Bokoshe, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bokoshe, Oklahoma
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Location of Bokoshe, Oklahoma
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Le Flore |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.55 sq mi (1.42 km2) |
| • Land | 0.55 sq mi (1.42 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 538 ft (164 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 396 |
| • Density | 723.95/sq mi (279.53/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
74930
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| Area codes | 539/918 |
| FIPS code | 40-07450 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2411704 |
Bokoshe (say "buh-KOH-shuh") is a small town in Le Flore County, Oklahoma, United States. It's part of the larger Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma area. The name Bokoshe comes from the Choctaw language and means "little creek." In 2020, about 396 people lived there.
Contents
A Look at Bokoshe's Past
Bokoshe started as a Choctaw settlement. In 1886, it got its first post office. William A. Sanner was the first Postmaster. Back then, Bokoshe was in the Moshulatubbee District of the Choctaw Nation.
How Coal Mining Shaped the Town
The main business in early Bokoshe was a coal mine. It employed about 10 miners. By 1900, the town had 153 people. To help ship the coal, the Fort Smith and Western Railway built train tracks in 1901. Then, the Midland Valley Railroad built its own line in 1903-1904.
The town actually moved south to be closer to where these two railroads crossed. Soon, two more coal mines opened nearby. This helped the town grow, and by 1910, the population reached 483. By 1920, it had grown even more to 869 people.
Bokoshe During Tough Times
During the Great Depression, Bokoshe's mines did better than many others. However, the town's population still went down. It dropped to 690 in 1930 and then to 431 by 1960.
Later, the coal industry got stronger again. The town's population went back up to 588 in 1970. After that, it fell again to 403 in 1990. In 2000, there were 450 people, and in 2010, it was 512.
A Notable Train Incident
On February 1, 1958, a train accident happened near Bokoshe. It involved two trains on the Midland Valley Railroad. This was the only major accident in the history of that railroad system.
Where is Bokoshe?
According to the United States Census Bureau, Bokoshe covers about 0.5 square miles (1.42 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Who Lives in Bokoshe?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 153 | — | |
| 1910 | 483 | 215.7% | |
| 1920 | 869 | 79.9% | |
| 1930 | 715 | −17.7% | |
| 1940 | 690 | −3.5% | |
| 1950 | 589 | −14.6% | |
| 1960 | 431 | −26.8% | |
| 1970 | 588 | 36.4% | |
| 1980 | 556 | −5.4% | |
| 1990 | 403 | −27.5% | |
| 2000 | 450 | 11.7% | |
| 2010 | 512 | 13.8% | |
| 2020 | 396 | −22.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, about 450 people lived in Bokoshe. There were 174 households, which are groups of people living together. Most of these were families (121). The town had about 844 people per square mile.
Diversity in Bokoshe
The people in Bokoshe came from different backgrounds. In 2000, about 74% were White, and about 20.67% were Native American. A small number were African American or from two or more races.
Households and Families
About one-third of the households (33.3%) had children under 18 living there. More than half (55.7%) were married couples. Some households (12.1%) had a female head with no husband present. About 27% of all households were single individuals. About 16.1% of households had someone aged 65 or older living alone.
The average household had about 2.59 people. The average family had about 3.11 people.
Age Groups
The population of Bokoshe was spread out across different age groups:
- 27.6% were under 18 years old.
- 6.2% were between 18 and 24.
- 27.8% were between 25 and 44.
- 21.8% were between 45 and 64.
- 16.7% were 65 years or older.
The average age in Bokoshe was 36 years old.
Money Matters
In 2000, the average yearly income for a household in Bokoshe was about $21,250. For families, it was about $29,375. The average income per person in the town was $11,100. About 18.2% of families and 27.9% of all people in Bokoshe faced financial difficulties. This included 42.2% of those under 18 and 18.6% of those 65 or older.
Famous People From Bokoshe
- George "Rube" Foster (1888–1976): He was a famous baseball pitcher in the American League. He retired and lived in Bokoshe.
- William R. Shockley (1918–1945): He was born in Bokoshe. He was awarded the Medal of Honor, which is a very high award for bravery.
See also
In Spanish: Bokoshe (Oklahoma) para niños
