Barnsdall, Oklahoma | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nickname: Bigheart | |
 Location of Barnsdall in Oklahoma | |
| Coordinates:36°33′20″N96°09′16″W / 36.55556°N 96.15444°W /36.55556; -96.15444[1] | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Osage |
| Founded | 1905 (Bigheart) 1922 (Barnsdall) |
| Named after | James Bigheart Theodore Barnsdall |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council |
| • Mayor | Johnny Kelley |
| Area | |
• Total | 1.18 sq mi (3.06 km2) |
| • Land | 0.98 sq mi (2.55 km2) |
| • Water | 0.20 sq mi (0.51 km2) |
| Elevation | 735 ft (224 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 1,034 |
| • Density | 1,050/sq mi (405/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code | 74002 |
| Area code | 539 / 918 |
| FIPS code | 40-04250[1] |
| GNIS ID | 2409788[1] |
| Website | cityofbarnsdallok.org |
Barnsdall is a city inOsage County, Oklahoma, United States.[1] As of the2020 census, the population of the city was 1,034.[3]
The community was founded in 1905 and originally namedBigheart, for the Osage ChiefJames Bigheart. It was initially a 160-acre site along theMidland Valley Railroad in March 1905. The railroad opened Bigheart Station in September 1905 and the Bigheart Post Office opened in January 1906. The community was exempted from theOsage allotment, so lots could be sold to anyone. Lots were auctioned in May 1906. The first newspaper, theBigheart Star, first appeared in 1906.[4]
Joshua Cosden built the Southwest Refining Company oil refinery in 1910. He sold it to Stone and Webster of Boston, Massachusetts in 1917. The Barnsdall Oil Company had discovered the nearby Bigheart (later Barnsdall) oilfield in 1916. The Barnsdall Oil Company, bought the refinery in 1921. The community was renamedBarnsdall on January 1, 1922, in honor of Theodore N. Barnsdall.[4]
Barnsdall experienced atornado in April 1911, a major fire in March 1913 and a flood in September 1915. Despite these calamities, the population increased from 307 in 1910 to 2,099 in 1920.[4] That proved to be the high point of population in the community.
Henry L. Doherty bought the holdings of Theodore N. Barnsdall, founder of Barnsdall Oil Company, in 1912.[5] Barnsdall Refining Company renamed itself Bareco Oil Company in 1940. It ceased refining oil in 1946 and began producingmicrocrystalline waxes that year.Petrolite Corporation (later part ofBaker Hughes) bought Bareco and continued to operate the plant.[4] The business was sold to SK Capital in September 2020 and renamed NuCera Solutions;[6] and, NuCera was sold in September 2022 to Chase Corporation.[7] NuCera continued as operator until July 2024, when tornado damage lead to announcement of the plant's phased shutdown.[8]
TheMidland Valley Railroad trackage both north and south of Barnsdall has been abandoned, the southern portion in 2000.[9][10] At least some of the route south of Barnsdall has been converted into arail trail.[11]
On the evening of April 1, 2024, anEF1 tornado struck Barnsdall, damaging 35 homes, but no injuries were reported.[12]
On the evening of May 6, 2024, an EF4 tornado hit the city, the second tornado in the city within five weeks. Peak wind speeds were estimated at 180 mph (290 km/h).[13][14] Two fatalities occurred in Barnsdall as a result of the tornado, and several structures were completely destroyed. Barnsdall Nursing Home was among the structures that were damaged. Several buildings, including schools, were opened to those who had homes damaged or destroyed and needed shelter.[15][16] At least ten people reportedly suffered injuries due to the tornado.[17] Significant damage was done to the NuCera refinery.[8]
Barnsdall is located 17 miles (27 km) southeast ofPawhuska, the Osage County seat, and 40 miles (64 km) northwest ofTulsa.[4]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2), all land.
| Climate data for Barnsdall, Oklahoma | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 46.7 (8.2) | 52.5 (11.4) | 63.1 (17.3) | 74.1 (23.4) | 80.5 (26.9) | 88.3 (31.3) | 94.5 (34.7) | 93.8 (34.3) | 85.2 (29.6) | 75.0 (23.9) | 61.2 (16.2) | 49.7 (9.8) | 72.1 (22.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 22.5 (−5.3) | 27.4 (−2.6) | 37.0 (2.8) | 48.1 (8.9) | 56.5 (13.6) | 65.2 (18.4) | 69.8 (21.0) | 67.6 (19.8) | 60.3 (15.7) | 48.0 (8.9) | 37.0 (2.8) | 26.4 (−3.1) | 47.2 (8.4) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 1.4 (36) | 1.9 (48) | 3.7 (94) | 3.3 (84) | 4.8 (120) | 4.7 (120) | 2.9 (74) | 3.5 (89) | 5.6 (140) | 3.2 (81) | 3.0 (76) | 1.9 (48) | 39.9 (1,010) |
| Source: Weatherbase.com[18] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 307 | — | |
| 1920 | 2,099 | 583.7% | |
| 1930 | 2,001 | −4.7% | |
| 1940 | 1,831 | −8.5% | |
| 1950 | 1,708 | −6.7% | |
| 1960 | 1,663 | −2.6% | |
| 1970 | 1,579 | −5.1% | |
| 1980 | 1,501 | −4.9% | |
| 1990 | 1,316 | −12.3% | |
| 2000 | 1,325 | 0.7% | |
| 2010 | 1,243 | −6.2% | |
| 2020 | 1,034 | −16.8% | |
| 2020 Cenus Results[19] | |||
As of the 2022[update]American Community Survey estimates, there were 1,019 people and 360 households.[20][21] Thepopulation density was 1,035.6 inhabitants per square mile (399.8/km2). There were 461 housing units at an average density of 468.5 per square mile (180.9/km2).[22][21][23] The racial makeup of the city was 65.6% White, 19.7% Native American or Alaskan Native, and 0.7% Black or African American, with 14.0% from two or more races.[21]Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 5.3% of the population.[21]
Of the 360 households, 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.6% had seniors 65 years or older living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 5.8% were couples cohabitating, 11.7% had a male householder with no partner present, and 28.3% had a female householder with no partner present.[20] The median household size was 2.74 and the median family size was 3.42.[20]
The age distribution was 28.0% under 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 19.0% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36.8 years.[24] For every 100 females, there were 111.4 males.[21]
The median income for a household was $56,500, with family households having a median income of $67,625 and non-family households $23,516. Theper capita income was $23,458.[25][26] Males workingfull-time jobs had median earnings of $40,402 compared to $34,688 for females.[27] Out of the 982 people with a determined poverty status, 6.5% were below thepoverty line. Further, 2.2% of minors and 4.6% of seniors were below the poverty line.[28]
In the survey, residents self-identified with various ethnic ancestries. People ofGerman descent made up 16.0% of the population of the town, followed byIrish at 14.7%,American at 9.2%,English at 4.9%,Dutch at 2.5%,Caribbean (excluding Hispanics) at 1.4%,Scotch-Irish at 0.8%, andArab at 0.7%.[20]
NuCera Solutions was located in Barnsdall, a manufacturer of specialty waxes and polymers and the town's largest employer.[citation needed] On May 6, 2024, the plant sustained severe damage from an EF4 tornado. It was announced on July 30, 2024, that the plant would close permanently in 6–12 months, despite initial efforts to rebuild the plant.[8]
Barnsdall has two properties listed on theNational Register of Historic Places listings in Osage County, Oklahoma:
In addition, theWoolaroc Ranch Historic District, 8 miles east of the junction ofState Highway 11 andState Highway 123, is near Barnsdall.
Lake Waxhoma, about 4 miles east, offers fishing opportunities, as well as being a key water source for the town.[29][30][31]
Municipalities and communities ofOsage County, Oklahoma,United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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