Barnsdall, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Barnsdall, Oklahoma
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| Nickname(s):
Bigheart
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Location of Barnsdall in Oklahoma
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Osage |
| Founded | 1905 (Bigheart) 1922 (Barnsdall) |
| Named for | James Bigheart Theodore Barnsdall |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.18 sq mi (3.06 km2) |
| • Land | 0.98 sq mi (2.55 km2) |
| • Water | 0.20 sq mi (0.51 km2) |
| Elevation | 735 ft (224 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,034 |
| • Density | 876/sq mi (337.9/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
74002
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| Area code | 539 / 918 |
| FIPS code | 40-04250 |
| GNIS ID | 2409788 |
Barnsdall is a small city located in Osage County, Oklahoma, in the United States. In 2020, about 1,034 people lived there.
Contents
History of Barnsdall
The community of Barnsdall started in 1905. It was first called Bigheart. This name honored James Bigheart, an important Osage Chief. The town was built on 160 acres of land next to the Midland Valley Railroad.
The railroad opened its Bigheart Station in September 1905. A post office for Bigheart opened in January 1906. Land lots were sold in May 1906. The town's first newspaper, the Bigheart Star, began in 1906.
Oil Industry and Name Change
In 1910, Joshua Cosden built an oil refinery called Southwest Refining Company. He sold it in 1917. Later, the Barnsdall Oil Company bought the refinery in 1921. This company had found a large oil field nearby in 1916.
On January 1, 1922, the community changed its name to Barnsdall. This was to honor Theodore N. Barnsdall, who founded the Barnsdall Oil Company.
Early Challenges and Growth
Barnsdall faced some tough times early on. A tornado hit in April 1911. A big fire happened in March 1913. A flood came in September 1915.
Even with these problems, the town grew a lot. Its population went from 307 people in 1910 to 2,099 in 1920. This was the highest number of people living in Barnsdall.
Changes at the Refinery
Henry Latham Doherty bought the Barnsdall Oil Company in 1912. The refinery changed its name to Bareco Oil Company in 1940. It stopped making oil in 1946. Instead, it started making special waxes.
Different companies owned the plant over the years. It was called NuCera Solutions in 2020. In 2022, Chase Corporation bought NuCera. The plant kept running until July 2024.
Railroad History
The Midland Valley Railroad tracks around Barnsdall are no longer used. The part south of Barnsdall was closed in 2000. Some of this old railroad path has been turned into a walking and biking trail.
Recent Tornadoes
Barnsdall was hit by two strong tornadoes in 2024.
- On April 1, 2024, an EF1 tornado caused damage to 35 homes. Luckily, no one was hurt.
- On May 6, 2024, a much stronger EF4 tornado struck the city. This was the second tornado in just five weeks. Winds reached about 180 miles per hour (290 km/h). Two people sadly died because of this tornado. Many buildings were completely destroyed, including the Barnsdall Nursing Home. Schools and other buildings opened to help people who lost their homes. At least ten people were injured. The NuCera refinery was also badly damaged.
Geography of Barnsdall
Barnsdall is about 17 miles (27 km) southeast of Pawhuska. Pawhuska is the main city in Osage County. Barnsdall is also about 40 miles (64 km) northwest of Tulsa.
The city covers about 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2) of land.
Climate in Barnsdall
Barnsdall has a climate with warm summers and mild winters.
| Climate data for Barnsdall, Oklahoma | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 46.7 (8.2) |
52.5 (11.4) |
63.1 (17.3) |
74.1 (23.4) |
80.5 (26.9) |
88.3 (31.3) |
94.5 (34.7) |
93.8 (34.3) |
85.2 (29.6) |
75.0 (23.9) |
61.2 (16.2) |
49.7 (9.8) |
72.1 (22.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 22.5 (−5.3) |
27.4 (−2.6) |
37.0 (2.8) |
48.1 (8.9) |
56.5 (13.6) |
65.2 (18.4) |
69.8 (21.0) |
67.6 (19.8) |
60.3 (15.7) |
48.0 (8.9) |
37.0 (2.8) |
26.4 (−3.1) |
47.2 (8.4) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.4 (36) |
1.9 (48) |
3.7 (94) |
3.3 (84) |
4.8 (120) |
4.7 (120) |
2.9 (74) |
3.5 (89) |
5.6 (140) |
3.2 (81) |
3.0 (76) |
1.9 (48) |
39.9 (1,010) |
| Source: Weatherbase.com | |||||||||||||
People in Barnsdall
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 307 | — | |
| 1920 | 2,099 | 583.7% | |
| 1930 | 2,001 | −4.7% | |
| 1940 | 1,831 | −8.5% | |
| 1950 | 1,708 | −6.7% | |
| 1960 | 1,663 | −2.6% | |
| 1970 | 1,579 | −5.1% | |
| 1980 | 1,501 | −4.9% | |
| 1990 | 1,316 | −12.3% | |
| 2000 | 1,325 | 0.7% | |
| 2010 | 1,243 | −6.2% | |
| 2020 | 1,034 | −16.8% | |
| 2020 Cenus Results | |||
Population Details (2022)
In 2022, about 1,019 people lived in Barnsdall. There were about 360 households. The city had about 461 housing units.
Most people in Barnsdall were White (65.6%). About 19.7% were Native American or Alaskan Native. About 14.0% were from two or more races. About 5.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
- About 26.4% of households had children under 18.
- About 35.6% of households had people aged 65 or older.
- About 54.2% of households were married couples.
The average age in Barnsdall was 36.8 years. About 28.0% of the people were under 18. About 20.1% were 65 or older.
The average income for a household was $56,500. The average income for a family was $67,625. About 6.5% of the people lived below the poverty line.
Many residents have German (16.0%) or Irish (14.7%) family backgrounds. Other backgrounds include American (9.2%) and English (4.9%).
Economy of Barnsdall
NuCera Solutions was a company in Barnsdall that made special waxes. It was the biggest employer in the town. However, the plant was badly damaged by the EF4 tornado on May 6, 2024. On July 30, 2024, it was announced that the plant would close for good.
Events in Barnsdall
Barnsdall has an annual event called Bigheart Day. It is held on the Saturday before Memorial Day.
Attractions in Barnsdall
Barnsdall has two places listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Osage County, Oklahoma. These are important historical sites:
- Bank of Bigheart: This is the oldest business building still standing in the community. It was built in 1911.
- Barnsdall Main Street Well Site: This is an oil well located right in the middle of Main Street.
The Woolaroc Ranch Historic District is also close to Barnsdall. It is about 8 miles (13 km) east of where State Highway 11 and State Highway 123 meet.
Notable People from Barnsdall
- Anita Bryant (born 1940): A singer who was born in Barnsdall. She was also Miss America runner-up in 1958.
- Clark Gable (1901–1960): A famous movie star, known for "Gone With the Wind". He lived in Barnsdall for a short time when the town was busy with the oil business. The house where he lived is still there.
- Thomas Hall (born 1939): A retired rear admiral in the United States Navy.
- J. Edward Roush (1920–2004): A lawyer and World War II veteran. He served as a U.S. Representative from Indiana for many years.
See also
In Spanish: Barnsdall para niños
