How Oklahoma Claimed Its Panhandle
The shape of Oklahoma is quite unusual. It is an uneven square with a
shaky legal status. Bootleggers in the region operated with impunity. They founded Beer City, a sanctuary of brothels and saloons. Finally, in 1890, Oklahoma Territory incorporated the Panhandle, and this rectangle became part of Oklahoma in 1907. Settlers could now claim their land under the Homestead
rectangular parcel of land jutting from the map’s left side, giving the state a saucepan- like shape. This parcel of land is thus called the Panhandle. Despite its unassuming landscape, it has one of the most fascinating histories of any region in America.
It was owned or occupied by Native tribes, Spain, and Mexico until the Republic of Texas claimed it in 1845, when Texas became a state. Even though Texas was a slave state, the Panhandle was above the line created by the Missouri Compromise, meaning states below 36 degrees 30 minutes north latitude were “slave states,” whereas those above weren’t. So, Texas relinquished its claim on the Panhandle. It was no longer part of any state. The federal government designated the nascent Panhandle as the Public Land Strip, subject to squatter’s rights. Settlers built towns and defended their own communities. These towns were rife with outlaws who took advantage of the
Act, allowing them to mortgage their property to invest in farming equipment. Land developers built railroads, and the area’s population grew. Unfortunately, the Panhandle was the epicenter of the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. Agriculture crumbled, and people left. The Panhandle’s population still hasn’t recovered: Less than 1% of the state’s population lives there. Today, ghost towns populate the Panhandle’s expansive horizon. Beer City has since become a wheat field, but some brave tourists still visit this narrow patch of land, keen on seeing its many abandoned places.
HOW FREDERIC J. BAUR MADE PRINGLES A HOUSEHOLD NAME
The Pringles can is both iconic and comedic. Its distinctive long cylindrical shape protects the stackable chips and gets many a hand almost stuck. But did you know this packaging has a rich history that goes back half a century? In 1966, Procter and Gamble tasked a food storage technician, Frederic J. Baur, with developing a revolutionary container for a new potato chip. Baur, who held a Ph.D. in organic chemistry, set out to create a packaging solution that would protect these new, uniquely shaped chips, Pringles. According to Baur’s son, Larry, his dad was determined to design a container that not only served a practical purpose but also stood out on the shelves of supermarkets. In an interview with NPR,
Larry shares what his dad told him, “‘I can’t stand greasy, broken chips.’” This desire fueled him to create packaging that has still not been replicated. Baur said of his father, “He was just so enthusiastic about making something that would be on the cutting edge of science and technology.” He certainly succeeded. The cylindrical shape of the tube carefully protects the saddle-shaped chips from breaking. The resealable lid was another key innovation, allowing consumers to enjoy portions and save the rest for later without compromising any freshness. This innovation took only two short years, debuting on shelves in 1968. The can turned Pringles into a household name. In 2023, the chips generated
$2.76 billion of annual net sales worldwide. Baur was so proud of his creation that when he died in 2008, he requested that some of his ashes be buried in a Pringles can. As we continue to enjoy the crunch of these fresh chips, it’s worth taking a moment to marvel at this history of creativity behind the can that has become a snacking phenomenon worldwide. Thanks, Frederic J. Baur!
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