Editing Geary, Oklahoma

{{Short description|City in Oklahoma, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Geary, Oklahoma
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Geary water tower.JPG 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Geary water tower
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = OKMap-doton-Geary.PNG
|mapsize                  = 150px
|map_caption              = Location of Geary, Oklahoma
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
|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|Counties]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Blaine County, Oklahoma|Blaine]], [[Canadian County, Oklahoma|Canadian]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = [[Aldermanic]]
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Waylan Upchego 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- 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           = 10.73
|area_land_km2            = 10.73
|area_water_km2           = 0.01
|area_total_sq_mi         = 4.14
|area_land_sq_mi          = 4.14
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 994
|population_density_km2   = 92.68
|population_density_sq_mi = 240.04

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 1598
|coordinates              = {{coord|35|37|46|N|98|19|5|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 73040
|area_code                = [[Area codes 405 and 572|405/572]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 40-28900<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2410579<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2410579}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|http://www.cityofgeary.com/}}
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
}}
'''Geary''' is a city in [[Blaine County, Oklahoma|Blaine]] and [[Canadian County, Oklahoma|Canadian]] counties in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Oklahoma]]. The population was 994 at the [[2010 United States Census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US4028900| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212192136/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US4028900| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Geary city, Oklahoma| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=February 24, 2014}}</ref> The town was named for [[Edmund Guerrier]], a scout and an interpreter for the U.S. Army.<ref name="EOHC-Geary">[http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=GE001 Rinehart, Merle. "Geary," ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'', Oklahoma Historical Society, 2009.] Accessed April 15, 2015.</ref> On October 31st 2024 the entire Geary Police Department resigned.  Police Chief Alicia Ford along with three other officers.  On the same day two members of the City Council members resigned as well.

==History==
The area occupied by the present city of Geary was previously part of the Cheyenne-Arapaho reservation until it was opened in April, 1892 for settlement by non-Indians. Shuffle Huff and his son, William, filed several land claims in the area and sold two quarter sections to a land development company. A community was begun about {{convert|1.5|miles|km}} northwest of its present location. Settlers moved the town to the present site to be located on the proposed route of the [[Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad]] line that was to be built west from El Reno.<ref name="EOHC-Geary"/>

Edmund Guerriere, of French - Cheyenne ancestry and a former Army scout and interpreter, had acquired a land allotment about {{convert|3|miles|km}} northeast of the town. According to the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, the town name was spelled "Geary" because the settlers had difficulty spelling and pronouncing the original name. The Geary post office was established October 12, 1892.<ref name="EOHC-Geary"/>

In the 1901-1902 timeframe, the town became the starting point for a second railway, the [[Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad#Choctaw Northern Railroad|Choctaw Northern Railroad]], which ran north all the way to [[Anthony, Kansas]].<ref name=RailroadsCN>{{cite web|url= https://digitalprairie.ok.gov/digital/collection/okresources/id/70291 |title=Choctaw Northern Railroad Company|publisher=Railroads of Oklahoma, June 6, 1870-April 1, 1978 (accessed on Oklahoma Digital Prairie), pp. 42-44|accessdate=March 11, 2023}}</ref><ref name=Annual>{{cite web|url= https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/title/commercial-financial-chronicle-1339/january-25-1902-536280|title= Choctaw, Oklahoma & Gulf Railroad Company Annual Report  |publisher=Commercial and Financial Chronicle, January 25, 1902, p.214 (accessed on the Federal Reserve website)|accessdate=March 11, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.frrandp.com/2018/09/railroads-forgot-anthony-ks.html |title=Anthony, Kansas: The Town Forgotten By The Railroads|publisher=Forgotten Railways, Roads & Places, September 7, 2018|accessdate=March 11, 2023}}</ref>  Quickly becoming a trade center for the agricultural area that surrounded it, Geary was established as a "first-class city" in Oklahoma Territory in 1902. The population had grown to 2,561 in that year. That number declined to 1,565 by the time of statehood in 1907.<ref name="EOHC-Geary"/>

In October 2024, prior to the end of the month, three city council positions were filled, with the fourth seat not being occupied. October 31, 2024, all of the municipal police officers resigned at the same time, as did two members of the city council.<ref name=Holpuchcops>{{cite web|last=Holpuch|first=Amanda|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/03/us/police-department-resigns-oklahoma.html|title=Entire City Police Force in Oklahoma Quits as 2 Council Members Also Resign|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=2024-11-03|access-date=2024-11-04 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

==Geography==
Geary is located in southern Blaine County and northwestern Canadian County. The city limits extend southeast along [[U.S. Route 281 in Oklahoma|U.S. Route 281]] {{convert|8|mi|0}} from the center of town to Exit 108 on [[Interstate 40 in Oklahoma|Interstate 40]]. From this point it is {{convert|43|mi}} east to downtown [[Oklahoma City]]. [[U.S. Route 270 in Oklahoma|U.S. Route 270]] leads east from Geary {{convert|11|mi}} to [[Calumet, Oklahoma|Calumet]]. U.S. 281 and 270 together lead northwest {{convert|17|mi}} to [[Watonga, Oklahoma|Watonga]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], as of 2010 the city has a total area of {{convert|10.75|sqkm|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|0.01|sqkm|disp=flip|3}}, or 0.06%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 1452
|1920= 1167
|1930= 1892
|1940= 1634
|1950= 1614
|1960= 1416
|1970= 1380
|1980= 1700
|1990= 1347
|2000= 1258
|2010= 1280
|2020= 994
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 1,258 people, 475 households, and 305 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,325.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 583 housing units at an average density of {{convert|614.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 65.50% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 4.85% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 22.89% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.08% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 2.62% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 4.05% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 5.41% of the population.

There were 475 households, out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56, and the average family size was 3.27.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.3% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,088, and the median income for a family was $28,409. Males had a median income of $23,021 versus $16,667 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $10,538. About 21.2% of families and 24.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 25.7% of those under age 18 and 18.0% of those age 65 or over.

==Government and infrastructure==
The city council has four positions.<ref name=Holpuchcops/>

Geary has a municipal police department. In 2024, there was one department head and three officers in that department. After the mass resignations on October 31, 2024, coverage came from the Blaine County Sheriff's Department and the Canadian County Sheriff's Department.<ref name=Holpuchcops/>

==Climate==
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|location = Geary, Oklahoma
|single line = Y
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|Feb high F = 51
|Mar high F = 60
|Apr high F = 71
|May high F = 78
|Jun high F = 87
|Jul high F = 93
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|Sep high F = 84
|Oct high F = 73
|Nov high F = 59
|Dec high F = 50
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|Feb low F = 30
|Mar low F = 35
|Apr low F = 46
|May low F = 55
|Jun low F = 66
|Jul low F = 69
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|Sep low F = 60
|Oct low F = 50
|Nov low F = 37
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|Jan precipitation inch = 0.9
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.1
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.9
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.8
|May precipitation inch = 4.3
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.0
|Jul precipitation inch = 2.3
|Aug precipitation inch = 2.5
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.3
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.5
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.7
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|year precipitation inch=28.7
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|source 1 = weather.com
|source 2 = Weatherbase.com <ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weatherall.php3?s=723531&refer= | title = Historical Weather for Geary, Oklahoma, United States}}</ref>
|date=October 2, 2010
}}

==Education==
The Blane County portion, which includes part of the townsite, is in the [[Geary Public Schools]]<!--Census code UNI 12570--> school district.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40011_blaine/DC20SD_C40011.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Blaine County, OK|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-11-04}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40011_blaine/DC20SD_C40011_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> The remainder of the townsite, in Canadian County, is also in Geary Public Schools. Some city territory in Canadian County along [[U.S. Route 281]] extends into the [[Hinton Public Schools]]<!--UNI 14610--> school district and the [[Maple Public School]]<!--ELM 18900--> school district.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40017_canadian/DC20SD_C40017.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Canadian County, OK|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-11-04|pages=1, 5 (PDF pp. 2, 6/13)}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40017_canadian/DC20SD_C40017_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Shon Gables]], an evening news anchor with WANF in Atlanta.{{fact|date=November 2024}}
* [[Edmund Guerrier]], scout, guide, interpreter, mixed blood [[Cheyenne]], and [[Sand Creek massacre]] survivor (1840–1921) after whom the city was named.<ref name="EOHC-Geary"/>
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.cityofgeary.com/ City of Geary official website]
* [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=GE001 Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Geary]

{{Blaine County, Oklahoma}}
{{Canadian County, Oklahoma}}
{{NRHP in Blaine County, Oklahoma}}
{{NRHP in Canadian County, Oklahoma}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Blaine County, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Cities in Canadian County, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Cities in Oklahoma]]
[[Category:1892 establishments in the United States]]