Oologah, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Oologah is a town in Rogers County
, Oklahoma
, United States
. Renowned humorist Will Rogers
was born on a ranch two miles east of Oologah, though he usually claimed Claremore
as his birthplace, "because nobody but an Indian
can pronounce 'Oologah.'"
There has been disagreement about the proper spelling for the town name. The official spelling is now Oologah. It was often spelled Oolagah before statehood, and this spelling appears on some old buildings.
) laid tracks through the area and established a townsite named Oologah, Indian Territory.
Oologah was named for Oologah (Dark Cloud), a Cherokee
chief. The post office was opened May 25, 1891.
Early in the 20th Century, the town flourished because of agriculture, coal mining, and oil and gas production. However, these were hard hit during the Great Depression
. Town population declined from 324 in 1910 to 236 in 1940. The population had recovered to 299 in 1960. Construction of Oologah dam and lake in 1963, east of town, revitalized the town, which has continued to grow.
In 1991, the Andover, Kansas tornado
destroyed the north side of Oologah, including the town's school.
, the town has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), all of it land.
of 2010, there were 1,146 people and 481 households residing in the town. The population density
was 917.43 people per square mile (354.22/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 76.4% White, 0.1% African American, 15.4% Native American, 1% Asian, .7% from other races
, and 6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.3% of the population. 609.3% of the population was over 18.
As of the 2000 census, there were 342 households out of which 42.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples
living together, 18.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.3% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town the population was spread out with 31.6% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,977, and the median income for a family was $40,625. Males had a median income of $37,500 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,493. About 7.5% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.7% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
The Oologah-Talala High School athletic program has gained the school notoriety. In the 1990s Oologah had the most successful class 3A football program in the state; an era that featured the Mustangs as class 3A State Champions in 1997 & 1998 and two class 2A state runner-up finishes.
In March 2010, an outbreak of bacterial meningitis
killed two students at Oologah-Talala Lower Elementary School.
Rogers County, Oklahoma
Rogers County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010, the population was 86,905. Its county seat is Claremore. The county was originally created in 1906 and named Cooweescoowee...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Renowned humorist Will Rogers
Will Rogers
William "Will" Penn Adair Rogers was an American cowboy, comedian, humorist, social commentator, vaudeville performer, film actor, and one of the world's best-known celebrities in the 1920s and 1930s....
was born on a ranch two miles east of Oologah, though he usually claimed Claremore
Claremore, Oklahoma
Claremore is a city and the county seat of Rogers County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 18,581 at the 2010 census, a 17.1 percent increase from 15,873 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area and home to Rogers State University...
as his birthplace, "because nobody but an Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
can pronounce 'Oologah.'"
There has been disagreement about the proper spelling for the town name. The official spelling is now Oologah. It was often spelled Oolagah before statehood, and this spelling appears on some old buildings.
History
In 1889, the Kansas and Arkansas Railway (later, the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway and finally, part of the Missouri Pacific RailroadMissouri Pacific Railroad
The Missouri Pacific Railroad , also known as the MoPac, was one of the first railroads in the United States west of the Mississippi River. MoPac was a Class I railroad growing from dozens of predecessors and mergers, including the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway , Texas and Pacific...
) laid tracks through the area and established a townsite named Oologah, Indian Territory.
Oologah was named for Oologah (Dark Cloud), a Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
chief. The post office was opened May 25, 1891.
Early in the 20th Century, the town flourished because of agriculture, coal mining, and oil and gas production. However, these were hard hit during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. Town population declined from 324 in 1910 to 236 in 1940. The population had recovered to 299 in 1960. Construction of Oologah dam and lake in 1963, east of town, revitalized the town, which has continued to grow.
In 1991, the Andover, Kansas tornado
Andover, Kansas Tornado Outbreak
The 1991 Andover, Kansas tornado outbreak was a violent outbreak of 55 tornadoes which took place on April 26, 1991, killing 24 people and injuring hundreds more. The Andover outbreak was featured in two different documentaries: the first one was Enemy Wind, a documentary produced by The Weather...
destroyed the north side of Oologah, including the town's school.
Geography
Oologah is located at 36°26′36"N 95°42′34"W (36.443268, -95.709399). By comparison, the population was 883 at the 2000 census. According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 (2.3 km²), all of it 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 2010, there were 1,146 people and 481 households 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 917.43 people per square mile (354.22/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 76.4% White, 0.1% African American, 15.4% Native American, 1% Asian, .7% 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% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.3% of the population. 609.3% of the population was over 18.
As of the 2000 census, there were 342 households out of which 42.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% 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, 18.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.3% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town the population was spread out with 31.6% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,977, and the median income for a family was $40,625. Males had a median income of $37,500 versus $25,000 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 $16,493. About 7.5% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.7% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Oologah-Talala public school is a 4A sized high school with excellent facilities. The Oologah Lower Elementary is an "Oklahoma A+" school, recognized as being one of seventeen schools statewide chosen for the prestigious honor.The Oologah-Talala High School athletic program has gained the school notoriety. In the 1990s Oologah had the most successful class 3A football program in the state; an era that featured the Mustangs as class 3A State Champions in 1997 & 1998 and two class 2A state runner-up finishes.
In March 2010, an outbreak of bacterial meningitis
Bacterial meningitis
Bacterial meningitis refers to meningitis that is caused by bacterial infection.-Signs and Symptoms:*Fever*Seizures*Meningismus*Headache*Vomiting*Photophobia*Altered mental status and coma*Anorexia...
killed two students at Oologah-Talala Lower Elementary School.
Famous Citizens
- Will RogersWill RogersWilliam "Will" Penn Adair Rogers was an American cowboy, comedian, humorist, social commentator, vaudeville performer, film actor, and one of the world's best-known celebrities in the 1920s and 1930s....
– Preeminent philanthropist, actor, humorist, philosopher, and political satirist of the early 1900s; born at Dog Iron RanchDog Iron RanchThe Dog Iron Ranch, located about two miles east of Oologah, Oklahoma, United States, is the historic ranch of humorist Will Rogers. The ranch was donated to the state of Oklahoma by the Rogers family...
just outside of Oologah.
External links
- The Oologah Lake Leader – A well-known local newspaper.
- Oologah Lake on Corps of EngineersUnited States Army Corps of EngineersThe 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...
website - Oologah-Talala Public Schools website
- Chamber of Commerce website
- Oologah.com