I-40 ruined kicks at Canute

Canute, Okla., is on Old U.S. Highway 66 in Washita County, in the West Central part of the state. Rock Island Railroad used to run through the town. Not too many small towns can lay claim to being part of two songs, even though Canute is never mentioned in either one.

The Rock Island Line

Well, the Rock Island Line she's a mighty good road
Rock Island Line it's the road to ride
Rock Island Line it's a mighty good road
Well if you ride it you got to ride it like you find it
Get your ticket at the station for the Rock Island Line.

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&rlz=1C1NHXL_enUS698US698&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=lyrics%20rock%20island%20line

And, “Get your kicks on Route 66.”

When Interstate 40 came through that part of Oklahoma in 1970, highway planners gave Canute an exit, but it was hardly the same as traffic having to come through town.

Canute’s 2010 population was 541. The largest-ever population was 676 in 1980, 10 years after the interstate bypassed the town.

Demographics from the 2000 census of 424 people show 88.36% White, 7.63% Hispanic or Latino, 1.91% Native American, 0.57% African-American and 7.25% from Other Races.

Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base was 15 miles southeast of Canute, but the aircraft and people went somewhere else in the 1980s.

Estimated median household income in Canute is around $8,000 more than Oklahoma’s average, but estimated house or condo value is around $50,000 less. So says http://www.city-data.com/city/Canute-Oklahoma.html

Here is an overview of the Foss-Canute area: http://www.legendsofamerica.com/ok-foss.html