Eufaula, Oklahoma

Eufaula, Oklahoma
City
Motto: "Where Pride Creates Progress"
Location of Eufaula shown in Oklahoma
Coordinates: 35°17′31″N 95°35′12″W / 35.29194°N 95.58667°W / 35.29194; -95.58667Coordinates: 35°17′31″N 95°35′12″W / 35.29194°N 95.58667°W / 35.29194; -95.58667
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
County	McIntosh
Area
• Total	9.6 sq mi (24.9 km2)
• Land	6.6 sq mi (17.2 km2)
• Water	3.0 sq mi (7.8 km2)
Elevation	617 ft (188 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	2,813
• Density	397.8/sq mi (153.6/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes	74432, 74461
Area code(s)	539/918
FIPS code	40-24650[1]
GNIS feature ID	1092651[2]
Website	http://www.cityofeufaulaok.com

Eufaula is a city in McIntosh County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,813 at the 2010 census, an increase of 6.6 percent from 2,639 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of McIntosh County^[3].

Geography

Eufaula is located at 35°17′31″N 95°35′12″W / 35.29194°N 95.58667°W / 35.29194; -95.58667 (35.291895, -95.586528)^[4].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.6 square miles (25 km²), of which 6.6 square miles (17 km²) is land and 3.0 square miles (7.8 km²) (31.15%) is water.

Eufaula is home to Lake Eufaula, the largest lake contained entirely within the state of Oklahoma because of the Eufaula Dam. Lake Eufaula contains Standing Rock, an historical monument which can no longer be seen since the creation of the lake.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 2,639 people, 1,150 households, and 663 families residing in the city. The population density was 397.8 people per square mile (153.7/km²). There were 1,468 housing units at an average density of 221.3 per square mile (85.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 66.46% White, 17.92% Native American, 7.43% African American, 1.21% Hispanic or Latino of any race, 0.30% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races. Respondents of two or more races represented 7.58% of the population.

There were 1,150 households out of which 21.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.3% were non-families. 38.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 25.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the city the population was spread out with 20.8% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 20.0% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 29.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 81.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $20,547, and the median income for a family was $28,871. Males had a median income of $25,673 versus $19,405 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,521. About 20.9% of families and 27.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.4% of those under age 18 and 17.8% of those age 65 or over.

History

The area surrounding Eufaula Lake has a colorful history, recalling such notorious characters as Belle Starr and the James-Younger Gang, who used the area north of the dam as their hideout.^{[5] [citation needed]}

Eufaula, the county seat of McIntosh County, is located in the southern part of the county, on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, not far from the Canadian River.

The name "Eufaula" comes from the Eufaula tribe, part of the Muscogee Creek Confederacy, whose tribal jurisdictional area the town falls under today. As early as the year 1800, the Muscogee Creeks had a town of that name, on Eufaula Creek, near the present site of Talladega, Alabama. It was one of their early Upper Creek towns. Pickett's History of Alabama mentions an Indian town, belonging to the Creeks, which he calls Eufaulahatche. Little Eufauly is mentioned by one of the historians as early as 1792. Another upper creek town called Eufaula, was located on the Tallapoosa River, near the present town of Dadeville, Alabama. Another Eufaula, known as a lower creek town, was located on the east bank of the Chattahoochee River, within the limits of the present County of Quitman in the State of Georgia. In 1799 some of the Indians of this settlement went down to the mouth of Flint River and established another town of the same name. And still another lower creek town, called Eufaula, was located on the Chattahoochee River, in Henry County, Alabama.

Eufaula began to develop into a town soon after the arrival of the railroad in 1872, although for forty years before that time it was a well-known Indian center, a favorite meeting place for the Creeks. Many of the pow-wows or Indian conferences were held in that vicinity during the early days. The old Indian settlement of that name was, however, several miles from the present site of the town, but through the influence of G. W. Grayson, the present Chief of the Creeks, his brother Samuel, George Stidham and others, the Railroad Company was induced to locate one of its stations at the present site of the town and the old Indian village was moved to the station. D. B. Whitlow and Joseph Coody established the first store on the west side of the railroad and the Graysons and G. E. Seales started a store on the east side about the same time. Dr. W. H. Bailey was the first physician and druggist to locate in the new town. Rev. R. C. McGee, a Presbyterian missionary, established one of the first churches in Eufaula and remained in charge of it for many years. The old Asbury Mission School, located two miles northeast of Eufaula was, for many years previous to the Civil war, the leading educational institution of that vicinity. It served the Creek people faithfully, but was finally destroyed by fire.

Some of the most prominent citizens of the Creek Nation have resided in or near Eufaula, among whom were the two Graysons, George W. and his brother, Samuel. Samuel was an intelligent Indian, deeply interested in the educational welfare of his people. He resided in that vicinity for many years, and was extensively engaged in cattle raising and merchandising. His death occurred in Eufaula in the early 2000s.

George W. Grayson George W. Grayson, the late Chief of the Creek Nation who died recently at about seventy-eight years of age, was over six feet in height, and notwithstanding his advanced age, was as straight as an arrow. He was born near Eufaula and had resided in the Creek Nation from his birth. He attended school at the old Asbury Mission in his youth and later attended the University of Arkansas. He acquired a good English education and so thoroughly learned the Creek language, that his services as an interpreter have been in frequent demand. He had given much of his time to his people having served for several terms in the Creek Council, and having made frequent trips to Washington as the Creek delegate.^[6][7]

Charles Gibson Charley Gibson was a well-known Creek citizen who spent his whole life in the vicinity of Eufaula. He was born in 1846, on a farm near Eufaula, and although his opportunities for securing an education were very limited, he acquired a good practical education. Upon reaching manhood he engaged in the mercantile business, first as a clerk in Grayson's store, then as the proprietor of a grocery. During the latter part of his life he acquired quite a reputation as a local news correspondent and his inimitable style of composition made him popular with the newspaper fraternity. He was a generous-hearted man and interested in the welfare of his people, as was proven by the fact that he reared and educated several Creek orphans. Source: 1

C. E. Foley

C. E. Foley

Among the early white settlers, no one has stood higher in the estimation of the citizens of Eufaula, than Mr. C. E. Foley. He showed his faith in the future of the town by organizing a bank, building a hotel, and in promoting various other enterprises. His kindheartedness and his public spiritedness have caused him to be regarded as everybody's friend.^[8][9]

Alexander Posey

Alexander Posey

Alex Posey was another Creek, native of Eufaula, who attained considerable local prominence as a writer, both of prose and poetry. He first saw the light of day on August 23, 1873. He grew up on a farm, and after attending the crude day schools of that period, he attended the Bacone College at Muskogee. He was a typical Indian in appearance.' His long, black hair, his characteristic Indian complexion, his straight manly bearing and genteel manners, gave him a close resemblance of the ideal type of the noble red man. He was a persistent reader and student, well informed in matters of general, as well as of local interest. He was fond of writing both prose and poetry and a collection of his poems was printed some years ago, in book form. He adopted the nom-de-plume of "Chumubbie Harjo" in his writings and his prose productions were usually in artificial imitation of a fullblood's style of English. He was interested in the education of his people and for several years served as superintendent of the Creek Boarding School at Eufaula. He died several years ago while yet in the prime of life. Source: 1

Harmon Davis playing steel guitar

Harmon C. Davis grew up in rural Oklahoma. His family was always musically inclined, so he naturally learned how to play the guitar at a young age in his life. Later on, he learned to play the steel guitar, and mastered the instrument. He played in his brothers bluegrass band, Olen and The Bluegrass Traveler's, every weekend on his radio station, KCES FM. Harmon Davis had the first radio station in Southeastern Oklahoma. It was KCES FM. The station survived from the mid fifties until about 1999 when he sold the station to KFOX FM. The radio station was very important to the small town and was the Lake Eufaula Giant, the voice could be heard all over lake Eufaula by turning into the station 102.3.

Olen Davis

Olen Davis was inducted into the America's Old Time Country Hall of Fame (Iowa) in 2013.

J. C. Watts J. C. Watts (born November 18, 1957) is an American politician from Eufaula, Oklahoma who was a college football quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners and professionally in the Canadian Football League.

Schools

The settlers of Eufaula demonstrated their interest in education by erecting a school on the east side of the railroad, and establishing a free school by voluntary taxation, before there was any law authorizing the levy of taxes for school purposes. As soon as the Curtis Act was passed by Congress, Eufaula took advantage of it by levying taxes and starting to build up a first class public school system, and to make other needed public improvements. The city now has paved streets, a splendid "White Way," five brick and stone schoolhouses, seven churches, a large cotton oil mill, light and ice plant, well built and attractive business blocks, three parks, a fine waterworks and sewage system, four banks, two hotels, the three story brick boarding school for Creek girls and an abundance of natural gas for domestic and commercial purposes. There is also a very active civic club whose purpose is to make the town a better place to live in, rather than to increase its numbers, an ambition which is concurred in generally by the 3,000 prosperous and contented people who live here. Source: 1

Jefferson Highway When the Jefferson Highway was first located through Eufaula the only way of crossing the South Canadian River, about four miles below the town, was by means of a rather uncertain ferry, and the citizens of Eufaula, feeling the great need of a good bridge across the river, incorporated- The Jefferson Highway Bridge Company, and at a cost of almost a quarter of a million dollars, built the present splendid structure of steel and concrete, forty feet above low water; affording a 365 day crossing throughout the year. Already the traffic over this bridge, which was opened for use April 21, 1920, bids fair to justify the large expenditure upon it and it is rapidly becoming one of the notable landmarks of the neighborhood. Source: 1

Media

Newspaper

Indian Journal The first issue of the Indian Journal was published in 1876 and is thought to be one of the first newspapers published in Indian Territory(OK). Famous people who worked for the "Indian Journal" include Alexander Posey. This paper is still a working newspaper. One of the first Masonic lodges in Indian Territory was organized here and the city claims as many thirty-second degree Masons as any other town of its size in the state.^[10] source: 1

Notable people

• Andy Livingston, former professional American football running back in the NFL, played for the Chicago Bears and the New Orleans Saints^[11]
• Warren Livingston, former professional American football cornerback, played six seasons for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League^[12]

• Selmon Brothers, Leroy, Dewey and Lucious Selmon Played football at OU. Leroy was elected to NFL Hall of Fame.
• Tsianina Redfeather Blackstone, American opera singer.

In popular culture

• The TV Show, “Dirty Jobs” filmed in Eufaula for Catfish Noodling on Season 2, Episode 9 called, “Dirtiest Water Jobs.” Original air date was December 20, 2005.

Source: 5

• Eufaula Ironheads were mentioned on Carrie Underwood song I Ain't in Checotah Anymore. They were said to be beaten by the Wildcats.

• The Eufaula Mayor Speeches were on March 8, 2011, Tuesday at the Eufaula High School Auditorium. Also includes city council delegates. Source:Recorded Mayor Speeches of 2011

References

Further reading

• Lake Eufaula Reflections book ISBN 0-89865-853-5 ISBN 9780898658538 Publisher: Friends of the Eufaula Memorial Library - 1992

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eufaula, Oklahoma.

• Eufaula City Hall
• Eufaula Chamber of Commerce
• Eufaula Area Arts
• Lake Eufala website
• Eufaula Memorial Library
• Eufaula Public Schools District Website
• Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Eufaula
• Eufaula information, photos and videos on TravelOK.com Official travel and tourism website for the State of Oklahoma

v t e Municipalities and communities of McIntosh County, Oklahoma, United States County seat: Eufaula Cities Checotah Eufaula Towns Hanna Hitchita Rentiesville Stidham CDPs Duchess Landing Shady Grove Texanna Unincorporated communities Bond Brush Hill Fame Lenna Mellette Onapa Pierce Shady Grove Texanna Vernon Vivian