew to 1,276. The town had two schools, a water system, two hotels, and two banks. It also had factories for bricks and tiles, a creamery, a newspaper, and places to store grain. The population reached its highest point in 1920 with 1,518 people. After a tough economic time around World War I, the population dropped to 1,219 by 1930.
Where Afton Is Located
Afton covers about 1.6 square miles (4.1 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the town limits.
Afton was first a farming and railroad town. It is famous for being on the historic Route 66. This famous road was a main way for travelers to get across the country. In 1957, a new highway, I-44, was built. This new road went around Afton, so fewer travelers came through the town.
In the past, many businesses served Route 66 travelers in Afton. These included hotels like the Palmer Hotel and Rogers’ Motel. There were also places to eat like Baker's Cafe and Clint's Cafe. Other stores included Smith Store and Barrett's Food Store.
There used to be a museum in an old D-X gas station. It was built in 1937 and fixed up in 1999. It showed old Packard cars and things from U.S. Route 66. That museum is now closed. The Palmer Hotel building also burned down in 2019.
People in Afton
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 606 | — | |
| 1910 | 1,279 | 111.1% | |
| 1920 | 1,518 | 18.7% | |
| 1930 | 1,219 | −19.7% | |
| 1940 | 1,261 | 3.4% | |
| 1950 | 1,252 | −0.7% | |
| 1960 | 1,111 | −11.3% | |
| 1970 | 1,022 | −8.0% | |
| 1980 | 1,174 | 14.9% | |
| 1990 | 915 | −22.1% | |
| 2000 | 1,118 | 22.2% | |
| 2010 | 1,049 | −6.2% | |
| 2020 | 734 | −30.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Afton is part of the larger Joplin-Miami, MO-OK metropolitan area.
In 2010, there were 1,049 people living in Afton. The town had 441 households. About 33% of these households had children under 18. Many households were married couples living together.
The average age of people in Afton was 36 years old. About 29.5% of the population was under 18. About 17% of the population was 65 years or older.
Learning in Afton
Afton has its own school system, called the Afton Independent School District.
Northeast Tech also has one of its four campuses in Afton. It is located at 19901 S. Hwy 69. About 500 students attend classes there.
In 2017, the Afton High School Football team won the Class A State Trophy. This was the first time in the school's history they won this award!
Fun Things to Do
- The Darryl Starbird National Rod and Custom Hall of Fame Museum holds a special event every June in Afton. This event celebrates custom cars and hot rods.
Getting Around
Highways
Afton is a meeting point for several important highways.
I-44
US-59
US-60
US-66 (This road used to run through Afton but now goes around it.)
US-69
Railroads
The BNSF Railway tracks run through the northern part of Afton. There are two main parts of the BNSF railway system that go through the town. The BNSF Cherokee Subdivision starts in Springfield, Missouri, and ends in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The BNSF Afton Subdivision goes north from Afton towards Kansas City, Missouri.
Historic Places
Afton has some places listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are important sites that are kept safe because of their history.
- Cities Service Station
- Horse Creek Bridge was updated because the original bridge from the 1930s could no longer handle modern traffic.
See also
In Spanish: Afton (Oklahoma) para niños
