Fargo, Oklahoma

Fargo, Oklahoma
Town
Location of Fargo, Oklahoma
Coordinates: 36°22′27″N99°37′20″W / 36.37417°N 99.62222°W / 36.37417; -99.62222
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
County	Ellis
Area [1]
• Total	0.58 sq mi (1.51 km2)
• Land	0.58 sq mi (1.51 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [2]	2,113 ft (644 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	312
• Density	535.16/sq mi (206.74/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	73840
Area code	580
FIPS code	40-25450 [3]
GNIS feature ID	2412621 [2]

Fargo is a town in Ellis County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 312 at the time of the 2020 census. ^[4] Fargo, like many towns in the region, has never fully recovered from the Dust Bowl years.

History

In 1887, the Southern Kansas Railway (a subsidiary of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway) built tracks through the area. The area was opened to European-American settlement by the Cherokee Outlet Opening land run in 1893. ^[5]

During the land run, David C. Ooley filed a claim on land near Boggy Creek and opened a general store there. He later acquired 80 additional acres along the railroad and built a second store, and acquired postal designation as Whitehead in October 1893. The town's postal designation was changed to Oleta in August 1901, and changed again to Fargo in February 1905. ^[5]

When Oklahoma's statehood was established in 1907, Fargo was incorporated from Oleta Township, with a population of 436. ^[5]

In 1909, a fire destroyed all of the east side buildings on Main Street. ^[5]

Geography

Fargo is northeast of Gage and southwest of Woodward off Oklahoma State Highway 15. ^[6]

West Woodward Airport is about 9 miles northeast of town. ^[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all land.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1910	341		—
1920	258		−24.3%
1930	325		26.0%
1940	291		−10.5%
1950	318		9.3%
1960	291		−8.5%
1970	262		−10.0%
1980	409		56.1%
1990	299		−26.9%
2000	326		9.0%
2010	364		11.7%
2020	312		−14.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [8]

As of the census ^[3] of 2000, there were 326 people, 124 households, and 93 families residing in the town. The population density was 556.5 inhabitants per square mile (214.9/km²). There were 146 housing units at an average density of 249.2 per square mile (96.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.80% White, 3.07% Native American, and 6.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.84% of the population.

There were 124 households, out of which 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 31.3% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $29,750, and the median income for a family was $32,625. Males had a median income of $27,083 versus $16,042 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,748. About 9.3% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.0% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Education

In the summer of 2016, Fargo Public Schools consolidated with Gage Public Schools. ^[9]

Parks, recreation and attractions

Fargo City Park features include a working windmill and tank, a children's playground, and a covered walking bridge. ^[10]

Fort Supply Lake is to the north-northeast of town. ^[6]

The Stock Exchange Bank on Main Street is on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Ellis County, Oklahoma. ^[5]

Wind energy

The OU Spirit windfarm (a/k/a Keenan I) is east-southeast of Fargo; ^[11] and has 101 MW capacity. ^[12]

The Keenan II windfarm is southeast of Fargo, ^[13] and has 152 MW capacity. ^[12]

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Fargo, Oklahoma
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. "Fargo (town), Oklahoma". US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
5. Everett, Dianna (2009). "Fargo". Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (online ed.). Oklahoma Historical Society . Retrieved April 22, 2022.
6. "Fargo, Oklahoma". Google Maps. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
7. "West Woodward Airport to Fargo, Oklahoma". Google Maps. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
8. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
9. Board of Education. "Gage Patrons" (PDF). Gage Public Schools. Gage Public Schools. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
10. "Dick Hamilton". Woodward News, June 25, 2019. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
11. "OU Spirit Wind Farm". Google Maps. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
12. "Wind Energy Industry Impacts in Oklahoma" (PDF). State Chamber of Oklahoma Research Foundation, November 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
13. "Keenan II Wind Farm". Google Maps. Retrieved August 11, 2020.

External links

• Fargo-Gage Public Schools
• Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Fargo