Sallisaw, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Sallisaw is a city in Sequoyah County
, Oklahoma
, United States
. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas
-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area
. The population was 8,880 at the 2010 census
. It is the county seat
of Sequoyah County
. It has three highways running through it: U.S. 59, or Kerr Boulevard, U.S. 64, or Cherokee Avenue,which is the city's main street
, and I-40. East Cherokee Avenue is a business loop, with Sallisaw's only mall, the Eastgate Shopping Center, originally Wal-Mart
. It was moved to 1101 W. Ruth Avenue in the 1990s. A half mile south of town on US 59 the airport. In higher education, it features a branch of CASC
, based in Poteau
. The post office
is located at 111 McGee Drive, on the east side of town. The town itself is the largest in Sequoyah County. It is located in the central area of the county, 14 miles from Muldrow
, 11 Miles from Vian
, and 19 miles from Roland
. It is 22 miles from Fort Smith
. Aside from the Muskogee
and Tahlequah
branches, there is a branch of ICTC
. Its main schools are Sallisaw Elementary, Junior High, and the high school
which is located on J.T. Stites Street. The hospital is Sequoyah Memorial Hospital, at 213 Redwood Avenue.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 12.9 square miles (33.4 km²), of which 12.7 square miles (32.9 km²) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) (1.40%) is water.
The city lies within the Green Country region of Oklahoma, known for its rolling green hills.
of 2000, there were 7,989½ people, 3,206 households, and 2,151 families residing in the city. The population density
was 629.0 inhabitants per square mile (242.9/km²). There were 3,556 housing units at an average density of 280.0 per square mile (108.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 68.29% White, 1.35% African American, 20.30% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.11% from other races
, and 8.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.25% of the population.
There were 3,206 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples
living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,821, and the median income for a family was $31,572. Males had a median income of $26,793 versus $19,775 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,231. About 18.5% of families and 23.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.6% of those under age 18 and 15.9% of those age 65 or over.
-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath
by John Steinbeck
were sharecroppers from Sallisaw.
Pretty Boy Floyd
grew up near Sallisaw. He's buried in the Akins Cemetery.
Brad Paisley
mentions Sallisaw in his song I Wish You'd Stay
.
- (1917–2002) was a United States Army
officer who was awarded the Medal of Honor
for actions during World War II
Sequoyah County, Oklahoma
Sequoyah 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 38,972. Its county seat is Sallisaw.-History:...
, 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 8,880 at the 2010 census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...
. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Sequoyah County
Sequoyah County, Oklahoma
Sequoyah 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 38,972. Its county seat is Sallisaw.-History:...
. It has three highways running through it: U.S. 59, or Kerr Boulevard, U.S. 64, or Cherokee Avenue,which is the city's main street
Main Street
Main Street is the metonym for a generic street name of the primary retail street of a village, town, or small city in many parts of the world...
, and I-40. East Cherokee Avenue is a business loop, with Sallisaw's only mall, the Eastgate Shopping Center, originally Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
. It was moved to 1101 W. Ruth Avenue in the 1990s. A half mile south of town on US 59 the airport. In higher education, it features a branch of CASC
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...
, based in 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...
. The post office
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
is located at 111 McGee Drive, on the east side of town. The town itself is the largest in Sequoyah County. It is located in the central area of the county, 14 miles from Muldrow
Muldrow, Oklahoma
Muldrow is a town in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,104 at the 2000 census....
, 11 Miles from Vian
Vian, Oklahoma
Vian is a town in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,362 at the 2000 census. It has three highways running through it: SH 82, or Thornton Street; U.S. 64, or Schley Street; and I-40. It is...
, and 19 miles from Roland
Roland, Oklahoma
Roland is a town in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,842 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Roland is located at ....
. It is 22 miles from Fort Smith
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...
. Aside from the Muskogee
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Muskogee County, and home to Bacone College. The population was 38,310 at the 2000 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in Oklahoma....
and Tahlequah
Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Tahlequah is a city in Cherokee County, Oklahoma, United States located at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. It was founded as a capital of the original Cherokee Nation in 1838 to welcome those Cherokee forced west on the Trail of Tears. The city's population was 15,753 at the 2010 census. It...
branches, there is a branch of ICTC
Indian Capital Technology Center
Indian Capital Technology Center is a technical school affiliated with the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. Indian Capital is headquartered in Muskogee, Oklahoma....
. Its main schools are Sallisaw Elementary, Junior High, and the high school
Sallisaw High School
-Mission Statement:The mission of the Sallisaw Public Schools is to empower all students to make educated choices and meet challenges of the future as productive citizens.-History of Sallisaw High School:...
which is located on J.T. Stites Street. The hospital is Sequoyah Memorial Hospital, at 213 Redwood Avenue.
Geography
Sallisaw is located at 35°27′29"N 94°47′40"W (35.457978, -94.794421).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 12.9 square miles (33.4 km²), of which 12.7 square miles (32.9 km²) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) (1.40%) is water.
The city lies within the Green Country region of Oklahoma, known for its rolling green hills.
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 7,989½ people, 3,206 households, and 2,151 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 629.0 inhabitants per square mile (242.9/km²). There were 3,556 housing units at an average density of 280.0 per square mile (108.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 68.29% White, 1.35% African American, 20.30% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.11% 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 8.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.25% of the population.
There were 3,206 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% 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, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,821, and the median income for a family was $31,572. Males had a median income of $26,793 versus $19,775 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 $13,231. About 18.5% of families and 23.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.6% of those under age 18 and 15.9% of those age 65 or over.
History of Sallisaw's Name
The word Sallisaw was taken from the French word 'salaison' meaning salt provisions. The French, who hunted in the area long before the town was founded, called Sallisaw Creek "Salaiseau" because hunters salted bison meat there.Cultural references
The Joad family from the Pulitzer PrizePulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath
The Grapes of Wrath
The Grapes of Wrath is a novel published in 1939 and written by John Steinbeck, who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1940 and the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962....
by John Steinbeck
John Steinbeck
John Ernst Steinbeck, Jr. was an American writer. He is widely known for the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden and the novella Of Mice and Men...
were sharecroppers from Sallisaw.
Pretty Boy Floyd
Pretty Boy Floyd
Charles Arthur "Pretty Boy" Floyd was an American bank robber. He operated in the West South Central States, and his criminal exploits gained heavy press coverage in the 1930s. Like most other prominent outlaws of that era, he was killed by law enforcement officers...
grew up near Sallisaw. He's buried in the Akins Cemetery.
Brad Paisley
Brad Paisley
Brad Douglas Paisley is an American singer-songwriter and musician. His style crosses between traditional country music and Southern rock, and his songs are frequently laced with humor and pop culture references....
mentions Sallisaw in his song I Wish You'd Stay
I Wish You'd Stay
"I Wish You'd Stay" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Brad Paisley. It was released in August 2002 as the fourth and final single from Paisley's album Part II and reached a peak of number 7 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in early 2003...
.
Notable Resident
Jack C. MontgomeryJack C. Montgomery
Jack C. Montgomery was a United States Army officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II....
- (1917–2002) was a United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
officer who was awarded the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for actions during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...