Achille, Oklahoma

Achille, Oklahoma
Town

Location of Achille, Oklahoma
Coordinates: 33°50′5″N 96°23′25″W / 33.83472°N 96.39028°WCoordinates: 33°50′5″N 96°23′25″W / 33.83472°N 96.39028°W
Country United States
State Oklahoma
County Bryan
Area
  Total 0.4 sq mi (1.0 km2)
  Land 0.4 sq mi (1.0 km2)
  Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation 669 ft (204 m)
Population (2010)
  Total 492
  Density 1,230/sq mi (492/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
  Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 74720
Area code(s) 580
FIPS code 40-00100[1]
GNIS feature ID 1089519[2]

Achille is a town in Bryan County, Oklahoma, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 492, a 2.8 percent decrease from 506 at the 2000 census.[3] The town's name comes from a Cherokee word, atsila, meaning fire.[4]

History

The area that would become Achille was originally part of the Chickasaw Nation in Indian Territory. The Bloomfield Academy for Chickasaw girls was located three miles southeast of present-day Achille in 1853.[4] Cherokee refugees located to the area during the American Civil War and called it "atsila" meaning fire.[4]

The Missouri, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad built a line that crossed the region in 1908 and a post office was established in the community in 1910.[4] The community grew from an estimated population of 50 to 500 in 1920.[4] The town's population had declined to 294 in 1960 and reached a peak number of 506 in 2000.[4]

Geography

Achille is located in southern Bryan County, Oklahoma, 12 miles south of Durant at 33°50′5″N 96°23′25″W / 33.83472°N 96.39028°W (33.834640, -96.390185).[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2), all of it land.

Schools

Achille served by the Achille Independent School District and is home to three schools, the Yuba Elementary School, the Achille Elementary School, and Achille High School. The Golden Eagles of Achille High School participate in the Bryan County Conference. The current superintendent of the district is Rick Beene, following the resignation of Dr. Charles Caughern Jr on September 30, 2010.

Achille High School students scored poorly in math on the Oklahoma end-of-instruction tests, with only 27 percent scoring satisfactory or above in Algebra II compared to the state's 52 percent average.[6] On the other hand, 94 percent of the school's students tested satisfactory or above in English III.,[6] well above the state average.

The school district includes 167 square miles. For the 2011 to 2012 school year there are 396 students enrolled.[7]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1920500
1930383−23.4%
1940356−7.0%
19503837.6%
1960294−23.2%
197038229.9%
2000506
2010492−2.8%
Achille in 1914

As of the census of 2010, there were 492 people residing in the town.[8] The population density was 1,230 people per square mile (492/km²). There were 213 housing units at an average density of 552 per square mile (211/km²).[8] The racial makeup of the town was 71.34% White, 0.20% African American, 22.33% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.40% from other races, and 5.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.59% of the population.

There were 188 households, out of which 63 (33.5%) included children under the age of 18, 82 (43.6%) were married couples living together, 36 (19.1%) consisted of a female householder with no husband present, 16 (8.5%) consisted of a male householder with no wife present, and 54 (28.7%) were non-families.[9] Households made up of a single individual living alone accounted for 46 (24.5%) of households, and 58 (30.9%) households consisted of someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[9] The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.10.[9]

In the town, the population was spread out with 25% under the age of 18, 10% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older.[9] The median age was 36.8 years.[9] For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $28,333,[10] and the median income for a family was $24,000. Males had a median income of $21,190 versus $14,904 for females. The per capita income for the town was $11,324. 17.4% of the population were below the poverty line.[10] 39.6% of those under the age of 18 and 9.8% are 65 or older.

Economy

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma headquarters, casinos, and other operations are located in nearby Durant and serve as a major employer in the region. Agriculture and tourism are both important industries.

References

  1. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. CensusViewer:Achille, Oklahoma
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Wilson, Linda D. "Achille," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Oklahoma Historical Society, 2009. Accessed April 15, 2015.
  5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. 6.0 6.1 2005-2006 test results at Greatschools.org (accessed May 7, 2010)
  7. "Achille Eagles". Achille ISD. Retrieved 2012-03-06.
  8. 8.0 8.1 "2010 City Population and Housing Occupancy Status". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data, U.S. Census. (accessed via American FactFinder search of Achille town, Oklahoma on October 18, 2013)
  10. 10.0 10.1 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, U.S. Census. (accessed via American FactFinder search of Achille town, Oklahoma on October 18, 2013)

External links