Editing Lexington, Oklahoma

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

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Cleveland County, Oklahoma Incorporated and Unincorporated areas highlighting Lexington.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Lexington in 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|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Cleveland County, Oklahoma|Cleveland]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|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           = 6.43
|area_land_km2            = 6.24
|area_water_km2           = 0.19
|area_total_sq_mi         = 2.48
|area_land_sq_mi          = 2.41
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.07

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 2010
|population_density_km2   = 321.91
|population_density_sq_mi = 833.68

<!-- 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             = 1034
|coordinates              = {{coord|35|01|04|N|97|20|05|W|region:US-OK_type:city(2086)|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 73051
|area_code                = [[Area codes 405 and 572|405/572]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 40-42700<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>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2410830<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2410830}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|cityoflexington.com}}
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
}}
'''Lexington''' is a city in [[Cleveland County, Oklahoma|Cleveland County]], [[Oklahoma]], United States. The city population was 2,010 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], a 6.6% decrease from 2010.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4042700| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Lexington city, Oklahoma| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| accessdate=February 20, 2015| archive-url=https://archive.today/20150220202309/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4042700| archive-date=February 20, 2015| url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Geography==
Lexington is located in southern Cleveland County. It is bordered on the west by the [[Canadian River]], which forms the [[McClain County, Oklahoma|McClain County]] line. The city of [[Purcell, Oklahoma|Purcell]] is directly across the river from Lexington, connected by [[U.S. Route 77 in Oklahoma|U.S. Route 77]]. US 77 leads north from Lexington {{Convert|16|mi}} to [[Norman, Oklahoma|Norman]] and {{convert|38|mi}} to the center of [[Oklahoma City]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Lexington has a total area of {{convert|6.2|km2|disp=flip}}, all land.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 223
|1900= 861
|1910= 768
|1920= 950
|1930= 836
|1940= 1084
|1950= 1176
|1960= 1216
|1970= 1516
|1980= 1731
|1990= 1776
|2000= 2086
|2010= 2152
|2020= 2010
|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|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2010 there were 2,152 people, 761&nbsp;households, and 541&nbsp;families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 979.3&nbsp;people per square mile (378.1/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 842&nbsp;housing units at an average density of {{convert|395.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 85.62% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.58% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 6.47% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.10% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 3.74% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.50% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 7.29% of the population.

There were 761 households, out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65&nbsp;years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.8% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65&nbsp;years of age or older. The median age was 35&nbsp;years. For every 100&nbsp;females there were 96.1&nbsp;males. For every 100&nbsp;females age&nbsp;18 and over, there were 86.4&nbsp;males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,538, and the median income for a family was $32,155. Males had a median income of $27,292 versus $20,000 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $13,322. About 13.1% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 18.6% of those under age&nbsp;18 and 15.8% of those age&nbsp;65 or over.

==History==

In 1835, north of the present town, Major [[Richard B. Mason]] established Camp Holmes. Here, the [[Five Civilized Tribes]], many of the [[Plains Indians]] and the [[Osage Nation]] met and signed the treaty of Camp Holmes, pledging peace and friendship among themselves and the United States. Later, Auguste P. Chouteau established a trading post here and renamed the place Camp Mason. [[Jesse Chisholm]] operated a store here.<ref name=lexington_history>{{cite web| last=O'Dell| first=Larry| title=Lexington - Oklahoma Encyclopedia of History & Culture| url=http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/L/LE015.html| publisher=Oklahoma Historical Society| accessdate=10 April 2011}}</ref>

The area of Lexington was in the [[Unassigned Lands]], and the town was planned before the [[Land Rush of 1889]]. The town was named after [[Lexington, Kentucky]]. The post office was established in 1890.<ref name="lexington_history"/>

The first incorporation of Lexington in 1890 was dissolved after political infighting and a dispute over high taxes on liquor sales.  After a compromise was reached, the town reincorporated in 1892.<ref name="lexington_history"/>

Before Oklahoma statehood in 1907, Lexington was known as a "whiskey town". Much of the business came from across the [[Canadian River]] from the thriving railroad town of [[Purcell, Oklahoma|Purcell]] which was located in dry [[Indian Territory]]. The Weitzenhoffer and Turk Distillery, the largest [[distillery]] in [[Oklahoma Territory]], opened near Lexington in 1900 and operated until statewide [[prohibition]] in 1907.<ref name="lexington_history"/>

During World War II, the [[United States Navy|Navy]] operated a gunnery school east of Lexington. After the war, the State of Oklahoma acquired the property and built an annex to Central State Mental Hospital (later [[Griffin Memorial Hospital]]). In 1971, the Department of Corrections acquired the property and opened a minimum security prison called the Regional Treatment Center. In 1976, the state began construction on the [[Lexington Assessment and Reception Center]] (LARC) which processes all new prisoners entering the state correctional system. The Regional Treatment Center was re-designated as the [[Joseph Harp Correctional Center]], a medium-security prison.<ref name="lexington_history"/>

==US 77 James C. Nance Bridge between Lexington and Purcell==

The US 77 '''James C. Nance Memorial Bridge''' <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/wm11WJ0_James_C_Nance_Memorial_Bridge_2019 |title=James C. Nance Memorial Bridge 2019 - American Guide Series on |publisher=Waymarking.com |date=2019-12-29 |accessdate=2022-05-03}}</ref> connecting Purcell and Lexington<ref name="oklahoma1">{{cite web|url=https://oklahoma.gov/odot/citizen/major-projects/completed-projects/purcell-lexington-bridge-project.html|title=Purcell/Lexington Bridge project}}</ref> was originally built as a circa 1938 [[deck truss]] two-lane bridge, and in 2019, rebuilt as a concrete pier four-lane bridge <ref name="oklahoma2">name=https://oklahoma.gov/odot/citizen/newsroom/2019/july/history-repeats-as-new-purcell-lexington-bridge-opens-for-thene.html</ref> crossing the [[Canadian River]] between [[Purcell, Oklahoma|Purcell]] and Lexington, Oklahoma.<ref>name=https://www.normantranscript.com/news/new-bridge-connecting-purcell-lexington-reaches-completion/article_32a8733b-b796-5339-a752-c3099acf3bad.html</ref> The bridge carries [[U.S. Route 77 in Oklahoma|U.S. Route&nbsp;77]] (US-77) and [[Oklahoma State Highway&nbsp;39]] (SH-39) from [[McClain County, Oklahoma|McClain County]] to [[Cleveland County, Oklahoma|Cleveland County]].<ref>name=https://www.news-star.com/news/20190727/history-repeats-as-new-purcell-lexington-bridge-opens-for-next-generation</ref> The bridge is named for [[James C. Nance]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://oklahoman.com/article/5637006/new-purcell-lexington-bridge-to-open-friday|title=New Purcell-Lexington bridge to open Friday|date=25 July 2019}}</ref> longtime community newspaper chain publisher and [[Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives]], [[President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate]] and member of U.S [[Uniform Law Commission]].<ref>name=https://travel.line.me/poi/5ed7dc55fa3c974c9409a0d7</ref>

The Nance bridge allows travel time from Purcell (west side of the Canadian river) to Lexingon (East side of the river) to be only 3 minutes by car, according to google maps. When the bridge was closed (Emergency Closure, below), the same trip was 43 minutes when re-routed North to the nearest bridge, or 1 hour and 4 minutes when re-routed Southeast to the nearest bridge.

The 1938 construction of this bridge enabled communities from West and Southwest (Byars, Cole, Dibble, Paoli, Pauls Valley, Purcell, Rosedale, and Wayne) side of the river to reach the communities on the East side of the river (Lexington, Slaughterville, and Wanette). Traffic using the bridge allows trade and commerce to freely flow in this retail trade area of southern McClain County, southern Cleveland County, Southern Pottawatomie County, and northern area of Garvin County, and eastern portion of Grady county. The 2019 rebuilt bridge features the same design elements with concrete post and original circa 1938 design wrought iron railings which provide a separate pedestrian walkway offering sweeping views of the [[South Canadian River]] valley.<ref name="oklahoma2"/>

According to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, "History was made Friday July 26, 2019  in Purcell and Lexington, just as it was more than 80 years ago when the two cities celebrated the grand opening of a new bridge connecting their communities. The new US 77 [[James C. Nance Memorial Bridge]] that links the twin cities, located less than one mile apart, fully opened to traffic with much fanfare on Friday, July 26, 2019, the culmination of a major two-year, expedited reconstruction project."<ref name="oklahoma1"/>

==Notable people==
*[[Woody Crumbo]] (1912—1989), a 1978 [[Potawatomi]] Native American inductee into the [[Oklahoma Hall of Fame]] for his paintings.
*[[Harold Hamm]] (December 11, 1945 - ), oil baron was born and raised in Lexington, Oklahoma 
*[[Cal Hobson]]  (March 30, 1945 - ), former President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate
*[[John Lucian Smith]] (December 26, 1914 – June 9, 1972), an American Medal of Honor recipient and Marine Corps flying ace, was born in Lexington.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://cityoflexington.com City of Lexington official website]

{{Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area}}
{{Cleveland County, Oklahoma}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Oklahoma City metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Cities in Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Cities in Cleveland County, Oklahoma]]