The Early History of Oakley
by Frank W. Blackmar (1912)
Oakley, an incorporated city of the third class in Logan county, is located in Oakley township, on the main line of the Union Pacific R. R.. and is the terminus of the Colby & Oakley branch of the same road. It is 22 miles northeast of Russell Springs, the county seat, and is surrounded by a rich agricultural district for which it is the receiving and distributing point. It is a well appointed little city with cement sidewalks, electric lights, ice plant, a commercial club, an opera house, a county high school, flour mill, steam laundry, bottling works, creamery, cold storage plant, 2 banks, a machine shop, a weekly newspaper (the Graphic), telegraph and express offices, and an international money order postoffice with one rural route. The population according to the census of 1910 was 681.
Geography
Oakley is located at 39°7'41N, 100°51'16W (39.128023, -100.854490). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.9 km² (1.9 mi²). None of the area is covered with water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,173 people, 904 households, and 603 families residing in the city. The population density was 443.9/km² (1,149.9/mi²). There were 1,009 housing units at an average density of 206.1/km² (533.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.59% White, 0.55% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.46% from other races, and 2.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.24% of the population.
There were 904 households out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 22.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,781, and the median income for a family was $41,066. Males had a median income of $30,179 versus $19,886 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,882. About 3.1% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.
Schools
Oakley public schools are organized under Unified School District USD 274, Oakley/Monument. Oakley also has a Catholic grade school operated by St. Joseph Parish. The mascot of Oakley High School is the Plainsman. The school's teams compete in football, golf, volleyball, track, cross country, basketball, and wrestling.
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