Arkoma, Oklahoma Explained

Official Name:Arkoma, Oklahoma
Settlement Type:Town
Mapsize:250px
Pushpin Map:Oklahoma#USA
Pushpin Label:Arkoma
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Oklahoma
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:LeFlore
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:9.11
Area Land Km2:9.00
Area Water Km2:0.12
Area Total Sq Mi:3.52
Area Land Sq Mi:3.47
Area Water Sq Mi:0.04
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:1806
Population Density Km2:200.75
Population Density Sq Mi:519.86
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Ft:423
Coordinates:35.3375°N -94.4439°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:74901
Area Codes:539/918
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:40-02650[2]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:2411644

Arkoma is a town in LeFlore County, Oklahoma, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,989 at the 2010 census, a decline from 2,180 in 2000. The name of the town is a portmanteau of Arkansas and Oklahoma. Throughout its history, Arkoma has served as a "bedroom community" because many residents commuted to work in Fort Smith.[3]

History

The community of Arkoma was established circa 1911 on land owned by Captain James Reynolds, a Civil War veteran who had married into the Choctaw Nation. He chose to turn his property into a suburb of Fort Smith. He built houses to rent. He persuaded the Fort Smith Light and Traction Company to construct tracks and operate an electric trolley route to his new community. The streetcar line ceased operating in 1917.[3]

Arkoma was incorporated as a town in 1946.

Geography

Arkoma is located on the same side of the Arkansas River as Fort Smith, Arkansas,[3] and is bounded by the Poteau River to the west and north, and the Arkansas-Oklahoma state line to the east.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.6sqmi, of which 3.5sqmi is land and 0.1sqmi (2.23%) is water.

Arkoma enjoys a temperate climate with often mild winters and hot summers.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,989 people living in the town.[4] The population density was 620.7sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 975 housing units at an average density of 277.6/mi2. The racial makeup of the town was 89.22% White, 0.41% African American, 5.78% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.87% from other races, and 3.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.83% of the population.

There were 877 households, out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.4% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.0% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.6% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $23,718, and the median income for a family was $31,500. Males had a median income of $24,200 versus $17,104 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,467. About 17.0% of families and 20.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.8% of those under age 18 and 18.0% of those age 65 or over.

References

  1. Web site: ArcGIS REST Services Directory. United States Census Bureau. September 20, 2022.
  2. Web site: U.S. Census website . . January 31, 2008 .
  3. http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=AR013 Larry O'Dell, "Arkoma", Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.
  4. Web site: 2010 City Population and Housing Occupancy Status . U.S. Census Bureau . October 18, 2013 .

External links