Foraker, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Foraker, Oklahoma
|
|
|---|---|
Location of Foraker, Oklahoma
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Osage |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.26 sq mi (0.67 km2) |
| • Land | 0.26 sq mi (0.67 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,270 ft (390 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 18 |
| • Density | 69.23/sq mi (26.73/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
74652
|
| Area code(s) | 539/918 |
| FIPS code | 40-26750 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2412635 |
Foraker is a small town in Osage County, Oklahoma, United States. It was named after Joseph B. Foraker, a senator from Ohio. The Tallgrass Prairie Preserve is located southeast of the town.
Foraker's population has become very small over the years. In 1910, 415 people lived there. By 2010, the population was only 19. In 2020, it was 18. Because of its shrinking size, Foraker was called a "ghost town" in a 1977 book. A long-time resident once said that everything important, like stores, the post office, and the train, had gone away.
History of Foraker
Foraker is found in an area with rolling plains and tallgrass prairie. A post office was first set up in Foraker on February 13, 1903. The town officially began in 1905 as a 160-acre area planned by the U.S. Department of the Interior. It was located along the Midland Valley Railroad.
By 1909, about 500 people lived in Foraker. This was during a time when ranching and farming were growing fast in the area. Foraker had many things that older towns had, like sidewalks and a public park. There were also plans for electricity, a water system, and a large school building.
The farming boom eventually slowed down. However, the town became busy again in 1920 when the Burbank Oil Field was found. Foraker became a place where equipment for the oil industry was supplied. In 1922, the Osage Railway opened, connecting Foraker to Shidler, which was ten miles away. This made Foraker an important place for shipping oil.
The town's population grew to about 2,000 people in the early 1920s. But the oil boom in Osage County ended during the Great Depression. This caused Foraker's population to drop. The Osage Valley railroad closed in 1953, and the Midland Valley Railroad closed in 1968. The town's business area became empty. Today, Foraker is in a region mostly used for large cattle ranches. A quiet old cemetery about a mile east of the town is a main landmark. The closest post office is now in Shidler.
Geography
Foraker is located about 13 miles (21 km) north and 12 miles (19 km) west of Pawhuska. It is also about 6 miles (10 km) north and 3 miles (5 km) east of Shidler.
Population Changes
The population of Foraker has changed a lot over the years. Here's how many people lived there according to the U.S. Census:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 415 | — | |
| 1920 | 394 | −5.1% | |
| 1930 | 310 | −21.3% | |
| 1940 | 222 | −28.4% | |
| 1950 | 105 | −52.7% | |
| 1960 | 74 | −29.5% | |
| 1970 | 52 | −29.7% | |
| 1980 | 34 | −34.6% | |
| 1990 | 25 | −26.5% | |
| 2000 | 23 | −8.0% | |
| 2010 | 19 | −17.4% | |
| 2020 | 18 | −5.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 23 people living in Foraker. There were 10 households and 6 families. The average household had 2.30 people. The average family had 3.17 people. About 26.1% of the people were under 18 years old. About 26.1% were 65 years or older. The average age was 40 years.
Education
Students in Foraker attend schools that are part of Shidler Public Schools.
Notable People
- The famous singer Patti Page (born Clara Ann Fowler) lived with her family in Foraker for a while when she was a child.
- Rodeo champion and Oscar-winning actor Ben Johnson was born and grew up on his family's ranch near Foraker. He was known for his role in the movie The Last Picture Show.
