Checotah, Oklahoma: Difference between revisions
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{{Use American English|date=June 2025}} | |||
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2018}} | {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2018}} | ||
{{Infobox settlement | {{Infobox settlement | ||
|official_name = Checotah, Oklahoma | |official_name = Checotah, Oklahoma | ||
|settlement_type = | |settlement_type = City | ||
|nicknames = Steer Wrestling Capital of the World | |nicknames = "Steer Wrestling Capital of the World"<br/>"Gem of the Prairie" | ||
|motto = | |motto = | ||
| Line 16: | Line 17: | ||
|image_map = OKMap-doton-Checotah.PNG | |image_map = OKMap-doton-Checotah.PNG | ||
|mapsize = 250x200px | |mapsize = 250x200px | ||
|map_caption = Location | |map_caption = Location in Oklahoma | ||
|image_map1 = | |image_map1 = | ||
|mapsize1 = | |mapsize1 = | ||
| Line 40: | Line 41: | ||
<!-- Area --> | <!-- Area --> | ||
|unit_pref | |unit_pref = Imperial | ||
|area_footnotes = <ref name=" | |area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2024">{{cite web |title=2024 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Oklahoma|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_gaz_place_40.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=June 25, 2025}}</ref> | ||
|area_total_km2 = 23.39 | |area_total_km2 = 23.39 | ||
|area_land_km2 = 23.22 | |area_land_km2 = 23.22 | ||
| Line 52: | Line 52: | ||
<!-- Population --> | <!-- Population --> | ||
|population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]] | |population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]] | ||
|population_footnotes = | |population_footnotes = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P1?q=&g=160XX00US4013650| title=P1. Race – Checotah city, Oklahoma: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=June 25, 2025}}</ref> | ||
|population_total = 3018 | |population_total = 3018 | ||
|pop_est_as_of = | |||
|pop_est_footnotes = | |||
|population_est = | |||
|population_density_km2 = 129.97 | |population_density_km2 = 129.97 | ||
|population_density_sq_mi = 336.64 | |population_density_sq_mi = 336.64 | ||
| Line 65: | Line 68: | ||
|elevation_ft = 620 | |elevation_ft = 620 | ||
|coordinates = {{coord|35|28|55|N|95|31|21|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}} | |coordinates = {{coord|35|28|55|N|95|31|21|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}} | ||
|postal_code_type = [[ZIP | |postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]] | ||
|postal_code = 74426 | |postal_code = 74426 | ||
| | |area_codes = [[area codes 539 and 918|539/918]] | ||
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]] | |blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]] | ||
|blank_info = 40-13650<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> | |blank_info = 40-13650<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> | ||
|blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID | |blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID | ||
|blank1_info = 2409438<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2409438}}</ref> | |blank1_info = 2409438<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2409438}}</ref> | ||
|website = {{URL| | |website = {{URL|www.cityofchecotah.com}} | ||
|footnotes = | |footnotes = | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Checotah''' is a | '''Checotah''' is a city in [[McIntosh County, Oklahoma]], United States. It was named for [[Samuel Checote]], the first chief of the [[Creek Nation]] elected after the [[American Civil War|Civil War]].<ref>[http://digital.library.okstate.edu/Chronicles/v016/v016p401.html Chronicles of Oklahoma] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805022203/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/Chronicles/v016/v016p401.html |date=August 5, 2011 }} chapter on Chief Checote. Accessed September 24, 2011.</ref> Its population was 3,018 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="Census 2020"/> down from 3,335 in [[2010 United States census|2010]].<ref>[http://censusviewer.com/city/OK/Checotah CensusViewer:Checotah, Oklahoma Population.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615141521/http://censusviewer.com/city/OK/Checotah |date=June 15, 2013 }} Retrieved October 10, 2013.</ref> | ||
Checotah is home to numerous antique malls, a Civil War battle site, and a downtown historic district. | Checotah is home to numerous antique malls, a Civil War battle site, and a downtown historic district. Checotah claims to be the [[steer wrestling]] capital of the world.<ref>{{cite web|title=Checotah is Steer Wrestling Capital of the World|url=http://www.americanprofile.com/articles/checotah-is-steer-wrestling-capital-of-the-world/|work=American Profile|publisher=Publishing Group of America, Inc.|access-date=September 18, 2011|author=M. Bergstrom}}</ref> Early boosters called Checotah "The Gem of the Prairie".<ref name= "EOHC-Checotah">[http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CH011 Checotah Landmark Preservation Society, "Checotah." ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture''.] Accessed February 20, 2013.]</ref> | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
[[File:Checotah Oklahoma Circa 1900.jpg|upright|left|thumb|A street scene in Checotah around 1900]] | [[File:Checotah Oklahoma Circa 1900.jpg|upright|left|thumb|A street scene in Checotah around 1900]] | ||
The [[Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad]] (also known as the MKT or Katy) established a railhead on the old [[Texas Road]] in 1872 that became the site of present-day Checotah. Although it was named "Checote Switch" for [[Samuel Checote]], a later mapmaker spelled the name as Checotah. The town was chartered by the [[Creek Nation]] in 1893. The Dawes Commission held its first meeting here.<ref name= "EOHC-Checotah"/> | |||
Between 1907 and 1909, the people of Checotah were involved in a dispute with nearby [[Eufaula, Oklahoma|Eufaula]] known as the [[McIntosh County Seat War]]. After Checotah was designated as the new [[county seat]], the people of Eufaula refused to hand over the county records. Soon after, a group of heavily armed men from Checotah attempted to seize the records from the courthouse in Eufaula, but were beaten back and forced to surrender during the gunfight that followed. Eufaula was designated as the permanent seat of McIntosh County one year later.<ref name="Butler, pg. 65-73">{{cite book | last=Butler| first=Ken| title=More Oklahoma Renegades| publisher=Pelican Publishing| year=2007| isbn=978-1589804647}}</ref> | |||
Between 1907 and 1909, the people of Checotah were involved in a dispute with nearby [[Eufaula, Oklahoma|Eufaula]] known as the [[McIntosh County Seat War]]. After Checotah was designated as the new [[county seat]], the people of Eufaula refused to hand over the county records. Soon after, a group of heavily armed men from | |||
Checotah was on the route of the [[Jefferson Highway]] established in 1915, with that road running more than | Checotah was on the route of the [[Jefferson Highway]] established in 1915, with that road running more than {{convert|2300|mi|km|-1}} from [[Winnipeg, Manitoba]], to [[New Orleans, Louisiana]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.jeffersonhighwayinoklahoma.com/ |title=The Jefferson Highway Route in Oklahoma|publisher= Oklahoma Members of the Jefferson Highway Association|access-date=October 27, 2019}}</ref> | ||
==Geography== | ==Geography== | ||
Checotah is located at an elevation of {{convert|652|ft|m}} | Checotah is located in northeastern McIntosh County at an elevation of {{convert|652|ft|m}} northeast of the intersection of [[Interstate 40 in Oklahoma|Interstate 40]] and [[U.S. Route 69 in Oklahoma|U.S. Route 69]]. I-40 leads east {{convert|65|mi}} to [[Fort Smith, Arkansas]], and west {{convert|116|mi}} to [[Oklahoma City]], while US 69 leads north {{convert|22|mi}} to [[Muscogee, Oklahoma|Muscogee]] and south {{convert|13|mi}} to Eufaula. | ||
According to the [[ | According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|9.0|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|0.06|sqmi|km2}}, or 0.71%, are covered by water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2024"/> [[Eufaula Lake]], a reservoir on the [[Canadian River]], is the largest-capacity lake wholly within the state of Oklahoma and is {{convert|5|mi|0}} to the west of Checotah. | ||
==Demographics== | ==Demographics== | ||
| Line 134: | Line 133: | ||
==Notable people== | ==Notable people== | ||
* [[Paul H. Carr (sailor)|Paul H. Carr]], [[Silver Star]] recipient | * [[Paul H. Carr (sailor)|Paul H. Carr]], [[Silver Star]] recipient | ||
* [[Woody Crumbo]], Native American artist | * [[Woody Crumbo]], Native American artist; lived and worked in Checotah<ref>Hunt, David C. [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CR021 Crumbo, Woodrow Wilson (1912–1989)], ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'', Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved February 18, 2016.</ref> | ||
* [[Merle Haggard]]'s parents James Francis Haggard and Flossie Mae Harp | * [[Merle Haggard]]'s parents James Francis Haggard and Flossie Mae Harp | ||
* [[Jim G. Lucas]] (1914–1970), | * [[Jim G. Lucas]] (1914–1970), journalist and war correspondent, winner of Pulitzer Prize in Journalism<ref name= "EOHC-Checotah"/> | ||
* [[Mel McDaniel]], [[country music]]ian | * [[Mel McDaniel]], [[country music]]ian | ||
* [[Tracy Scroggins]], NFL [[linebacker]] | * [[Tracy Scroggins]], NFL [[linebacker]] | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
* | * {{Official website|www.cityofchecotah.com}} | ||
* [https://www.checotah.k12.ok.us/page/12135 Checotah High School] | * [https://www.checotah.k12.ok.us/page/12135 Checotah High School] | ||
* [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CH011 Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture – Checotah] | * [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CH011 Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture – Checotah] | ||
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[[Category:Cities in McIntosh County, Oklahoma]] | [[Category:Cities in McIntosh County, Oklahoma]] | ||
[[Category:Cities in Oklahoma]] | [[Category:Cities in Oklahoma]] | ||
[[Category:Muscogee | [[Category:Muscogee Nation]] | ||
Latest revision as of 23:33, 19 November 2025
Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Main otherScript error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for clobbered parameters".Template:Main other Checotah is a city in McIntosh County, Oklahoma, United States. It was named for Samuel Checote, the first chief of the Creek Nation elected after the Civil War.[1] Its population was 3,018 at the 2020 census,[2] down from 3,335 in 2010.[3]
Checotah is home to numerous antique malls, a Civil War battle site, and a downtown historic district. Checotah claims to be the steer wrestling capital of the world.[4] Early boosters called Checotah "The Gem of the Prairie".[5]
History
The Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad (also known as the MKT or Katy) established a railhead on the old Texas Road in 1872 that became the site of present-day Checotah. Although it was named "Checote Switch" for Samuel Checote, a later mapmaker spelled the name as Checotah. The town was chartered by the Creek Nation in 1893. The Dawes Commission held its first meeting here.[5]
Between 1907 and 1909, the people of Checotah were involved in a dispute with nearby Eufaula known as the McIntosh County Seat War. After Checotah was designated as the new county seat, the people of Eufaula refused to hand over the county records. Soon after, a group of heavily armed men from Checotah attempted to seize the records from the courthouse in Eufaula, but were beaten back and forced to surrender during the gunfight that followed. Eufaula was designated as the permanent seat of McIntosh County one year later.[6]
Checotah was on the route of the Jefferson Highway established in 1915, with that road running more than Template:Convert from Winnipeg, Manitoba, to New Orleans, Louisiana.[7]
Geography
Checotah is located in northeastern McIntosh County at an elevation of Template:Convert northeast of the intersection of Interstate 40 and U.S. Route 69. I-40 leads east Template:Convert to Fort Smith, Arkansas, and west Template:Convert to Oklahoma City, while US 69 leads north Template:Convert to Muscogee and south Template:Convert to Eufaula.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert, or 0.71%, are covered by water.[8] Eufaula Lake, a reservoir on the Canadian River, is the largest-capacity lake wholly within the state of Oklahoma and is Template:Convert to the west of Checotah.
Demographics
As of the census[9] of 2000, 3,481 people, 1,389 households, and 912 families were residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. The 1,576 housing units had an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 67.91% White, 6.92% African American, 15.91% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 8.53% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.29% of the population.
Of the 1,389 households, 31.5% had children under 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples living together, 17.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were not families. About 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.39, and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city, the age distribution was 26.1% under 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.7% who were 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 77.7 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 72.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,029, and for a family was $30,741. Males had a median income of $26,094 versus $17,298 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,921. About 16.1% of families and 20.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.4% of those under 18 and 7.6% of those 65 or over. The median house value is $50,500.
National Register of Historic Places
Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Checotah has multiple sites on the National Register of Historic Places listings in McIntosh County, Oklahoma, including the Checotah Business District (Gentry Ave between W 1st and W Main Sts., and Broadway Ave between Lafayette and Spaulding Aves), Checotah City Hall (201 N Broadway), Checotah MKT Depot (Paul Carr Dr.), the Methodist Episcopal Church (South) (419 W. Gentry St.), the Oklahoma Odd Fellows Home at Checotah (211 W North St.), and the Tabor House (631 W. Lafayette).
Honey Springs Battlefield
Checotah considers itself the host of the Honey Springs Battlefield,[10] which is 4.5 miles (7.2 km) northeast of town.
Popular culture
- American Idol winner Carrie Underwood wrote a song on her album Some Hearts called "I Ain't in Checotah Anymore". It includes references to the local high-school team (Wildcats), Highways 69 and 40, the Okra Fest (no longer held),[11] and Eufaula Lake.
Notable people
- Paul H. Carr, Silver Star recipient
- Woody Crumbo, Native American artist; lived and worked in Checotah[12]
- Merle Haggard's parents James Francis Haggard and Flossie Mae Harp
- Jim G. Lucas (1914–1970), journalist and war correspondent, winner of Pulitzer Prize in Journalism[5]
- Mel McDaniel, country musician
- Tracy Scroggins, NFL linebacker
- Carrie Underwood, Grammy Award-winning country musician
References
- ↑ Chronicles of Oklahoma Template:Webarchive chapter on Chief Checote. Accessed September 24, 2011.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b c Checotah Landmark Preservation Society, "Checotah." Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Accessed February 20, 2013.]
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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- ↑ Hunt, David C. Crumbo, Woodrow Wilson (1912–1989), Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
External links
- Template:Official website
- Checotah High School
- Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture – Checotah