Kiefer, Oklahoma

Kiefer is a town in Creek County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,685 at the 2010 census, an increase of 64.2 percent over the figure of 1,026 recorded in 2000.[5]

Kiefer, Oklahoma
Town
Location within Creek County, and the state of Oklahoma
Coordinates: 35°56′38″N 96°3′34″W
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
County	Creek
Area [1]
• Total	2.41 sq mi (6.25 km^2)
• Land	2.39 sq mi (6.19 km^2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.06 km^2)
Elevation	699 ft (213 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	1,685
• Estimate  (2019)[2]	2,020
• Density	844.83/sq mi (326.17/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	74041
Area code(s)	539/918
FIPS code	40-39750[3]
GNIS feature ID	1094370[4]

History

Kiefer was originally known as "Praper" when a post office was first established in 1901. The St. Louis, Oklahoma and Southern Railway (later the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway) constructed a line south from Sapulpa through Praper between 1900 and 1901. The route is today operated by BNSF. Praper became an oil boom town by 1906, when it grew into a major shipping point for crude from the Glenn Pool field. The post office was renamed "Kiefer" on December 12, 1906.[6][7] According to the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, the name honored at least one of three different people named Kiefer who lived in the area.[6]

Kiefer voted to incorporate on November 20, 1908. The 1910 census reported a population of 1,197 inhabitants. This increased to 1,663 in 1920.[6]

In the early days, Kiefer was on the route of the Sapulpa & Interurban Railway (“S&I”) streetcar/interurban line connecting to Tulsa through Sapulpa; S&I subsequently went through a series of mergers and name changes, with only the Tulsa-to-Sapulpa portion continuing as the Tulsa-Sapulpa Union Railway.[8][9]

The Kiefer Searchlight was a weekly newspaper published in Kiefer that included local, state, and national news along with advertising. 123 issues from 1908 to 1911 are available online.[10]

In the 21st Century, Kiefer is mostly a commuter town, with 94.6 percent of workers living in town commuting to jobs elsewhere, primarily in Tulsa.[6] However, it is also headquarters for Bridge Crane Specialists, a company involved in the design, manufacturing, installation, and servicing of overhead and work station crane systems.[11]

Kiefer is the site of an extensive residence known to locals as the Kiefer Castle, having been built to resemble a fairy-tale castle.[12]

Geography

Kiefer is located in eastern Creek County at 35°56′38″N 96°3′34″W (35.943993, -96.059565).[13] U.S. Highway 75A passes through the center of the town, leading north 5 miles (8 km) to the center of Sapulpa, the county seat, and south 5 miles (8 km) to Mounds. Oklahoma State Highway 67 leads east from Kiefer 3 miles (5 km) to the U.S. Route 75 freeway in Glenpool. Via Highways 67 and 75 it is 18 miles (29 km) north to downtown Tulsa.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Kiefer has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.1 km²), of which 0.02 square miles (0.06 km²), or 1.04%, is water.[14]

Education

Kiefer has an elementary, middle and high school. The school teams are known as the Trojans. [6]

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1910	1,197		—
1920	1,663		38.9%
1930	606		−63.6%
1940	330		−45.5%
1950	275		−16.7%
1960	489		77.8%
1970	803		64.2%
1980	912		13.6%
1990	962		5.5%
2000	1,026		6.7%
2010	1,685		64.2%
2019 (est.)	2,020	[2]	19.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 1,026 people, 373 households, and 281 families residing in the town. The population density was 561.3 people per square mile (216.5/km²). There were 410 housing units at an average density of 224.3 per square mile (86.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 85.09% White, 0.19% African American, 9.45% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.58% from other races, and 4.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.12% of the population.

There were 373 households, out of which 38.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.7% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $34,844, and the median income for a family was $42,500. Males had a median income of $30,739 versus $22,386 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,479. About 7.8% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.4% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
5. CensusViewer: Population of the City of Kiefer, Oklahoma
6. "Kiefer". Linda D. Wilson, The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
7. Shirk, George H. Oklahoma Place Names, Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 1965, p.117.
8. "Tulsa streetcar and interurban lines in Google Maps". Michael Bates. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
9. "Tulsa Sapulpa Union Railway". American-Rails.com. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
10. "The Kiefer Searchlight". The Gateway to Oklahoma History. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
11. "Home Page". Bridge Crane Specialists. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
12. "SEEN: The Kiefer Castle". James Gibbard, Tulsa World, October 23, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
13. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
14. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Kiefer town, Oklahoma". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on March 9, 2015. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
15. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.

External links

• Kiefer Police Department