Gerty, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gerty, Oklahoma
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Location of Gerty, Oklahoma
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Hughes |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.25 sq mi (0.65 km2) |
| • Land | 0.25 sq mi (0.65 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 837 ft (255 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 92 |
| • Density | 363.64/sq mi (140.55/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| FIPS code | 40-29150 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2412680 |
Gerty is a small town in southern Hughes County, Oklahoma, United States. In 2010, about 118 people lived there. By 2020, the population was 92.
Contents
History of Gerty
Early Settlement by the Choctaw People
In the early 1830s, the Choctaw Native American people began moving to this area. This happened because of a government plan called the "Indian Relocation policy." One Choctaw community was known as "Buzzard Flop." It became a popular rest stop for people traveling west.
This spot had fresh spring water and flat land for camping. The Choctaws also found it was great for raising cattle. Several families built ranches in the area.
Growth and Naming of the Town
By 1880, the Choctaws knew this was ideal land for cattle. In 1891, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway built a train line nearby. It was about ten miles north of where Gerty is now.
In 1893, a Choctaw man named James S. Raydon built a log cabin. He also opened a store. He then set up a post office. The government approved the post office on June 15, 1894. It was named "Guertie" after Raydon's daughter. Raydon became the first postmaster.
Changes Over Time
After the Dawes Commission finished giving land to Choctaw people, George Sorrell sold his land. This land included Guertie. The government then bought it. They surveyed the town and sold lots. This helped more people move there.
In December 1907, the town's name changed to Raydon. Oklahoma became a state that year. The town had about 600 people. It had many businesses, like stores, hotels, and a bank. There was even a newspaper called the Guertie News.
However, people started getting mail meant for a place called "Ragan." So, in June 1910, the Post Office changed the name back to Guertie. Then, they changed the spelling to Gerty. This was to avoid confusion with Guthrie in Logan County.
Population Changes
Gerty's population has changed a lot over the years. In 1910, 305 people lived there. By 1930, it dropped to 137. It went up to 206 by 1960. Since then, the population has stayed below 200.
Geography of Gerty
Gerty is located in the southern part of Hughes County. It is about 2 miles (3.2 km) west of U.S. Route 75. It is also about 8 miles (13 km) southeast of Allen. The town is 17 miles (27 km) southeast of Holdenville. It is 12 miles (19 km) south of Calvin.
The United States Census Bureau says Gerty covers about 0.6 square kilometers (0.25 square miles). All of this area is land. Water flows south from the town into Panther Creek. This creek is part of the Red River system.
Demographics of Gerty
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 305 | — | |
| 1920 | 251 | −17.7% | |
| 1930 | 137 | −45.4% | |
| 1940 | 206 | 50.4% | |
| 1950 | 155 | −24.8% | |
| 1960 | 135 | −12.9% | |
| 1970 | 139 | 3.0% | |
| 1980 | 149 | 7.2% | |
| 1990 | 95 | −36.2% | |
| 2000 | 101 | 6.3% | |
| 2010 | 118 | 16.8% | |
| 2020 | 92 | −22.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 101 people living in Gerty. They lived in 40 households, with 29 of these being families. The town had about 414 people per square mile (160 per square kilometer).
Most people in Gerty were White (83.17%). About 12.87% were Native American. A small number (3.96%) were from two or more races. Less than 1% were Hispanic or Latino.
Households and Families
Out of 40 households, 37.5% had children under 18. About 52.5% were married couples living together. Some households (10.0%) had a female head with no husband. About 27.5% were not families.
A quarter of all households (25.0%) had only one person. About 12.5% of these were people aged 65 or older living alone. The average household had 2.53 people. The average family had 2.90 people.
Age and Income
The population in Gerty was spread out by age. About 29.7% were under 18. About 13.9% were 65 or older. The average age in town was 34 years.
The median income for a household was $20,250. This means half of the households earned more, and half earned less. For families, the median income was $18,750. About 25.3% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 25.0% of those under 18 and 50.0% of those over 64.
Education in Gerty
Gerty is part of the Calvin Public Schools district.
Early Schools
Gerty's first schools were "subscription schools." This meant families paid a fee for their children to attend. In 1903, a two-story wooden school building was built. People donated money, labor, and lumber for it. The lumber was brought from the Kiamichi Mountains.
School District Growth
In 1923, the Gatewood and Lawrence school districts joined with Gerty. The Social Hill district joined in 1947.
The first group of students to finish high school in Gerty graduated in 1929. In 1936, there were 170 students in grade school. There were 55 students in high school. However, by the early 2000s, the entire school district had only 28 students.
See also
In Spanish: Gerty (Oklahoma) para niños
