Sweetwater, Oklahoma

Sweetwater is a town in Beckham and Roger Mills Counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It was incorporated in 1998.[3] The population was 102 at the time of the 2020 census,[4] an increase of 17.2% over the 87 reported in the 2010 census.[5]

Sweetwater, Oklahoma
Town
Looking east on Oklahoma State Highway 152
Looking east on Oklahoma State Highway 152
Location in Beckham County and the state of Oklahoma
Location in Beckham County and the state of Oklahoma
Coordinates: 35°25′20″N 99°54′42″W
CountryUnited States
StateOklahoma
CountyBeckham (also in Roger Mills)
Area
[1]
 • Total15.87 sq mi (41.11 km2)
 • Land15.86 sq mi (41.07 km2)
 • Water0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2)
Elevation
[2]
2,172 ft (662 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total102
 • Density6.43/sq mi (2.48/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
73666
FIPS code40-71900
GNIS feature ID2413357[2]

History

Named for nearby Sweetwater Creek, the town is at the junction of State Highway 30 and State Highway 152. Sweetwater originated around the time of the Cheyenne-Arapaho land opening in 1892. A post office for Sweetwater was established September 27, 1894 (current zip code 73666). By 1910, the community had an estimated population of 50, two general stores, a dry goods–grocery store, a cotton gin, and a fuel company. The residents expected the construction of a railroad through the area, but none was built, which limited further growth. The town did expand to about 100 people around the time of World War I, based on being an agricultural service center for the surrounding township, and the postmaster estimated 150 in the 1930s. However, the population started a decline even before World War II, as improved roads and automobile transportation carried business south to Erick or east to Elk City.[6]

On May 5, 2007, a tornado, rated EF3 on the enhanced Fujita scale, traveled on a path around 100 to 150 yards (91 to 137 m) wide and 7.5 miles (12.1 km) long. It began about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) south of Sweetwater and ended roughly 5 miles (8 km) north of Sweetwater, following State Highway 30. EF3 wind speeds range from 136 to 165 miles per hour (219 to 266 km/h). It severely damaged several buildings in the town, including the church and high school, and destroyed eight homes.[7][8]


Education

The Sweetwater Public School District is one of the smallest public school districts in Oklahoma. For 2007, it tied with Boley for the smallest high school with 15 students. For a combined district, K-12, Sweetwater finished third behind Boley (51) and Clarita (58), with 60 students.[9]

Transportation

Oklahoma State Highway 6 and 152 run concurrently east-west through the town.[10] Oklahoma State Highway 30 runs north-south through town.[10] The Texas border is just to the west.[10]

Hobart Regional Airport (KHBR, or FAA ID: HBR) is about 74 miles southeast.[11][12] It features two paved runways, the largest 5507’ by 100’.[11]

The nearest major airport to Sweetwater with commercial connections is Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport, about 125 miles to the west.[13]

References
  1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Sweetwater, Oklahoma
  3. "Boundary Changes". Geographic Change Notes: Oklahoma. Population Division, United States Census Bureau. May 19, 2006. Archived from the original on August 6, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
  4. "Sweetwater (town), Oklahoma". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  5. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Sweetwater town, Oklahoma". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  6. "Sweetwater". Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  7. May 5, 2007 Sweetwater, Oklahoma Tornado Rated As EF3 at the National Weather Center (NOAA)
  8. Second wave of tornadoes rakes Plains - CNN
  9. School District Database at the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) Archived 2007-08-02 at the Wayback Machine
  10. "Sweetwater, OK". Google Maps. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  11. "Hobart Regional Airport". AirNav.com. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  12. "Hobart Regional Airport to Sweetwater, Oklahoma". Google Maps. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  13. "Major airports near Sweetwater, Oklahoma". travelmath.com. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
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