Stilwell, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Stilwell is a town in Adair County
, Oklahoma
, United States
. The population was 3,276 at the 2000 census
. It is the county seat
of Adair County. The city is named after Arthur Stilwell
, noted philanthropist and founder of Kansas City Southern Railway.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²), of which, 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.63%) is water.
Stilwell is located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 59 and State Highway 51
.
of 2000, there were 3,276 people, 1,269 households, and 809 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,033.7 people per square mile (399.0/km²). There were 1,434 housing units at an average density of 452.5 per square mile (174.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 41.88% White, 0.49% African American, 48.41% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.45% from other races
, and 5.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.99% of the population. At 48.57% Cherokee, Stilwell is the most Cherokee community in the United States.
There were 1,269 households out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% were married couples
living together, 17.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.0% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 86.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $18,555, and the median income for a family was $24,673. Males had a median income of $20,500 versus $17,351 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $10,034. About 28.3% of families and 32.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.6% of those under age 18 and 20.4% of those age 65 or over.
Adair County, Oklahoma
Adair County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 22,638. Its county seat is Stilwell. Adair County was named after the Adair family of the Cherokee tribe.-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...
. The population was 3,276 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...
. 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 Adair County. The city is named after Arthur Stilwell
Arthur Stilwell
Arthur Edward Stilwell was the founder of Kansas City Southern Railway. He served as the railroad's president from 1897 to 1900. He was also the founder of Port Arthur, Texas.-Early life:...
, noted philanthropist and founder of Kansas City Southern Railway.
Geography
Stilwell is located at 35°48′55"N 94°37′53"W (35.815234, -94.631359).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 town has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²), of which, 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.63%) is water.
Stilwell is located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 59 and State Highway 51
State Highway 51 (Oklahoma)
State Highway 51, abbreviated to SH-51 or OK-51, is a major state highway in Oklahoma. It runs for 333 miles east–west across the state, running from the Texas state line to Arkansas. It is the third-longest state highway in the system.-Texas to I-35:SH-51 begins at the Texas line concurrent...
.
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 3,276 people, 1,269 households, and 809 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 1,033.7 people per square mile (399.0/km²). There were 1,434 housing units at an average density of 452.5 per square mile (174.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 41.88% White, 0.49% African American, 48.41% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.45% 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 5.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.99% of the population. At 48.57% Cherokee, Stilwell is the most Cherokee community in the United States.
There were 1,269 households out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% 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, 17.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.0% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 86.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $18,555, and the median income for a family was $24,673. Males had a median income of $20,500 versus $17,351 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 $10,034. About 28.3% of families and 32.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.6% of those under age 18 and 20.4% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- Wilma MankillerWilma MankillerWilma Pearl Mankiller was the first female Chief of the Cherokee Nation. She served as principal chief for ten years from 1985 to 1995.-Early life:...
, first female ChiefTribal chiefA tribal chief is the leader of a tribal society or chiefdom. Tribal societies with social stratification under a single leader emerged in the Neolithic period out of earlier tribal structures with little stratification, and they remained prevalent throughout the Iron Age.In the case of ...
of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, was born in Stilwell.