Pond Creek, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pond Creek, Oklahoma
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Location of Pond Creek, Oklahoma
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Grant |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.85 sq mi (2.20 km2) |
| • Land | 0.85 sq mi (2.20 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,047 ft (319 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 885 |
| • Density | 1,042.40/sq mi (402.48/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
73766
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| Area code(s) | 580 |
| FIPS code | 40-59950 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2411456 |
Pond Creek is a city in Grant County, Oklahoma, United States. It is located near the Salt Fork Arkansas River. In 2010, about 856 people lived there. By 2020, the population had grown slightly to 885.
Contents
History of Pond Creek
Early Days and Native Americans
Before European settlers arrived, the land around Pond Creek was home to many Native Americans from the Great Plains. These groups were nomadic, meaning they moved around a lot. Even today, you can find signs of their old campsites along the creeks near the Salt Fork Arkansas River.
Later, many Native American groups were moved to special areas called reservations in what is now Oklahoma. This led to the creation of new towns and trading posts. Oklahoma was then split into two parts: Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory.
The Chisholm Trail
Pond Creek is in an area once known as the Cherokee Outlet. This area was also called the Cherokee Strip. A famous cattle trail, the Chisholm Trail, passed through here. Cowboys used this trail to move large herds of Texas longhorn cattle north. They would take the cattle to railroad towns like Abilene, Kansas and Caldwell, Kansas.
A place called the Pond Creek Stockade was located about 4 miles north of the current town. This stockade was where Osage Creek and Pond Creek met. There are two granite markers nearby that remember cowboys who died there.
Railroads Arrive
In 1887, a railroad company called the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a line. It went from Caldwell, Kansas south to Pond Creek by 1888. This line was later extended to Fort Worth, Texas.
This railroad was eventually taken over by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway. Most local people still call it the "Rock Island" railroad. Today, this railway line is part of the Union Pacific Railroad system.
The Land Run and Early Challenges
Pond Creek became a town during the Land Run of 1893. This was a famous event where people raced to claim land. On the day of the run, Pond Creek was quickly settled. It grew from nothing to about 8,000 people by evening! The new town had hotels, restaurants, stores, and even law offices.
However, the settlers soon faced big problems. There wasn't enough water. The government had dug wells, but they quickly ran dry. A new well only found salty water. People had to bring water from the Salt Fork Arkansas River, but it wasn't good for drinking. Beer became very valuable, and people gave animals water from stagnant creek pools. The area also suffered from a strong sandstorm and wildfires.
The Railroad War
The people of Pond Creek also had a big fight with the "Rock Island Line" railroad. This conflict is known as the Enid-Pond Creek Railroad War. The railroad had built its station for Pond Creek in one spot. But the government decided the official town of Pond Creek should be about 4 miles south.
The railroad refused to stop at the government's Pond Creek location. After a lot of effort from citizens and the government, the railroad was forced to change. A local story says the railroad simply renamed its original Pond Creek station to Jefferson, Oklahoma. Then, the government's town became the official Pond Creek station.
Geography
Pond Creek is located on the west side of the Salt Fork Arkansas River. The city is found where U.S. Route 60 and U.S. Route 81 cross.
The United States Census Bureau says that Pond Creek covers about 0.8 square miles (2.2 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 822 | — | |
| 1910 | 1,113 | 35.4% | |
| 1920 | 965 | −13.3% | |
| 1930 | 857 | −11.2% | |
| 1940 | 1,019 | 18.9% | |
| 1950 | 1,066 | 4.6% | |
| 1960 | 935 | −12.3% | |
| 1970 | 903 | −3.4% | |
| 1980 | 949 | 5.1% | |
| 1990 | 982 | 3.5% | |
| 2000 | 896 | −8.8% | |
| 2010 | 856 | −4.5% | |
| 2020 | 885 | 3.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 896 people living in Pond Creek. These people lived in 364 households, with 263 of them being families. The population density was about 1,072 people per square mile.
Most people in Pond Creek identified as White (93.53%). About 3.57% identified as Native American. A small number of people identified as Asian, Pacific Islander, or from other races. About 1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
In 2000, about 32.7% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (60.7%) were married couples. The average household had 2.46 people.
The population was spread out by age. About 27.3% of the people were under 18 years old. About 16.1% were 65 years or older. The average age in the city was 38 years.
The median income for a household in Pond Creek was $30,515. For families, the median income was $36,346.
See also
In Spanish: Pond Creek (Oklahoma) para niños
