Blanchard, Oklahoma is a small city located in Township 8 North, Range 4 West, and Section 30 in northwestern McClain County. It was originally organized by the Canadian Valley Construction Company, which planned to build a railroad. However, the company went bankrupt and the railroad came under the control of the Oklahoma Central Railroad, which also suffered financial problems. The Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroads took over and completed the line.
Downtown Blanchard consists of a group of streets approximately one square mile in the shape of a grid, located on top of a gentle hill surrounded by new agricultural and development areas within a radius of approximately 4 miles (6 km) from the center. Central Blanchard is made up of houses (approximately half of them built before 1960), several churches, and the historic center of Main Street. The mall has antique stores, restaurants, municipal services, a center for the elderly and a gym. On the outskirts of the city center are schools, businesses and modern housing subdivisions. These subdivisions tend to be low-density (typically, lots of one to 5 acres (20,000 m²)).
The average age is 39.8 years (37.2 in Oklahoma). Blanchard has four high schools with an average enrollment (200) of approximately 1,460 students. The elementary school is recently built and houses preschool through second grade. There is also a middle school for grades three through five and a high school for grades six through eight. Brady Barnes is the superintendent of Blanchard Public Schools.
Blanchard is serviced by the Blanchard Public Library, which is part of the Pioneer Library System that encompasses many of the Oklahoma City suburbs. There are currently two parks in Blanchard, as well as a sports stadium and three nearby golf courses. The infrastructure development in Blanchard has been greatly impacted by politics in various ways. The Oklahoma Congressional Delegation, Oklahoma State Executives, Oklahoma State Legislature, Oklahoma Statewide Electoral Measures, and Oklahoma Courts have all had an effect on infrastructure development in this small city. In addition to politics, past wildfires have also had an effect on infrastructure in Blanchard. Wildfires can cause significant damage to buildings and other structures, leading to costly repairs or even complete replacement.
Furthermore, current risks posed by wildfires must be taken into account when planning infrastructure projects in order to ensure that they are built to withstand potential fires. Finally, future projections must be considered when planning infrastructure projects in Blanchard. Climate change is expected to lead to more frequent and intense wildfires in the region, so it is important for infrastructure projects to be designed with this in mind. By taking into account past wildfires, current risks posed by wildfires, and future projections related to climate change, infrastructure projects can be designed to withstand potential disasters. In conclusion, it is clear that politics and wildfires have had a major impact on infrastructure development in Blanchard, Oklahoma. It is essential that these factors are taken into account when planning any infrastructure projects in order to ensure that they are built to withstand potential disasters.
