Byars is a town in McClain County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 184 at the 2020 census, down from 255 at the 2010 census.

History

The present community of Byars is one mile southeast of the Camp Arbuckle site in what is now McClain County. Before Byars was established, there was a community called Johnsonville, named for a local rancher named Montford Johnson. Thomas B. Johnson, Chief Justice of the Chickasaw Nation, lived in Johnsonville, his daughter, Katie, married Nathan H. Byars, another local rancher.Thompson, Joy F. "Byars". ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture''.
Accessed July 7, 2019. In 1903, the Oklahoma Central Railroad (OCR) was very interested in building a community one mile south of Johnsonville, where the OCR was building an east–west line. Katie Byars and her husband donated land to be used for this purpose, despite opposition from their neighbors in Johnsonville. A post office named Byars was opened on April 9, 1903. Byars incorporated in 1906, and the OCR main line reached the town site in July 1908. At statehood in 1907, Byars had an official population of 537.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of t ...

, Byars has a total area of , of which is land and (6.67%) is water. Byars is located along State Highway 59.

Demographics

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...

of 2000, there were 280 people, 105 households, and 74 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 118 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 86.79%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...

, 10.36% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.36% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 2.14% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 1.79% of the population. There were 105 households, out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.16. In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.3% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males. The median income for a household in the town was $20,357, and the median income for a family was $25,417. Males had a median income of $27,188 versus $20,179 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the town was $18,647. About 21.3% of families and 23.6% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 31.7% of those under the age of 18 and 10.4% of those 65 or over.

Notes

References

External links

Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Byars

Ghost Towns In Oklahoma

Map of Ghost Towns In Oklahoma
{{Authority control Towns in McClain County, Oklahoma Towns in Oklahoma Populated places established in 1903 1903 establishments in Oklahoma Territory