Colcord, Oklahoma facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Colcord, Oklahoma
Town
Location of Colcord, Oklahoma
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
County	Delaware
Area
• Total	2.45 sq mi (6.35 km2)
• Land	2.45 sq mi (6.35 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,152 ft (351 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	728
• Density	296.90/sq mi (114.62/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	74338
Area code(s)	539/918
FIPS code	40-16100
GNIS feature ID	2413224

Colcord is a small town in Oklahoma, United States. It is located in the northeastern part of the state, in an area called Green Country. In 2010, about 815 people lived there. By 2020, the population was 728.

Discovering Colcord's Past

The story of Colcord began even before it was officially a town. In the 1890s, there was a community called Row in what was then Indian Territory. As more people moved there, Row grew. It had businesses like a bank, a school, and a hotel. A Post Office opened in Row on May 20, 1905.

How Colcord Got Its Name

In the 1920s, a new road, now known as Oklahoma State Highway 116, was built. It passed about 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Row. A mail carrier named Charles Burbage owned land near this new road. He divided his land into blocks, lots, and streets. This new area started to grow and was first called "Little Tulsa" by the people living there.

In September 1928, the residents decided to change the name to "Colcord." They named it after Charles Francis Colcord. He was a very successful cattle rancher and oil businessman. He also used to be a lawman in Oklahoma Territory. Mr. Colcord owned a large ranch west of both Row and the new community. His ranch was very important to the local economy. Many people from the area worked there.

Colcord High School, August 2011

Because of the new road and a big fire that destroyed many buildings in Row, most businesses moved to Colcord. The new town was also approved to build a high school. There was some disagreement between the two towns. However, Colcord continued to grow.

Celebrating Colcord's Heritage

Every year, Colcord hosts a special event called "Old Settlers Day." This celebration includes a parade and takes place on the second Saturday of June. It honors the town's history and the many people who helped settle and build the community.

Explore Nearby Attractions

Colcord is close to several interesting places that offer fun and adventure.

New Life Ranch Flint Valley: A Christian Camp

New Life Ranch Flint Valley sign

Just outside Colcord is New Life Ranch Flint Valley (NLR). This is a large Christian camp that covers about 1,000 acres (405 hectares). It serves as a summer camp for kids in grades 3-12. During the rest of the year, it is a retreat center. Children and teenagers from all over the United States come to the camp. They participate in one-week sessions from June through August.

In 2016, about 30,000 people attended camps and retreats at NLR. Summer camp activities are mostly outdoors. These include archery, biking, canoeing, rappelling, horseback riding, riflery, ropes courses, swimming, and tennis. The owners of NLR also run another similar camp called New Life Ranch Frontier Cove in Adair, Oklahoma.

Natural Falls State Park: A Scenic Waterfall

Nearby is Natural Falls State Park, located off Highway 412 W near West Siloam Springs. This park is known for one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Oklahoma. The natural beauty of the waterfall has been seen by millions of movie lovers.

Part of the popular 1974 film Where the Red Fern Grows was filmed at Natural Falls. Back then, it was called Dripping Springs. The movie tells the story of a young boy growing up in rural Oklahoma during the Great Depression. It is considered an American classic.

Hildebrand Mill: A Historic Site

To the south of Colcord, you can find Hildebrand Mill. This mill was built in 1907 and was powered by water to grind grain. Later, until 1967, it was used as a lumber mill powered by gas. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Delaware County, Oklahoma.

Colcord's Geography and Economy

Colcord is located in southeastern Delaware County. It is about 9 miles (14.5 km) northeast of Kansas. It is also about 18 miles (29 km) southeast of Jay, which is the main town for Delaware County. The town is about 6 miles (9.7 km) west of the border between Oklahoma and Arkansas. Colcord is situated on Oklahoma State Highway 116, east of US-59.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Colcord covers a total area of about 2.45 square miles (6.33 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

The land around Colcord is mostly used for farming. People raise cattle, poultry (like chickens), and dairy animals here.

Population and People

In 2000, there were 819 people living in Colcord. There were 285 households and 198 families. The town had about 327 people per square mile (126 per square kilometer).

About 65% of the people were White, and about 25% were Native American. A small percentage were from other backgrounds. About 2% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

In 2000, about 42% of households had children under 18 living with them. About 48% were married couples. The average household had about 2.87 people, and the average family had about 3.50 people.

The population was quite young. About 35% of the people were under 18 years old. The average age in the town was 30 years.

The median income for a household in Colcord was $21,181. This means half of the households earned more than this, and half earned less. About 30% of families and 30% of the total population lived below the poverty line. This included about 30% of those under 18 and about 34% of those 65 or older.

Images for kids

• 

  Colcord High School, August 2011

• 

  New Life Ranch Flint Valley sign

See also

In Spanish: Colcord (Oklahoma) para niños