Corn is a town in Washita County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2020 census, Corn had a population of 592.
Geography
Corn is located 13 miles northeast of Cordell in west-central Oklahoma.
The U.S. Census Bureau, reports that the town has a total area of , all land.
History
Origins of the town name
The word itself is a German word translated in English as 'grain'. Several sources confirm that the town settled by German immigrants received its name because its first post office was located in (or near) a corn field.
Founding and early years
The town of Corn, or Korn—as it was spelled at that time—was originally settled by German-speaking Russian Mennonites.
These Mennonite homesteaders brought with them a particular variety of winter wheat known as "Turkey Red", which grew particularly well in the western Oklahoma soil. In 1894, Peter Bergman donated part of his land to establish a place of worship. A rough Mennonite church was then built; a dugout with a low sloping roof and sides made of sod. Church benches were made from local Cottonwood trees. Between 1893 and 1920, a total of eight Mennonite churches were established within an eight-mile radius of the town. Not only did the town Americanize its name from Korn to Corn during this time, but the nearby Cordell Christian College closed and a German-language newspaper, the , ceased operation after threats from the Knights of Liberty.
Education
A private Christian academy, under the name , was established by the Mennonite Brethren Church as a Bible and language school in 1902. Now known as Corn Bible Academy, it has continuously educated students into the 21st century As of 2016, it was serving grades 7–12. The dissolution was approved and the nearby Cordell schools annexed the Washita Heights district.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Corn had a population of 592. The median age was 55.7 years. 18.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 37.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 78.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 73.5 males age 18 and over.
There were 176 households in Corn, of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 55.7% were married-couple households, 14.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| White || 504 || 85.1%
|-
| Black or African American || 6 || 1.0%
|-
| American Indian and Alaska Native || 6 || 1.0%
|-
| Asian || 3 || 0.5%
|-
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 0 || 0.0%
|-
| Some other race || 18 || 3.0%
|-
| Two or more races || 55 || 9.3%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 65 || 11.0%
|}
2010 census
As of 2010, the Census Bureau reported 503 people, 188 households and 118 family households in the town. 93.6% of its population was white. 42.7% were male and 57.3% were female. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.86 persons. The percent of the population 18 years and older was 84.9%, or 427 persons, while 37.8%, or 190 persons, were 65 years and older. The median age was 53.6 years.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 591 people, 198 households, and 136 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 226 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 91.71% European American, 0.34% African American, 1.86% Native American, 2.88% from other races, and 3.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.57% of the population.
There were 198 households, out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.1% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.9% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 15.2% from 45 to 64, and 33.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 78.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,154, and the median income for a family was $33,281. Males had a median income of $23,750 compared o $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,632. About 14.4% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 2.4% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Agriculture has been a primary base for Corn and the surrounding county.