Carnegie, Oklahoma

Carnegie, Oklahoma
Town
The Carnegie Liberty Theatre in Carnegie
Location of Carnegie, Oklahoma
Coordinates: 35°06′09″N 98°35′58″W / 35.1023847°N 98.5994960°W / 35.1023847; -98.5994960Coordinates: 35°06′09″N 98°35′58″W / 35.1023847°N 98.5994960°W / 35.1023847; -98.5994960
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
County	Caddo
Town founded	1903
Government
• Town Board of Trustees	Mayor James Powers Vice-Mayor Wesley Taylor Members Marilyn Schnabel Johnnie Goergen Angela Dodson
• Other city officials	Town Clerk Debbie Clinton Town Treasurer Judy Patterson Town Judge Jim Hines
Area
• Total	1.37 sq mi (3.55 km2)
• Land	1.37 sq mi (3.55 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	1,312 ft (400 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	1,723
• Density	1,300/sq mi (490/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	73015
Area code(s)	580
FIPS code	40-12050[1]
GNIS feature ID	1090977[2]
Website	www.carnegieok.gov

Carnegie is a town in Caddo County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,723 at the 2010 census, a 1.7 percent decline from 1,752 at the 2000 census.^[3]

History and culture

Carnegie was named after the famous Scottish American philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie. The original name of the town was Latham. The town was originally platted as North and South Latham. North Latham was north of the Washita River, while South Latham lwas south of the river. North Latham was really intended to be the commercial hub, but was never developed.^[4] The Rock Island Railroad was supposed to go along the north side of the river. The railroad was relocated along the south bank of the Washita. So South Latham became the commercial hub. North Latham withered and/or was never developed. It was standard procedure to locate a railroad where the land owner paid the largest bribe to the owner of the railroad. We have lost enough history to be unable to determine if this were the case. It was not illegal.

Leaders of the town decided shortly after incorporation in 1903 to rename the town Carnegie in the hopes he would build a library there.^{[lower-alpha 1]} Although the town has a library, Andrew Carnegie never built one there. Of note, there is unofficially a "Carnegie Hall", known more properly as the Carnegie Memorial Auditorium, where community events are held. While currently on hiatus, for several years there was an annual "Stars of Carnegie Hall" talent show showcases individuals across the region and state in a local talent show, in which both local and regional talent are represented.

Carnegie High School has won three state titles in boys basketball (1988,1992,1996), as well as three titles in girls cross country (2002,2003,2004). Carnegie High also has two won state titles in boys cross country.(1999,2000)

The Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma headquarters are located in Carnegie.

Geography

Carnegie is located at 35°6′16″N 98°36′4″W / 35.10444°N 98.60111°W / 35.10444; -98.60111 (35.104334, -98.601166).^[5] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.37 square miles (3.55 km²), all land.^[6]

The town is on the south bank of the Washita River 27 miles (43 km) west of Anadarko, Oklahoma, at the intersection of State Highways 58 and 9.^[4]

Climate

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 1,637 people, 636 households, and 429 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,468.0 people per square mile (564.3/km²). There were 774 housing units at an average density of 694.1 per square mile (266.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 64.63% White, 1.22% African American, 23.58% Native American, 8.80% from other races, and 1.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.28% of the population.

There were 636 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the town the population was spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $20,987, and the median income for a family was $24,737. Males had a median income of $21,917 versus $14,868 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,432. About 24.9% of families and 30.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.2% of those under age 18 and 18.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Carnegie is governed by a 5-member Town Board of Trustees, as authorized by the Oklahoma Constitution. Members are elected at large from within the town limits for 4-year terms. Other public officials include a Town Clerk and a Town Treasurer.^[10]

The Town of Carnegie operates and maintains a solid waste/sanitation service, and also a water and sewer service, operated through the Carnegie Public Works Authority.^[11]

The town has a 19-member volunteer fire department.^[12]

The Carnegie Tri-County Municipal Hospital Authority owns a critical-care hospital and clinic facility within the town that provides residents of the area with primary care, radiology, physical therapy, and medical laboratory services. Limited surgical services are also provided. The Carnegie Tri-County Municipal Hospital has three doctors and one nurse practitioner on staff. The hospital is managed and operated by Carnegie Tri-County Hospital Management, Inc.^[13]

The Carnegie Library Board, appointed by the Town Board of Trustees, operates a library facility for area residents, providing internet access and a large collection of books, magazines, and audio books.

Economy

Agriculture has been the basis of Carnegie's economy throughout its history. The main production has been cotton, wheat, broomcorn, cattle, hogs and poultry. Oil production replaced agriculture briefly during the 1970s, but declined in economic importance after 1980.^[4]

Community

Carnegie is home to Liberty Theater, the oldest continually operated movie theater in Oklahoma.

Carnegie is host to many community events, including the Carnegie Canna Festival, the Carnegie Tri-County Free Fair, the Carnegie Round-Up Club Rodeo, the World Championship Domino Tournament, as well as various other community events throughout the year.

Carnegie also is the home of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma, which has tribal offices located on the west edge of town.

Transportation

The Town of Carnegie operates and maintains the Carnegie Municipal Airport (Location ID: 86F). There is one asphalt runway, 35/17, 3300 ft long. There are no refueling services available at the airport.

Utilities

• Carnegie Public Works Authority provides water, sewer, and sanitation services to the town. The Oklahoma Rural Water District #3 also provides water services to outlying areas around Carnegie.
• Electric service is provided by American Electric Power Public Service Company of Oklahoma.
• Natural Gas service is provided by Oklahoma Natural Gas.
• Local telephone service, and DSL internet is provided by Carnegie Telephone Company.
• Digital Cable TV service is provided by Carnegie Cable Company.

Notable residents

• Carrie Sahmaunt (1904 - 2006), Kiowa centenarian, was born in Carnegie.^[14]

Notes

References

1. 1 2 "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:Carnegie, Oklahoma Population.
4. 1 2 3 4 Cynthia Savage, "Carnegie," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Accessed April 17, 2015.
5. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
6. ↑ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Carnegie town, Oklahoma". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved February 5, 2015. 
7. ↑ "Historical Weather for Carnegie, Oklahoma, United States". 
8. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015. 
9. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015. 
10. ↑ Town of Carnegie website "About".
11. ↑ Town of Carnegie website "Water & Sewer Service".
12. ↑ Town of Carnegie website. "Public Safety"
13. ↑ Town of Carnegie website - Hospital
14. ↑ "Carrie Sahmaunt (1904 - 2006)". Find A Grave Memorial. Retrieved 2014-10-26. 

External links

• Town of Carnegie, Oklahoma website
• Carnegie, OK Chamber of Commerce website
• Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Carnegie

Municipalities and communities of Caddo County, Oklahoma, United States County seat: Anadarko City Anadarko Towns Apache Binger Bridgeport Carnegie Cement Cyril Eakly Fort Cobb Gracemont Hinton Hydro‡ Lookeba Unincorporated communities Albert Alden Alfalfa Boone Broxton Cogar Nowhere Pine Ridge Scott‡ Sickles Spring Creek Stecker Washita Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties.