Baker is an unincorporated community in northeastern Texas County,

Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...

, United States, ¼ mile north of U.S. Route 64. Tyrone lies six miles to the north-northwest on U.S. Route 54 and Turpin lies eight miles to the east at the intersection of Route 64 and

U.S. Route 83 U.S. Route 83 (US 83) is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway that extends in the central United States. Only four other north–south routes are longer: US 1, US 41, US 59, and US 87, while US ...

in adjacent Beaver County.

History

Founded between Hooker and Turpin Oklahoma, a child of the BM&E (Beaver. Meade and Englewood, Later MKT) railroad. Baker become a double railroad town in its infancy when the CRI&P (Chicago Rock Island and Pacific) crossed through just three years after being platted. Named after a Hooker, Oklahoma man, Reuben F. Baker whom sold the acreage for the town from his quarter section where baker lies, the town sprung to existence in the summer and fall of 1926. The town thrived in its early years and persevered through the dust bowl and Great Depression. Home to the remnants of the Eureka school (Eureka Polar Bears), Baker has but few residents left. However, two grain elevators still operate today, centered in wheat and corn country. One elevator, the Riffe-Gilmore elevator is one of few Riffe-Gilmore elevators still in operation, having been operated by the same family since its inception on the railroad in 1926. GW Riffe, an early settler of the area was one of the first to plant wheat in the new Oklahoma territory near Baker as what was once known as “no man’s land” became the Oklahoma Panhandle. The town briefly held the name of Bakerburg after opening a post office in 1931, as another Baker, Oklahoma held a post office in that name, after that town's post office closed, Bakerburg was once again Baker, officially renaming in 1953. The last Katy train left eastbound from Baker around January 4, 1973. Following bankruptcy of the Chicago Rock Island line in 1974, the last trains of the thriving Baker town left the transportation of the surrounding wheat fields to trucks on US Highway 64.Shirk, George H., ''Oklahoma Place Names'', Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1987, p. 16

NRHP Sites

Both the

Baker Woodframe Elevator The Baker Woodframe Elevator was a historic grain elevator in Baker, Oklahoma. The wood frame elevator was built for the Kimber Milling Company in 1926. The elevator was located at the intersection of the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific and the B ...

and the separate

Baker Woodframe Grain Elevator The Baker Woodframe Grain Elevator is a historic grain elevator in Baker, Oklahoma. The wood frame elevator was built in 1926 along the Beaver, Meade and Englewood Railroad by the Riffe & Gilmore Company. The elevator operated continuously from i ...

are NRHP-listed.

Demographics

References

Unincorporated communities in Texas County, Oklahoma Unincorporated communities in Oklahoma Oklahoma Panhandle {{Oklahoma-geo-stub