Redbird, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Redbird, Oklahoma
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Location of Redbird, Oklahoma
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Wagoner |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.84 sq mi (2.17 km2) |
| • Land | 0.84 sq mi (2.17 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 89 |
| • Density | 106.33/sq mi (41.06/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
74458
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| Area code(s) | 539/918 |
| FIPS code | 40-62200 |
Redbird is a small town located in Wagoner County, Oklahoma, in the United States. In 2020, about 89 people lived there. The town's population has changed over the years.
Redbird is special because it was one of many towns in Oklahoma created for Black people. It was founded around the year 1900. Today, it is one of only thirteen such communities that are still active in Oklahoma.
Contents
History of Redbird
Redbird, sometimes called Red Bird, started when the family of E. L. Barber settled there. They founded the First Baptist Church in 1889. Soon, other families moved into the area.
By 1902, Redbird had its own post office. On August 10, 1907, the town officially opened, and more than 600 people came to celebrate.
The town advertised in newspapers across the southern United States. They wanted to encourage Black families to move there. Redbird's population grew to its largest size in 1920, with 336 people.
However, the price of cotton dropped, which caused many people to leave. This happened even before the Great Depression. After World War II, the town started to grow again. At one point, Redbird had:
- Seven churches
- A couple of general stores
- Eight juke joints (places for music and dancing)
- A gas station
Later, more people moved to cities, and Redbird's population went down again. The post office eventually closed. But today, the town is seeing a new start. Families are buying homes there because they like the low crime rate and the peaceful way of life.
Geography of Redbird
Redbird is located at 35°53′19″N 95°35′18″W / 35.88861°N 95.58833°W.
The United States Census Bureau says that the town covers about 0.8 square miles (2.1 km2) of land. There is no water area within the town limits.
Voting Rights Case: Lane v. Wilson
In 1908, a man named I.W. Lane moved to Redbird, Oklahoma. In 1934, he was not allowed to vote. This led to an important court case called Lane v. Wilson.
The United States Supreme Court looked at the case. They decided that a rule allowing people only 12 days to register to vote was unfair. This rule made it harder for Black citizens to vote. The Court said this rule went against the Fifteenth Amendment, which protects voting rights for all citizens regardless of race.
Population Changes
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 336 | — | |
| 1930 | 218 | −35.1% | |
| 1940 | 393 | 80.3% | |
| 1950 | 411 | 4.6% | |
| 1960 | 310 | −24.6% | |
| 1970 | 230 | −25.8% | |
| 1980 | 199 | −13.5% | |
| 1990 | 166 | −16.6% | |
| 2000 | 153 | −7.8% | |
| 2010 | 137 | −10.5% | |
| 2020 | 89 | −35.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The population of Redbird has changed quite a bit over the years. In 2000, there were 153 people living in the town. About 87.58% of the people were African American. There were also Native American and White residents.
Many households had children under 18. The average household had about 2.39 people. The average age of people in Redbird in 2000 was 32 years old.
Education
Students living in Redbird go to schools in the Porter Consolidated Schools district. There are no schools directly in Redbird. Students travel about 5 miles (8.0 km) to attend schools in Porter. Redbird used to have its own schools, known as Red Bird Public Schools.
See also
In Spanish: Redbird (Oklahoma) para niños
