Shidler is a city in Osage County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 328 in the 2020 census, a decline from the figure of 441 recorded in 2010.
History
Shidler was founded in December 1921 and named for Eugene S. Shidler, a Pawhuska banker and rancher. The town grew rapidly to a population of approximately 5,000 due to the discovery of petroleum nearby (see Whizbang) and the arrival of the Osage Railway (one of the Muskogee Roads) in February 1922. In that year, Shidler had 19 oil-well supply businesses and six plants manufacturing gasoline. Shidler had a reputation for lawlessness, with bank and highway robberies common. By the late 1920s, the oil boom had subsided and Shidler began to lose population. Shidler's population in the 1930 census was 1,177 and the downward trend continued. Shidler today is a quiet farming and ranching community, although there is still some petroleum production in the area.
During World War II, citizens of Shidler actively lobbied to prevent the internment of the Yamamoto family from Shidler. Due to the efforts of U.S. Senator Elmer Thomas, the internment order was lifted.
Geography
Shidler is located northwest of Pawhuska, the seat of Osage County.
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2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Shidler had a population of 328. The median age was 41.0 years. 27.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.1 males age 18 and over.
0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 132 households in Shidler, of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 38.6% were married-couple households, 24.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
! Race !! Percent
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| White || 77.4%
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| Black or African American || 0.3%
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| American Indian and Alaska Native || 10.4%
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| Asian || 0%
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| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 0%
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| Some other race || 0%
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| Two or more races || 11.9%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 0.9%
|}
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 520 people, 231 households, and 148 families residing in the city. Fighting Tigers. The school has about 250 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The school brings in students from the surrounding towns of Grainola, Foraker, Webb City, Kaw City, and part of Burbank.