Pauls Valley, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Pauls Valley is a city in Garvin County
, Oklahoma
, United States
. The population was 6,256 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Garvin County.
, discovered the fertile bottom land which is now Pauls Valley while a member of a wagon train
traveling to California. Paul described the land as "a section where the bottom land was rich and blue stem grass grew so high that a man on horseback was almost hidden in its foliage".
The Tri-Party Treaty of January 1, 1837 ceded this part of what is now the State of Oklahoma to the Chickasaw Nation
. When the Chickasaw Indians were relocated to Indian Territory that year, Smith Paul moved with them and married Ela-Teecha, a Chickasaw Indian woman. In 1847, the Pauls settled on the rich Garvin County bottom land which became known to locals as "Smith Paul’s Valley". By 1871, postal service was established in the area, although the Post Office was accidentally called "Paul's Valley, Arkansas" as the Indian Territory was being administered out of Arkansas. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
shortened the name to "Paul’s Valley" when the railroad came to town in 1887.
The railroad brought growth and prosperity to Smith Pauls Valley. The first newspaper was published in 1887. The Pauls Valley townsite was laid out in 1892. A U.S. Court house was built in 1895. The first white school in Indian Territory was established and brick buildings were built downtown. In 1909, the streets were bricked. Today, Pauls Valley has more brick streets [17986 square yards (15,038.6 m²)] than any other town in the United States.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 8.4 mi2, of which 8.3 mi2 is land and 0.1 mi2 (1.18%) is water.
The Pauls Valley City Lake, located about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) northeast of Pauls Valley, offers recreational opportunities, including fishing, camping, swimming, Jet Skiing, hunting, and a pavilion for groups to use.
of 2000, there were over 9,000 people, 2,475 households, and 1,591 families residing in the city. The population density
was 749.9 PD/sqmi. There were 3,007 housing units at an average density of 360.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 79.27% White, 5.29% African American, 7.40% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 3.47% from other races
, and 3.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.53% of the population.
There were 2,475 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were married couples
living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,654, and the median income for a family was $32,348. Males had a median income of $27,014 versus $18,965 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,553. About 12.9% of families and 20.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.0% of those under age 18 and 17.7% of those age 65 or over.
Public Schools:
Garvin County, Oklahoma
Garvin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 27,210. Its county seat is Pauls Valley.-History:...
, 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...
. The population was 6,256 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Garvin County.
History
The area that eventually became the city of Pauls Valley was one of the earliest European settlements in what was then known as Indian Territory. Smith Paul, born in 1809 in New Bern, North CarolinaNew Bern, North Carolina
New Bern is a city in Craven County, North Carolina with a population of 29,524 as of the 2010 census.. It is located at the confluence of the Trent and the Neuse rivers...
, discovered the fertile bottom land which is now Pauls Valley while a member of a wagon train
Wagon train
A wagon train is a group of wagons traveling together. In the American West, individuals traveling across the plains in covered wagons banded together for mutual assistance, as is reflected in numerous films and television programs about the region, such as Audie Murphy's Tumbleweed and Ward Bond...
traveling to California. Paul described the land as "a section where the bottom land was rich and blue stem grass grew so high that a man on horseback was almost hidden in its foliage".
The Tri-Party Treaty of January 1, 1837 ceded this part of what is now the State of Oklahoma to the Chickasaw Nation
Chickasaw Nation
The Chickasaw Nation is a federally recognized Native American nation, located in Oklahoma. They are one of the members of the Five Civilized Tribes. The Five Civilized Tribes were differentiated from other Indian reservations in that they had semi-autonomous constitutional governments and...
. When the Chickasaw Indians were relocated to Indian Territory that year, Smith Paul moved with them and married Ela-Teecha, a Chickasaw Indian woman. In 1847, the Pauls settled on the rich Garvin County bottom land which became known to locals as "Smith Paul’s Valley". By 1871, postal service was established in the area, although the Post Office was accidentally called "Paul's Valley, Arkansas" as the Indian Territory was being administered out of Arkansas. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
shortened the name to "Paul’s Valley" when the railroad came to town in 1887.
The railroad brought growth and prosperity to Smith Pauls Valley. The first newspaper was published in 1887. The Pauls Valley townsite was laid out in 1892. A U.S. Court house was built in 1895. The first white school in Indian Territory was established and brick buildings were built downtown. In 1909, the streets were bricked. Today, Pauls Valley has more brick streets [17986 square yards (15,038.6 m²)] than any other town in the United States.
Geography
Pauls Valley is located at 34°44′9"N 97°13′25"W (34.735831, -97.223503).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 8.4 mi2, of which 8.3 mi2 is land and 0.1 mi2 (1.18%) is water.
The Pauls Valley City Lake, located about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) northeast of Pauls Valley, offers recreational opportunities, including fishing, camping, swimming, Jet Skiing, hunting, and a pavilion for groups to use.
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 over 9,000 people, 2,475 households, and 1,591 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 749.9 PD/sqmi. There were 3,007 housing units at an average density of 360.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 79.27% White, 5.29% African American, 7.40% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 3.47% 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 3.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.53% of the population.
There were 2,475 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% 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, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,654, and the median income for a family was $32,348. Males had a median income of $27,014 versus $18,965 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 $15,553. About 12.9% of families and 20.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.0% of those under age 18 and 17.7% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Agricultural is the primary economic activity in the Pauls Valley area. Corn, wheat, hay, and cotton have been grown successfully in the region and cattle production is also a major activity. Petroleum industry services is the second largest activity in the region.Education
Pauls Valley Public Schools provides education for Pauls Valley.Public Schools:
- Pauls Valley High School
- Pauls Valley Junior High School
- Jackson Elementary School
- Jefferson Elementary Learning Center
- Lee Elementary School
Transportation
- AmtrakPauls Valley (Amtrak station)The Pauls Valley Amtrak station is a train station in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system....
- Airport
Notable residents
- Roger EasonRoger EasonCharles Roger Eason, Jr. was a guard in the National Football League.-Career:Eason was drafted in the third round of the 1942 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Rams and played four seasons with the team, including when the team made the move to Los Angeles, California...
- National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
player - Jennings PoindexterJennings PoindexterChester Jennings Poindexter [Jinx] was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies . Listed at 5' 10", 165 lb., Poindexter batted and threw left-handed...
- Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher - T. J. RushingT. J. RushingTerrall Brent "T. J." Rushing is a free agent American football cornerback and return specialist who last played for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
- National Football League player - Kevin Stark - toy designer (Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesTeenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesThe Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are a fictional team of four teenage anthropomorphic turtles, who were trained by their anthropomorphic rat sensei in the art of ninjutsu and named after four Renaissance artists...
) - G.D. Spradlin (1920–2011), actor
External links
- http://www.paulsvalley.com/ City of Pauls Valley web site
- http://www.actionfiguremuseum.com/main_page.htm The Toy and Action Figure Museum
- http://paulsvalleymunicipalairport.webs.com/ Pauls Valley Airport's Website