McCurtain, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
McCurtain, Oklahoma
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 McCurtain, Oklahoma
Location in Oklahoma
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Haskell |
| Government | |
| • Type | Incorporated |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.13 sq mi (2.92 km2) |
| • Land | 1.11 sq mi (2.87 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) |
| Elevation | 627 ft (191 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 355 |
| • Density | 320.69/sq mi (123.80/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
74944
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| Area code(s) | 539/918 |
| FIPS code | 40-44950 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2412967 |
McCurtain is a small town in Haskell County, Oklahoma, in the United States. In 2020, about 357 people lived there. This was a decrease from 516 people in 2010.
McCurtain's history is closely tied to coal mining. A very sad mining accident in 1912 caused the town to lose its wealth. This event remains one of the worst mining accidents in Oklahoma's history.
Contents
Discovering McCurtain's Past
Early Beginnings and Growth
In 1889, people found a lot of coal in the area that is now southern Haskell County. This discovery brought miners from Europe and business owners from America. They started a community called Panther.
In 1902, Panther was renamed McCurtain. This was done to honor Green McCurtain, a leader of the Choctaw Nation. Another mining town, Chant, was built nearby. Soon, McCurtain and Chant started to grow together.
Railroad Connection and Prosperity
The towns became successful after the Fort Smith and Western Railroad arrived in 1901. This railroad connected McCurtain to Fort Smith, Arkansas. The railroad continued to be built westward until it reached the Canadian River in 1902.
The San Bois Coal Company was a big company in the area. They built 400 houses for the miners in McCurtain and Chant. By 1907, when Oklahoma became a state, the two towns together had about 1,760 people.
The Tragic Mine Accident of 1912
On March 20, 1912, a terrible explosion happened underground in Mine Number Two. This tragic event caused the deaths of 73 miners. The San Bois Coal Company went out of business because of this disaster.
After the accident, coal mining almost stopped. The combined population of McCurtain and Chant dropped to 1,341 by 1920. In 1922, McCurtain and Chant officially joined together. McCurtain became the main town.
The population continued to get smaller. By 2000, only 466 people lived there. Today, a memorial stands at the site of old Mine Number Two. It reminds everyone of the town's past and the miners who lost their lives. There are also 73 graves in the nearby Miners Cemetery.
Economic Changes in McCurtain
The Coal Boom and Its Impact
McCurtain's economy changed very quickly after coal was found in 1889. This was the same year as the Land Run in Oklahoma. Finding coal brought many different people to the area. These included miners from Eastern Europe and American business owners. This helped the town grow a lot.
The Sans Bois Mining Company, also known as Sans Bois Coal Company, was a leader in this mining boom. In 1901, a rich industrialist named Henry Clay Frick bought the Sans Bois Coal Company. He did this through his ownership of the Fort Smith and Western Railway. He wanted to get coal for his steel factories.
Decline After the Disaster
After the tragic explosion at San Bois Coal Company's Mine Number Two in 1912, McCurtain faced many years of economic decline. The accident caused the deaths of 73 miners. This started a period where the town's population went down a lot. There were fewer job opportunities in the area.
Many people who lived there became very poor. Even the next few generations who stayed in the area often lived at or below the poverty level. The town struggled to recover from this major event.
Where is McCurtain Located?
McCurtain is located at 35°9′1″N 94°58′17″W / 35.15028°N 94.97139°W. It is about 57 miles (92 km) east of McAlester, Oklahoma. It is also about 28 miles (45 km) south-southwest of Sallisaw.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town covers a total area of about 1.1 square miles (2.8 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 1.1 square miles (2.8 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.04 square miles (0.1 square kilometers), is water.
Who Lives in McCurtain?
Population Breakdown (2000 Census)
In the year 2000, there were 466 people living in McCurtain. These people lived in 178 households, and 122 of these were families. The town had about 420.5 people per square mile (162.3 people per square kilometer). There were 213 housing units, with an average of 192.2 units per square mile (74.2 units per square kilometer).
The people in the town were mostly White (75.54%). About 16.74% were Native American. A small number were Asian (1.29%). About 6.44% were from two or more races. People who identified as Hispanic or Latino made up 1.29% of the population.
Households and Families
Out of the 178 households, 36.0% had children under 18 living with them. About 54.5% were married couples living together. In 11.8% of households, a female was the head of the house with no husband present. About 30.9% of households were not families.
Almost 30% of all households were made up of individuals living alone. About 17.4% of households had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older. On average, there were 2.62 people in each household and 3.28 people in each family.
Age and Income
The population in McCurtain was spread out by age. About 30.5% were under 18 years old. About 9.2% were between 18 and 24. Around 24.2% were between 25 and 44. About 21.7% were between 45 and 64. And 14.4% were 65 years old or older. The average age was 34 years.
For every 100 females, there were about 95.8 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were about 97.6 males.
The average income for a household in the town was $22,188. For families, the average income was $29,167. Males earned an average of $29,167, while females earned $15,833. The per capita income for the town was $11,410. About 16.2% of families and 22.5% of the total population lived below the poverty line. This included 28.2% of those under 18 and 25.0% of those 65 or older.
See also
In Spanish: McCurtain (Oklahoma) para niños
