The City of Guymon, Oklahoma serves as the seat of Texas County, Oklahoma. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 10,472.

Geography

Located on the High Plains of the central Oklahoma Panhandle Guymon sits 105 miles (169 kilometers) north of Amarillo, Texas and 100 miles (161 kilometers west-northwest of Woodward, Oklahoma. Optima National Wildlife Refuge and Optima Lake lie roughly 16 miles to the east along the North Canadian River .

Guymon is located at 36°41'7" North, 101°28'46" West (36.685383, -101.479582)¹ and sits at an elevation of 3,126 feet (953 meters).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.0 km² (7.3 mi²). 18.9 km² (7.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.27% water.

History

In the 1890s, Edward T. “E.T.” Guymon purchased a section of land west of the Beaver River. The site grew very rapidly after the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway began to pass through it after 1901. The town, first named “Sanford,” was later renamed “Guymon” by railroad officials in order to avoid confusion with the town of Stratford, Texas, which was further down the line. Guymon incorporated in 1905.

The Pioneer Days Celebration and Rodeo has offered tributes to the community’s pioneer spirit every May since the 1950s.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 10,472 people, 3,651 households, and 2,632 families residing in the city. The population density is 553.1/km² (1,433.2/mi²). There are 3,941 housing units at an average density of 208.2/km² (539.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 70.44% White, 0.84% African American, 1.32% Native American, 0.85% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 23.46% from other races, and 2.92% from two or more races. 38.37% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 3,651 households out of which 39.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% are married couples living together, 8.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% are non-families. 21.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.82 and the average family size is 3.26.

In the city the population is spread out with 29.1% under the age of 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 30 years. For every 100 females there are 106.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 107.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $37,333, and the median income for a family is $44,841. Males have a median income of $26,162 versus $20,450 for females. The per capita income for the city is $15,682. 14.3% of the population and 10.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 18.7% of those under the age of 18 and 5.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Economy

Guymon serves as a trade center for a wide wheat, livestock, and dairy area. A United States soil conservation station sits nearby. The city has oil and gas wells. Manufactures include agricultural tillage tools, pressure tanks, printing, and formula feeds. The hamlet of Goodwell, Oklahoma, home of Oklahoma Panhandle State University, lies 11 miles to the southwest. The city once had scheduled air service.

External links

City of Guymon

Guymon Daily Herald

Pioneer Days Rodeo