Editing Freedom, Oklahoma

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Freedom, Oklahoma
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = Queen City of the Cimarron
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Downtown Freedom OK.jpg
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = OKMap-doton-Freedom.PNG
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Freedom within [[Oklahoma]]
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
|coordinates              = {{coord|36|46|9|N|99|6|48|W|region:US-OK_type:city_source:GNIS|display=inline,title}}
|coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name="GNIS">[http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:1093038 Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) details for Freedom, Oklahoma; United States Geological Survey (USGS); December 18, 1979.]</ref>
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Oklahoma]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Oklahoma|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Woods County, Oklahoma|Woods]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title1       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date1        = 1925

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 1.01
|area_land_km2            = 1.01
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.39
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.39
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Elevation -->
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name="GNIS"/>
|elevation_ft             = 1529
|elevation_m              = 466

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 174
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|population_density_km2   = 171.96
|population_density_sq_mi = 445.01

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|CST]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = [[Central Time Zone|CDT]]
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 73842
|area_code                = [[Area code 580|580]]
|area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 40-27850 <ref name="GNIS"/>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1093038 <ref name="GNIS"/>
|website                  = {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20030715234729/http://www.freedomokla.com/ freedomokla.com]}}
}}

'''Freedom''' is a town in [[Woods County, Oklahoma|Woods County]], [[Oklahoma]], United States.<ref name="GNIS"/>  It lies twenty-five miles west of [[Alva, Oklahoma|Alva]], on the banks of the [[Cimarron River (Arkansas River tributary)|Cimarron River]].<ref name="odot-2008-map">{{cite map|publisher=Oklahoma Department of Transportation|title=Official State Map|edition=2008}}</ref>  The population was 174 at the time of the [[2020 United States census|2020 Census]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.census.gov/search-results.html?searchType=web&cssp=SERP&q=Freedom%20town,%20Oklahoma   |title=Freedom (town), Oklahoma |publisher= United States Census Bureau|accessdate=April 20, 2024}}</ref>

==History==
On September 13 and 14, 1878, the [[Battle of Turkey Springs]] was fought approximately ten miles northeast of present-day Freedom.  It was the last known encounter between the [[United States Cavalry]] and [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indians]] in Oklahoma.<ref name="EOHC-Freedom">{{cite web|last1=Decker|first1=Kay|title=Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture|url=http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=FR018|website=Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Freedom|publisher=Oklahoma History Center|accessdate=April 11, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Battle">{{cite web|title=The Battle of Turkey Springs and Red Hills|url=http://www.freedomokla.com/batteleofturkey.htm|website=Freedom Oklahoma - Queen City of the Cimarron|accessdate=April 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304044205/http://www.freedomokla.com/batteleofturkey.htm|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

In the late 1800s, following the [[Cherokee Strip Land Run]], farmers and ranchers began a small settlement in the area.  This 1893 land run, combined with the building of the [[Buffalo and Northwestern Railroad]] in 1919–20, incentivized many settlers to homestead 160-acre tracts in the area.  The community of Freedom—so-named by the postal service—was granted a post office in 1901, with Mrs. Adlah Annis serving as its first postmaster.  However, it wouldn't be until 1925 that Freedom was officially incorporated, with a population of 251.<ref name="EOHC-Freedom"/>

The community of Freedom is known as the smallest certified city (as opposed to a town) in the state of Oklahoma.<ref name="EOHC-Freedom"/>

==Geography==
Freedom is located at {{coord|36.769179|-99.113415|type:city_region:US|format=dms|display=inline}}.<ref name="GNIS"/>  According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|0.3|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

===Climate===
<div style="width:73%;">
{{Weather box 
|location = Freedom, Oklahoma
|single line = Y
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|year record high F=  
|Jan high F = 48.1
|Feb high F = 53.9
|Mar high F = 63.5
|Apr high F = 74.5
|May high F = 82.3
|Jun high F = 91.0
|Jul high F = 96.8
|Aug high F = 94.9
|Sep high F = 86.3
|Oct high F = 76.1
|Nov high F = 60.9
|Dec high F = 49.9
|year high F=
|Jan low F = 19.7
|Feb low F = 24.7
|Mar low F = 33.9
|Apr low F = 45.1
|May low F = 55.1
|Jun low F = 64.1
|Jul low F = 69.1
|Aug low F = 67.2
|Sep low F = 59.0
|Oct low F = 45.7
|Nov low F = 33.1
|Dec low F = 22.7
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|Jan precipitation inch = 0.5
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.9
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.9
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.2
|May precipitation inch = 3.5
|Jun precipitation inch = 3.1
|Jul precipitation inch = 2.4
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.0
|Sep precipitation inch = 2.6
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.9
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.4
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.8
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|source 1 = weather.com
|source 2 = Weatherbase.com <ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weatherall.php3?s=853343&refer= | title = Historical Weather for Freedom, Oklahoma, United States}}</ref>
|date=October 2, 2010
}}
</div>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=
|1930= 350
|1940= 364
|1950= 332
|1960= 268
|1970= 292
|1980= 339
|1990= 264
|2000= 271
|2010= 289
|2020= 174
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="Decennial">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=September 14, 2016}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 271 people, 108 households, and 77 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|776.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 129 housing units at an average density of {{convert|369.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 95.94% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.74% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 2.21% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.11% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.58% of the population.

There were 108 households, out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.2% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $36,250, and the median income for a family was $38,500. Males had a median income of $31,458 versus $22,500 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $20,255. About 5.4% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 6.8% of those under the age of eighteen and 11.1% of those 65 or over.

==Economy==
[[Cargill]] Salt has a solar [[salt]] processing plant {{convert|8.0|mi|km}} west of Freedom.  The salt is sold for livestock and industrial use.  Ezra Blackmon opened a salt factory and began mechanized production, in 1935, as Blackmon Salt Company.  In 1982, Cargill purchased the salt plant, expanded the evaporative ponds, and began its production in 1988.<ref name="EOHC-Freedom"/><ref>[http://www.ogs.ou.edu/pubsscanned/NOTES/GN-V30N3.pdf Oklahoma Geology Notes; Volume 30 Number 3; June 1970.]</ref><ref>[http://www.cargill.com/salt/wcm/groups/internal/@cseg/@salt-admin/documents/image/na31102404.pdf Cargill Salt Production Facilities Map.]</ref>

Freedom State Bank was a long-time presence in Freedom from its founding by David H. Powers, in 1919. When Powers died in 1934, his son, James G. (Jim) Powers, became president and kept the bank open through the [[Great Depression]]. In 1954, Nixon, James Powers' brother-in-law and long-time bank employee, became president and chief executive officer. As majority stockholder, Jim Powers continued to serve as chairman of the bank’s board of directors until his death in 1988.  The bank was closed by  the [[Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation]] on June 27, 2014 after regulators found that Freedom State Bank was “critically under capitalized” and had determined that its capital position was “rapidly deteriorating.”  Freedom State Bank reopened as a branch of Alva State Bank & Trust following the closure.,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bailey|first1=Brianna|title=Freedom State Bank in Northwest Oklahoma Fails|url=http://newsok.com/freedom-state-bank-in-northwest-oklahoma-fails/article/4983393|website=newsok.com|publisher=The Oklahoman|accessdate=April 22, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.alvareviewcourier.com/news/local/article_490c1c36-fa47-11e2-b6f7-0019bb30f31a.html |title=Brett Smith appointed president, chief executive of Freedom State Ban… |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140718001132/http://www.alvareviewcourier.com/news/local/article_490c1c36-fa47-11e2-b6f7-0019bb30f31a.html |archive-date=18 July 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Area attractions==
[[File:Sign pointing to Enid, Freedom, and Alabaster Caverns along highway 412.jpg|thumb|Sign pointing to Enid, Freedom, and Alabaster Caverns along highway 412]]
[[Alabaster Caverns State Park]] is located {{convert|6|mi|km}} south of Freedom.<ref name="EOHC-Freedom"/>

Freedom is host to the annual ''Freedom Open Rodeo and Old Cowhand Reunion'', known as the "Biggest Open Rodeo in The West".  The rodeo was founded in 1938, with its accompanying [[Chuckwagon]] Feed starting a year later.<ref name="Rodeo">{{cite web|title=Freedom Open Rodeo and Old Cowhand Reunion| url=http://www.freedomokla.com/rodeo.htm| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030812203936/http://www.freedomokla.com/rodeo.htm| url-status=usurped| archive-date=August 12, 2003|website=Freedom Oklahoma - Queen City of the Cimarron|accessdate=April 26, 2016}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Oklahoma}}
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20030715234729/http://www.freedomokla.com/ Town of Freedom]}}
* [http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/F/FR018.html Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Freedom]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121024013411/http://www.library.okstate.edu/okmaps/ Oklahoma Digital Maps: Digital Collections of Oklahoma and Indian Territory]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140509002608/http://www.oklavision.tv/home/video/alabaster-caverns-state-park/document/alabaster-caverns-state-park-profile Alabaster Caverns State Park] - Video footage of the area and a list of local activities and resources.

{{Woods County, Oklahoma}}
{{Oklahoma}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Cities in Woods County, Oklahoma]]