Allen, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Allen is a town in Hughes
and Pontotoc
counties in the U.S. state
of Oklahoma
. The population was 951 at the 2000 census
.
, which is the county seat of Pontotoc County.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.4 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 951 people, 384 households, and 248 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,042.1 people per square mile (403.5/km²). There were 445 housing units at an average density of 487.6 per square mile (188.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 77.29% White, 0.42% African American, 14.30% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.95% from other races
, and 6.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.00% of the population.
There were 384 households out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples
living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.8% 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 3.03.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $22,632, and the median income for a family was $26,845. Males had a median income of $21,739 versus $17,500 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $10,928. About 16.6% of families and 20.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.2% of those under age 18 and 23.4% of those age 65 or over.
, Indian Territory
in 1882 from Gainesville
, Texas
, led by Confederate Army veteran Doctor John Trigg Gilmore, his wife, Elizabeth Louise Oliveaux, their children, and relatives William and George McCall, with their respective families. They first settled in Cold Springs, northwest of the present townsite, where other settlers soon joined them. The first log cabin was built in Allen in 1883, and this building was used as both a school and church. The town was named after the son of deputy United States marshal William McCall.
In 1892, Dr. Gilmore became Allen's first postmaster and founded the town's first Masonic Lodge
two years later.
The Missouri, Oklahoma, and Gulf Railway built a line through the area in 1909, although it bypassed Allen, by a half-mile.
Allen became a boomtown
in 1913, when an oil well was drilled west of the town. The population rose from 645 in 1910 to 1,389 in 1930, but dropped to 907 in 1970. It's principal industries besides petroleum
are ranching and agriculture.
The Allen Advocate is a weekly newspaper published on Thursday in Allen.. The newspaper is published by the Robinson Publishing Company, founded in 1982, by Bill and Dayna Robinson. The company also publishes the Coalgate Record Register and the Holdenville Tribune.
Hughes County, Oklahoma
Hughes County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 14,154. Its county seat is Holdenville.-Geography:...
and Pontotoc
Pontotoc County, Oklahoma
Pontotoc County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 35,143. Its county seat is Ada.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,879 km²...
counties in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. The population was 951 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
.
Geography
Allen is located on State Highway 1 about 19 miles (30.6 km) northeast of AdaAda, Oklahoma
Ada is a city in and the county seat of Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 16,008 at the 2000 census. As of 2009, the city population was estimated at 17,019....
, which is the county seat of Pontotoc County.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.4 km²), all land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 951 people, 384 households, and 248 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,042.1 people per square mile (403.5/km²). There were 445 housing units at an average density of 487.6 per square mile (188.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 77.29% White, 0.42% African American, 14.30% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.95% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 6.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.00% of the population.
There were 384 households out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.8% 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 3.03.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $22,632, and the median income for a family was $26,845. Males had a median income of $21,739 versus $17,500 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $10,928. About 16.6% of families and 20.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.2% of those under age 18 and 23.4% of those age 65 or over.
History
The town was founded in 1883 by a group of white settlers who had arrived in Choctaw NationChoctaw Nation of Oklahoma
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is a semi-autonomous Native American homeland comprising twelve tribal districts. The Choctaw Nation maintains a special relationship with both the United States and Oklahoma governments...
, Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
in 1882 from Gainesville
Gainesville
Gainesville is the name of several places in the United States of America:*Gainesville, Alabama*Gainesville, Florida, largest municipality with this name*Gainesville, Georgia*Gainesville, Missouri*Gainesville , New York...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, led by Confederate Army veteran Doctor John Trigg Gilmore, his wife, Elizabeth Louise Oliveaux, their children, and relatives William and George McCall, with their respective families. They first settled in Cold Springs, northwest of the present townsite, where other settlers soon joined them. The first log cabin was built in Allen in 1883, and this building was used as both a school and church. The town was named after the son of deputy United States marshal William McCall.
In 1892, Dr. Gilmore became Allen's first postmaster and founded the town's first Masonic Lodge
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
two years later.
The Missouri, Oklahoma, and Gulf Railway built a line through the area in 1909, although it bypassed Allen, by a half-mile.
Allen became a boomtown
Boomtown
A boomtown is a community that experiences sudden and rapid population and economic growth. The growth is normally attributed to the nearby discovery of a precious resource such as gold, silver, or oil, although the term can also be applied to communities growing very rapidly for different reasons,...
in 1913, when an oil well was drilled west of the town. The population rose from 645 in 1910 to 1,389 in 1930, but dropped to 907 in 1970. It's principal industries besides petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
are ranching and agriculture.
The Allen Advocate is a weekly newspaper published on Thursday in Allen.. The newspaper is published by the Robinson Publishing Company, founded in 1982, by Bill and Dayna Robinson. The company also publishes the Coalgate Record Register and the Holdenville Tribune.