Ryan, Oklahoma facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ryan, Oklahoma
Town
Location of Ryan, Oklahoma
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
County	Jefferson
Government
• Type	Town Council
Area
• Total	0.95 sq mi (2.47 km2)
• Land	0.95 sq mi (2.47 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	902 ft (275 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	667
• Density	700.63/sq mi (270.44/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	73565
Area code(s)	580
FIPS code	40-64600
GNIS feature ID	2412587

Ryan is a small town in Jefferson County, Oklahoma, United States. It is located very close to the Texas state line. In 2020, 667 people lived in Ryan.

Where is Ryan, Oklahoma?

Ryan is about 2 miles (3.2 km) north of the Red River. It is also 11 miles (17.7 km) south of Waurika. The town is about 115 miles (185 km) south-southwest of Oklahoma City.

The town covers an area of about 0.9 square miles (2.3 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

The History of Ryan

Ryan is located in the southwestern part of Jefferson County. It sits where U.S. Highway 81 and State Highway 32 meet. The town was named after Stephen W. Ryan. He was a rancher from Arkansas who settled here in 1875.

How Ryan Started

Stephen W. Ryan married a Chickasaw woman. This allowed him to own a lot of land in what is now Jefferson County. This area was then part of the Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory.

In 1892, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway built a train station on Ryan's land. He then planned out the town that is now named after him. A post office opened in the area in June 1890. Ryan's home, built around 1877, was the first house in the community.

Ryan's Role in Jefferson County

Ryan was chosen as the main town, or county seat, for Jefferson County in 1906. This decision was made by leaders at the Constitutional Convention. However, in February 1912, voters in the county chose Waurika to be the new county seat instead.

Ryan grew as a place for farming and ranching. Local ranchers raised cattle and hogs. Farmers grew crops like cotton, corn, and wheat. Growing fruit was also a big business. They grew pears, peaches, apples, plums, and strawberries.

Growth and Challenges

A big fire almost destroyed Ryan in December 1895. But the people living there worked together to rebuild the town. In 1907, Ryan had 1,115 residents.

By 1908, the town had many businesses. These included two banks, a hotel, and a cotton gin. There were also two lumberyards, a flour mill, and a cottonseed oil mill.

By 1930, Ryan had paved roads, two schools, and telephone connections. There was also a bus line. The town's population was highest in 1920, with 1,379 people. After that, the number of residents slowly went down.

Ryan in the 21st Century

At the start of the 2000s, Ryan had four Protestant churches and one Catholic church. There were also two public schools for children. The Ryan public schools and the Ryan Nursing Home were the biggest employers. However, the nursing home closed in 2011.

The local newspaper, Ryan Leader, started in 1894 as the Ryan Record. In 2003, it was the only newspaper in the community.

Population Changes

In 2000, there were 894 people living in Ryan. These people lived in 358 households. About 31% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.35 people.

The population was made up of different age groups. About 24.7% were under 18 years old. About 22.9% were 65 years or older. The average age in Ryan was 42 years.

Education in Ryan

Ryan Public Schools is in charge of the public schools in the town.

Famous People from Ryan

• Chuck Norris, a well-known martial artist and actor
• Abe Lemons, a college basketball coach
• Floyd Tillman, a singer in the Country Music Hall of Fame

See also

In Spanish: Ryan (Oklahoma) para niños