Marshall, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marshall, Oklahoma
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Location of Marshall, Oklahoma
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Logan |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.64 sq mi (1.65 km2) |
| • Land | 0.64 sq mi (1.65 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,053 ft (321 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 210 |
| • Density | 330.19/sq mi (127.56/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
73056
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| Area code(s) | 580 |
| FIPS code | 40-46650 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2412958 |
Marshall is a small town in Logan County, Oklahoma, United States. It is located on the northern edge of the Oklahoma City area. In 2020, about 210 people lived in Marshall.
Contents
History of Marshall
Marshall started as a community when new lands were opened for settlement in 1889. A man named Sylvan T. Rice opened the first post office in 1890. He was from Marshalltown, Iowa, and named the new town "Marshall" after his hometown. He also opened the first store in 1894. The town grew quickly after the Cherokee Strip was opened in 1893.
The Railroad and Town Move
A few years later, in 1902, the Denver, Enid and Gulf Railroad built a train track about half a mile from Marshall. To be closer to the railroad, the entire town picked up and moved! Marshall officially became a town in 1903. The railroad line was later bought by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad in 1907.
Famous Author Angie Debo
A famous Oklahoma author, Dr. Angie Debo, grew up in Marshall. She wrote many books about the history of Native Americans. Her picture hangs in the Oklahoma Capitol building. One of her books, Prairie City, was based on Marshall. In 1968, Marshall started a town celebration called "Prairie City Days" to honor her.
The "Biggest Little Band Festival"
In the 1940s, Marshall was known as the "school band capital" of the world! Schools from all over would come to compete and march down Main Street. This event was called "The Biggest Little Band Festival in the World." It happened every year from 1938 to 1951.
The festival was started by Tibby Shades, the school superintendent, and Ashley Alexander Sr., the band director. It became so popular that a radio station in Oklahoma City even broadcast the marching band performances! In 1951, 57 towns came to Marshall, with 65 different groups performing. It's believed that 5,000 people took part in the festival that year. The festival ended in 1952 because a state band contest was scheduled on the same day.
Marshall's School History
Marshall's first two-story brick school was built in 1904. In the 1950s, the second story was removed, and new classrooms were built around the first floor.
The last high school class in Marshall graduated in 1976. The school continued as a middle school (for grades 5-8) until 1988, when it closed for good. Today, much of the school building is in ruins, but the gymnasium is still in good shape. It's now used for the annual volunteer firemen's rib dinner, which brings in over 1,000 people from all around.
Marshall's Wide Main Street
Marshall is famous for having one of the widest Main Streets in the USA! People say it was made wide enough for a team of horses to make a "U" turn. Another story says that when the town moved closer to the railroad, the town leaders wanted streets wide enough for angled parking, two lanes of traffic, and even streetcars. They thought Marshall might become a big city like Chicago someday! The Main Street is almost as wide as a football field, which was perfect for the marching band festivals.
Old West Stories
An outlaw named Dick Yeager, also known as Zip Wyatt, was shot and killed about 5 miles southwest of Marshall. Author Angie Debo wrote in one of her books that the famous Dalton gang once stopped in Marshall to buy supplies from the general store and left without any trouble.
Marshall has two cemeteries: the South Marshall IOOF and the North Marshall IOOF.
Changes Over Time
Between 1900 and 1980, Marshall was a busy town. It had two gas stations, a hotel, a five-and-dime store, a drug store, a cafe, a grocery store, and many other businesses. Today, only the farmers' co-op and the post office remain. What was once a busy Main Street on Saturdays is now mostly empty. Many downtown buildings are either falling apart or empty. The town changed a lot after the oil industry slowed down in the 1980s.
Today, Marshall is mostly home to farmers and people who travel to nearby cities for work. The main crops grown here are wheat, and cattle are raised.
Roxanna Oil Field
In 1927, an oil field called Roxanna was discovered southwest of Marshall. Oil was found deep underground, and it produced a lot of oil quickly. A small "boom town" grew up around the oil field, and oil workers came to Marshall. Nothing is left of Roxanna today.
Geography
Marshall has a total area of about 0.5 square miles (1.3 square kilometers), and all of it is land.
Population Changes
Marshall's population has changed over the years:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 622 | — | |
| 1920 | 434 | −30.2% | |
| 1930 | 695 | 60.1% | |
| 1940 | 382 | −45.0% | |
| 1950 | 386 | 1.0% | |
| 1960 | 363 | −6.0% | |
| 1970 | 420 | 15.7% | |
| 1980 | 372 | −11.4% | |
| 1990 | 288 | −22.6% | |
| 2000 | 258 | −10.4% | |
| 2010 | 272 | 5.4% | |
| 2020 | 210 | −22.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Historic Sites
Marshall has two sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are the Methodist Church of Marshall and the Angie Debo House.
Notable People from Marshall
- Melvin Clodfelter (1904–1983) - An NCAA wrestling champion and Olympic wrestler.
- Angie Debo (1890–1988) - A famous writer of Oklahoma and Native American history.
- Ike Williams (1902–1988) - A football player for Georgia Tech and in the AFL and NFL.
See also
In Spanish: Marshall (Oklahoma) para niños
