Tatums, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tatums, Oklahoma
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Location of Tatums, Oklahoma
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Carter |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.01 sq mi (5.20 km2) |
| • Land | 2.00 sq mi (5.19 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 981 ft (299 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 111 |
| • Density | 55.44/sq mi (21.40/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
73487
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| Area code(s) | 580 |
| FIPS code | 40-72500 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2413368 |
Tatums is a small, historic town located in Carter County, Oklahoma, in the United States. It is known as a "Freedmen's town," which means it was founded by African Americans who were formerly enslaved or were descendants of formerly enslaved people. In 2020, about 111 people lived there. Tatums is part of the area around Ardmore, Oklahoma.
Contents
Where is Tatums Located?
Tatums is in Oklahoma, a state in the central United States. The town covers an area of about 2 square miles (5.2 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
How Did Tatums Begin?
Tatums was started in 1895 in a place once called Indian Territory. It was founded by Lee and Mary Tatum. The town officially became a town on May 9, 1896.
Early Buildings and Businesses
Soon after it was founded, Tatums began to grow. A hotel was built in 1899, and a blacksmith shop opened in 1900. By 1910, the town had a cotton gin and a sawmill. A motor garage was added in 1918.
Oil Discoveries and Growth
In the 1920s, oil was found near Tatums. This brought a lot of money to some of the farmers and landowners in the town.
A Special Kind of Town
Tatums was one of more than 50 towns in Oklahoma that were founded by African Americans. Today, only 13 of these towns still exist. Lee Tatum, who helped start the town, was also its first postmaster. He ran a grocery store and worked as a U.S. Marshal.
A School for the Community
In 1926, a new brick school was built in Tatums. This school was funded by the Rosenwald Fund, which helped build schools for African American children across the Southern United States.
Tatums on Film
In 1927, a movie called Black Gold was filmed in Tatums. It was a silent movie made by Norman Studios. Marshal L. B. Tatums, a local person, even acted in the film. While no copies of the movie are known to exist today, the script and camera used are kept at the Autry National Center in California.
Challenges and Changes
The Great Depression in the 1930s made life hard for many people, and Tatums' economy suffered. Many residents moved to bigger cities to find work. Even during this tough time, a new brick school was built in 1936 by the Works Progress Administration, a government program that created jobs.
Historic Church
The Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Tatums was finished in 1919. It is an important historical building and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who Lives in Tatums?
The number of people living in Tatums has changed over the years.
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1970 | 133 | — | |
| 1980 | 281 | 111.3% | |
| 1990 | 176 | −37.4% | |
| 2000 | 198 | 12.5% | |
| 2010 | 151 | −23.7% | |
| 2020 | 111 | −26.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population Details
In 2010, there were 151 people living in Tatums. Most residents (79.5%) were African American. There were also people who identified as White, Native American, or from two or more races. A small percentage (3.3%) were Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Tatums in 2010 was about 48.8 years old. About 18.5% of the population was under 18 years old.
Household Information
In 2010, there were 68 households in Tatums. A household is a group of people living together. About 19.1% of these households had children under 18 living with them.
See also
In Spanish: Tatums (Oklahoma) para niños
