Kingston, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kingston, Oklahoma
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Main Street
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Location of Kingston, Oklahoma
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Marshall |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.19 sq mi (5.68 km2) |
| • Land | 2.19 sq mi (5.68 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 791 ft (241 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,431 |
| • Density | 652.23/sq mi (251.88/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
73439
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| Area code(s) | 580 |
| Notable figures: FIPS code | 40-39900 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2412835 |
Kingston is a town in Marshall County, Oklahoma, United States. It is located in the central southern part of the state, near the border. In 2020, about 1,431 people lived there.
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About Kingston
Kingston is easy to reach by several main roads. These include US Route 70 and Oklahoma State Highways 70A, 70B, and 32.
The town covers an area of about 1.8 square miles (4.7 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
People of Kingston
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 439 | — | |
| 1920 | 767 | 74.7% | |
| 1930 | 552 | −28.0% | |
| 1940 | 481 | −12.9% | |
| 1950 | 677 | 40.7% | |
| 1960 | 639 | −5.6% | |
| 1970 | 710 | 11.1% | |
| 1980 | 1,171 | 64.9% | |
| 1990 | 1,237 | 5.6% | |
| 2000 | 1,390 | 12.4% | |
| 2010 | 1,601 | 15.2% | |
| 2020 | 1,431 | −10.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 1,390 people living in Kingston. The town had 552 households and 381 families. About 35% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.45 people.
Kingston and nearby towns like Madill and Oakland have a large Hispanic community. Many immigrants came to this area for manufacturing jobs.
Kingston is also home to the "Kingston Show Choir." This group has won many awards. They have received top ratings at district, state, and Tri-State competitions.
History of Kingston
Kingston was first called Helen. It was named after Helen Willis, whose father, J.H. Willis, was an important early resident. On April 4, 1894, a post office opened in Helen. It was named Kingston, after Jeff King, a local resident.
When it was founded, Kingston was in Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation. This area was part of Indian Territory. This was where the Five Civilized Tribes moved in the 1830s.
The early settlement had a general store, a cotton gin, and a schoolhouse. The schoolhouse also served as a church.
Some older buildings in Kingston were taken down in the late 1980s. This made space for a new hardware store and lumberyard. The town built a new activity building at the high school. The oldest building still standing in Kingston was once the town bank. Today, it is a retail store called Dee's Creative Corner.
Kingston's High School Alumni Association started in 1911. It is the oldest active alumni group in Oklahoma. Graduates can join each year. The association raises money to help local students go to college.
On March 21, 2022, an EF2 tornado caused damage to buildings in Kingston.
Notable People from Kingston
Kingston is home to some famous people. These include country music singer Dale Lay and rock drummer Greg Upchurch.
Dale Lay released several country albums. He performed at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. He also helped the Kingston High School band. For many years, he raised money for new instruments and uniforms.
Dale's son, Anthony Lay, is a nationally known radio host. He is called "The AntMan." He hosts "Country House Party" on over 80 iHeart Country radio stations.
Greg Upchurch started his rock career with the band Puddle of Mudd. Since 2005, he has been the drummer for 3 Doors Down. Greg learned to play drums in the Kingston High School band.
Kingston High School
After a new high school was built, the old building became an elementary school. Now, the elementary, middle, and high schools each have their own buildings.
The school once had a swimming pool. It was filled in and paved to become a parking lot. In 2019, a new high school with more classrooms was finished.
A.E. Findley was the first band director for Kingston High School. He was the first band director to be elected into the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association in 1966.
The high school holds two blood drives each year. They also do a yearly food drive to help others.
Kingston High School and Madill High School have a football rivalry. It is known as the "Marshall County Super Bowl." The schools take turns hosting the games. The 2020 competition was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The rivalry started again in fall 2021, with Kingston as the host school.
See also
In Spanish: Kingston (Oklahoma) para niños
