Thomas, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas, Oklahoma
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Location of Thomas, Oklahoma
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Custer |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.15 sq mi (2.98 km2) |
| • Land | 1.15 sq mi (2.98 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,745 ft (532 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,143 |
| • Density | 994.78/sq mi (383.97/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
73669
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| Area code(s) | 580 |
| FIPS code | 40-73450 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2412061 |
Thomas is a small city in Custer County, Oklahoma, United States. In 2010, about 1,181 people lived there. By 2020, the population was 1,143.
Contents
The Story of Thomas: How the City Began
Thomas got its name from William Thomas. He owned a general store and was the first postmaster. The first post office opened in his store on February 12, 1894. At that time, this area was part of Oklahoma Territory.
Early Settlers and Land Claims
In 1892, Joseph W. Morris claimed land here. This happened during the "Cheyenne-Arapaho opening," when new land became available. In 1902, a company called Oklahoma Railway Townsite planned out Morris's land. This is how the town of Thomas officially started.
Railroads Arrive in Thomas
The same year, 1902, the Blackwell, Enid and Southwestern Railroad built tracks through Thomas. This railroad later became part of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway. Then, in 1906, another railroad, the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway, also built a line through the town. This one later joined the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. These railroads helped Thomas grow by making it easier to transport goods and people.
Who Were the First Residents?
Many of the first people to settle in Thomas belonged to religious groups. These included the Amish, the Dunkards, and the Church of the United Brethren in Christ.
Where is Thomas Located?
Thomas is located in Oklahoma. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city covers about 1.2 square miles (3.1 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the city limits.
Who Lives in Thomas? Population Facts
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 1,371 | — | |
| 1920 | 1,223 | −10.8% | |
| 1930 | 1,256 | 2.7% | |
| 1940 | 1,220 | −2.9% | |
| 1950 | 1,171 | −4.0% | |
| 1960 | 1,211 | 3.4% | |
| 1970 | 1,336 | 10.3% | |
| 1980 | 1,515 | 13.4% | |
| 1990 | 1,246 | −17.8% | |
| 2000 | 1,238 | −0.6% | |
| 2010 | 1,181 | −4.6% | |
| 2020 | 1,143 | −3.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 1,238 people living in Thomas. These people lived in 486 households, and 337 of these were families. The city had about 1,042 people per square mile.
Diversity in Thomas
Most people in Thomas (about 88.85%) were White. About 8.08% were Native American. A small number of people were African American or from other racial backgrounds. About 1.70% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Households and Families
About 31.7% of households had children under 18 living there. More than half (56.4%) were married couples. About 10.3% were single mothers. Almost a third (30.5%) were not families. Many households (28.6%) had only one person living in them. About 14.8% of households had someone aged 65 or older living alone.
Age Groups in Thomas
The population of Thomas includes people of all ages. About 25.8% were under 18 years old. About 22.6% were 65 years or older. The average age in the city was 41 years old. For every 100 females, there were about 91 males.
Income and Poverty
In 2000, the average income for a household in Thomas was $30,083. For families, it was $36,667. About 13.0% of families and 17.2% of all people lived below the poverty line. This included 25.7% of children under 18.
Thomas's Economy: How People Make a Living
Thomas started as a place where farmers could sell their goods and ship them out. Now, it's more of a "bedroom community." This means many people who live in Thomas travel to other towns for work. In fact, over 91% of working residents commute to jobs outside the city.
The Oil Refinery in Thomas
Thomas is home to an oil refinery. This refinery is one of only five still working in Oklahoma as of 2015. It used to be called the Barrett Refinery. It opened in 1982 and can process 14,000 barrels of oil each day. (A barrel in the oil industry is 42 U.S. gallons). This makes it the smallest refinery in Oklahoma.
The Barrett Company went out of business, and the refinery was supposed to close in 2005. But an Oklahoma City company, Ventura Refining and Transmission, LLC, bought it. This saved the refinery and created about 30 to 50 new jobs in Thomas.
Local News: The Thomas Tribune
The Thomas Tribune is the local newspaper. It started in 1902 and is still published every week. You can also read it online.
Learning in Thomas: Schools
Students in Thomas attend schools in the Thomas-Fay-Custer Unified Schools district. Before this, Thomas had its own school district. In 1989, about 400 students were enrolled in its schools.
See also
In Spanish: Thomas (Oklahoma) para niños
