Blackwell, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Blackwell, Oklahoma
|
|
|---|---|
Looking east along West Doolin Ave (2013)
|
|
Location of Blackwell in Oklahoma.
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Kay |
| Established | September 16, 1893 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.58 sq mi (14.46 km2) |
| • Land | 5.58 sq mi (14.46 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,024 ft (312 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 6,085 |
| • Density | 1,090.11/sq mi (420.89/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
74631
|
| Area code(s) | 580 |
| FIPS code | 40-06600 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2409858 |
| Website | City Website |
Blackwell is a city in Kay County, Oklahoma, United States. It is located where U.S. Highway 177 and Oklahoma State Highway 11 meet. You can also find it near Interstate 35 (exit #222). In 2020, about 6,085 people lived there.
Blackwell was started after a big event called the Cherokee Outlet land run on September 16, 1893. A man named A. J. Blackwell played a key role in founding the city, and it was named after him. The city's economy has historically relied on farming and fossil fuels.
Contents
History
How Blackwell Started
Blackwell began on September 16, 1893, during the Cherokee Strip Land Run. This was a race where people claimed land. The town is named after A. J. Blackwell. He had lived in the area since 1882. He was able to help start the city because his wife, Rosa Vaught, was of Cherokee descent. A. J. Blackwell later became the Justice of the Peace and Mayor of Blackwell.
The first school in Blackwell opened in September 1893. It was a small building with 52 students. By 1899, the school needed ten teachers because more students joined.
A post office was set up on December 1, 1893. For a short time, from April 1894 to February 1895, it was called Parker. This was due to a competition between Blackwell and a nearby place called Parker. After that, the name went back to Blackwell.
Zinc Smelter Plant
The Blackwell Zinc Company had a large factory that started in 1917. This factory processed zinc. At its busiest, it employed over 1,000 people. It was one of the biggest zinc factories in the United States.
The factory closed in 1974. At that time, it was the city's largest employer, with 800 workers. After it closed, the land was given to the Blackwell Industrial Authority. Some soil from the factory site was used in other parts of the city. This led to environmental concerns.
Since 1992, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality has been working to clean up the area. This includes the industrial park, groundwater, and soil. In 2010, the city of Blackwell and the company that owned the site reached an agreement. The company paid money to help with the cleanup efforts.
The 1955 Tornado
Blackwell was hit by a very strong tornado on May 25, 1955. This tornado was part of a larger storm system that affected several states. It was an F5 tornado, which is the strongest kind.
The tornado formed around 9:00 PM. It moved through the eastern part of Blackwell. It was about 400 yards wide. This powerful storm sadly took the lives of 20 people in Blackwell. Over 200 people were also hurt.
The tornado destroyed almost 200 homes. It also badly damaged 500 other homes. Sixty businesses were ruined, and the local hospital was heavily damaged. Most of the western side of the town was not as badly hit.
To remember this event, the Top of Oklahoma Historical Society Museum in Blackwell created a special exhibit. It is called "F5 in 1955." The exhibit has artifacts, information, and photos from the tornado. It helps people learn about what happened and remember those who were affected.
-
Map showing the path of the 1955 tornadoes.
-
Map of the tornado damage in Blackwell.
-
Damage in Blackwell after the 1955 tornado.
Geography
Blackwell is located along the Chikaskia River. It is just east of Interstate 35. The city covers an area of about 5.5 square miles (14.46 square kilometers). Most of this area is land.
Climate
In May 1906, a special type of meteorite called an L5 meteorite fell in Blackwell, Oklahoma.
| Climate data for Blackwell, Oklahoma (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1954–2019) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 79 (26) |
92 (33) |
91 (33) |
98 (37) |
104 (40) |
109 (43) |
114 (46) |
114 (46) |
108 (42) |
98 (37) |
90 (32) |
80 (27) |
114 (46) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 46.9 (8.3) |
51.8 (11.0) |
61.3 (16.3) |
70.7 (21.5) |
79.2 (26.2) |
88.6 (31.4) |
93.8 (34.3) |
92.7 (33.7) |
84.8 (29.3) |
73.2 (22.9) |
60.0 (15.6) |
48.7 (9.3) |
71.0 (21.7) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 34.6 (1.4) |
38.7 (3.7) |
47.8 (8.8) |
57.2 (14.0) |
67.1 (19.5) |
76.8 (24.9) |
81.5 (27.5) |
80.2 (26.8) |
72.2 (22.3) |
59.9 (15.5) |
47.2 (8.4) |
37.1 (2.8) |
58.4 (14.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 22.2 (−5.4) |
25.6 (−3.6) |
34.3 (1.3) |
43.6 (6.4) |
54.9 (12.7) |
64.9 (18.3) |
69.3 (20.7) |
67.7 (19.8) |
59.6 (15.3) |
46.6 (8.1) |
34.4 (1.3) |
25.5 (−3.6) |
45.7 (7.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −10 (−23) |
−20 (−29) |
0 (−18) |
19 (−7) |
33 (1) |
46 (8) |
49 (9) |
46 (8) |
29 (−2) |
15 (−9) |
6 (−14) |
−12 (−24) |
−20 (−29) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.25 (32) |
1.41 (36) |
2.83 (72) |
3.92 (100) |
5.39 (137) |
5.14 (131) |
4.38 (111) |
4.12 (105) |
3.17 (81) |
3.61 (92) |
1.92 (49) |
1.68 (43) |
38.82 (986) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 2.0 (5.1) |
1.7 (4.3) |
1.4 (3.6) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
2.6 (6.6) |
7.9 (20) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 4.5 | 5.2 | 6.9 | 7.8 | 9.3 | 9.1 | 7.7 | 7.8 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 81.6 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 3.8 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
People in Blackwell
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 2,283 | — | |
| 1910 | 3,266 | 43.1% | |
| 1920 | 7,174 | 119.7% | |
| 1930 | 9,521 | 32.7% | |
| 1940 | 8,537 | −10.3% | |
| 1950 | 9,199 | 7.8% | |
| 1960 | 9,588 | 4.2% | |
| 1970 | 8,645 | −9.8% | |
| 1980 | 8,400 | −2.8% | |
| 1990 | 7,538 | −10.3% | |
| 2000 | 7,668 | 1.7% | |
| 2010 | 7,092 | −7.5% | |
| 2020 | 6,085 | −14.2% | |
| Data from United States Census Bureau | |||
In 2020, the city of Blackwell had 6,085 people living there. Most residents were White. There were also people who identified as Native American, African American, Asian, and Pacific Islander. Some people identified with two or more races. About 9% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Fun Things to Do
Parks, Museums, and Events
The Top of Oklahoma Historical Society Museum is a great place to visit. It's located in the Electric Park Pavilion. You can see old items from the land run and learn about local history.
Blackwell hosts the Kay County Free Fair every September. The city has five main parks: Riverside, Bagby, Rogers, Memorial, and Legion parks. There's also the Blackwell Memorial Pool, a public swimming pool. It has one of the 12 Statue of Liberty replicas installed by the Boy Scouts of America in 1951.
The Blackwell Public Library offers many resources. They also have events, classes, and workshops for the community.
If you like golf, there's the Blackwell Municipal Golf Course. It has 9 holes and opened in 1926.
Blackwell is home to Oklahoma's first Barn Quilt Geo-Trail. This trail has 60 unique barn quilts. They represent all 50 U.S. states and other special designs.
Blackwell also has eight places listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the old WPA Armory, the Rivoli Theatre, and the Larkin Hotel. Famous aviator Amelia Earhart stayed at the Larkin Hotel.
Sports
In 2023, a new baseball team was announced for Blackwell. They are called the Blackwell Fly Catchers and play in the Pecos League.
Education
The Blackwell School District includes Blackwell Elementary, Blackwell Middle School, and Blackwell High School. In the past, there were also Huston, Northside, Parkside, and Washington Elementary Schools. These old school sites are now on the National Register of Historic Places.
The school mascot for Blackwell is the Maroon Spirit. You can see a mural of the Maroon Spirit in Maroon Park on Main Street. It was painted by the Blackwell High School art class. The mural lists the names of students honored as "Maroon Spirit" and "Miss BHS" from many years ago.
Media
Blackwell has a local newspaper called the Blackwell Journal-Tribune. There used to be a local radio station, KOKB 1580 AM. It played local sports and other programs.
City Services
Blackwell has a full range of city services. These include electricity, water, and sewage. They also provide recreation, police, and fire services. The police department has 17 full-time officers and a jail. The Blackwell Fire Department has 20 paid firefighters and paramedics. They also provide ambulance service to Blackwell and nearby areas.
Getting Around
Blackwell is served by major roads like Interstate 35, US Route 177, and Oklahoma State Highway 11.
The city also has an airport, the Blackwell-Tonkawa Municipal Airport.
Historically, Blackwell had many train lines. These lines helped connect the city to other towns. Today, Blackwell still has freight train service through the Blackwell Northern Gateway Railroad.
Healthcare
Blackwell and the surrounding communities are served by Stillwater Medical Center's Blackwell branch. This facility has 53 beds and offers 24-hour emergency services. It also has a helipad for air transport.
Famous People from Blackwell
- Joe Allbaugh, former head of FEMA.
- Jack Brisco, a professional wrestler.
- Jerry Brisco, a professional wrestler.
- Brad Penny, a Major League Baseball pitcher.
- Jamie McGuire, a best-selling author.
- Natalie Shirley, former Secretary of Commerce and Tourism for Oklahoma.
Images for kids
-
The Chikaskia River at Blackwell.
-
The Blackwell Public Library was constructed in 1921.
See also
In Spanish: Blackwell (Oklahoma) para niños
