Sallisaw, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sallisaw, Oklahoma
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Stanley Tubbs Memorial Library (Former Missouri Pacific Railroad Depot)
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| Motto(s):
"Built on Pride, Dedicated to Excellence"
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 Sallisaw, Oklahoma
Location in Oklahoma
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Sequoyah |
| Area | |
| • Total | 14.00 sq mi (36.26 km2) |
| • Land | 13.84 sq mi (35.85 km2) |
| • Water | 0.16 sq mi (0.41 km2) |
| Elevation | 522 ft (159 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 8,510 |
| • Density | 614.80/sq mi (237.37/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CST) |
| ZIP Code |
74955
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| Area code(s) | 539/918 |
| FIPS code | 40-65000 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2411769 |
| Website | sallisawok.org |
Sallisaw is a city in Oklahoma, United States. It is the main town, also known as the county seat, of Sequoyah County, Oklahoma. In 2020, about 8,510 people lived there. Sallisaw is part of the larger Fort Smith, Arkansas–Oklahoma area.
Contents
History of Sallisaw
How Sallisaw Started
French explorers and traders gave names to parts of North America in the 1600s. Sallisaw was once the name for one of the places where steamboats stopped along the Arkansas River in the 1840s and 1850s.
The modern town of Sallisaw began to form around 1887-1888. Two men, Argyle Quesenbury and Will Watie Wheeler, planned out the town. Will Watie Wheeler was related to a famous Cherokee leader named Stand Watie.
Early Days and Growth
Before Sallisaw was officially a town, there were post offices nearby. From 1873 to 1888, a post office called Childer's Station was in the area. Its name changed to Sallisaw in 1888. The land where Sallisaw is today was part of the Cherokee Nation. This was after the Cherokee people had to move from their original homes in the southeastern U.S.
Will Watie Wheeler started many businesses in Sallisaw in the late 1800s. These included a cotton gin, a saw mill, and a lumberyard. He also opened a funeral home in 1896, which is still in business today.
Railroads and Businesses
Railroads helped Sallisaw grow. The Kansas & Arkansas Valley Railway built a line through Sallisaw between 1888 and 1890. Then, the Kansas City, Pittsburgh & Gulf Railroad built another line in 1895-1896. These two lines crossed in Sallisaw, making it an important transportation spot.
Many other businesses opened around this time. These included grocery stores, banks, and drug stores. By 1900, Sallisaw had 965 people. By 1920, the population grew to 2,255. The town's economy mostly depended on cotton farming back then.
New Industries and the Local Newspaper
After 1920, other industries became important. These included lumber, coal, and natural gas. The local newspaper, Sequoyah County Times, started in 1932. It was founded by Wheeler and Florence Mayo. The Mayo family still owned the newspaper in 2019.
Meaning of the Name Sallisaw
The name Sallisaw comes from a French word, salaison. This word means "salt provisions" in English. French hunters used to hunt in this area a long time ago. They called Sallisaw Creek Salaiseau because they would salt bison meat there to preserve it.
Geography of Sallisaw
Sallisaw is located in the eastern part of Oklahoma. This area is known as the Green Country because of its rolling green hills. The city covers about 12.9 square miles. Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.
Three main highways run through Sallisaw: U.S. 59, U.S. 64, and I-40. U.S. 64, also called Cherokee Avenue, is the city's main street. Sallisaw is about 14 miles from Muldrow and 22 miles from Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Nearby natural features include Wildhorse Mountain to the south and Badger Mountain to the northwest.
Population of Sallisaw
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 965 | — | |
| 1910 | 2,479 | 156.9% | |
| 1920 | 2,225 | −10.2% | |
| 1930 | 1,785 | −19.8% | |
| 1940 | 2,140 | 19.9% | |
| 1950 | 2,885 | 34.8% | |
| 1960 | 3,351 | 16.2% | |
| 1970 | 4,888 | 45.9% | |
| 1980 | 6,403 | 31.0% | |
| 1990 | 7,122 | 11.2% | |
| 2000 | 7,989 | 12.2% | |
| 2010 | 8,880 | 11.2% | |
| 2020 | 8,510 | −4.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were about 7,989 people living in Sallisaw. The population density was about 629 people per square mile. The city had 3,206 households.
About 20% of the people in Sallisaw were Native American in 2000. Most of the population was White. About 2.25% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The population included people of all ages. About 26.6% were under 18 years old. About 16.7% were 65 years or older. The average age in the city was 36 years old.
Economy of Sallisaw
Main Industries Over Time
In its early years, Sallisaw's economy was based on cotton farming. After the 1920s, the town's economy changed. It began to focus on lumber, oil, and natural gas. During World War II, a prison camp was located here. After the war, many different businesses opened.
The Sequoyah County Times newspaper is still a big part of the local economy. It was founded in 1932 and is known as a very popular non-daily newspaper in Oklahoma.
Shopping and Business Areas
East Cherokee Avenue is a main business area in Sallisaw. The Eastgate Shopping Center is located there. The Sallisaw Municipal Airport is also nearby.
Blue Ribbon Downs
Blue Ribbon Downs (BRD) was a horse racing track in Sallisaw. It started in the 1960s. Horse racing with betting became legal in 1982, and the first race with betting happened in 1984. This brought more business to the area for a while.
Later, the popularity of the track went down. The Choctaw Nation bought it in 2003. They tried to make it more popular by adding other activities. However, it still struggled and closed in 2010. The Cherokee Nation later bought the property in 2003. They are thinking about what to do with the land in the future.
Manufacturing
One of the main manufacturing businesses in Sallisaw has been BorgWarner Morse Tech. This company makes car parts and plastic foam packing materials.
Education in Sallisaw
Sallisaw has several public schools for students. These include Liberty Elementary, Eastside Elementary, and Sallisaw Middle School. The main high school is Sallisaw High School, located on West Ruth Avenue.
For higher education, Sallisaw has a branch of Carl Albert State College. There is also a campus of Indian Capital Technology Center.
The Stanley Tubbs Memorial Library is a local library branch. It is in a historic building that used to be the Sallisaw railroad station.
Infrastructure in Sallisaw
The main hospital in Sallisaw is Northeastern Health Systems Sequoyah. It used to be called Sequoyah Memorial Hospital. The Redbird Smith Health Clinic also provides health services to the community.
Transportation in Sallisaw
Airport and Air Travel
Sallisaw has its own airport, the Sallisaw Municipal Airport (KJSV). Its main runway is 7,000 feet long. The airport is open seven days a week during the day. For commercial flights, people can use the Fort Smith Regional Airport, which is about 28 miles away.
Rail Services
Both the Union Pacific and the Kansas City Southern Railway provide freight train services in Sallisaw.
Notable People from Sallisaw
- John R. Bennett, a state representative
- Janelle Fullbright (1945–2016), a Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor
- Jack C. Montgomery (1917–2002), a United States Army officer who received the Medal of Honor
- Robert Reed, an actor from the TV show Brady Bunch, lived near Sallisaw for a time.
- Matt Wells, an American football coach
See also
In Spanish: Sallisaw (Oklahoma) para niños
