Spencer, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Spencer, Oklahoma
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Location in Oklahoma County and the state of Oklahoma.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Oklahoma |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.38 sq mi (13.94 km2) |
| • Land | 5.38 sq mi (13.94 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,168 ft (356 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,978 |
| • Density | 739.27/sq mi (285.42/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
73084
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| Area code(s) | 405 |
| FIPS code | 40-69200 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2411952 |
Spencer is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States. It is part of the larger Oklahoma City metropolitan area. In 2020, about 3,978 people lived there, which was a small increase from 2010.
Spencer was started in 1903. It is a historic place located just east of the North Canadian River. The city is about ten miles from downtown Oklahoma City. It shares borders with Nicoma Park to the east and Midwest City to the south.
Many groups help make Spencer a great community. These include the Spencer Chamber of Commerce, the Spencer Senior Center, the Spencer Parks Board, and the Spencer Historical Society.
Contents
History of Spencer
The land where Spencer is now was opened for settlement during the Land Run of 1889. Businessmen Louis F. and Henry W. Kramer first came to the area in 1889. They were originally from Spencer County, Indiana.
Spencer was first a farming area. It grew a lot after World War II. This was because a General Motors Assembly Plant and Tinker Air Force Base nearby offered many jobs.
A sad event happened on January 20, 1982. A water heater exploded at Star Elementary School's cafeteria. This tragic accident caused the loss of seven children's lives.
CPT Riley L. Pitts is buried in Spencer's Hillcrest Memory Gardens. He was the first Black officer to receive the Medal of Honor. Captain Pitts studied at Wichita University, now known as Wichita State University.
Where is Spencer Located?
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city covers about 5.3 square miles (13.9 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Population Changes Over Time
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 1,189 | — | |
| 1970 | 3,714 | 212.4% | |
| 1980 | 4,064 | 9.4% | |
| 1990 | 3,972 | −2.3% | |
| 2000 | 3,746 | −5.7% | |
| 2010 | 3,912 | 4.4% | |
| 2020 | 3,978 | 1.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Who Lives in Spencer?
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 1,170 | 1,045 | 29.91% | 26.27% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 2,191 | 2,029 | 56.01% | 51.01% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 113 | 114 | 2.89% | 2.87% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 20 | 23 | 0.51% | 0.58% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 1 | 5 | 0.03% | 0.13% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 9 | 24 | 0.23% | 0.60% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 242 | 295 | 6.19% | 7.42% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 166 | 443 | 4.24% | 11.14% |
| Total | 3,912 | 3,978 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Schools in Spencer
Spencer is part of the Oklahoma City Public Schools system. Younger students attend Willow Brook Elementary School (Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 1). Spencer Elementary School serves grades 2-4, and Rogers Intermediate School is for grades 5-6. Older students go to Star Spencer Mid-High School.
Dunjee School: A Historic School
Dunjee School was built in 1934 and opened in 1935. It was a school for Black students in Spencer during a time when schools were separated by race. The school was named after Roscoe Dunjee, a civil rights leader from Oklahoma City.
Dunjee School taught students from 1st through 12th grade. Dr. Donnie Nero, a former student, remembers the school as a place that was caring and helpful, but also strict. He said, "Those teachers those educators made sure that we focused on being the best that we possibly could be."
Some of the best Black teachers taught at Dunjee. These included civil rights leader Clara Luper and Rev. W.B. Parker. Dunjee School closed in 1972. This was a very difficult time for the Spencer community.
The people in the Dunjee area had faced challenges due to segregation for a long time. In 1963, they joined the Oklahoma City school system. However, in 1972, the school board closed all Dunjee schools. Students were then bused to other schools as part of desegregation laws. The community was very surprised and upset by this decision.
When Dunjee School closed its doors, it deeply affected the Spencer community. Theotis Payne said, "it devastated this community." In 2012, a fire caused a lot of damage to the old school building, making it unusable.
See also
In Spanish: Spencer (Oklahoma) para niños
