Stroud, Oklahoma facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stroud, Oklahoma
City
Stroud City Hall (2020)
Motto(s):  "Oklahoma Winery Grape Capitol"
Location of Stroud, Oklahoma
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
Counties	Lincoln, Creek
Area
• Total	12.70 sq mi (32.90 km2)
• Land	11.63 sq mi (30.12 km2)
• Water	1.07 sq mi (2.78 km2)
Elevation	840 ft (260 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,719
• Density	233.81/sq mi (90.28/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	74079
Area code(s)	539/918
FIPS code	40-71000
GNIS feature ID	2411990
Website	cityofstroud.com

Stroud is a city located in the state of Oklahoma in the United States. It is found in both Creek and Lincoln counties. In 2010, about 2,690 people lived there. By 2020, the population had grown slightly to 2,719.

History of Stroud

How Stroud Began

Stroud was founded in 1892. It was named after James W. Stroud, who helped develop the area. In its early days, Stroud was in Oklahoma Territory. This meant that alcoholic drinks could be sold legally there.

Towns near the border of Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory were called "whiskey towns." Stroud gained a reputation as a "wild" place. This was because it had many saloons and businesses that served cowboys and travelers coming from "dry" Indian Territory, where alcohol was not allowed. However, this changed when Oklahoma became a state in 1907. Stroud then became "dry" too.

In 1901, after a difficult event, Stroud became a place where African Americans were warned not to stay overnight. A sign was even put up to make this clear.

Early 1900s Economy

During the early 1900s, Stroud's economy relied on cotton farming in the nearby areas. When Oklahoma became a state, the population was 1,312. By 1909, Stroud had two banks, two newspapers, and several cotton processing businesses. However, the population dropped a bit by 1910 to 1,220 people.

The Henry Starr Robbery

On March 27, 1915, Stroud was involved in a famous outlaw story. A well-known outlaw named Henry Starr and six other men tried to rob two banks at the same time. This robbery did not go well for Henry Starr.

As they robbed the Stroud National Bank and the First National Bank, people in the town quickly found out. Citizens grabbed their weapons and fought back against the robbers. Henry Starr and another outlaw were hurt and captured during the gunfight. The rest of the gang escaped with some money. Henry Starr was sent to prison but was released after only four years.

Route 66 and the Rock Café

The town became quiet until about 1926, when U.S. Route 66 was built. This famous highway brought new life to Stroud. It became a popular stop for travelers, offering motels, gas stations, and restaurants.

The Rock Café was built during the Great Depression. It was made using local sandstone found during the construction of Route 66. In the 1950s, the Rock Café was open 24 hours a day and was very busy. However, business slowed down after the Turner Turnpike was built, which took traffic away from Stroud's main street.

Tornado and Recovery

In 1999, a strong tornado hit Stroud. It destroyed a large shopping center with 53 stores and a big distribution center. These businesses were not rebuilt, and about 800 jobs were lost. This caused a lot of economic trouble for the town.

In 2001, people from Pixar visited Stroud to learn about Route 66 for their animated movie, Cars. At this time, Stroud was still trying to recover from the tornado, and the Rock Café was being restored. The character of Sally Carrera, the hotel owner in the movie, is based on Dawn Welch, who owns the Rock Café. She worked hard to promote and rebuild the town.

A fire damaged the Rock Café on May 20, 2008, but the grill and the original stone walls survived. The café was rebuilt and reopened on May 29, 2009.

Geography

Stroud Lake is located about 3 miles (4.8 km) northeast of the city. This lake offers fun activities like fishing and boating. It is also home to the Wilderness Challenge Center, which helps people with disabilities.

The city of Stroud covers about 12.5 square miles (32.3 km²). Most of this area, about 11.5 square miles (29.8 km²), is land. The remaining 1.0 square mile (2.6 km²) is water.

Population Information

Most of Stroud is in Lincoln County, which is part of the larger Oklahoma City metropolitan area. A small part of the city in the east is in Creek County, which is part of the Tulsa metropolitan area.

In 2000, there were 2,758 people living in Stroud. About 25.5% of the population was under 18 years old. The average age in the city was 39 years.

Economy

Stroud Public Library, formerly the Southwestern Bell Telephone Building

Today, Stroud's economy is getting better. This is partly due to more activity in the oil and gas industries. Stroud is home to Service King, a company that makes equipment for oil fields.

Tourism and agriculture also help the local economy. Stroud is known for its local wines and related businesses. Many international tourists travel along historic U.S. 66, which is the main street in downtown Stroud. The city uses its location between Oklahoma City and Tulsa to attract businesses. Stroud also owns the Stroud Midway Industrial Park, which is a place for industries.

The main office for the Sac and Fox Nation is located about 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Stroud. It is one of the biggest employers in the area.

Notable People

• Thomas G. Andrews lived in Stroud and worked as the City Attorney.
• Kevin Bookout is a professional basketball player.
• Bobby Riley is a football player.

Twin Towns

Stroud has "twin towns" in other places, which means they have a special friendly relationship:

• Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK
• Stroud Plantation, Texas, US

See also

In Spanish: Stroud (Oklahoma) para niños