Freedom, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Freedom, Oklahoma
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| Nickname(s):
Queen City of the Cimarron
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Location of Freedom within Oklahoma
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Woods |
| Incorporated | 1925 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.39 sq mi (1.01 km2) |
| • Land | 0.39 sq mi (1.01 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,529 ft (466 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 174 |
| • Density | 445.01/sq mi (171.96/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
73842
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| Area code | 580 |
| FIPS code | 40-27850 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1093038 |
| Website | freedomokla.com |
Freedom is a small town in Woods County, Oklahoma, in the United States. It is located about 25 miles west of Alva. The town sits right by the Cimarron River. In 2020, 174 people lived there.
Contents
History of Freedom, Oklahoma
Early Days and Battles
A long time ago, in 1878, a battle happened near where Freedom is now. It was called the Battle of Turkey Springs. This was the last known fight between the United States Cavalry (soldiers on horseback) and American Indians in Oklahoma.
How Freedom Started
In the late 1800s, after the Cherokee Strip Land Run, people started to settle in this area. A "land run" was when the government opened up new land for people to claim. In 1893, many farmers and ranchers moved here.
More people came when the Buffalo and Northwestern Railroad was built between 1919 and 1920. This made it easier to travel and move goods. Settlers could claim 160 acres of land to build their homes and farms.
The community got its name, Freedom, from the postal service. It received its own post office in 1901. Mrs. Adlah Annis was the first postmaster, helping people send and receive mail. Freedom officially became a town in 1925, with 251 people living there.
Freedom is special because it is known as the smallest "certified city" in Oklahoma. This means it has a city government, even though it's quite small.
Geography and Climate
Where is Freedom Located?
Freedom is located at 36°46′09″N 99°06′48″W / 36.769179°N 99.113415°W. This is its exact spot on the map. The town covers a total area of about 0.3 square miles (1.01 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no large bodies of water inside the town limits.
Weather in Freedom
The weather in Freedom, Oklahoma, changes throughout the year. Summers are usually hot, and winters can be cold. The town gets some rain, especially in the spring and early summer months.
| Climate data for Freedom, Oklahoma | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 48.1 (8.9) |
53.9 (12.2) |
63.5 (17.5) |
74.5 (23.6) |
82.3 (27.9) |
91.0 (32.8) |
96.8 (36.0) |
94.9 (34.9) |
86.3 (30.2) |
76.1 (24.5) |
60.9 (16.1) |
49.9 (9.9) |
73.2 (22.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 19.7 (−6.8) |
24.7 (−4.1) |
33.9 (1.1) |
45.1 (7.3) |
55.1 (12.8) |
64.1 (17.8) |
69.1 (20.6) |
67.2 (19.6) |
59.0 (15.0) |
45.7 (7.6) |
33.1 (0.6) |
22.7 (−5.2) |
44.9 (7.2) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.5 (13) |
0.9 (23) |
1.9 (48) |
2.2 (56) |
3.5 (89) |
3.1 (79) |
2.4 (61) |
3.0 (76) |
2.6 (66) |
1.9 (48) |
1.4 (36) |
0.8 (20) |
24.2 (615) |
| Source 1: weather.com | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Weatherbase.com | |||||||||||||
People of Freedom
Population Changes Over Time
The number of people living in Freedom has changed over the years. Here's a quick look at the population from different census counts:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 350 | — | |
| 1940 | 364 | 4.0% | |
| 1950 | 332 | −8.8% | |
| 1960 | 268 | −19.3% | |
| 1970 | 292 | 9.0% | |
| 1980 | 339 | 16.1% | |
| 1990 | 264 | −22.1% | |
| 2000 | 271 | 2.7% | |
| 2010 | 289 | 6.6% | |
| 2020 | 174 | −39.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 271 people living in Freedom. These people lived in 108 different homes. Most of the people were White, and a small number were Asian or from other backgrounds. About 2.58% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Families and Age Groups
Out of the 108 homes in 2000:
- About 35% had children under 18 living there.
- Over half (58.3%) were married couples living together.
- Some homes (10.2%) had a female head of household without a husband.
- About 25% of homes were individuals living alone.
- About 12% of homes had someone 65 years or older living by themselves.
The average home had about 2.5 people, and the average family had almost 3 people.
The population was spread out by age:
- About 29% were under 18 years old.
- About 26% were between 25 and 44 years old.
- About 16.6% were 65 years or older.
The average age of people in Freedom was 38 years old.
Economy of Freedom
Salt Production
One important business near Freedom is a salt processing plant owned by Cargill Salt. It's located about 8 miles (12.9 km) west of town. This plant makes salt by using the sun to evaporate water. The salt is then sold for use with farm animals and for different industrial purposes.
The salt factory was first started in 1935 by Ezra Blackmon. It was called Blackmon Salt Company. Later, in 1982, Cargill bought the plant. They made it bigger and started their own production in 1988.
Freedom State Bank
Freedom State Bank was a local bank that served the community for a long time. It was started in 1919 by David H. Powers. His son, James G. Powers, took over in 1934 and kept the bank running even during the Great Depression, a very difficult economic time.
The bank eventually closed in 2014. After it closed, it reopened as a branch of Alva State Bank & Trust.
Fun Things to See and Do
Alabaster Caverns State Park
Just 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Freedom, you can visit Alabaster Caverns State Park. This park is famous for its amazing caves made of alabaster, a type of gypsum. It's a great place to explore underground.
Freedom Open Rodeo and Old Cowhand Reunion
Freedom is also home to a big annual event called the Freedom Open Rodeo and Old Cowhand Reunion. People call it the "Biggest Open Rodeo in The West." It started in 1938 and features exciting rodeo events. A year later, they added a traditional Chuckwagon Feed, where people can enjoy food cooked from a chuckwagon, just like cowboys used to do.
See also
In Spanish: Freedom (Oklahoma) para niños
