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Gene Autry is a town in Carter County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 158 as of the 2010 census, up from 99 in 2000. It is part of the Ardmore, Oklahoma Micropolitan Statistical Area. [edit] 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. Approximately 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 8 days before the name change ceremony, but were dashed 21 days after the ceremony with the attack on Pearl Harbor.[1] Autry joined the military in 1942.[1] He sold the ranch after the war.[1] The ranch is now all but gone.[1] As of December 2017 Barbie Morgan was elected mayor, while former fire chief David Colaw was elected trustee and Robert Gulio was re-elected as trustee. The current town leadership is Mayor Barbie Morgan, Vice-Mayor David Colaw, and Town Councilor Tammy Byars. [edit] Research Tips
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