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Haileyville, Oklahoma facts for kids

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Haileyville, Oklahoma
Location of Haileyville, Oklahoma
Location of Haileyville, Oklahoma
Country United States
State Oklahoma
County Pittsburg
Area
 • Total 1.04 sq mi (2.68 km2)
 • Land 1.03 sq mi (2.68 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
650 ft (200 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 716
 • Density 692.46/sq mi (267.38/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
74546
Area code(s) 539/918
FIPS code 40-31900
GNIS feature ID 2410682

Haileyville is a city located in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, in the United States. In 2020, about 716 people lived there.

History of Haileyville

Haileyville is in Pittsburg County. It sits where two important roads meet: U.S. Route 270#OklahomaU.S. Route 270/State Highway 1 and State Highway 63. It's about 14 miles east of McAlester.

The area where Haileyville is now was first mapped in 1719 by a French explorer named Jean Baptiste Bénard de La Harpe. He was on an expedition near the Arkansas River.

The town of Haileyville was started in 1898 by Dr. D. M. Hailey. He claimed land east of McAlester and opened the first coal mines in the area. Dr. Hailey had moved to Indian Territory in 1868. He was a doctor and also involved in many businesses. He got into mining with James Elliot, forming the Hailey-Ola Mining Company. They leased land from the Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad. This railroad built tracks in the area between 1889 and 1890. The first mine, called Number One Slope, began producing coal in 1899.

Haileyville was a "company town" in the Choctaw Nation. This meant the mining company owned most of the homes and stores. Many coal-mining towns were set up this way. People from Italy, American Indian tribes, Russia, and other parts of America lived and worked in Haileyville. Many worked in the mines or on the railroads. Coal from the area was valuable because of the railroad junction.

The town was home to offices for the Choctaw, Oklahoma, and Gulf Railroad. This railroad later became the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Company, or "Rock Island." By 1902, the railroad had over 1,000 miles of track. A branch line from Haileyville even went to Ardmore. Haileyville was an important railroad hub until 1958. That's when the offices moved to El Reno.

A post office was opened in Haileyville, Indian Territory, on April 20, 1901. The town grew quickly. In 1907, about 1,452 people lived there. By 1910, the population reached 2,024. In 1911, Haileyville had a bank, a newspaper, five hotels, three doctors, and many other shops. Haileyville and its nearby town, Hartshorne, are sometimes called the "twin cities" because they are so close.

On February 12, 1912, Governor Lee Cruce declared Haileyville a first-class city. After reaching 2,067 people in 1920, the population slowly went down. It was 1,801 in 1930 and 922 in 1960. By 1946, the main businesses were a coal company, a bank, and an ice plant. There were also gas stations, grocery stores, and a hardware store. After the coal mines closed, people in Haileyville started focusing on lumber, farming, and ranching.

When it was founded, Haileyville was part of Gaines County. This was in the Moshulatubbee District of the Choctaw Nation.

Where is Haileyville?

The United States Census Bureau says that Haileyville covers about 1.0 square mile (2.6 square kilometers) of land. There is almost no water area.

People of Haileyville

Historical population
Census Pop.
1910 2,024
1920 2,067 2.1%
1930 1,801 −12.9%
1940 1,183 −34.3%
1950 1,107 −6.4%
1960 922 −16.7%
1970 928 0.7%
1980 832 −10.3%
1990 918 10.3%
2000 891 −2.9%
2010 813 −8.8%
2020 716 −11.9%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2000, there were 891 people living in Haileyville. There were 375 households and 253 families. The population density was about 873 people per square mile.

About 26.4% of the people were under 18 years old. About 15.4% were 65 years or older. The average age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were about 94 males.

Schools in Haileyville

Most students in Haileyville go to Haileyville Public Schools. A small part of the town is in the area for Hartshorne Public Schools.

See also

In Spanish: Haileyville (Oklahoma) para niños

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