Konawa, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Konawa, Oklahoma
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Konawa City Hall
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Location of Konawa, Oklahoma
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Seminole |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.31 sq mi (3.40 km2) |
| • Land | 1.31 sq mi (3.40 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 981 ft (299 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,288 |
| • Density | 980.96/sq mi (378.66/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
74849
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| Area code(s) | 580 |
| FIPS code | 40-40200 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2411555 |
Konawa is a city in Seminole County, Oklahoma, United States. In 2020, about 1,288 people lived there. The name Konawa comes from a Seminole word that means "string of beads."
Contents
History of Konawa
Konawa is in the southwestern part of Seminole County. It sits where State Highways 9A and 39 meet. The town started on January 7, 1904. A man named Tom West sold land to George Northrup, and that land became the Konawa townsite.
The first post office opened on July 15, 1904. Robert C. Lovelace was the first postmaster. Early businesses included a newspaper called the Konawa Chief, hardware stores, drug stores, and a bank.
In 1903, a railroad called the Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad (later the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway) was built. It went around a nearby town called Violet Springs. Because of this, many families and businesses moved to Konawa. Some even moved their houses! Many of these old buildings were still standing in the early 2000s.
Konawa became an important place for trading farm goods. By 1907, when Oklahoma became a state, Konawa had 620 people. The local newspaper, the Konawa Leader, has been telling citizens the news since 1917.
In the 1920s, the streets were paved. Several oil wells were found, which helped the town's economy. A new high school was also built. In November 1931, a famous bank robber named Pretty Boy Floyd robbed the First National Bank in Konawa.
During World War II, the Konawa National Guard Armory was used for housing. This building was a project built by the WPA. On February 17, 1961, a tornado hit downtown Konawa. It caused a lot of damage and five people were hurt.
A religious school called Sacred Heart Mission was once near Konawa. It moved there in 1876 from Atoka. After a big fire in 1901, the school moved again. It went to Shawnee and became St. Gregory's University. By 1927, the entire abbey had moved from Konawa to Shawnee.
The energy business is still very important to Konawa. Oil-field service companies continue to play a big role. In May 1968, a power company started building the Seminole Power Plant. This project created the 1,350-acre Konawa Reservoir, which cost $45 million. By 1975, a third power unit was built, making a lot of electricity. Today, Konawa Reservoir is known as one of Oklahoma's best lakes for fishing.
In August 1963, Konawa started hosting its first All-Night Gospel Singing event. At its most popular, about twenty-five thousand people came to this yearly event. Konawa is run by a council and a city manager. In the early 2000s, Konawa had 1,479 residents.
Geography and Climate
Konawa covers about 1.4 square miles (3.4 square kilometers) of land. There is no water within the city limits.
The city is located on Oklahoma State Highway 39. It is also the end point for a part of State Highway 9A. Lake Konawa is just to the east of the city.
Climate in Konawa
Konawa has a climate with high temperatures and rain spread out throughout the year. Summers are warm and can have humid nights. It usually rains more in summer than in winter. Much of the summer rain comes from thunderstorms. This type of weather is called a "Humid Subtropical Climate."
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 701 | — | |
| 1920 | 896 | 27.8% | |
| 1930 | 2,070 | 131.0% | |
| 1940 | 2,205 | 6.5% | |
| 1950 | 2,707 | 22.8% | |
| 1960 | 1,555 | −42.6% | |
| 1970 | 1,719 | 10.5% | |
| 1980 | 1,711 | −0.5% | |
| 1990 | 1,508 | −11.9% | |
| 2000 | 1,479 | −1.9% | |
| 2010 | 1,298 | −12.2% | |
| 2020 | 1,288 | −0.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 1,298 people living in Konawa. Most of the people were White (64.5%) or Native American (21.5%). About 9.6% of the people were from two or more races. A smaller number were Black (2.4%), Pacific Islander (0.4%), or Asian (0.2%). About 1.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
In 2000, there were 1,479 people living in the city. The city had 551 households. Many households (35.4%) had children under 18 living with them.
Education
Students in Konawa attend schools in the Konawa Public Schools district.
See also
In Spanish: Konawa (Oklahoma) para niños
