Disney, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Disney
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 Disney, Oklahoma
Location in Oklahoma
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Mayes |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.42 sq mi (3.67 km2) |
| • Land | 1.24 sq mi (3.21 km2) |
| • Water | 0.18 sq mi (0.46 km2) |
| Elevation | 742 ft (226 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 222 |
| • Density | 179.18/sq mi (69.19/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
74340
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| Area code(s) | 539/918 |
| FIPS code | 40-20900 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2412434 |
Disney is a small town located in Mayes County, Oklahoma, United States. In 2020, about 222 people lived there. The town is named after Wesley E. Disney, who was a U.S. Congressman from Oklahoma. It is important to know that this town has no connection to The Walt Disney Company or its founder, Walt Disney.
Contents
Discovering Disney, Oklahoma
Disney is often called "Disney Island." This is because it sits on an island right on the southern shore of Grand Lake o' the Cherokees. The only way to drive into and out of Disney is by using Oklahoma State Highway 28.
Getting Around Disney
To reach Disney from the west, you must drive across the Pensacola Dam. This dam is about 1 mile long. To leave Disney, you cross two smaller dams with spillway gates. The northern part of Disney is next to the lake. A wide stream borders the southern part. The water from the smaller dams flows into this stream.
Wildlife in Disney
Disney is home to a special group of "island deer." These deer are wild, but they act a lot like pets. You might see them walking along the main street (Highway 28). They often nibble on lawns, bushes, and flowers.
Businesses and Services
Even though it's a small town, Disney has several useful places. You can find a convenience store and a bait shop. There is also a post office for mail services. For food, there are two drive-in restaurants. A sporting goods and lake apparel store is located in the historic "Dam Hotel" building. Other businesses include offices for construction companies and a gift shop. The town also has two churches and a church camp facility.
The Dam's History and Impact
The Pensacola Dam was built in the early 1930s. During its construction, Disney was a very busy place. Hundreds of workers, engineers, and truck drivers lived and worked nearby. Many services were needed to support this large workforce. The Rogers Cabins motel was once where the project superintendents lived. Today, about 10 old rock cabins from that time have been updated into motel rooms. This motel is one of the few places to stay on the southeast side of the lake.
In October 1938, a famous artist named Thomas Hart Benton wrote about Disney. His article, called "Thirty-Six Hours in a Boom Town," was published in Scribner's magazine. He also drew pictures for the article.
Modern Challenges and Services
Disney's growth is limited because it's on an island. It's also hard to bring city services across the dams. Because of this, Disney has its own water plant. However, houses use septic systems instead of a public sewer. There is also no natural gas service for homes. The first church in Disney was built by William J Morrow. He worked on the dam from start to finish and lived there with his family.
Local Attractions
The Picture in Scripture Amphitheater is located about 3.5 miles east of town. During several weeks in the summer, on Fridays and Saturdays, this amphitheater presents a play about the story of the apostle Paul.
Where is Disney Located?
The United States Census Bureau states that Disney covers a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km2). Most of this area, about 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2), is land. The remaining 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (which is about 10.49%) is water.
Who Lives in Disney?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 224 | — | |
| 1970 | 303 | 35.3% | |
| 1980 | 464 | 53.1% | |
| 1990 | 257 | −44.6% | |
| 2000 | 226 | −12.1% | |
| 2010 | 311 | 37.6% | |
| 2020 | 222 | −28.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, Disney had a population of 311 people. Most residents, about 73.0%, were White. About 17.0% were Native American. A small number, 0.3%, were from other races. About 9.6% of the population reported having two or more races. Additionally, 0.6% of the people were Hispanic or Latino.
In 2000, there were 226 people living in Disney. There were 124 households and 56 families. The average household had about 1.82 people. The average family had about 2.59 people.
Age and Income in Disney
The population in 2000 was spread out by age. About 14.6% of residents were under 18 years old. About 28.3% were 65 years or older. The median age in the town was 49 years. This means half the people were older than 49, and half were younger.
The median income for a household in Disney was $25,417. For families, the median income was $36,875. The per capita income for the town was $16,975. About 24.8% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 20.6% of those under 18 and 21.3% of those 65 or older.
Schools in Disney
The town of Disney is part of the Jay Public Schools school district.
See also
In Spanish: Disney (Oklahoma) para niños
