Beggs, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Beggs is a city in Okmulgee County
, Oklahoma
, United States
. The population was 1,364 at the 2000 census. Beggs was named for C.H. Beggs, vice president of the St. Louis-San Francisco (Frisco) Railway
.
and 4 miles east of U.S. Route 75
, a major national north/south artery. Alternate U.S. Route 75
, the only such bannered route stemming from U.S. 75, is a former alignment of the mainline highway prior to 1959, and travels from Highway 75 west to Beggs before turning north at that town and continuing to Sapulpa, Oklahoma
. The major east/west route through Beggs is Oklahoma State Highway 16.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.3 square miles (11.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,364 people, 538 households, and 363 families residing in the city. The population density
was 320.3 people per square mile (123.6/km²). There were 608 housing units at an average density of 142.8 per square mile (55.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 59.53% White, 21.70% African American, 9.75% Native American, 0.15% from other races
, and 8.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.25% of the population.
There were 538 households out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples
living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,063, and the median income for a family was $31,250. Males had a median income of $26,150 versus $22,143 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $12,191. About 16.9% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.1% of those under age 18 and 29.3% of those age 65 or over.
posthumous recipient of the Navy Cross
was born here in 1920.
Suzan Shown Harjo
, Native American advocate.
. In it, Confederate forces, having won the Civil War years earlier, are pitted against Union forces in World-War I-era combat on the North American continent, including in the Confederate state of Sequoyah (Oklahoma).
Okmulgee County, Oklahoma
Okmulgee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 39,685. Its county seat is Okmulgee.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,819 km²...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,364 at the 2000 census. Beggs was named for C.H. Beggs, vice president of the St. Louis-San Francisco (Frisco) Railway
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway
The St. Louis – San Francisco Railway , also known as the Frisco, was a railroad that operated in the Midwest and South Central U.S. from 1876 to 1980.-History:...
.
Geography
Beggs is located at 35°45′20"N 96°2′17"W (35.755595, -96.038052). That puts Beggs approximately 30 miles south of the downtown Tulsa, OklahomaTulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
and 4 miles east of U.S. Route 75
U.S. Route 75
U.S. Route 75 is a north–south U.S. Highway. The highway's northern terminus is in Kittson County, Minnesota, at the Canadian border, where it continues as Manitoba Highway 75 on the other side of a closed border crossing. Its southern terminus is at Interstate 30 and Interstate 45 in Dallas,...
, a major national north/south artery. Alternate U.S. Route 75
Bannered routes of U.S. Route 75
The first bannered route along U.S. 75 is U.S. Route 75 Business in Henryetta, Oklahoma, in Okmulgee County. The route is in length. It begins at I-40 exit 240 west of town. It then continues east through the town to end at US-62/75 east of downtown. The entirety of the route is concurrent with...
, the only such bannered route stemming from U.S. 75, is a former alignment of the mainline highway prior to 1959, and travels from Highway 75 west to Beggs before turning north at that town and continuing to Sapulpa, Oklahoma
Sapulpa, Oklahoma
Sapulpa is a city in Creek and Tulsa counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 20,544 at the 2010 United States census, compared to 19,166 at the 2000 census...
. The major east/west route through Beggs is Oklahoma State Highway 16.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 4.3 square miles (11.1 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,364 people, 538 households, and 363 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 320.3 people per square mile (123.6/km²). There were 608 housing units at an average density of 142.8 per square mile (55.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 59.53% White, 21.70% African American, 9.75% Native American, 0.15% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 8.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.25% of the population.
There were 538 households out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,063, and the median income for a family was $31,250. Males had a median income of $26,150 versus $22,143 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $12,191. About 16.9% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.1% of those under age 18 and 29.3% of those age 65 or over.
Recreational Opportunities
Recreational opportunities include Old Beggs Lake southeast of town center, and the larger New Beggs Lake almost directly east of town center.Notable Citizens
Lloyd Edgar AcreeLloyd Edgar Acree
Lloyd Edgar Acree was a member of the United States Navy and a posthumous awardee of the Navy Cross.-Navy career:Acree was born on July 31, 1920 in Beggs, Oklahoma. He enlisted in the Navy October 17, 1940. After training at San Diego, California, he was assigned to USS Salt Lake City December 10,...
posthumous recipient of the Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
was born here in 1920.
Suzan Shown Harjo
Suzan Shown Harjo
Suzan Shown Harjo is a well-known Cheyenne and Hodulgee Muscogee advocate for American Indian rights. She is a poet, writer, lecturer, curator, and policy advocate, who has helped Native peoples recover over a million acres of land...
, Native American advocate.
In Popular Culture
Beggs features prominently in The Great War, a trilogy of fiction novels in the alternate history genre by author Harry TurtledoveHarry Turtledove
Harry Norman Turtledove is an American novelist, who has produced works in several genres including alternate history, historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction.- Life :...
. In it, Confederate forces, having won the Civil War years earlier, are pitted against Union forces in World-War I-era combat on the North American continent, including in the Confederate state of Sequoyah (Oklahoma).