Keyes is a town in Cimarron County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2020 census, the town’s population was 276.[4]

Keyes, Oklahoma
Location within Cimarron County and Oklahoma
Location within Cimarron County and Oklahoma
Coordinates: 36°48′27″N 102°15′7″W / 36.80750°N 102.25194°W / 36.80750; -102.25194
CountryUnited States
StateOklahoma
CountyCimarron
Area
 • Total0.36 sq mi (0.93 km2)
 • Land0.36 sq mi (0.93 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation3,944 ft (1,202 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total276
 • Density770/sq mi (300/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code
73947
Area code580
FIPS code40-39600[3]
GNIS ID1094354[2]

History

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Keyes was established in 1925 by the Elkhart and Santa Fe Railway (both leased to and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway).[5][6] The company named the town after a deceased railroad engineer.[6] The line is now part of the Cimarron Valley Railroad.[7]

Keyes was also the final destination of the Beaver, Meade and Englewood Railroad, which reached town from the east on June 25, 1931.[8] That line was abandoned in 1972.[9]

Geography

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Keyes is located at 36°48′30″N 102°15′00″W / 36.808333°N 102.25°W / 36.808333; -102.25.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2), all land.

Keyes is at the intersection of U.S. Route 56 and the northern terminus of Oklahoma State Highway 171.[10] Keyes is approximately 16 miles northeast of the Cimarron County seat, Boise City,[11] and about 26 miles southwest of Elkhart, Kansas.[12]

The closest major airport is Liberal Mid-America Regional Airport, about 91 miles.[13]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1930350
1940227−35.1%
195043189.9%
196062745.5%
1970569−9.3%
1980557−2.1%
1990454−18.5%
2000410−9.7%
2010324−21.0%
2020276−14.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 324 people, 131 households, and 88 families residing in the town.[15] There were 234 housing units.[15] The racial makeup of the town was 94.1% White, 0.6% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 2.8% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races.[15] Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.2% of the population.[15]

There were 131 households, out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.2% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families.[15] 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[15] The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.08.[15]

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.2% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 19.8% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older.[16] The median age was 43.0 years.[16] For every 100 females, there were 101.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.2 males.[16]

According to the 2013 American Community Survey, The median income for a household in the town was $36,827, and the median income for a family was $62,639.[17] Males had a median income of $36,750 versus $40,833 for females.[17] The per capita income for the town was $22,522.[17] About 8.1% of families and 23.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 53.5% of those under age 18 and 0.0% of those age 65 or over.[17]

Economy

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The town's location in the Hugoton Friedrich Basin makes it an ideal source for helium production from natural gas. A helium plant was built near Keyes in 1958.[6] 169,000 million cubic feet (4.8×109 m3) of liquid helium is produced annually by the Keyes Helium Company.

Transportation

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U.S. Route 56 highway runs along the north side of Keyes.

Notable people

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  • Jack Hoxie (1885–1965), rodeo cowboy, Hollywood silent movie cowboy actor[18]

References

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  1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Keyes, Oklahoma
  3. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "Keyes (Town), Oklahoma". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  5. ^ Railroads of Oklahoma, June 6, 1870 to April 1, 1978. State of Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Survey Division. April 1, 1978. p. 37.
  6. ^ a b c Young, Norma Gene. "Keyes," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Oklahoma Historical Society. Accessed June 17, 2015.
  7. ^ "Home". Cimarron Valley Railroad. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  8. ^ "Construction Strategies of Railroads in the Oklahoma Panhandle". Donovan L. Hofsommer, Chronicles of Oklahoma, Vol. 58, No 1, Spring 1980, pp. 82-89. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  9. ^ "The Beaver, Meade and Englewood Railroad". AbandonedRails.com. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  10. ^ "Keyes, Oklahoma". Google Maps. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  11. ^ "Boise City, Oklahoma to Keyes, Oklahoma". Google Maps. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  12. ^ "Elkhart, Kansas to Keyes, Oklahoma". Google Maps. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  13. ^ "Nearest major airport to Keyes, Oklahoma". travelmath.com. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  14. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g United States Census Bureau. " DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 - 2010 Demographic Profile Data - Keyes town, Oklahoma," Archived February 13, 2020, at archive.today American FactFinder, Accessed June 21, 2015.
  16. ^ a b c United States Census Bureau." QT-P1 Age Groups and Sex: 2010 more information - 2010 Census Summary File 1 - Keyes town, Oklahoma," Archived February 13, 2020, at archive.todayAmerican FactFinder, Accessed June 21, 2015.
  17. ^ a b c d United States Census Bureau. "DP03 Selected Economic Characteristics: 2009-2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates - Keyes town, Oklahoma," Archived February 13, 2020, at archive.today American FactFinder, Accessed June 21, 2015.
  18. ^ "Jack Hoxie". Silent Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
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