Muncy, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Muncy, Oklahoma
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Country | United States |
State | Oklahoma |
County | Texas |
Elevation | 3,435 ft (1,047 m) |
Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
Area code(s) | 580 |
GNIS ID | 1100654 |
Muncy is a small, undeveloped community in Texas County, Oklahoma, United States. It is sometimes called Tracy. This area is about 18.2 miles (29.3 km) west-northwest of Guymon, Oklahoma.
Contents
Muncy's Past: A Look at Its History
How Muncy Started
Muncy was first planned on May 1, 1931. It was laid out by the Panhandle Townsite Company. This company was owned by the main people behind the Beaver, Meade and Englewood Railroad (BM&E). They hoped Muncy would become an important center for business and farming. It was located along the BM&E railroad line. This line stretched from Forgan, Oklahoma all the way to Keyes, Oklahoma.
The Town's Namesake
The town was originally named Tracy. It got its name from Fred C. Tracy. He was the secretary for the BM&E railroad for many years.
Challenges and Changes
Unlike some other towns along the railroad, Tracy did not grow much. The railroad arrived during the Dust Bowl. This was a time in the 1930s when severe dust storms hit the American prairies. This made it very hard for the town to succeed.
Later, the invention of the Diesel locomotive also hurt the town. Older steam trains needed to stop often for water. Diesel engines did not need to stop as frequently. This meant fewer stops and less business for small towns like Tracy.
What Remains Today
The Tracey Woodframe Grain Elevator in Muncy is a historic building. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important part of the country's history. This elevator continued to operate until around 1983.
Today, not much is left of the original town. You can still see a small scalehouse. This might have been part of the old train station. The remains of the grain elevator are also there. You can also find the old stock pens. These were used to hold cattle before they were shipped by train. The path of the old railroad tracks can still be seen. However, the actual rails were sold in the mid-1970s.