Kenton, Oklahoma

Kenton is a census designated place (CDP) in Cimarron County, Oklahoma, United States.[1] Kenton is the westernmost town in Oklahoma.[2] From Kenton, it is approximately 155 miles (249 km) south to Amarillo, Texas, 237 miles (381 km) northwest to Colorado Springs, Colorado, 306 miles (492 km) northwest to Denver, Colorado, 314 miles (505 km) southwest to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and 361 miles (581 km) southeast to Oklahoma City, the nearest major population centers.

Kenton, Oklahoma
CDP
Location in Cimarron County and the state of Oklahoma
Coordinates: 36°54′11″N 102°57′48″W
CountryUnited States
StateOklahoma
CountyCimarron
Area
 • Total0.71 sq mi (1.85 km2)
 • Land0.71 sq mi (1.85 km2)
 • Water0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation
4,330 ft (1,320 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total17
 • Density24/sq mi (9.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP codes
73946
Area code(s)580
FIPS code40-39400
GNIS feature ID1094330

Kenton had 17 residents at the 2010 census.[3] Kenton, which lies in the Cimarron River valley, is just south of Black Mesa, the highest point in Oklahoma, and serves as an unofficial staging point for visitors to the site.[4] The east end of the mesa features dinosaur tracks which have been preserved in a sandstone strata next to Carrizo Creek.[5] Black Mesa State Park, which contains Lake Carl Etling, is to the southeast.[6] The Preston Monument, at the tripoint of Colorado, New Mexico and Oklahoma, is about 10.1 driving miles north-northwest.[7] Corrizo Canyon, about 22 miles north inside Colorado,[8] is a small gorge in the Comanche National Grassland, graced by juniper and cottonwood trees in which American Indian petroglyphs can be found along the walls.[9]

History

The town originated with Carizzo, later called Florence, one of the few settlements in the pre-statehood Oklahoma Panhandle. When a nephew of P.T. Barnum by the name of Fairchild B. Drew became postmaster of the place, he moved the post office a bit to the east and changed the name to Kenton[10] in 1893. At the time Oklahoma became a state (on November 16, 1907), it served as the temporary county seat for Cimarron County. The building now known as "The Merc" served as the temporary courthouse and held the county records. The citizens of the county voted to move the seat on June 11, 1908 to Boise City soon after statehood.[11] Kentonites did not want to give up the records, so a group of people from Boise City confiscated the documents before the end of a 30-day waiting period.[11] This started a local legend that Boise City stole the courthouse.[11]

During its heyday, Kenton had two car dealerships, a motel, a bank, and two general stores.

Despite threats of closure over the years,[2] Kenton still has a post office as of January 2021.[12]

Time zone

Kenton is the only Oklahoma community that observes Mountain Time,[11] reportedly because most of the people who interact with the town are from New Mexico or Colorado.[2] This is despite the fact that officially, the time zone only changes west of the Oklahoma/New Mexico state line.[11] To avoid confusion, "Mountain Time" is often added when giving the time to visitors. Posted business hours all end with "MT" or "MST" to specify Mountain Time.

Geography

Kenton lies in the northwest corner of Cimarron County, approximately 3 miles (5 km) east of the New Mexico state line and 6 miles (10 km) south of the Colorado state line. It is located on the south side of the Cimarron River in the Cimarron River valley.

State Highway 325 serves the community.

Kenton experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) with cool, dry winters and very hot, wetter summers.

Climate data for Kenton, Oklahoma (Elevation 4,330ft)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 83
(28)		 86
(30)		 89
(32)		 97
(36)		 102
(39)		 109
(43)		 108
(42)		 108
(42)		 107
(42)		 99
(37)		 89
(32)		 84
(29)		 109
(43)
Average high °F (°C) 50.4
(10.2)		 55.1
(12.8)		 62.3
(16.8)		 70.3
(21.3)		 78.8
(26.0)		 88.6
(31.4)		 92.6
(33.7)		 89.9
(32.2)		 83.8
(28.8)		 73.5
(23.1)		 59.7
(15.4)		 51.3
(10.7)		 71.4
(21.9)
Average low °F (°C) 19.7
(−6.8)		 23.8
(−4.6)		 31.0
(−0.6)		 38.7
(3.7)		 48.5
(9.2)		 57.8
(14.3)		 63.1
(17.3)		 61.5
(16.4)		 53.7
(12.1)		 40.6
(4.8)		 29.0
(−1.7)		 21.6
(−5.8)		 40.8
(4.9)
Record low °F (°C) −23
(−31)		 −19
(−28)		 −18
(−28)		 13
(−11)		 27
(−3)		 39
(4)		 47
(8)		 44
(7)		 27
(−3)		 6
(−14)		 −15
(−26)		 −17
(−27)		 −23
(−31)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.40
(10)		 0.33
(8.4)		 0.96
(24)		 1.48
(38)		 2.47
(63)		 2.18
(55)		 3.10
(79)		 2.67
(68)		 1.58
(40)		 0.99
(25)		 0.67
(17)		 0.35
(8.9)		 17.18
(436.3)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 4.9
(12)		 3.6
(9.1)		 6.4
(16)		 1.3
(3.3)		 0.2
(0.51)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0.2
(0.51)		 0.5
(1.3)		 2.8
(7.1)		 4.1
(10)		 24
(59.82)
Source: NOAA http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim20/ok/344766.pdf. Retrieved 20 February 2011.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
193096[11]—
1960100[13]—
201017—

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 17 people, 9 households, and 6 families residing in the CDP. The racial makeup of the city was 100.0% White. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.8% of the population.[14]

There were 9 households, out of which 11.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.7% were married couples living together, and 33.3% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.89 and the average family size was 2.33.[14]

In the CDP the population was spread out, with 11.8% under the age of 18, 0.0% from 18 to 24, 17.6% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 41.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 58.8 years. For every 100 females there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.[15]

According to the 2013 American Community Survey, the median income for a household in the CDP was $18,750, and the median income for a family could not be computed because there were not enough sample observations. Median income for males and females could not be computed because there were not enough sample observations. The per capita income for the CDP was $8,320. About 41.7% of families and 68.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 100.0% of those under age 18. The percentage of those age 65 or over living in poverty could not be computed because there were not enough sample observations.[16]

  • Sign in Kenton showing Mountain Time, March 2009
  • Kenton Merc as of November 2011
  • Kenton post office, November 2011
  • Kenton, Oklahoma, looking west, March 2009
  • Kenton Merc, looking west, March 2009
  • Ruins in Kenton, March 2009

Notable person
  • Foy Vance, a popular Northern Irish singer-songwriter, spent his early childhood living in Kenton during the late 1970s. His father, Hugh Bailie Vance, was a traveling preacher in the evangelical Churches of Christ.[17]

Museum

The town is home to the Kenton Museum, which is housed in a 1902 native rock former residence. The varied collection includes artifacts that helped settle No Man's Land, and other period photos and antiques.[18]

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Kenton, Oklahoma
  2. "The Last of Kenton". Sheilah Bright, This Land Press, September 19, 2012. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  3. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Kenton CDP, Oklahoma". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 20, 2015. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  4. Tom Lewis and Sara Jane Richter. "Black Mesa." Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Accessed August 20, 2013.
  5. "Dinosaur Tracks". TravelOK.com. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  6. "Kenton, Oklahoma". Google Maps. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  7. "Preston Monument to Kenton, Oklahoma". Google Maps. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  8. "Kenton, Oklahoma to Carrizo Canyon, Colorado". Google Maps. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  9. "Carrizo Canyon Picnic Area". USDA Forest Service. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  10. "Oklahoma Panhandle: Badmen in No Man's Land". HistoryNet.com. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  11. Young, Norma Gene. "Cimarron County," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Oklahoma Historical Society, Accessed June 30, 2015.
  12. "Find Locations (using Kenton, Oklahoma as the search term)". U.S. Postal Service. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  13. "Oklahoma". World Book Encyclopedia. 13. Chicago, IL: Field Enterprises Educational Corporation. 1961. p. 545.
  14. U.S. Census Bureau. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 - 2010 Demographic Profile Data - Kenton CDP, Oklahoma," Archived 2020-02-13 at Archive.today American Fact Finder, Accessed June 30, 2015.
  15. U.S. Census Bureau. "QT-P1 Age Groups and Sex: 2010 - 2010 Census Summary File 1 - Kenton CDP, Oklahoma," Archived 2020-02-13 at Archive.today American Fact Finder, Accessed June 30, 2015.
  16. U.S. Census Bureau. "DP03 Selected Economic Characteristics - 2009-2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates - Kenton CDP, Oklahoma," Archived 2020-02-13 at Archive.today American Fact Finder, Accessed June 30, 2015.
  17. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/imported/son-of-a-preacherman-28241730.html
  18. "Kenton Museum". TravelOK.com. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
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