Heavener, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Heavener is a city in Le Flore County
, Oklahoma
, United States
. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas
-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area
. The population was 3,201 at the 2000 census
.
Heavener is best known for the Heavener Runestone
just outside the city limits. The cryptic stone appears to have letters from the runic alphabet
, which were possibly etched by pre-Columbian Norsemen. There is such an attraction that a state park
has been erected around the mysterious rock.
Due to this purported connection the nearby school Carl Albert State College
in the city of Poteau
changed its mascot in the early 1990s from the "Trojan" to the "Viking."
, which operates a major yard, crew base, and fueling facility in Heavener, has been the town's largest employer for over seventy years. The second largest employer in Heavener is OK Foods http://www.okfoods.com . This Poultry company operates a Processing Plant, a Feed Mill, and a Hatchery in Heavener. OK Foods first came to Heavener in the early 1990s. It is the single largest employer.
's mascot is the Wolves. School colors are purple and gold. Main activities at the school include band, football, cheerleading, basketball, baseball, softball, power lifting, track, golf, soccer, drama, academic team, and jazz band.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.9 square miles (12.7 km²), of which, 4.9 square miles (12.7 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.40%) is water.
of 2000, there were 3,201 people, 1,113 households, and 783 families residing in the city. The population density
was 650.4 people per square mile (251.2/km²). There were 1,255 housing units at an average density of 255.0/sq mi (98.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 73.79% White, 0.62% African American, 9.84% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 10.56% from other races
, and 5.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.52% of the population.
There were 1,113 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples
living together, 12.3% have a female householder with no husband present , and 29.6% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.27.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18 , 14.9% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,750, and the median income for a family was $28,654. Males had a median income of $19,848 versus $18,487 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $11,313. About 23.6% of families and 26.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.7% of those under age 18 and 12.5% of those age 65 or over.
The current mayor is Sheryl Hecke.
The original name of the town was Choctaw City, due to the large population nearby of Native Americans of the Choctaw tribe. The area was originally settled and developed by a combination of Native Americans and whites. When the railroad came to the region the name was changed. Many area towns maintain names of Native American origin such as Talihina.
Le Flore County, Oklahoma
Le Flore County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2000, the population was 48,109. Its county seat is Poteau. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma is the federal...
, 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...
. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith is the second-largest city in Arkansas and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County. With a population of 86,209 in 2010, it is the principal city of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 298,592 residents which encompasses the Arkansas...
-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area
Fort Smith metropolitan area
The Fort Smith Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is a five-county area including three Arkansas counties and two Oklahoma counties, and anchored by the city of Fort Smith, Arkansas...
. The population was 3,201 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
.
Heavener Runestone
Heavener Runestone
The Heavener Runestone is an inscribed stone located in Heavener, Oklahoma. The land on which it sits is now a state park on Poteau Mountain, just outside the town limits. The origin of the stone's runic carvings is disputed.-News:...
just outside the city limits. The cryptic stone appears to have letters from the runic alphabet
Runic alphabet
The runic alphabets are a set of related alphabets using letters known as runes to write various Germanic languages before the adoption of the Latin alphabet and for specialized purposes thereafter...
, which were possibly etched by pre-Columbian Norsemen. There is such an attraction that a state park
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
has been erected around the mysterious rock.
Due to this purported connection the nearby school Carl Albert State College
Carl Albert State College
Carl Albert State College, commonly abbreviated as CASC, is a community college located in southeastern Oklahoma. Originally named Poteau Junior College, it was founded in 1933, and its name changed to Poteau Community College in the early 1950s. In 1971, it was renamed in honor of then Speaker of...
in the city of Poteau
Poteau, Oklahoma
Poteau is a city in Le Flore County, Oklahoma, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 8,520 at the 2010 census, ranking fifth in the Greater Fort Smith Area. It is the county seat of Le Flore County...
changed its mascot in the early 1990s from the "Trojan" to the "Viking."
Media
There is a small weekly newspaper in the town called The Heavener Ledger. The radio tower for KPRV FM radio sits on top of Poteau Mountain less than a half mile from the Runestone. KPRV broadcasts out of nearby Poteau and has a sister station with the same call letters on the AM band.Employers
The Kansas City Southern RailwayKansas City Southern Railway
The Kansas City Southern Railway , owned by Kansas City Southern Industries, is the smallest and second-oldest Class I railroad company still in operation. KCS was founded in 1887 and is currently operating in a region consisting of ten central U.S. states...
, which operates a major yard, crew base, and fueling facility in Heavener, has been the town's largest employer for over seventy years. The second largest employer in Heavener is OK Foods http://www.okfoods.com . This Poultry company operates a Processing Plant, a Feed Mill, and a Hatchery in Heavener. OK Foods first came to Heavener in the early 1990s. It is the single largest employer.
Schools
The schools are all located in the city's center and are the sole educational facilities. Heavener High SchoolHeavener High School
Heavener High School is a public high school located in Heavener, Oklahoma. The school educates approximately 350 students grades 9-12. Heavener is the home of The Wolves...
's mascot is the Wolves. School colors are purple and gold. Main activities at the school include band, football, cheerleading, basketball, baseball, softball, power lifting, track, golf, soccer, drama, academic team, and jazz band.
Geography
Heavener is located at 34°53′21"N 94°36′15"W (34.889108, -94.604217).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 4.9 square miles (12.7 km²), of which, 4.9 square miles (12.7 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.40%) is water.
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 3,201 people, 1,113 households, and 783 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 650.4 people per square mile (251.2/km²). There were 1,255 housing units at an average density of 255.0/sq mi (98.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 73.79% White, 0.62% African American, 9.84% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 10.56% 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 5.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.52% of the population.
There were 1,113 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% 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, 12.3% have a female householder with no husband present , and 29.6% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.27.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18 , 14.9% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,750, and the median income for a family was $28,654. Males had a median income of $19,848 versus $18,487 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 $11,313. About 23.6% of families and 26.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.7% of those under age 18 and 12.5% of those age 65 or over.
The current mayor is Sheryl Hecke.
Name origin
Jacob and Elizabeth Heavener moved to the Indian Territory in 1845. Jacob and his eldest son William were hung by Jayhawkers in the mountains near Heavener because they were Union sympathizers. The town was named for Jacob's widow and son who built the first house in what is now Heavener.The original name of the town was Choctaw City, due to the large population nearby of Native Americans of the Choctaw tribe. The area was originally settled and developed by a combination of Native Americans and whites. When the railroad came to the region the name was changed. Many area towns maintain names of Native American origin such as Talihina.