Mill Creek, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mill Creek, Oklahoma
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Location of Mill Creek, Oklahoma
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Johnston |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.39 sq mi (1.00 km2) |
| • Land | 0.38 sq mi (0.99 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,034 ft (315 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 293 |
| • Density | 763.02/sq mi (294.79/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
74856
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| Area code(s) | 580 |
| FIPS code | 40-48500 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1095392 |
Mill Creek is a small town in Johnston County, Oklahoma, United States. In 2020, about 293 people lived there. The town is the main part of a larger area called the Mill Creek Community. This community has about 1,000 people, including those who live in the town itself.
Contents
Town History
The town of Mill Creek has a long and interesting history.
Early Beginnings
In 1852, a post office was opened here. The area was first called Mineral Hill. At that time, it was part of the Choctaw Nation in what was known as Indian Territory.
A few years later, in 1855, the Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes signed a special agreement. This agreement made the Chickasaw Nation a separate area starting in 1856. After this, Mill Creek became part of the Chickasaw Nation.
Name Changes and Growth
In 1859, the town's name changed to Harris Mill. This was because Cyrus Harris, a leader of the Chickasaw people, built a large grist mill on a local creek. A grist mill is a place where grain is ground into flour.
The name changed back to Mill Creek in 1879. In 1902, Mill Creek officially became an incorporated town in Indian Territory. When Oklahoma became a state on November 16, 1907, the town became Mill Creek, Oklahoma.
Railroad and Population
The railroad played a big role in the town's growth. From 1900 to 1901, the St. Louis, Oklahoma, and Southern Railway built train tracks through the Mill Creek area. However, the tracks were about 3 miles (4.8 km) east of the original town. Because of this, many people moved their homes and businesses closer to the new railroad.
Soon, Mill Creek became a very important place for shipping cattle by train. In 1907, the town's population reached its highest point, with 644 people living there.
Town Geography
Mill Creek is a small town. The United States Census Bureau says that the town covers about 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2). All of this area is land.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 626 | — | |
| 1920 | 620 | −1.0% | |
| 1930 | 422 | −31.9% | |
| 1940 | 459 | 8.8% | |
| 1950 | 299 | −34.9% | |
| 1960 | 287 | −4.0% | |
| 1970 | 234 | −18.5% | |
| 1980 | 431 | 84.2% | |
| 1990 | 336 | −22.0% | |
| 2000 | 340 | 1.2% | |
| 2010 | 319 | −6.2% | |
| 2020 | 293 | −8.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 340 people living in Mill Creek. These people lived in 125 households, and 93 of these were families. The town had about 896 people per square mile (346 per km2).
Most people in Mill Creek were White (59.12%) or Native American (30.00%). A small number were Asian (1.47%) or from other backgrounds. About 0.88% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Mill Creek in 2000 was 36 years old. About 30% of the population was under 18 years old.
Town Economy
Today, the main business in Mill Creek is digging up gravel and granite. The granite from this area is special because it has a pink color. It is sold under the name "Autumn Rose."
Famous People from Mill Creek
Some notable people have connections to Mill Creek.
Cyrus Harris
Cyrus Harris (1817-1888) was born in Mississippi. He moved to the Mill Creek area in 1855. He became the very first governor of the Chickasaw Nation. He was elected to this important job four more times. His home was near the current town of Mill Creek, and he is buried in the Old Mill Creek Cemetery.
Jess Larson
Jess Larson was born in Mill Creek in 1904. He became the first leader of the General Services Administration, which is a U.S. government agency. He also led the War Assets Administration and was chairman and president of the Air Force Association.
See also
- In Spanish: Mill Creek (Oklahoma) para niños
