Broken Bow, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Broken Bow is a city in McCurtain County, Oklahoma
, United States
. The population was 4,230 at the 2000 census. It is named after Broken Bow, Nebraska
, the former hometown of the city's founders, the Dierks brothers.
region of Oklahoma
, an area originally settled largely by Southerners seeking a new start following the American Civil War.
The city was the location of the wounding and capture of murderer Richard Wayne Snell
in 1984, following his shootout with local police. Snell had shot and killed two men in Arkansas
, a pawn shop owner and Arkansas State Trooper
Louis P. Bryant.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 5 square miles (12.9 km²).5.0 square miles (13.0 km²) of it is land, and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.40%) is water.
The city of Broken Bow stands in a unique transition zone between the Red River basin and the Ouachita Mountains
. While the Ouachita Mountains
are sandstone ridges that are considered the roughest land in Oklahoma, the Red River basin is considered fertile. North of Broken Bow is Broken Bow Lake
, created by the United States Army Corps of Engineers
by damming the Mountain Fork River
. The lake's creation forced out the Hochatown to relocate to its present-day location.
The Broken Bow Lake
covers 14220 acres (57.5 km²) and has 180 miles (289.7 km) of shoreline. The lake contains small islands, bass and is surrounded by pine trees.
The city sits at the foothills of the Kiamichi Mountains
, a subrange of the Ouachita Mountains
. the Kiamichi Mountains sit within Le Flore
, Pushmataha
, and McCurtain
counties near the towns of Poteau
and Albion
. The Kiamichi peaks line up south of the Kiamichi River
and reach 2500 feet (762 m) in elevation. The range is the namesake of Kiamichi Country, the official tourism designation for southeastern Oklahoma.
Black bear
, coyote
, bobcat
, deer
, mink
s, bat
s, bald eagles, and varieties of woodpeckers, doves
, owls
, and road runners
are native to the Kiamichi Mountains region.
and tourism
industries. The town is also home to a chicken-processing plant owned by Tyson Industries.
, Hochatown State Park
, and Cedar Creek Golf Course at Beavers Bend
. Hunters also visit the region, which bills itself as the "deer capital of the world."
Broken Bow is home to two museums containing Native American artifacts. The Gardner Mansion and Museum was the historic home of the "Chief of the Choctaws" and was built in 1884. The Indian Memorial Museum houses pre-historic Indian pottery, fossils, Quartz crystal and antique glass.
have a large presence in the area and are constantly surveying the area forests in order to prevent Wildfire
s.
Weyerhaeuser
Company operates a large plant in nearby and Wright City
, and International Paper
also operates a large mill in Valliant
. Additionally, Weyerhaeuser maintains several pine
tree plantations throughout McCurtain County. Pan Pacific operates a fiberboard
plant on the west side of Broken Bow. Huber Engineered Woods is the latest big player to enter the area, with a very large oriented strand board
(OSB) plant, also on the west side of Broken Bow. Huber plans to employ about 160 people at the site and expects to create another 250 jobs within the local community.
Red Tornadoes (14) and the Ada
Cougars (19). In addition to their four state championships, the Savages have numerous state title game appearances, the most recent of which came in 2004 when the Savages lost to Clinton. The teams last real push for the OSSAA State Championship game was when the 2008 Savage football team lost to the Glenpool Warriors in a nail-biter 12-7 in the state semi-finals. Which ended their season with a record of 12-1. Broken Bow High School integrated in 1964. LeVell Hill and Larry aylor were the first Black athletes to play for Broken Bow High School. They promptly led Broken Bow to its first appearance in a football state championship game. Broken Bow lost to the Clinton Red Tornadors in 1965. LeVell Hill and Larry Taylor led Broken Bow to Its first State Track Championship in 1966. Larry Taylor entered the United States Marine Corp after graduation. he was killed in Viet Nam in 1968. LeVell Hill accepted a football scholorship to Langston University. He briefly played Professional Football.
The Savages own a distinct lead in their all-time series with their rival, the Idabel
Warriors. The Little River Rumble (named for the river that flows between Broken Bow and Idabel) is played every year between these two schools and is one of the oldest rivalries in the state, dating back nearly an entire century. For some time, it was believed the Little River Rumble was the oldest continuous-running rivalry game in the state of Oklahoma, until it was discovered the two schools did not play each other one season during World War II
. The rivalry is hotly contested, and it's not an uncommon sight to see students from either town besieging the other, flying the flag of their school (black and gold for the Savages, red and black for the Warriors). A gold traveling trophy, as well as bragging rights, is at stake every year when the two McCurtain County schools tangle. Currently, the Savages own a 12-game winning streak (through the 2011 season) against the Warriors.
Historic Broken Bow Memorial Stadium has served as the home of the Savages since it was constructed in the 1930s by the Works Progress Administration
. Built primarily of concrete and native rock, Memorial Stadium is one of the oldest and largest high school football stadiums in the state of Oklahoma.
of 2000, there were 4,230 people, 1,621 households, and 1,108 families residing in the city. The population density
was 841.8 people per square mile (325.3/km²). There were 1,823 housing units at an average density of 362.8 per square mile (140.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 64.23% White, 9.43% African American, 17.80% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.06% from other races, and 6.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.32% of the population.
There were 1,621 households, out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.3% were married couples
living together, 22.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52, and the average family size was 3.09.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 30.9% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $18,068, and the median income for a family was $20,676. Males had a median income of $20,398 versus $17,155 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $10,028. About 34.8% of families and 38.9% of the population were below the poverty line
, including 52.2% of those under age 18 and 22.7% of those age 65 or over.
of
the television series Star Trek: Enterprise
, Broken Bow was the site of Human-Klingon
first contact
in 2151. A messenger named Klaang was shot down by the Suliban
over a corn field. Shortly after dispatching his enemies, Klaang was shot by a farmer named Moore. Although severely injured, Klaang survived. It is worth noting that the area depicted in this episode is flat farmland, whereas the area around Broken Bow in the present day is hilly and forested. Because of this anomalous depiction, it was speculated that the locale in the Star Trek episode may have referred to Broken Bow, Oklahoma's namesake Broken Bow, Nebraska
. However, dialog in the Enterprise episode "Detained", Captain Archer is asked what he might know about a place called Broken Bow in Oklahoma - seeming to settle which Broken Bow was referred to in the pilot episode.
Broken Bow and the surrounding area also served as the location for the episode "19:19" of the television series Millennium
, in which Frank Black led a search for a group of children who had been abducted on their way to school. The abductor, a crazed visionary who believed he was the one destined to carry out the Book of Revelation's instructions, entombed the children in an abandoned quarry. This ultimately saved them from a deadly tornado that destroyed the schoolhouse where they otherwise would have been.
Broken Bow is the setting for the 2010 film Leaves of Grass (film)
.
McCurtain County, Oklahoma
McCurtain County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010, the population was 33,151. Its county seat is Idabel.-Geography:...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 4,230 at the 2000 census. It is named after Broken Bow, Nebraska
Broken Bow, Nebraska
Broken Bow is a city in Custer County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 3,491 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Custer County.-History:...
, the former hometown of the city's founders, the Dierks brothers.
History
The land that would become Broken Bow was owned by the Choctaw tribe prior to being settled by non-Indians. Growing around a lumber company started by two brothers, Broken Bow had a population of 1,983, just a decade after its incorporation in 1911. The city lies within the Little DixieLittle Dixie
-Communities:*Little Dixie, Arkansas, unincorporated community in Arkansas on the Woodruff-Prairie county line*Little Dixie, California, former community in Kern County*Little Dixie, Kentucky, also known as Dixiefield, in Henderson County, Kentucky...
region 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...
, an area originally settled largely by Southerners seeking a new start following the American Civil War.
The city was the location of the wounding and capture of murderer Richard Wayne Snell
Richard Snell (criminal)
Richard Wayne Snell was a convicted murderer executed in Arkansas for killing two individuals.-CSA membership:...
in 1984, following his shootout with local police. Snell had shot and killed two men in Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, a pawn shop owner and Arkansas State Trooper
Arkansas State Police
The Arkansas State Police is the state police agency for Arkansas, which has jurisdiction anywhere in the state. It was created to protect the lives, property and constitutional rights of people in Arkansas...
Louis P. Bryant.
Geography
Broken Bow is located at 34°1′47"N 94°44′16"W (34.029784, -94.737656).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 city has a total area of 5 square miles (12.9 km²).5.0 square miles (13.0 km²) of it is land, and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.40%) is water.
The city of Broken Bow stands in a unique transition zone between the Red River basin and the Ouachita Mountains
Ouachita Mountains
The Ouachita Mountains are a mountain range in west central Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma. The range's subterranean roots may extend as far as central Texas, or beyond it to the current location of the Marathon Uplift. Along with the Ozark Mountains, the Ouachita Mountains form the U.S...
. While the Ouachita Mountains
Ouachita Mountains
The Ouachita Mountains are a mountain range in west central Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma. The range's subterranean roots may extend as far as central Texas, or beyond it to the current location of the Marathon Uplift. Along with the Ozark Mountains, the Ouachita Mountains form the U.S...
are sandstone ridges that are considered the roughest land in Oklahoma, the Red River basin is considered fertile. North of Broken Bow is Broken Bow Lake
Broken Bow Lake
Broken Bow Lake is a reservoir in southeast Oklahoma, located on Mountain Fork River and north of the town of Broken Bow. It is one of the largest lakes within the state of Oklahoma, and a popular tourist destination for locals and visitors from neighboring Texas.The lake stretches...
, created by the United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
by damming the Mountain Fork River
Mountain Fork
Mountain Fork, also known as the Mountain Fork of the Little River, is a tributary of the Little River in western Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma in the United States...
. The lake's creation forced out the Hochatown to relocate to its present-day location.
The Broken Bow Lake
Broken Bow Lake
Broken Bow Lake is a reservoir in southeast Oklahoma, located on Mountain Fork River and north of the town of Broken Bow. It is one of the largest lakes within the state of Oklahoma, and a popular tourist destination for locals and visitors from neighboring Texas.The lake stretches...
covers 14220 acres (57.5 km²) and has 180 miles (289.7 km) of shoreline. The lake contains small islands, bass and is surrounded by pine trees.
The city sits at the foothills of the Kiamichi Mountains
Kiamichi Mountains
The Kiamichi Mountains are a mountain range in southeastern Oklahoma. A subrange within the larger Ouachita Mountains that extend from Oklahoma to western Arkansas, the Kiamichi Mountains sit within Le Flore, Pushmataha, and McCurtain counties near the towns of Poteau and Albion...
, a subrange of the Ouachita Mountains
Ouachita Mountains
The Ouachita Mountains are a mountain range in west central Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma. The range's subterranean roots may extend as far as central Texas, or beyond it to the current location of the Marathon Uplift. Along with the Ozark Mountains, the Ouachita Mountains form the U.S...
. the Kiamichi Mountains sit within Le Flore
Le Flore County, Oklahoma
Le Flore County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2000, the population was 48,109. Its county seat is Poteau. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma is the federal...
, Pushmataha
Pushmataha County, Oklahoma
-Administrative History:* Ca. 1000-1500: Caddoan Mississippian civilization at Spiro Mounds* 1492-1718: Spain* 1718-1763: France* 1763-1800: Spain* 1800-1803: France* 1803–present: United States...
, and McCurtain
McCurtain County, Oklahoma
McCurtain County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010, the population was 33,151. Its county seat is Idabel.-Geography:...
counties near the towns of Poteau
Poteau, Oklahoma
Poteau is a city in Le Flore County, Oklahoma, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 8,520 at the 2010 census, ranking fifth in the Greater Fort Smith Area. It is the county seat of Le Flore County...
and Albion
Albion, Oklahoma
Albion is a town in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 143 at the 2000 census.- History :A United States Post Office opened at Albion, Indian Territory on December 6, 1887 and is still in operation....
. The Kiamichi peaks line up south of the Kiamichi River
Kiamichi River
The Kiamichi River is a river in southeastern Oklahoma. A tributary of the Red River, its headwaters rise on Pine Mountain in the Ouachita Mountains near the Arkansas border...
and reach 2500 feet (762 m) in elevation. The range is the namesake of Kiamichi Country, the official tourism designation for southeastern Oklahoma.
Black bear
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
, coyote
Coyote
The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...
, bobcat
Bobcat
The bobcat is a North American mammal of the cat family Felidae, appearing during the Irvingtonian stage of around 1.8 million years ago . With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States...
, deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
, mink
Mink
There are two living species referred to as "mink": the European Mink and the American Mink. The extinct Sea Mink is related to the American Mink, but was much larger. All three species are dark-colored, semi-aquatic, carnivorous mammals of the family Mustelidae, which also includes the weasels and...
s, bat
Bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
s, bald eagles, and varieties of woodpeckers, doves
Doves
Doves are an English alternative indie rock band, originating from Wilmslow, Cheshire. The band comprises brothers Jez Williams and Andy Williams , and Jimi Goodwin . The members started working seriously together after meeting at The Haçienda in Manchester. Doves' unofficial fourth member is...
, owls
OWLS
OWLS is a mnemonic used by general aviation airplane pilots to assess an unprepared surface for a precautionary landing.Like all mnemonics this check has become part of aviation culture and folklore.OWLS:* Obstacles* Wind direction...
, and road runners
Roadrunner
Roadrunners are birds of the genus Geococcyx.Roadrunner or Road Runner may also refer to:* Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner, an animated character based on the bird** The Road Runner Show, compiled cartoons including the character...
are native to the Kiamichi Mountains region.
Climate
Economy
In recent years, Broken Bow has seen a tremendous economic boom through the development of its timberLumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
and tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
industries. The town is also home to a chicken-processing plant owned by Tyson Industries.
Tourism
In addition to being home of Broken Bow Lake, the city is a gateway for tourists visiting Beavers Bend Resort ParkBeavers Bend Resort Park
Beavers Bend State Park is a popular Oklahoma state park located in McCurtain County, approximately seven miles north of Broken Bow.-Attractions:...
, Hochatown State Park
Hochatown State Park
Hochatown State Park is an Oklahoma state park in far-southeastern Oklahoma, north of the city of Broken Bow. It is a popular destination for tourists from Oklahoma and Texas interested in camping or boating on Broken Bow Lake.-Background:...
, and Cedar Creek Golf Course at Beavers Bend
Cedar Creek Golf Course at Beavers Bend
Cedar Creek Golf Course at Beavers Bend is a public golf course on the shores of Broken Bow Lake, about nine miles north of the city of Broken Bow, Oklahoma...
. Hunters also visit the region, which bills itself as the "deer capital of the world."
Broken Bow is home to two museums containing Native American artifacts. The Gardner Mansion and Museum was the historic home of the "Chief of the Choctaws" and was built in 1884. The Indian Memorial Museum houses pre-historic Indian pottery, fossils, Quartz crystal and antique glass.
Timber
The forest industry is by far the area's largest business concern. Each year some 60 Mcuft of lumber are harvested in McCurtain County, and great care is taken to ensure the prolonged health of local pine and hardwood forests. The Oklahoma State Department of Agriculture Forestry Division and United States Forest ServiceUnited States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
have a large presence in the area and are constantly surveying the area forests in order to prevent Wildfire
Wildfire
A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or a wilderness area. Other names such as brush fire, bushfire, forest fire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, squirrel fire, vegetation fire, veldfire, and wilkjjofire may be used to describe the same...
s.
Weyerhaeuser
Weyerhaeuser
Weyerhaeuser is one of the largest pulp and paper companies in the world. It is the world's largest private sector owner of softwood timberland; and the second largest owner of United States timberland, behind Plum Creek Timber...
Company operates a large plant in nearby and Wright City
Wright City, Oklahoma
Wright City is a town in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, United States, along the Little River. The population was 848 at the 2000 census.Wright City was once home to a Weyerhaeuser plant; it closed permanently in mid March 2009 due to the slowed lumber industry...
, and International Paper
International Paper
International Paper Company is an American pulp and paper company, the largest such company in the world. It has approximately 59,500 employees, and it is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee.-History:...
also operates a large mill in Valliant
Valliant, Oklahoma
Valliant is a town in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 771 at the 2000 census.Valliant was founded June 2, 1902, and named for Frank W...
. Additionally, Weyerhaeuser maintains several pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
tree plantations throughout McCurtain County. Pan Pacific operates a fiberboard
Fiberboard
Fiberboard is known as low density fiberboard is a type of engineered wood product that is made out of wood fibers. Types of fiberboard include particle board, medium-density fiberboard, and hardboard. Fiberboard is sometimes used as a synonym for particle board, but particle board usually refers...
plant on the west side of Broken Bow. Huber Engineered Woods is the latest big player to enter the area, with a very large oriented strand board
Oriented strand board
Oriented strand board, also known as OSB and SmartPly , is an engineered wood product formed by layering strands of wood in specific orientations. In appearance, it may have a rough and variegated surface with the individual strips Oriented strand board, also known as OSB (UK) and SmartPly (UK &...
(OSB) plant, also on the west side of Broken Bow. Huber plans to employ about 160 people at the site and expects to create another 250 jobs within the local community.
Athletics
While Broken Bow's athletic history is limited primarily to high school football, it is recognized as one of the top high school programs in the state of Oklahoma. The Broken Bow Savages currently hold four state football championships, ranking third in class AAAA in the state, behind the ClintonClinton, Oklahoma
Clinton is a city in Custer and Washita counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 9,033 at the 2010 census.-History:The community began in 1899 when two men, J.L. Avant and E.E...
Red Tornadoes (14) and the Ada
Ada, 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....
Cougars (19). In addition to their four state championships, the Savages have numerous state title game appearances, the most recent of which came in 2004 when the Savages lost to Clinton. The teams last real push for the OSSAA State Championship game was when the 2008 Savage football team lost to the Glenpool Warriors in a nail-biter 12-7 in the state semi-finals. Which ended their season with a record of 12-1. Broken Bow High School integrated in 1964. LeVell Hill and Larry aylor were the first Black athletes to play for Broken Bow High School. They promptly led Broken Bow to its first appearance in a football state championship game. Broken Bow lost to the Clinton Red Tornadors in 1965. LeVell Hill and Larry Taylor led Broken Bow to Its first State Track Championship in 1966. Larry Taylor entered the United States Marine Corp after graduation. he was killed in Viet Nam in 1968. LeVell Hill accepted a football scholorship to Langston University. He briefly played Professional Football.
The Savages own a distinct lead in their all-time series with their rival, the Idabel
Idabel, Oklahoma
Idabel is a city in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 7,658 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of McCurtain County. The town is located in the tourist area Kiamichi Country.-History:...
Warriors. The Little River Rumble (named for the river that flows between Broken Bow and Idabel) is played every year between these two schools and is one of the oldest rivalries in the state, dating back nearly an entire century. For some time, it was believed the Little River Rumble was the oldest continuous-running rivalry game in the state of Oklahoma, until it was discovered the two schools did not play each other one season during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The rivalry is hotly contested, and it's not an uncommon sight to see students from either town besieging the other, flying the flag of their school (black and gold for the Savages, red and black for the Warriors). A gold traveling trophy, as well as bragging rights, is at stake every year when the two McCurtain County schools tangle. Currently, the Savages own a 12-game winning streak (through the 2011 season) against the Warriors.
Historic Broken Bow Memorial Stadium has served as the home of the Savages since it was constructed in the 1930s by the Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
. Built primarily of concrete and native rock, Memorial Stadium is one of the oldest and largest high school football stadiums in the state of Oklahoma.
Band
Although Broken Bow High School is primarily known for their athletics program, they have also achieved a well known reputation for their high school marching band. Despite the size of their ensemble, the Black and Gold Regiment have been known for their achievements in playing and marching ability. For the past ten years, Broken Bow High School Band has received Superior Rating at the McAlester Regional Marching Contest and have placed in class 4A in every marching competition that they competed in this past season. The Band was originally known as the "Savage Pride" before it was changed in 2006 to the "Black and Gold Regiment."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 4,230 people, 1,621 households, and 1,108 families residing in the city. 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 841.8 people per square mile (325.3/km²). There were 1,823 housing units at an average density of 362.8 per square mile (140.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 64.23% White, 9.43% African American, 17.80% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.06% from other races, and 6.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.32% of the population.
There were 1,621 households, out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.3% 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, 22.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52, and the average family size was 3.09.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 30.9% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $18,068, and the median income for a family was $20,676. Males had a median income of $20,398 versus $17,155 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 city was $10,028. About 34.8% of families and 38.9% of the population were below the poverty line
Poverty threshold
The poverty threshold, or poverty line, is the minimum level of income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate standard of living in a given country...
, including 52.2% of those under age 18 and 22.7% of those age 65 or over.
Popular Media
In "Broken Bow", the 2001 pilot episodeTelevision pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
of
the television series Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise is a science fiction television series. It follows the adventures of humanity's first warp 5 starship, the Enterprise, ten years before the United Federation of Planets shown in previous Star Trek series was formed.Enterprise premiered on September 26, 2001...
, Broken Bow was the site of Human-Klingon
Klingon
Klingons are a fictional warrior race in the Star Trek universe.Klingons are recurring villains in the 1960s television show Star Trek: The Original Series, and have appeared in all five spin-off series and eight feature films...
first contact
First contact (anthropology)
First contact is a term describing the first meeting of two cultures previously unaware of one another. One notable example of first contact is that between the Spanish and the Arawak in 1492....
in 2151. A messenger named Klaang was shot down by the Suliban
Suliban
The Suliban are a starfaring race in the fictional Star Trek universe, seen throughout the series Star Trek: Enterprise. A Suliban sect known as the Cabal served as the show's primary antagonists in the first and second seasons....
over a corn field. Shortly after dispatching his enemies, Klaang was shot by a farmer named Moore. Although severely injured, Klaang survived. It is worth noting that the area depicted in this episode is flat farmland, whereas the area around Broken Bow in the present day is hilly and forested. Because of this anomalous depiction, it was speculated that the locale in the Star Trek episode may have referred to Broken Bow, Oklahoma's namesake Broken Bow, Nebraska
Broken Bow, Nebraska
Broken Bow is a city in Custer County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 3,491 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Custer County.-History:...
. However, dialog in the Enterprise episode "Detained", Captain Archer is asked what he might know about a place called Broken Bow in Oklahoma - seeming to settle which Broken Bow was referred to in the pilot episode.
Broken Bow and the surrounding area also served as the location for the episode "19:19" of the television series Millennium
Millennium (TV series)
Millennium is an American television series created by Chris Carter, creator of The X-Files. Millennium aired on the Fox Network from 1996 to 1999. The series was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, though most episodes were ostensibly set in or around Seattle, Washington...
, in which Frank Black led a search for a group of children who had been abducted on their way to school. The abductor, a crazed visionary who believed he was the one destined to carry out the Book of Revelation's instructions, entombed the children in an abandoned quarry. This ultimately saved them from a deadly tornado that destroyed the schoolhouse where they otherwise would have been.
Broken Bow is the setting for the 2010 film Leaves of Grass (film)
Leaves of Grass (film)
Leaves of Grass is an American black comedy/drama film written and directed by Tim Blake Nelson. It stars Edward Norton, Richard Dreyfuss, Susan Sarandon, Melanie Lynskey and Keri Russell. The film, released on September 17, 2010, is in limited release by Millennium Pictures...
.
External links
- Broken Bow Chamber of Commerce
- Broken Bow information, photos and videos on TravelOK.com Official travel and tourism website for the State of Oklahoma
- Broken Bow Public Schools
- Broken Bow Public Library
- Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Broken Bow
- Hot Mess Boutique in Broken Bow