Маклауд, Оклахома: История и современность города

McLoud is a city in northwestern Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, United States, and is part of the Oklahoma City Consolidated Metropolitan Area. The population was 4,044 at the 2010 census, a 14.0 percent increase from the figure of 3,548 in 2000. The city was founded in 1895 and named for John W. McLoud, attorney for the Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad.

Early day McLoud was known for manufacturing and selling whiskey to whites and American Indians in dry Indian Territory. Located on the North Canadian River, the original town was destroyed in a flood and was rebuilt on higher ground one mile south. The town was an agricultural center for much of its history. By the start of the 21st Century, it had become a bedroom community, with many of its residents commuting to work in other towns. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 18.4 square miles (48 km2), of which 18.3 square miles (47 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0 km2) (0.43%) is water. McLoud is located in the Crosstimbers ecoregion and the Frontier Country tourism region.

The city of McLoud is served by Gordon Cooper Vo Tech in Shawnee.

McLoud Public Schools consists of two campus sites. The McLoud Elementary campus consists of eight buildings, including the Elementary building(old intermediate), the Ola Barnett building (future board offices),the PreK building(old 2nd grade building),and the Early Childhood Center (Pre K thru 1st grade). The new Intermediate campus is located south of the Junior High and High School. Also at the Elementary campus are the Elementary Gymnasium, the Elementary Multi Media Center, and the Elementary SafeRoom, which provides tornado protection for the 1,000+ students, staff, and faculty. The Secondary campus consists of ten buildings. These include McLoud Junior High School (7th & 8th grade) and High School East and West buildings (9th 12th grades) Also included on the Secondary campus are the Secondary cafeteria, the Secondary Multimedia Center, the Business Building (now the indoor archery range), a VoAg Building and VoAg Barn, the Home Economics Building, the Fine Arts Building (Band and Drama), and the Secondary SafeRoom which provides the entire secondary campus with tornado protection. McLoud Schools offers students access to 15 different computer labs across the District. There are four basketball gyms, baseball, football, soccer, and softball fields. McLoud Schools also has indoor practice facilities for their baseball, softball, and wrestling programs, as well as the football field house.

McLoud is served by the McLoud Public Library, which is part of the Pioneer Library System. The State Librarian of California from 1951 to 1972, Carma Leigh, was born near McLoud.

As the "Blackberry Capital of the World", McLoud is home to the annual Blackberry Festival sponsored by the McLoud Chamber of Commerce. The festival began in the 1940s as a celebration of the end of the blackberry harvest. Although there is no longer large scale commercial blackberry farming in McLoud, blackberries still grow wild in the area. Another local favorite is the Austin poker tournament held in conjunction with the festival. The festival is held the first weekend in July at venues throughout the community. The festivities now include a parade, carnival, car show, poker run, baking contest, and pageant. Fireworks and music are also a major part of the activities for the weekend.