Spavinaw, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Spavinaw, Oklahoma
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Location of Spavinaw, Oklahoma
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Mayes |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.41 sq mi (1.07 km2) |
| • Land | 0.41 sq mi (1.07 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 705 ft (215 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 350 |
| • Density | 845.41/sq mi (326.51/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
74366
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| Area code(s) | 539/918 |
| FIPS code | 40-69050 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2413314 |
Spavinaw is a small town in Mayes County, Oklahoma, in the United States. In 2020, about 350 people lived there. The town is famous for being the hometown of baseball legend Mickey Mantle. It is also known for nearby Lake Spavinaw, which provides water for the big city of Tulsa.
Contents
History of Spavinaw
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The town of Spavinaw gets its name from Spavinaw Creek. French traders and explorers gave the creek its name in the 1700s. The name comes from old French words that described the color of certain oak trees growing there in the spring.
The first person to settle here was Lewis Rogers in 1829. He built a mill, a place to make alcohol, and a salt works. In 1839, the Eastern Cherokee people started moving into this area, which was then called Indian Territory. The Cherokee council made it illegal to operate alcohol distilleries. They took away Rogers' distillery and salt works, which had already been damaged by a flood.
In 1846, a man named Jacob Croft, who was on his way to Utah, decided to stay in Spavinaw. He was hired to fix the mill. Later, in 1855, some Mormon missionaries arrived and started converting Cherokee and Creek people. They encouraged the new converts to move to Utah. Lewis Rogers complained to the Cherokee council about this. In October 1856, the Cherokee Chief John Ross ordered all Mormons to leave the Cherokee Nation.
After the Civil War, Joseph "Greenbrier Joe" Lynch took over the mill and salt works. He had saved enough money to buy a lot of land. The community that grew around his businesses was first called Lynch's Mill. In October 1878, the community's name was changed to Spavinaw Mills.
Lake Spavinaw and the New Town
In the 1920s, the city of Tulsa started a big project to get water from Spavinaw. They built the Spavinaw Dam, which created Lake Spavinaw from Spavinaw Creek. This project covered the old site of Spavinaw Mills with water. Because of this, the people living there had to move a short distance away and start a new town, which they also called Spavinaw.
Geography of Spavinaw
Spavinaw is a town located in Oklahoma. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town covers an area of about 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2). All of this area is land. The town is also home to Lake Spavinaw, which is the main water source for the city of Tulsa.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1940 | 255 | — | |
| 1950 | 213 | −16.5% | |
| 1960 | 319 | 49.8% | |
| 1970 | 470 | 47.3% | |
| 1980 | 623 | 32.6% | |
| 1990 | 432 | −30.7% | |
| 2000 | 563 | 30.3% | |
| 2010 | 437 | −22.4% | |
| 2020 | 350 | −19.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, Spavinaw had 437 people. Most of the people living there were white (59.3%). About 27.9% were Native American, and 9.2% reported being from two or more races. About 4.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Education in Spavinaw
Most of the students in Spavinaw go to schools in the Jay Public Schools district. A small part of the town is in the Adair Public Schools district.
Famous People from Spavinaw
- Mickey Mantle (1931–1995) was a very famous professional baseball player. He played his entire career (1951–1968) for the New York Yankees. He is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time.
- Audra Smoke-Conner (born 1968) was a tribal councilor for the Cherokee Nation from 2003 to 2007.
See also
In Spanish: Spavinaw (Oklahoma) para niños
