Texhoma, Oklahoma

Before No Man's Land was opened for settlers in 1890, the area now known as the Oklahoma Panhandle was sparsely settled ranchland. After the opening, filing occurred on some of the land near the CCC Ranch, mostly by the cowboys, and sold to the ranch as soon as proved up. Expansion of the Rock Island Railroad tracks from Liberal, Kansas to Santa Rosa, New Mexico spurred the settlement's formation.

A post office named Loretta was established May 7, 1898, but anticipating the railroad, the post office in 1901 moved and changed its name to Texhoma, said name referring to the community's location on the state line.[4] Very few claims were filed on until the railroad was assured. The town grew quickly to a population near 1,000, serving as the closest railroad town to the people who lived as far north and west as present Boise City, and south into the Texas Panhandle to the present town of Gruver.

The land was quickly homesteaded and proved to be a rich agricultural area.

Texhoma is located at 36°30′16″N 101°47′11″W (36.504421, -101.786517).[5] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all of it land.

Texhoma is most known for the fact that it is paired with another Texhoma across the border in Texas. Tourists come for the border sign that separates Oklahoma and Texas, and the sign is very iconic.

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 935 people, 352 households, and 254 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,495.0 people per square mile (573.0/km²). There were 408 housing units at an average density of 652.3 per square mile (250.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 81.60% White, 0.96% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 14.76% from other races, and 2.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.76% of the population.

There were 352 households out of which 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.5% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the town, the population was spread out with 31.2% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 113.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $27,500, and the median income for a family was $36,667. Males had a median income of $23,229 versus $18,250 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,938. About 11.7% of families and 15.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.9% of those under age 18 and 17.8% of those age 65 or over.

Texhoma students in both Texas and Oklahoma are served jointly by an unusual bi-state arrangement. Kindergarten through fourth grade students are served by the Texhoma Independent School District in Texas, while fifth through twelfth grade students by Texhoma Public Schools in Oklahoma. It is the only city in Oklahoma where graduating students can attend either Oklahoma or Texas public universities at the in-state tuition rates for either.[8]

Texhoma High School is housed in a pair of monolithic dome structures.[9]

NRHP-listed locations in the Texhoma area are:

• CCC (Three C) Ranch Headquarters (Osborn Homestead) (west of Texhoma)
• Penick House (218 N. East St.)
• Johnson-Cline Archaeological Site

• Edgar E. (Ted) Coons, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at New York University
• Leon Fields, OK Representative & State Senator
• John Fischer, editor of Harper's Magazine, 1953–1967
• Wright Langum, Los Alamos scientist
• Patience Latting, Oklahoma City mayor, 1971–1983
• Esther and J.B. Riffe, philanthropists
• JPR Sewell, OK State Representative
• Frank Sewell, OK State Representative
• Andy Norton, Independent League Baseball Outfielder
• Marian Settles, missionary in Africa
• G.A. Acock, Representative
• Charles Fred Krull, Agronomist
• Ralph A. Hamilton, Musician/Engineer- Lockheed California company

• Official website