Beggs, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Beggs, Oklahoma
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City
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Location of Beggs, Oklahoma
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Okmulgee |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.20 sq mi (10.88 km2) |
| • Land | 4.20 sq mi (10.87 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 866 ft (264 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,179 |
| • Density | 280.98/sq mi (108.49/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
74421
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| Area codes | 539/918 |
| FIPS code | 40-05000 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2409813 |
Beggs is a small city located in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, in the United States. In 2020, about 1,179 people lived there. The city got its name from Charles Hoffman Beggs, who was an important leader at the St. Louis-San Francisco (Frisco) Railway.
Contents
History of Beggs
Beggs started as a stop along the Frisco railroad in 1899. It officially became a town on September 15, 1900, when its post office opened. In its early days, Beggs was a hub for ranches raising hogs, cattle, and horses.
In 1918, something big happened: oil was found just west of town! This turned Beggs into an "oil boomtown" until around 1926. An oil boomtown is a place that grows very quickly because of a sudden discovery of oil. After the oil boom, farming became important again. People grew corn, cotton, and pecans, and continued raising livestock.
The town's population changed over time. It grew to 2,327 people in 1920 during the oil boom. But after the boom, the population slowly went down, reaching 1,107 in 1970. Since then, the number of people living in Beggs has gone up and down a bit, settling at 1,179 in the 2020 Census.
A special historical place called Isparhecher House and Grave is located about four miles west of Beggs. It's on private land, off State Highway 16. Even though Beggs is a small city, it has at least seven churches.
Where is Beggs?
Beggs is located about 30 miles south of downtown Tulsa. It's also four miles west of U.S. Route 75, which is a major highway that runs north and south across the country.
A special road called U.S. Route 75 Alternate goes through Beggs. It follows an older path of Highway 75. This road goes from U.S. 75 west to Beggs, along SH-16, and then turns north towards Sapulpa. The main east-west road through Beggs is Oklahoma State Highway 16.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city covers a total area of about 4.3 square miles (10.88 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Population Changes
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 855 | — | |
| 1920 | 2,327 | 172.2% | |
| 1930 | 1,531 | −34.2% | |
| 1940 | 1,283 | −16.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,214 | −5.4% | |
| 1960 | 1,114 | −8.2% | |
| 1970 | 1,107 | −0.6% | |
| 1980 | 1,428 | 29.0% | |
| 1990 | 1,150 | −19.5% | |
| 2000 | 1,364 | 18.6% | |
| 2010 | 1,321 | −3.2% | |
| 2020 | 1,179 | −10.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 1,364 people living in Beggs. The population was made up of different groups, including White, African American, and Native American people. Some people also identified as being from two or more races, or as Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Beggs in 2000 was 35 years old. About 28.8% of the population was under 18 years old.
Fun Things to Do
Beggs offers a few places for recreation and fun:
- Old Beggs Lake: This lake is located southeast of the town center.
- New Beggs Lake: This larger lake is almost directly east of the town center.
- Legacy Park: This city playground on Main Street was updated in 2019-2020. It has new playground equipment, a covered area called a pavilion, and picnic tables.
- Beggs Fairgrounds and Round-Up Club Arena: This is a place where fairs and rodeo events are held. It can also be used for other special events.
Famous People from Beggs
Some notable people have come from Beggs:
- Lloyd Edgar Acree: He was born here in 1920 and later received the Navy Cross for his bravery.
- Suzan Shown Harjo: She is well-known for being an advocate for Native Americans.
- Joe Martel III: He was the first known amputee to play football in Oklahoma.
- Dan Rowan: He was famous for being the "straight man" on the TV show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.
- Rodney Tate: Born in 1959, he played as a running back in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons from 1982 to 1984.
- Alvin "Pooh" Williamson: Born in 1973, he was a college basketball player and later an assistant coach at the University of Miami.
Images for kids
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A robot friend.
See also
In Spanish: Beggs (Oklahoma) para niños
