Whitefield, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Whitefield, Oklahoma
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 Whitefield, Oklahoma
Location in Oklahoma
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Haskell |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.87 sq mi (4.85 km2) |
| • Land | 1.71 sq mi (4.42 km2) |
| • Water | 0.16 sq mi (0.42 km2) |
| Elevation | 548 ft (167 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 371 |
| • Density | 217.21/sq mi (83.89/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
74472
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| Area code(s) | 539/918 |
| FIPS code | 40-80800 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2413479 |
Whitefield is a town in northwestern Haskell County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 377 in 2020. This was a small decrease from the 391 people counted in 2010. The town was named after George Whitefield, an important Methodist bishop who lived from 1714 to 1770.
Contents
History of Whitefield
When Whitefield was first settled, it was part of the Choctaw Nation in what was then called the Indian Territory. This was a special area set aside for Native American tribes.
Early Beginnings
Whitefield's story began during the American Civil War. In 1861, the Confederate Army set up a place called Camp Pike there. About 2,000 Confederate soldiers stayed at this camp.
The camp was named after Albert Pike. He was a Confederate Brigadier General. He convinced the Five Civilized Tribes to join with the Confederacy.
From Camp to Trading Post
After the Civil War ended, Camp Pike changed. It became a trading post for the Choctaw people. The trading post and the area around it were first called Oklahoma, Indian Territory.
Many people used this trading post. It served members of the Choctaw tribe. White settlers who had permission to farm on Choctaw land also visited. Sometimes, people hiding from the law in the mountains would also come.
Naming the Town
The Post Office wanted to change the name of the settlement. There was already another post office called Oklahoma Station. This caused confusion.
In 1888, the people living there voted. They chose the name Whitefield for their settlement and post office. The post office had first opened in 1881 as Oklahoma, Indian Territory. It was renamed Whitefield on November 27, 1888.
Growth and Changes
Whitefield mainly existed to support nearby farms. By 1911, about 500 people lived there. The town had two grocery stores and two general stores. There was also a cotton gin and mill, a drugstore, a doctor, and a blacksmith.
By 1920, the population was around 300. The number of people living in Whitefield dropped a lot during the Great Depression. Whitefield officially became an incorporated town in 1978. Its first official count in 1980 showed 240 people. Since then, the population has generally grown.
Geography of Whitefield
Whitefield is located in the northwestern part of Haskell County. It sits on high ground south of the Canadian River.
Roads and Highways
Two main roads meet in the center of Whitefield. These are Oklahoma State Highways 2 and 9. OK-2 goes north for about 16 miles. It leads to Interstate 40 near Warner. OK-2 also goes south for 10 miles to Kinta.
OK-9 goes east for 6 miles to Stigler. Stigler is the main town of Haskell County. OK-9 also goes west for 23 miles to Eufaula.
Land and Water Area
The United States Census Bureau measures the town's size. Whitefield has a total area of about 4.8 square kilometers. Most of this is land, about 4.4 square kilometers. The rest is water, which is about 0.4 square kilometers. This means about 8.81% of the town's area is water.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1980 | 240 | — | |
| 1990 | 253 | 5.4% | |
| 2000 | 231 | −8.7% | |
| 2010 | 391 | 69.3% | |
| 2020 | 371 | −5.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In the year 2000, there were 231 people living in Whitefield. These people lived in 99 households, and 73 of these were families. There were about 94 people per square mile. The town had 110 housing units.
Most of the people in Whitefield were White (77.92%). About 12.99% were Native American. A small number (0.43%) were Asian. About 8.66% of the people were from two or more races.
Households and Families
Out of 99 households, 27.3% had children under 18 living with them. Most households (61.6%) were married couples living together. About 10.1% had a female head of household with no husband. About 25.3% were not families.
Almost a quarter (24.2%) of all households were single individuals. About 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. On average, each household had 2.33 people. Families had an average of 2.74 people.
Age and Income
The population in Whitefield was spread out by age. About 22.1% were under 18. About 6.5% were between 18 and 24. The largest group, 26.4%, was between 25 and 44. About 28.1% were between 45 and 64. Lastly, 16.9% were 65 or older. The average age in the town was 41 years.
The average income for a household in Whitefield was $21,389. For a family, the average income was $33,125. Men earned an average of $26,786. Women earned an average of $15,000. The average income per person in the town was $14,306. About 15.7% of families and 23.2% of all people lived below the poverty line. This included 27.5% of those under 18 and 33.3% of those 65 or older.
How Whitefield is Governed
Whitefield has a Mayor and Trustees form of government. This means the town is run by a Mayor and a group of Trustees.
Town Leaders
The people who currently help run the town are:
- Mayor - Larry McGuire
- Trustee - Jimmy Wixom
- Trustee - Jorge Sosa
- Trustee - Carolene Underwood
- Trustee - Deborah Glanz
Town Departments
The town also has departments that handle daily tasks:
- Town Clerk/Treasurer - Royce Alverson
- Sewer Manager - Chris Fraley
