| Official Name: | Tushka, Oklahoma |
| Settlement Type: | Town |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Oklahoma |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Atoka |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 1.96 |
| Area Land Km2: | 1.96 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.00 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 0.76 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 0.76 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.00 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 413 |
| Population Density Km2: | 210.76 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 545.57 |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Elevation Ft: | 614 |
| Coordinates: | 34.3186°N -96.1672°W |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 40-75250[2] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 2413406 |
Tushka is a town in Atoka County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 413 as of the 2020 Census,[3] a 32.4% increase over the 312 reported at the 2010 census.[4]
In 1872, the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railway (Katy) built a track five miles south of Atoka in Atoka County, Choctaw Nation in the Indian Territory and created a settlement which it called Peck Switch, Indian Territory. The first post office was established in 1903. The name was changed to Lewis in 1905, honoring the first postmaster, Charles Lewis. In 1909, the community was renamed Dayton, but was changed during the same year to the present Tushka. Tushka is a Choctaw word meaning "warrior".[5]
Tushka was first incorporated in 1915, but disincorporated after 15 years. There were 248 residents at the 1920 census. A fire destroyed most of the town during the Great Depression. During World War II, many of the remaining residents moved to California for work and never returned. The town incorporated again in 1968. Its population had recovered to 230 in 1970.[5]
Tushka was hit by a tornado on April 14, 2011, causing damage to much of the town, including the school, and causing two deaths.[6]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.7sqmi, of which 0.7sqmi is land and 0.04sqmi (2.70%) is water.
Tushka is located along U.S. Highway 69/75.[7]
As of the census of 2000, there were 345 people, 139 households, and 94 families residing in the town. The population density was 479.2sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 162 housing units at an average density of 225sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the town was 72.46% White, 19.71% Native American, 0.29% from other races, and 7.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.03% of the population.
There were 139 households, out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples living together, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.5% under the age of 18, 12.5% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $17,404, and the median income for a family was $26,250. Males had a median income of $18,438 versus $15,357 for females. The per capita income for the town was $10,547. About 19.8% of families and 17.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.9% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.