Editing Thomas, Oklahoma

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Thomas, Oklahoma 
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

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|map_caption              = Location of Thomas, Oklahoma
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<!-- 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        = [[Custer County, Oklahoma|Custer]]

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|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
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|population_total         = 1143
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|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 73669
|area_code                = [[Area code 580|580]]
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|blank_info               = 40-73450<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>
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'''Thomas''' is a city in [[Custer County, Oklahoma|Custer County]], [[Oklahoma]], United States. The population was 1,181 at the [[United States Census, 2010|2010 census]].

==History==
Thomas was named for William Thomas, who owned a general store and served as postmaster, when the first post office was established at the store on February 12, 1894, while this area was part of Oklahoma Territory. Joseph W. Morris claimed a homestead at the site during the Cheyenne-Arapaho opening in 1892. The Oklahoma Railway Townsite platted Morris' land in 1902, the same year that the Blackwell, Enid and Southwestern Railroad (later the [[St. Louis and San Francisco Railway]]) constructed a line through Thomas. In 1906, the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway (later the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]]) also built a line through the town. Most of the early settlers were members of the [[Amish]], the Dunkards, and the [[Church of the United Brethren in Christ]] religious groups.<ref name="EOHC-Thomas">[http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=TH006 Wilson, Linda D. "Thomas." ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.'']  Accessed August 31, 2016.</ref>

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|1.2|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 1371
|1920= 1223
|1930= 1256
|1940= 1220
|1950= 1171
|1960= 1211
|1970= 1336
|1980= 1515
|1990= 1246
|2000= 1238
|2010= 1181
|2020= 1143
|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 2000, there were 1,238 people, 486 households, and 337 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,041.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 596 housing units at an average density of {{convert|501.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 88.85% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.08% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 8.08% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.57% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.42% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.70% of the population.

There were 486 households, out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 22.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,083, and the median income for a family was $36,667. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $17,440 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $15,693. About 13.0% of families and 17.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 25.7% of those under age 18 and 18.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
Originally a marketing community and shipping point for the surrounding agricultural area, Thomas has evolved into a bedroom community. According to the ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture,'' Over 91 percent of the employed residents commute to work in other communities.<ref name="EOHC-Thomas"/>

The oil refinery at Thomas is one of only five refineries that was operating in Oklahoma in 2015. Formerly known as the Barrett Refinery and opened in 1982,<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=RE039| title= Refineries| publisher= Bobby D. Weaver, Oklahoma Historical Society| accessdate=April 2, 2020}}</ref> this facility has a rated capacity of 14,000 barrels per day. In the oil industry, a barrel (Bbl) is equal to 42 U. S. gallons. Hence, this is now the smallest refinery operating in the state. After the Barrett Company declared bankruptcy, the refinery was scheduled to close permanently on December 22, 2005. Instead, an Oklahoma City firm, Ventura Refining and Transmission, LLC. Revival of the refinery was expected to open up about 30 to 50 new local jobs, excluding personnel needed to drive about 30 trucks handling product deliveries per day.<ref name="ThomasTrib">[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2154&dat=20060202&id=MpdkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=I4UNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1470,97996&hl=en   Thomas Refinery has new owners; Operation to start by early summer."''Thomas Tribune'' February 2, 2006.] Accessed August 30, 2016.</ref>

==Government==
The city of Thomas has an aldermanic form of government.<ref name="EOHC-Thomas"/>

The mayor of Thomas is Jeff Gose.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://thecityofthomas.org/ubweb/tab.jsp?TAB=424 | title=Welcome to the City of Thomas }}</ref>

==Media==
The ''Thomas Tribune'' was first published  weekly in 1902, and is still being published. It has an online edition.<ref name="EOHC-Thomas"/>

==Education==
It is in the [[Thomas-Fay-Custer Unified Schools]]<!--UNI 00015--> school district.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40039_custer/DC20SD_C40039.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Custer County, OK|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-10-13}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40039_custer/DC20SD_C40039_SD2MS.txt Text list] - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st40_ok/c40039_custer/DC10SD_C40039_001.pdf 2010 map] and [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st40_ok/c40039_custer/DC10SD_C40039_SD2MS.txt 2010 list]</ref>

Previously Thomas had its own school district. In 1989, the district's enrollment was 400.<ref>{{cite web|last=Killackey|first=Jim|url=https://www.oklahoman.com:443/story/news/1989/12/17/school-consolidation-may-ease-money-woes-in-custer-county/62582301007/|title=School Consolidation May Ease Money Woes in Custer County|newspaper=[[The Oklahoman]]|date=1989-12-17|access-date=2024-10-13}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110523212150/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/T/TH006.html "Thomas." ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture''.]

{{Custer County, Oklahoma}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Custer County, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Cities in Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1894]]
[[Category:1894 establishments in Oklahoma Territory]]