Adair, Oklahoma

Adair, Oklahoma
Town
A farm in Adair, Oklahoma
Location of Adair, Oklahoma
Coordinates: 36°26′13″N 95°15′45″W / 36.43694°N 95.26250°W / 36.43694; -95.26250Coordinates: 36°26′13″N 95°15′45″W / 36.43694°N 95.26250°W / 36.43694; -95.26250
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
County	Mayes
Area
• Total	4.5 sq mi (11.7 km2)
• Land	4.5 sq mi (11.7 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	682 ft (208 m)
Population (2010)[1]
• Total	790
• Density	180/sq mi (68/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	74330
Area code(s)	539/918
FIPS code	40-00250[2]
GNIS feature ID	1089525[3]

Adair is a town in Mayes County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 790 at the 2010 census, compared to 704 at the 2000 census.^[4] Named for two prominent Cherokee brothers, the town was established in 1883 and opened a Cherokee school.^[5]

History

Adair is named after two Cherokee brothers, William Penn Adair and Dr. Walter Thompson Adair.^[5] It was established on March 15, 1883, and incorporated in 1897.^[5] William Penn Adair lived in the area off and on for 17 years beginning in the late 1860s.^[6]

In the 1880s, a Cherokee school was started, and opened up to white students around the time of Oklahoma statehood in 1907.^[5]

Dalton Gang Train Robbery

In what was their most daring deed to date, on Thursday July 14, 1892, eight members of the Dalton Gang held up the Missouri-Kansas-Texas train at Adair, I.T.

As the train approached, four men approached the night operator at the station and ordered him to "flag down" the train. As the train pulled to a stand-still two members of the gang boarded the engine while the others covered the conductor and train men. The station operator was taken to the express car, where he ordered the messenger inside to open up. When the messenger refused, the train's fireman was ordered to break open the door with his pick. Once inside the bandits were quick in rifling the safe of its contents.

Unknown to the gang was the special detachment of eight railroad guards that was on the train. In command was J. J. Kinney, chief of railroad detectives and Capt. J. H. LaFlore, chief of the Cherokee Indian police. Upon seeing that the robbery was happening the guards unloaded from the train on the east side of the train - the opposite side of the depot. Several of the bandits had been positioned on that side and a brief gun battle took place.

With their work in the train finished and the gun battle ensuing, the bandits proceeded to make their get-away. With bullets whistling about, the bandits made their way down through town. Doctors W. L. Goff and Youngblood had been sitting on the porch of the drug store near the depot. Both men were hit by stray shots several times. Dr Goff's wound proved to be fatal.

Also wounded were Capt. Kinney and Capt. LaFlore. Their wounds were not serious and both men recovered.

The railroad and express company promptly offered rewards "for the capture and conviction" of $5,000 for each participant in the robbery.^[7]

Geography

Adair lies 10 miles (16 km) north of Pryor, Oklahoma on U.S. Highway 69 in Mayes County, Oklahoma.^[5] The city lies in the northeastern portion of the state known as "Green Country"^[8] and is not far from the borders of Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas. Adair's geographic coordinates are 36°26′13″N 95°15′45″W / 36.43694°N 95.26250°W / 36.43694; -95.26250 (36.436910, -95.262546)^[9] with an elevation of 640 ft (200 m) above sea level. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.5 square miles (12 km²), all of it land.

Climate

Adair sees more sunny days than the average U.S. city and a great deal less snowfall.^[10] Late spring is the wettest time of the year for the city, while winter is the driest.

Demographics

As of the 2010 census, Adair had a population of 790.^[1] The population density was 180 people per square mile (68/km²). The town's 315 housing units were dispersed at an average density of 70 per square mile (27/km²).^[1] The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 72.4% white, 0.1% black or African American, 18.9% Native American, 0.6% reporting some other race and 8.0% reporting two or more races. 3.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.^[14]

There were 272 households out of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.8% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the town the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,250, and the median income for a family was $38,500. Males had a median income of $31,313 versus $17,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,388. About 10.5% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.2% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Adair is served by the Adair Independent School District.

Born in Adair

• Evelyn Varden (1893-1958), film and stage actress (The Bad Seed, The Night of the Hunter)

See also

• Samuel Houston Mayes

References

External links

• Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Adair

Municipalities and communities of Mayes County, Oklahoma, United States County seat: Pryor Creek City Pryor Creek Towns Adair Chouteau Disney Grand Lake Towne Hoot Owl Langley Locust Grove Pensacola Salina Spavinaw Sportsmen Acres Strang CDPs Ballou Cedar Crest Iron Post Kenwood‡ Mazie Murphy Pin Oak Acres Pump Back Rose Sams Corner Snake Creek Sportsmen Acres Community Wickliffe Unincorporated communities Boatman Cedar Crest Mazie Murphy Paradise View Patton Pin Oaks Acres Tiajuana Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties