Stringtown, Oklahoma
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Stringtown, Oklahoma | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Atoka |
| Government | |
| - Chairman of the Board of Trustees | Toni Benson |
| Area | |
| - Total | 12.3 sq mi (12.3 km²) |
| - Land | 12.3 sq mi (12.3 km²) |
| - Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.1 km²) |
| Elevation | 627 ft (191 m) |
| Population (estimate, 2005) | |
| - Total | 401 |
| - Density | 83.7/sq mi (32.3/km²) |
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) |
| - Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 74569 |
| Area code(s) | 580 |
| FIPS code | 40-70850[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1098585[2] |
Stringtown is a town in Atoka County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 396 at the 2000 census. It is the second largest town in Atoka County.
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[edit] Geography
Stringtown is located at (34.468448, -96.052860)[3].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12.3 km²), of which, 4.7 square miles (12.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.42%) is water.
[edit] History
Originally named Springtown, for the natural springs that flow out of the hills the town is built upon, the current name is believed to be a corruption. Once home to a bank, theater and pub, the town has declined over the years, both economically and in population. In the past five years, small population growth and the addition of a new cafe have brought new life to the town. Annually in September, the Good Ole Days Festival celebrates the town's past with parade, cookout, and concert.
On August 5, 1932, while Bonnie Parker was visiting her mother, Clyde Barrow and two associates were drinking alcohol at a dance in Stringtown (illegal under Prohibition). When they were approached by sheriff C. G. Maxwell and his deputy, Clyde opened fire, killing deputy Eugene C. Moore. That was the first killing of a lawman by what was later known as the Barrow Gang, a total which would eventually amount to nine slain officers.
In the late 1960s, a tornado touched down in the town directly on top of the (then) recently built Community Center, now the Senior Citizen's Center. The tornado was only on the ground for a few seconds, but during that time the building was almost completely destroyed. This was an unusual occurrence for a tornado to touch down in the town itself, given its being situated between two chains of steep hills.
The nearby Mack Alford State Penitentiary is a large source of employment in the county. It was an internment camp for enemy POW's in World War II.
Despite its small size, Stringtown (2003 pop. est. 401) is the second-largest town in Atoka County, behind Atoka (pop. est. 3,100) and ahead of Tushka (pop. est. 350).
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 396 people, 166 households, and 113 families residing in the town. The population density was 83.7 people per square mile (32.3/km²). There were 217 housing units at an average density of 45.9/sq mi (17.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 69.95% White, 11.36% African American, 10.35% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.25% Pacific Islander, and 7.83% from two or more races.
There were 166 households out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 21.2% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 103.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $20,536, and the median income for a family was $22,614. Males had a median income of $19,643 versus $14,861 for females. The per capita income for the town was $9,612. About 15.1% of families and 25.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.0% of those under age 18 and 30.9% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
- Stringtown, Oklahoma is at coordinates Coordinates:
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