Byars, Oklahoma

The present community of Byars is one mile southeast of the Camp Arbuckle site in what is now McClain County, Oklahoma. 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.[5]

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.[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, Byars has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), of which, 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) of it (6.67%) is water.

Byars is located along State Highway 59.[6]

At the 2000 census there were 280 people in 105 households, including 74 families, in the town. The population density was 182.0 people per square mile (70.2/km²). There were 118 housing units at an average density of 76.7 per square mile (29.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 86.79% White, 10.36% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.36% from other races, and 2.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.79%.[3]

Of the 105 households 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 households were one person and 15.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.16.

The age distribution was 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% 65 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 household income was $20,357 and the median family income was $25,417. Males had a median income of $27,188 versus $20,179 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,647. About 21.3% of families and 23.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.7% of those under the age of 18 and 10.4% of those 65 or over.

• Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Byars