Rocky, Oklahoma facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rocky, Oklahoma
Town
Location of Rocky, Oklahoma
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
County	Washita
Area
• Total	0.21 sq mi (0.54 km2)
• Land	0.21 sq mi (0.54 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,647 ft (502 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	128
• Density	609.52/sq mi (235.23/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	73661
Area code(s)	580
FIPS code	40-63700
GNIS feature ID	2412566

Rocky is a small town located in Washita County, Oklahoma, in the United States. In 2010, the town had a population of 162 people. This was a slight decrease from the 174 people counted in 2000. The town is situated along U.S. Route 183.

History of Rocky, Oklahoma

Early Beginnings and the Rocky Mercantile Store

The town of Rocky began in 1897 when two men, W. F. Shultz and John C. Riffee, arrived. They wanted to open a trading business with the local Native American people. They built a store using rocks they collected from the Kiowa Reservation, which was about 8 miles (13 km) southwest.

The store, named the Rocky Mercantile Store, opened in 1898. The community that grew around it was named after the store. On July 12, 1898, a post office was set up inside the store. John Riffee became the first postmaster. By 1906, Rocky's post office handled more than one-third of all mail in Washita County.

Schools and Community Growth

The Orange Blossom School System started in 1902, about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) south of Rocky. The town built a new school building in 1907. Later, in the late 1930s, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) built another school.

The town's population was highest in 1930. Because of this, no more schools were built after the WPA one. In 1967, voters in Rocky decided to close their school district. They merged it with the Sentinel district. The old WPA school building then became a community center for everyone to use.

Railroad and Economic Development

In 1902, the Blackwell, Enid and Southwestern Railroad (BES) built a railway line through Rocky. The area around Rocky was already known for growing wheat, hay, and cotton. These crops were mostly sent to markets by train.

The BES railroad later became part of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway, often called the Frisco. By 1906, Rocky's economy had grown. It had three grain elevators and three cotton gins. The town also traded a lot of hay and livestock.

Geography of Rocky

Location and Natural Features

Rocky is located in Washita County, Oklahoma. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town covers a total area of about 0.2 square miles (0.54 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

Lake Hobart, also known as Lake Rocky, is a notable natural feature. It is located just to the northwest of the town.

Population of Rocky

How Many People Live in Rocky?

The population of Rocky has changed over the years. Here is a look at the population counts from different U.S. Censuses:

As of the census in 2000, there were 174 people living in Rocky. These people lived in 77 households. About 22.1% of these households had children under 18 years old. The average household size was 2.26 people.

The population was spread out by age. About 20.1% of the people were under 18 years old. About 24.1% were 65 years old or older. The average age in the town was 45 years.

Notable People from Rocky

Many interesting people have connections to Rocky. Here are a few:

• Bobby Baldock: A United States federal judge who worked for the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Bill Devin: A businessperson who was also known for building cars and racing them.
• Gary Hill: A basketball player who was picked 11th overall in the 1963 NBA draft.
• Bud Koper: Another basketball player, chosen 14th overall in the 1964 NBA draft.
• Joshua B. Lee: A teacher and politician who attended school and later taught for a short time in Rocky.

See also

In Spanish: Rocky (Oklahoma) para niños