Gene Autry, Oklahoma

Gene Autry... Is still there. It has at least one store still. It is still a community, but may have been absorbed by Ardmore, Springer, and Dickson as far as postal service, schools, and law enforcement. There is also a Gene Autry Museum.
Gene Autry (Berwin & formerly Dresden)... Is in Carter County, north-east of Ardmore and it is located west by southwest of the Washita River. Dresden's name changed to Berwin in Sept. 1887, and the name changed to Gene Autry, Jan. 1, 1942. The name Berwin comes from Berwin, Pennsylvania.
Gene Autry is mostly north of Ardmore and since Madill is approximately 26 miles east of Ardmore the town would be north & west of Madill. Gene Autry still has its Post office (Zip 73436). Although the "Berwin" school is closed, most of the students now attend the Springer school west of Gene Autry. Some students went to Dickson which is about 9 miles east of Ardmore and south by southeast of Gene Autry. (Click photo to view large view of Gene Autry's old school, Berwin.)

Gene Autry has at least two stores now and, many other new features. The main street of Gene Autry is still an appendage to Hwy 53 down to the south edge of the town where it comes in contact with the railroad, yet Highway 53 itself, continues on east and crosses the Washita River, then on over to intersect with Highway 177 which goes south to Dickson & north to Sulphur.

After the Ardmore Airforce Base was closed, the city of Ardmore acquired the property and are using it as the "Ardmore Industrial Air Park." Many, large diversified industries are located there. The Ardmore Industrial Air Park is, in fact, regarded as a part of Ardmore and the property is within the city limits of Ardmore. This annexation was done by use of a quirk in the Oklahoma law that permitted Ardmore to annex property all along the railroad line.

Although Gene Autry is virtually on the west side of the railroad line, it is not a part of Ardmore. Ardmore has no control over Gene Autry. The Gene Autry Museum is located in the old Berwin school building. (as noted before, the school at Gene Autry never changed its name to Gene Autry.