Blanchard, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Blanchard, Oklahoma
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City Hall
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Location of Blanchard, Oklahoma
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| Counties | McClain, Grady |
| Area | |
| • Total | 30.55 sq mi (79.14 km2) |
| • Land | 30.44 sq mi (78.85 km2) |
| • Water | 0.11 sq mi (0.29 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,309 ft (399 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 8,879 |
| • Density | 291.65/sq mi (112.61/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
73010
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| Area code(s) | 405 |
| FIPS code | 40-06700 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2409861 |
Blanchard is a city in Oklahoma, located in McClain and Grady counties. In 2020, about 8,879 people lived here. This number was higher than in 2010, showing the city is growing. Blanchard is part of a fast-growing area called the "Tri-City Area," which also includes Newcastle and Tuttle.
Contents
History of Blanchard
Blanchard was named after William G. "Bill" Blanchard. The town was first planned by the Canadian Valley Construction Company. This company also wanted to build a railroad. However, they ran into money problems. The railroad project was then taken over by the Oklahoma Central Railroad, which also had financial issues. Finally, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway finished building the railroad line.
The town started selling lots for homes and businesses in 1906. By 1908, all the lots were sold. Within a year, Blanchard had many businesses. These included banks, shops for blacksmiths, places to keep horses, and buildings to store grain. There was also a weekly newspaper.
Blanchard officially became an incorporated town in October 1907. This meant it could have its own local government and elected officials. By 1910, the population was 629 people. It grew to 1,040 by 1930. The Blanchard post office opened in December 1906. Before that, mail was received in a nearby place called Womack.
For a while, Blanchard even had its own courthouse. This made it easier for people in the northern part of McClain County to handle legal matters. The courthouse opened in 1909. Later, in the 1920s, this court district joined with another one in Purcell.
Geography of Blanchard
Blanchard is located in the northwestern part of McClain County. Some parts of the city also reach into Grady County. The city covers about 30.55 square miles. Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.
U.S. Route 62 runs through the middle of Blanchard. This road connects the city to Oklahoma City, which is about 28 miles northeast. It also goes southwest to Chickasha, about 18 miles away. Oklahoma State Highway 76 goes north from Blanchard to Newcastle. It also heads south to Lindsay.
The center of Blanchard has streets laid out in a grid pattern. This area is on a small hill. Around the center, you'll find newer buildings and farms. The main part of Blanchard has older homes, churches, and a historic downtown area. In downtown, you can find antique shops, restaurants, and city services.
Outside the city center, there are schools, businesses, and modern neighborhoods. These neighborhoods often have larger lots for homes. Many people who live in Blanchard travel to work in nearby cities like Norman and Oklahoma City. However, more local businesses are opening up. Blanchard has a supermarket, restaurants, a public library, banks, and other stores.
People in Blanchard often feel it has a small-town feel. But the city is growing quickly. To manage this growth, the city expanded its boundaries in 2004. There are also projects to make Main Street look nicer and improve city services. In 2007, some older buildings were removed to make U.S. 62 wider. However, the historic downtown buildings were kept safe.
Climate in Blanchard
Blanchard has a climate with warm summers and mild winters.
| Climate data for Blanchard, Oklahoma (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1952–2021) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 81 (27) |
91 (33) |
95 (35) |
100 (38) |
102 (39) |
107 (42) |
112 (44) |
112 (44) |
110 (43) |
100 (38) |
85 (29) |
85 (29) |
112 (44) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 52.5 (11.4) |
56.8 (13.8) |
65.7 (18.7) |
74.1 (23.4) |
81.2 (27.3) |
89.2 (31.8) |
95.1 (35.1) |
94.8 (34.9) |
86.7 (30.4) |
76.0 (24.4) |
63.6 (17.6) |
53.2 (11.8) |
74.1 (23.4) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 39.7 (4.3) |
43.7 (6.5) |
52.3 (11.3) |
60.7 (15.9) |
69.3 (20.7) |
77.6 (25.3) |
82.8 (28.2) |
81.9 (27.7) |
74.0 (23.3) |
62.6 (17.0) |
50.8 (10.4) |
41.5 (5.3) |
61.4 (16.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 27.0 (−2.8) |
30.5 (−0.8) |
38.8 (3.8) |
47.3 (8.5) |
57.4 (14.1) |
66.1 (18.9) |
70.4 (21.3) |
69.0 (20.6) |
61.4 (16.3) |
49.3 (9.6) |
38.0 (3.3) |
29.8 (−1.2) |
48.7 (9.3) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −6 (−21) |
−14 (−26) |
4 (−16) |
19 (−7) |
33 (1) |
44 (7) |
53 (12) |
50 (10) |
36 (2) |
18 (−8) |
10 (−12) |
−11 (−24) |
−14 (−26) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.45 (37) |
1.60 (41) |
2.66 (68) |
3.62 (92) |
5.30 (135) |
4.18 (106) |
3.15 (80) |
3.25 (83) |
3.63 (92) |
3.27 (83) |
2.12 (54) |
2.08 (53) |
36.31 (922) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 2.0 (5.1) |
0.7 (1.8) |
0.5 (1.3) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.5 (1.3) |
2.5 (6.4) |
6.2 (16) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 4.6 | 5.2 | 5.9 | 7.2 | 8.9 | 7.2 | 5.4 | 5.9 | 6.5 | 6.2 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 73.4 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 3.9 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
People in Blanchard
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 629 | — | |
| 1920 | 842 | 33.9% | |
| 1930 | 1,040 | 23.5% | |
| 1940 | 1,139 | 9.5% | |
| 1950 | 1,311 | 15.1% | |
| 1960 | 1,377 | 5.0% | |
| 1970 | 1,580 | 14.7% | |
| 1980 | 1,688 | 6.8% | |
| 1990 | 1,922 | 13.9% | |
| 2000 | 2,816 | 46.5% | |
| 2010 | 7,670 | 172.4% | |
| 2020 | 8,879 | 15.8% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 9,663 | 26.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, Blanchard had 8,879 people living there. The city has grown quite a bit over the years. Most people in Blanchard are White, with smaller groups of African American and Native American residents. About 4.5% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
The population is spread out in terms of age. About 24.7% of the people are under 18 years old. Most people, about 60%, are between 18 and 64 years old. About 15.3% of the population is 65 years or older. Slightly more than half of the population (52.9%) is female. The average age in Blanchard is about 39.8 years.
Education in Blanchard
Blanchard has a good school system for students. There are four schools that serve about 2,240 students.
- The elementary school is new and teaches students from Pre-Kindergarten to second grade.
- There is an intermediate school for third to fifth graders.
- A middle school serves students in sixth through eighth grades.
- Blanchard High School is for older students.
The high school sports teams are called "The Lions." Their football team has won three state championships. They won in 1979, 2013, and 2023. The baseball team has also won state championships in 1979, 1980, 2015, and 2019. The Softball team won state championships in 1984 and 2009. Other sports offered include basketball, golf, cheerleading, powerlifting, and wrestling. The school also has a successful Marching band program.
Libraries in Blanchard
Blanchard has its own public library. It is part of the Pioneer Library System. This system serves many towns around Oklahoma City.
Culture and Fun in Blanchard
Recreation
Blanchard has two parks where you can play and relax. There's also an athletic stadium for sports events. If you like golf, there are three golf courses nearby.
The city hosts fun events throughout the year.
- "May Daze" is an annual festival held in early May.
- Blanchard also has one of the biggest Veterans' Day Parades in Oklahoma.
The city has built new facilities for its students and community.
- A new high school was built in 2011.
- There is a new football stadium called Oscar Brooks Stadium.
- Blanchard also has a new Fine Arts Performance Center.
As of 2023, Blanchard is building a special park and memorial to honor veterans.
Media
People in Blanchard can read the local weekly newspaper, The Blanchard News. There is also a radio station, KKNG-FM, that is licensed to Blanchard.
Notable people
- Tony K. Burris, a hero who received the Medal of Honor.
- Adele Collins (1908–1996), a talented visual artist from the Chickasaw Nation.
- Jody Miller, a famous country and pop singer.
- Bonnie Owens, another well-known country singer.
See also
In Spanish: Blanchard (Oklahoma) para niños
