Capron, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Capron, Oklahoma
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Location of Capron, Oklahoma
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Woods |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.11 sq mi (0.28 km2) |
| • Land | 0.11 sq mi (0.28 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,293 ft (394 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 27 |
| • Density | 250.00/sq mi (96.36/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
73717
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| Area code(s) | 580 |
| FIPS code | 40-11750 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2413163 |
Capron is a small town in Woods County, Oklahoma, United States. In 2020, 27 people lived there. This was a small increase from 23 people in 2010.
Contents
History of Capron
Capron has an interesting past. Before 1893, it was a cattle station called "Warren." It was on the main railroad line of the Santa Fe railroad.
How Capron Got Its Name
After 1893, people wanted a new name for the growing town. They tried "Sterling," but the postal service and Santa Fe railroad said no. This was because another town with that name already existed in Kansas. They also tried "Virgil" and "Kermit," but these names were also rejected.
So, a group of people chose a new name. They picked "Capron" to honor Captain Allyn K. Capron, Jr. He was a member of Teddy Roosevelt's "Rough Riders." Captain Capron had died in the Battle of San Juan Hill. The name "Capron" was approved by the town's residents. The Santa Fe railroad and the U.S. Postal Service accepted it, and the town has been called Capron ever since.
Capron's Busy Past
Long ago, Capron was a very active community. It had many businesses, including:
- Two banks
- Three general stores
- Two drug stores
- A hotel
- A train depot
- A hat shop
- A theater
- A blacksmith shop
- Two barber shops
- A hardware store
- A lumber yard
- Two churches
- A telephone company
- A factory that made foot powder
The 1939 Tornado
In April 1939, a powerful tornado hit Capron. It went right down the main business street. Many people did not even know the tornado had struck until the next morning. They went to open their stores and found them gone. Most tornadoes sound like trains. Since trains went through Capron very often, no one noticed the tornado's sound.
The tornado destroyed most of the businesses. It also ruined the public school building, which was only 10 years old. Most of these businesses were never rebuilt. However, the public schools were rebuilt.
Capron's Schools
Capron always cared about having good schools. In 1894, the first Capron Public Schools opened. It was a two-room building for grades 1 through 8.
In 1909, a new two-story brick school was built. It cost $8,500. In 1929, residents approved building a new one-story school with a large gym and auditorium. This building was destroyed by the 1939 tornado. A new school, auditorium, and gym were built in 1940. At that time, it was one of the best schools in northwest Oklahoma.
More additions were made to the school over the years:
- In 1952, a building for vocational agriculture classes.
- In 1956, more classrooms and a music room.
- In 1964, a new cafeteria.
The high school became officially recognized in 1912. In 1968, the high school closed because fewer students were attending. The elementary school (grades K-8) closed in 1976. Today, Capron has two large concrete grain elevators, a rural water office, a United Methodist Church, a garage, a gas station, and an American Legion Post. The Post Office closed in 1994 after 100 years of service.
Geography
Capron is a small town. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town covers about 0.1 square miles (0.28 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Population Information
Capron's population has changed over the years. Here is a look at how many people have lived there:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 196 | — | |
| 1920 | 184 | −6.1% | |
| 1930 | 155 | −15.8% | |
| 1940 | 147 | −5.2% | |
| 1950 | 100 | −32.0% | |
| 1960 | 102 | 2.0% | |
| 1970 | 80 | −21.6% | |
| 1980 | 54 | −32.5% | |
| 1990 | 38 | −29.6% | |
| 2000 | 42 | 10.5% | |
| 2010 | 23 | −45.2% | |
| 2020 | 27 | 17.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 42 people living in Capron. There were 17 households and 10 families. Most of the people living there were White.
The average household had about 2.47 people. The average family had about 3.18 people. About 19% of the population was under 18 years old. About 11.9% were 65 years or older. The average age in Capron was 42 years.
Famous People From Capron
- Danny Thompson, a professional baseball player
See also
In Spanish: Capron (Oklahoma) para niños
