Gene Autry is a town in Carter County, Oklahoma, United States. Its population was 154 at the time of the 2020 census, down just slightly from the 158 reported in the 2010 census. It is part of the Ardmore, Oklahoma Micropolitan Statistical Area.
History
The town was originally named "Lou" by C.C. Henderson for his wife; the post office was established July 11, 1883. At the time of its founding, the community was located in Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation. On November 22, 1883, it was renamed "Dresden". The name was changed to "Berwyn" on September 1, 1887, after Berwyn, Pennsylvania, making the Oklahoma town one of several along the Santa Fe railroad line through the Territory (re)named for stations on the "Main Line" of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Finally, on November 16, 1941, it was renamed "Gene Autry" to honor the singer and motion picture star. Though Autry was born in Tioga, Texas, his family moved to Oklahoma while he was an infant. He was raised in the southern Oklahoma towns of Achille and Ravia. Autry had also worked as a telegraph operator near Berwyn. In 1939, he bought the Flying A Ranch on the west edge of Berwyn, and the town decided to honor him by changing its name. About 35,000 people attended the ceremonies broadcast live from the site on Autry's Melody Ranch radio show. Expectations that Autry would make his permanent home on the ranch were heightened when Autry's house in California burned down just eight days before the name change ceremony, but were dashed 21 days after the ceremony with the attack on Pearl Harbor.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which , or 1.72%, is covered by water. The town's area has expanded significantly to the north of its original location since the 2000 census, when it was , all land. The Washita River cuts across the northeast corner of the town, flowing southeast toward Lake Texoma on the Texas border.
Climate
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Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Gene Autry had a population of 154. The median age was 49.6 years. 14.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 26.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 103.1 males age 18 and over.
There were 62 households in Gene Autry, of which 37.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 40.3% were married-couple households, 25.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 17.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 16.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| White || 94 || 61.0%
|-
| Black or African American || 8 || 5.2%
|-
| American Indian and Alaska Native || 20 || 13.0%
|-
| Asian || 0 || 0.0%
|-
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 0 || 0.0%
|-
| Some other race || 15 || 9.7%
|-
| Two or more races || 17 || 11.0%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 10 || 6.5%
|}
2000 census
As of the 2000 census,