Gene Autry

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. Autry joined the military in 1942. He sold the ranch after the war. The ranch is now all but gone.

Geography

Gene Autry is located in northeastern Carter County and is bordered to the north by Murray County. A portion of the city of Ardmore, separate from the main part of the city, borders Gene Autry to the east and contains the Ardmore Municipal Airport. The center of Ardmore is southwest of Gene Autry by highways 53 and 77. The Chickasaw National Recreation Area is to the north. 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.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• ARDMORE HS
  High · Ardmore · 751 students · 19.3:1 ratio
• ARDMORE MS
  Middle · Ardmore · 498 students · 17.2:1 ratio
• DICKSON ES
  Elementary · Ardmore · 401 students · 22.3:1 ratio
• CHARLES EVANS ES
  Elementary · Ardmore · 398 students · 18.1:1 ratio
• DICKSON HS
  High · Ardmore · 370 students · 20.6:1 ratio
• WILL ROGERS ES
  Elementary · Ardmore · 352 students · 16:1 ratio
• DICKSON UPPER ES
  Elementary · Ardmore · 306 students · 18:1 ratio
• DICKSON MS
  Middle · Ardmore · 293 students · 22.5:1 ratio