Gage, Oklahoma facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gage, Oklahoma
Town
Artesian Beach Park in Gage
Location of Gage, Oklahoma
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
County	Ellis
Area
• Total	0.43 sq mi (1.11 km2)
• Land	0.43 sq mi (1.11 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	2,142 ft (653 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	433
• Density	1,014.05/sq mi (391.56/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	73843
Area code(s)	580
FIPS code	40-28250
GNIS feature ID	2412665

Gage is a small town in Ellis County, Oklahoma, United States. In 2020, about 433 people lived there. It's known for its unique Artesian Beach Park.

History of Gage

Gage is in the middle of Ellis County. It's about 13 miles north of Arnett and 21 miles southwest of Woodward. The town grew mainly because of its location near important travel routes.

A military road once passed close to where Gage is today. In 1887, a railway line was built through this area. A station called Gage was set up in July, named after a railroad financier named Lyman J. Gage. This region was once home to different Native American groups. Later, it became part of the Cherokee Outlet. In September 1893, this land was opened for settlement during a special event called a land run.

Early Days and Growth

After the land run, settlers like John Barr and Frederick D. Webster moved near the railroad stop. A post office opened in February 1895. By 1898, Gage had several stores, a hotel, and a sawmill. In 1901, more people came to the town. This was because new lands to the south were opening up.

In May 1904, the town's residents voted to make Gage an official town. In 1907, Ellis County was created, and Gage became part of it. The town's population grew to 755 people in 1907. By 1910, it reached its highest population ever, with 924 residents.

What Was Life Like in Early Gage?

Gage became a busy place for shipping cattle and grain. In its first ten years as a town, it had:

• Two banks
• Five lumberyards
• Over two dozen shops
• Two cotton gins
• A roller mill (for grinding grain)
• Three grain elevators

A company called Brennecke Metal Manufacturing made water tanks. For fun, people could go to a theater or listen to the Wolf Valley Cornet Band. Travelers could stay at three hotels and eat at five restaurants. There were also three churches and a large school building for children.

Changes Over the Years

Like many small towns, Gage saw a dip in population during the World War I years. However, its good location near the railroad helped it stay strong. Several newspapers served the town, including the Gage Record, which was still around at the end of the 1900s. In 1920, Gage had 804 people.

During World War II, the U.S. Army used a large field outside Gage. It was a training ground for bomber pilots. In the 1940s and 1950s, Gage had many shops and gas stations. The population was 684 in 1940 and 482 in 1960.

Later, new paved roads made it easier for people to travel to jobs in nearby towns like Woodward and Shattuck. This helped Gage's population grow to 536 in 1970 and 667 in 1980. The Bank of Gage, an old brick building, is now on the National Register of Historic Places in Ellis County, Oklahoma. Today, ranching and farming are still very important for Gage's economy.

The Gage Airport is still open, using the old military runways. Since 1904, the National Weather Service has had a weather station in Gage. It has been collecting weather data for over a century! In 2016, Gage Public Schools joined with Fargo Public Schools. This was a big topic of discussion for many families.

Geography of Gage

Gage is located on the south side of Wolf Creek. This creek is fed by springs and flows into the Beaver River. Wolf Creek travels about 40 miles through Texas and 52 miles through Oklahoma. It generally flows from southwest to northeast. This direction also matches the path of the BNSF Railway and Oklahoma State Highway 15, which both run through Gage.

Artesian Beach Park: A Unique Swimming Spot

Gage is home to a special place called Artesian Beach Park, also known as Gage Beach (36°19′17″N 99°44′31″W / 36.32139°N 99.74194°W / 36.32139; -99.74194). This park has a clear, spring-fed lake that's about the size of five football fields! It's said to have Oklahoma's largest outdoor swimming pool. The swimming area has concrete sides like a pool, but a sandy bottom like a lake. The water is between 3 and 14 feet deep and even has a few fish.

The artesian lake formed in 1917. This happened when someone was drilling for oil but found only spring water instead. The landowner then created a swimming and boating area for everyone to enjoy. The city bought Gage Beach in 1939. They built a bathhouse and a boat dock. In 2012, a lot of work was done to fix up the banks of the beach.

Long ago, there was a motel near the springs. Travelers came from far away to swim in the mineral-rich water. People used to say the water was good for health problems like kidney issues and skin conditions. The water is not safe to drink or use for farming because it has many minerals. Originally, the spring flowed out about 1,700 gallons of water per minute. By 2009, this had dropped to about 400 gallons per minute. However, recently, the spring's flow might have increased, and the lake is fuller than it has been in years.

Gage's Climate

Gage has a humid subtropical climate. This means it usually has hot, humid summers and mild winters. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Gage was 114°F (46°C) on July 19, 2022. The coldest temperature ever recorded was -20°F (-29°C) on January 15, 1905.

Population of Gage

In 2000, Gage had 429 people living in 197 households. About 121 of these were families. The town had about 1,033 people per square mile. Most residents (about 97%) were White. A small number were Native American or Asian. About 2.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

About 24% of households had children under 18 living with them. Nearly half (47.7%) were married couples. About 38% of households were made up of individuals living alone. The average household size was 2.18 people. The average family size was 2.86 people.

The population was spread out by age:

• 23.3% were under 18 years old.
• 7.0% were between 18 and 24.
• 22.6% were between 25 and 44.
• 28.0% were between 45 and 64.
• 19.1% were 65 years or older.

The average age in Gage was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were about 96 males. The average income for a household in Gage was about $25,795 per year. For families, it was about $32,750 per year. About 20.6% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 37.8% of those under 18.

See also

In Spanish: Gage (Oklahoma) para niños