Gene Autry, Oklahoma

Gene Autry is a town in Carter County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 154 at the time of the 2020 census, down just slightly from the 158 reported in the 2010 census. It is part of the Ardmore, Oklahoma Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History
The town was originally named "Lou" by C.C. Henderson for his wife; the post office was established July 11, 1883. At the time of its founding, the community was located in Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation. On November 22, 1883, it was renamed "Dresden". The name was changed to "Berwyn" on September 1, 1887, after Berwyn, Pennsylvania, making the Oklahoma town one of several along the Santa Fe railroad line through the Territory (re)named for stations on the "Main Line" of the Pennsylvania Railroad.

Finally, on November 16, 1941, it was renamed "Gene Autry" to honor the singer and motion picture star. Though Autry was born in Tioga, Texas, his family moved to Oklahoma while he was an infant. He was raised in the southern Oklahoma towns of Achille and Ravia. Autry had also worked as a telegraph operator near Berwyn. In 1939 he bought the 1,200 acre Flying A Ranch on the west edge of Berwyn, and the town decided to honor him by changing its name. Approximately 35,000 people attended the ceremonies broadcast live from the site on Autry's Melody Ranch radio show. Expectations that Autry would make his permanent home on the ranch were heightened when Autry’s house in California burned down just 8 days before the name change ceremony, but were dashed 21 days after the ceremony with the attack on Pearl Harbor. Autry joined the military in 1942. He sold the ranch after the war. The ranch is now all but gone.

Geography
Gene Autry is located in northeastern Carter County and is bordered to the north by Murray County. A portion of the city of Ardmore, separate from the main part of the city, borders Gene Autry to the east and contains the Ardmore Municipal Airport. The center of Ardmore is 15 mi southwest of Gene Autry by highways 53 and 77. The Chickasaw National Recreation Area is to the north.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 10.7 sqkm, of which 10.5 sqkm is land and 0.2 sqkm, or 1.72%, is water. The town's area has expanded significantly to the north of its original location since the 2000 census, when it was 0.3 sqmi, all land. The Washita River cuts across the northeast corner of the town, flowing southeast toward Lake Texoma on the Texas border.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 99 people, 46 households, and 25 families residing in the town. The population density was 362.7 PD/sqmi. There were 55 housing units at an average density of 201.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 78.79% White, 5.05% African American, 7.07% Native American, 1.01% Asian, 5.05% from other races, and 3.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.08% of the population.

There were 46 households, out of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.5% were non-families. 37.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 20.2% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 115.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $16,667, and the median income for a family was $20,833. Males had a median income of $31,000 versus $13,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $8,295. There were 27.3% of families and 30.0% of the population living below the poverty line, including 39.3% of those under 18 and 22.2% of those over 64.

Arts and culture
The town is home to the Gene Autry Historical Society which maintains the Gene Autry Oklahoma Museum. After a temporary closure, the museum was re-opened on September 26, 2015. The Museum is open Thursday-Saturday from 10AM to 4PM, and Sunday 12PM to 4PM. Closed during the winter. The museum relates not only to the cowboy singer himself, but also other western-themed entertainers and to local history.