Editing Stratford, Oklahoma

{{short description|Town in Oklahoma, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Stratford, Oklahoma
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = "Peach Capital of the World" 
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = 
|image_map                = OKMap-doton-Stratford.PNG
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Stratford, Oklahoma
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
|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        = [[Garvin County, Oklahoma|Garvin]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         = 
|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           = 2.63
|area_land_km2            = 2.62
|area_water_km2           = 0.01
|area_total_sq_mi         = 1.02
|area_land_sq_mi          = 1.01
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.01
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 1405
|population_density_km2   = 536.60
|population_density_sq_mi = 1389.71
|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             = 1106
|coordinates              = {{coord|34|47|43|N|96|57|37|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 74872
|area_code                = [[Area code 580|580]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 40-70800<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2413340<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2413340}}</ref>
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
}}

'''Stratford''' is a town in [[Garvin County, Oklahoma|Garvin County]], [[Oklahoma]], United States. Prior to Oklahoma statehood in 1907, the town existed under different names and was in the [[Chickasaw Nation]] in a geographic region known as [[Indian Territory]]. Peach orchards abound in and around the town. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the town’s population was 1,405.<ref>{{cite web|url=  https://data.census.gov/all?q=stratford+town,+oklahoma|title=Stratford (Town), Oklahoma|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=August 6, 2023}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Girl peaches (38043013).jpg|thumb|left|upright|Stratford is the self-proclaimed Peach Capital of the World.]]
Stratford was originally the town of [[McGee, Oklahoma|McGee]], which was established in 1891.<ref name="robinson">Robinson, Richard Duane. [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=ST045 "Stratford,"] ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'', 2009. Accessed March 25, 2015.</ref> At the time, it was part of [[Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation]]<ref>Charles Goins, ''Historical Atlas of Oklahoma'' (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2006), plate 105.</ref> in an unorganized geographic region of the United States known as [[Indian Territory]]<ref name="countyhistory">Lough, D. Keith. [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=GA017 "Garvin County,"] ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'', 2009. Accessed March 25, 2015.</ref> In 1906 the [[Oklahoma Central Railroad (1914–1942)|Oklahoma Central Railroad]] built the railroad two miles south of McGee.<ref name="robinson"/> The town placed its buildings on wagons and wheeled them down to the train tracks. The new town was first named Walling, but by October 1906 the name was changed to Stratford.<ref name="robinson"/> Stratford is known as the Peach Capital of the World and holds its Peach Festival, annual [[rodeo]], and car show the third Saturday each July. The festival has been held since 1976, while the rodeo dates back to 1936.<ref name="robinson"/>

==Geography==
Stratford is situated approximately halfway between [[Pauls Valley, Oklahoma|Pauls Valley]] and [[Ada, Oklahoma|Ada]] along [[Oklahoma State Highway 19|State Highway 19]], where it intersects [[U.S. Route 177 in Oklahoma|U.S. Highway 177]].<ref name="robinson"/>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|1.0|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

Stratford lies in a part of Oklahoma known for hills of 250 to {{convert|400|ft|m}}, oak forests and flat, fertile plains.<ref>[http://www.netstate.com/states/geography/ok_geography.htm Oklahoma Geography] (accessed May 15, 2013)</ref> There are more than 400 acres of peach orchards in and around the town.<ref name="robinson"/>

Stratford has frequent variations in weather daily and seasonally, except during the consistently hot summer months. Consistent winds during the summer help temper the hotter weather. Consistent northerly winds during the winter can intensify cold periods.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 685
|1920= 964
|1930= 950
|1940= 896
|1950= 1065
|1960= 1058
|1970= 1278
|1980= 1459
|1990= 1404
|2000= 1474
|2010= 1525
|2020= 1405
|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 1,525 people, 609 households, and 408 families residing in the town. There were 728 housing units. The racial makeup of the town was 78.3% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.5% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 15.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.9% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 4.3% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.7% of the population.

There were 609 households, out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 16.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 15, 12.9% from 15 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $23,581, and the median income for a family was $28,690. Males had a median income of $29,118 versus $22,629 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $14,141. About 31.9% of families and 27.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 46.0% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Notable person==
* [[B. Kevin Turner]], former COO of [[Microsoft]] and [[Walmart]] executive<ref>{{cite web |last1=McMillon |first1=Lynn |title=Microsoft's Kevin Turner on digital faith |url=https://christianchronicle.org/microsofts-kevin-turner-on-digital-faith/ |website=The Christian Chronicle |date=August 1, 2013}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Garvin County, Oklahoma]]

==References==
<references />

==External links==
* http://stratfordok.org/index.html

{{Garvin County, Oklahoma}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Garvin County, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Towns in Oklahoma]]