Helena, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Helena, Oklahoma
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Location of Helena, Oklahoma
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Alfalfa |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.41 sq mi (1.06 km2) |
| • Land | 0.41 sq mi (1.06 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,401 ft (427 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,537 |
| • Density | 3,767.16/sq mi (1,455.18/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
73741
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| Area code(s) | 580 |
| FIPS code | 40-33450 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2412743 |
Helena is a town located in the southeastern part of Alfalfa County, Oklahoma, in the United States. People who live there say the town's name as "Heh-LEE'-nuh." In 2010, about 1,403 people lived in Helena. By 2020, the population had grown to 1,537.
History
The town of Helena got its name in June 1915. This was when Helen S. Monroe received official approval for a post office in the area. She became the very first postmaster, and the town was named after her.
After the Cherokee Outlet was opened for new settlers, many small communities started to appear. This area was then part of southwestern Woods County. Today, it is known as Alfalfa County.
When a railroad company, the Arkansas Valley and Western Railway, planned its route, it decided to bypass a nearby settlement called Carwile. Because of this, people from Carwile began to move closer to the planned railroad. They settled near a store that H. H. Anderson had opened around 1896.
The town of Helena was officially planned out in 1902. It became an incorporated village the next year. By that time, about 160 people lived there.
One of only two high schools in Oklahoma Territory at the time was built in Helena in 1903. It opened in 1904 with 400 students. On January 6, 1904, the Arkansas Valley and Western Railway reached Helena. This railway was part of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway system.
Helena grew quickly. By mid-1905, it was estimated that 700 people lived there. The town had two banks, two schools, two newspapers, four places to store grain, a flour mill, and two lumberyards. By 1909, there were churches for Baptist, Christian, Methodist, and Presbyterian faiths. The population grew from 760 in 1910 to 776 by 1940.
Mammoth Discovery
In July 2013, something very exciting was found near Helena. Workers from Access Midstream, a company that provides natural gas, discovered the bones of a mammoth. This happened on land owned by brothers Dr. Michael Thorp and Tom Thorp, about two miles northwest of Helena.
Experts from Oklahoma State University helped to dig up the mammoth. Geographer Carlos Cordova and geography student Tom Cox worked at the site from September to October 2013. The Thorp brothers generously donated the mammoth to Oklahoma State University. The university plans to put the mammoth on display for everyone to see.
Geography
Helena covers an area of about 0.5 square miles (1.3 square kilometers). All of this area is land. The town is located along State Highway 58.
Climate
Helena has a type of weather called a humid subtropical climate. This means it usually has hot, humid summers and mild winters.
The hottest temperature ever recorded in Helena was 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Celsius). This happened on June 25, 1911, and again on July 30, 1986. The coldest temperature ever recorded was -21 degrees Fahrenheit (-29 degrees Celsius) on February 10, 2011.
| Climate data for Helena, Oklahoma, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1906–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 82 (28) |
92 (33) |
99 (37) |
99 (37) |
105 (41) |
113 (45) |
113 (45) |
112 (44) |
108 (42) |
98 (37) |
91 (33) |
80 (27) |
113 (45) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 69.5 (20.8) |
74.9 (23.8) |
82.1 (27.8) |
87.3 (30.7) |
93.9 (34.4) |
99.9 (37.7) |
104.5 (40.3) |
103.4 (39.7) |
98.4 (36.9) |
90.4 (32.4) |
78.5 (25.8) |
68.5 (20.3) |
105.9 (41.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 46.8 (8.2) |
51.0 (10.6) |
61.0 (16.1) |
70.2 (21.2) |
79.5 (26.4) |
89.7 (32.1) |
95.0 (35.0) |
93.2 (34.0) |
85.3 (29.6) |
72.7 (22.6) |
59.1 (15.1) |
48.1 (8.9) |
71.0 (21.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 35.1 (1.7) |
38.7 (3.7) |
48.2 (9.0) |
57.2 (14.0) |
67.6 (19.8) |
77.8 (25.4) |
82.7 (28.2) |
80.9 (27.2) |
73.0 (22.8) |
60.1 (15.6) |
47.1 (8.4) |
37.1 (2.8) |
58.8 (14.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 23.3 (−4.8) |
26.5 (−3.1) |
35.5 (1.9) |
44.2 (6.8) |
55.7 (13.2) |
65.8 (18.8) |
70.3 (21.3) |
68.7 (20.4) |
60.6 (15.9) |
47.5 (8.6) |
35.0 (1.7) |
26.0 (−3.3) |
46.6 (8.1) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 7.3 (−13.7) |
9.9 (−12.3) |
17.9 (−7.8) |
28.0 (−2.2) |
39.9 (4.4) |
54.1 (12.3) |
61.5 (16.4) |
59.0 (15.0) |
45.7 (7.6) |
29.9 (−1.2) |
18.3 (−7.6) |
9.8 (−12.3) |
1.7 (−16.8) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −14 (−26) |
−21 (−29) |
−1 (−18) |
1 (−17) |
29 (−2) |
44 (7) |
50 (10) |
48 (9) |
31 (−1) |
12 (−11) |
5 (−15) |
−15 (−26) |
−21 (−29) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.04 (26) |
1.25 (32) |
2.22 (56) |
3.27 (83) |
4.37 (111) |
4.42 (112) |
3.22 (82) |
3.71 (94) |
2.56 (65) |
3.03 (77) |
1.60 (41) |
1.45 (37) |
32.14 (816) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 3.1 (7.9) |
2.4 (6.1) |
3.2 (8.1) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.2 (0.51) |
0.4 (1.0) |
3.4 (8.6) |
12.7 (32.21) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 3.9 | 4.8 | 6.3 | 7.5 | 9.2 | 8.1 | 6.5 | 8.0 | 6.1 | 6.2 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 76.0 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 1.6 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 6.2 |
| Source 1: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service | |||||||||||||
Population Changes
The population of Helena has changed quite a bit over the years. Here's a look at how many people have lived in the town during different census years:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 760 | — | |
| 1920 | 615 | −19.1% | |
| 1930 | 735 | 19.5% | |
| 1940 | 776 | 5.6% | |
| 1950 | 484 | −37.6% | |
| 1960 | 580 | 19.8% | |
| 1970 | 769 | 32.6% | |
| 1980 | 710 | −7.7% | |
| 1990 | 1,043 | 46.9% | |
| 2000 | 443 | −57.5% | |
| 2010 | 1,403 | 216.7% | |
| 2020 | 1,537 | 9.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Economy
Helena is home to the James Crabtree Correctional Center. This is a large facility run by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. In 2010, about 1,003 people were at this center.
Education
Helena is where the high school for the Timberlake Public School district is located. Students from Helena and nearby towns attend this school. These towns include Goltry, Jet, Nash, and Nescutunga.
See also
In Spanish: Helena (Oklahoma) para niños
