The few inhabitants that remain are friendly and proud of their town's history, and old buildings such as the Coppedge Drug Store and the Gimmel Gas Station are wonderful historic structures. Today, the town is an authentic reflection of its thriving past, with historic buildings and original Route 66 concrete running down its Main Street. The dwindling of the oil reserves coupled with the effects of the Great Depression caused the town to suffer, and by 1940 only 876 residents remained. However, it was the alignment of Route 66 through the center of town in 1927 (the town's first paved road) that brought an unprecedented number of travelers to the area. Oil was found near Depew in 1911, and the town’s population increased rapidly. A post office was established and the community named "Depew" after Chauncy M. Malley, a Bristow citizen, heard of prime land available in the area perfect for commercial use: Malley proceeded to buy the property for $10 an acre. The town proper was established when W.F. The railroad was built through the area in 1898 and a small community called Hall developed near the tracks. But the historic architecture and abandoned businesses that line the town's Main Street attest to its prosperous past. This picturesque small hamlet is not technically a ghost town: Depew still supports approximately 550 residents.
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