Baker, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Baker, Oklahoma
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 Baker, Oklahoma
Location in Oklahoma
Baker, Oklahoma
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Texas |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.99 sq mi (2.58 km2) |
| • Land | 0.99 sq mi (2.58 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,848 ft (868 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 37 |
| • Density | 37.22/sq mi (14.37/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
73950
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| FIPS code | 40-03900 |
Baker is a small, unincorporated community in northeastern Texas County, Oklahoma, United States. An "unincorporated community" means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Baker is located about a quarter-mile north of U.S. Route 64. Nearby towns include Tyrone, which is six miles to the north-northwest, and Turpin, which is eight miles to the east.
Contents
A Look Back at Baker's History
Baker came into existence in the summer and fall of 1926. It was founded between the towns of Hooker and Turpin, Oklahoma. The community grew because of the BM&E (Beaver, Meade and Englewood) railroad. Just three years after Baker was planned out, another railroad, the CRI&P (Chicago Rock Island and Pacific), also built tracks through the town. This made Baker a "double railroad town" very early on.
How Baker Got Its Name
The town was named after Reuben F. Baker, a man from Hooker, Oklahoma. He sold the land where Baker now stands. The community quickly grew after its founding.
Surviving Tough Times
Baker managed to survive through difficult periods like the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. These were times when the weather was very dry, causing huge dust storms, and when many people lost their jobs and money.
Life in Baker Today
Today, only a few residents live in Baker. However, two grain elevators are still operating. These elevators are important for storing wheat and corn from the surrounding farms. One of these, the Riffe-Gilmore elevator, has been run by the same family since it started in 1926. G.W. Riffe, an early settler, was one of the first people to plant wheat in this area, which was once known as "no man's land" before it became the Oklahoma Panhandle.
Name Change and Railroads
For a short time, Baker was called Bakerburg. This happened in 1931 when a post office opened there. Another town in Oklahoma was already named Baker and had a post office. After that other town's post office closed, Bakerburg officially changed its name back to Baker in 1953. The last train from the Katy railroad left Baker around January 4, 1973. After the Chicago Rock Island line went bankrupt in 1974, trains stopped running through Baker. Since then, trucks on US Highway 64 have been used to transport the wheat from the nearby fields.
Historic Places in Baker
Two important buildings in Baker are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). These are the Baker Woodframe Elevator and the separate Baker Woodframe Grain Elevator. Being on the NRHP means they are recognized as important historical sites.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 37 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
According to the 2020 United States Census, the population of Baker was 37 people.
