Idabel, Oklahoma Bokhoma (Choctaw) | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Idabel City Hall | |
| Nickname: Dogwood Capital of Oklahoma | |
 Location in Oklahoma | |
| Coordinates:33°53′44″N94°49′35″W / 33.89556°N 94.82639°W /33.89556; -94.82639[1] | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | McCurtain |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council |
| Area | |
• Total | 16.75 sq mi (43.38 km2) |
| • Land | 16.63 sq mi (43.08 km2) |
| • Water | 0.12 sq mi (0.30 km2) |
| Elevation | 463 ft (141 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 6,961 |
| • Density | 418.5/sq mi (161.58/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code | 74745 |
| Area code | 580 |
| FIPS code | 40-36750[4] |
| GNIS feature ID | 2410089[1] |
| Website | www |
Idabel is a city in and thecounty seat ofMcCurtain County,Oklahoma, United States. The population was 6,961 at the2020 census.[3] It is in Oklahoma's southeast corner, a tourist region known asChoctaw Country.
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Idabel was established in 1902 as a station by theArkansas and Choctaw Railway. (This was later part of theSt. Louis and San Francisco Railway, and the line is now operated by theKiamichi Railroad).[5][6]
The city was first named "Purnell", after Isaac Purnell, a railroad official. When postal officials rejected that designation, the name was changed to "Mitchell", honoring another railroad company officer. Postal officials rejected that name because another post office of the same name already existed elsewhere in the territory. They named the post officeBokhoma (a Choctaw word meaning Red River); it opened December 15, 1902.
Railroad officials then chose the name Idabel, a compound of the names of Isaac Purnell's two daughters, Ida and Bell. The post office was renamed as Idabel.[7]
At the time of its founding, Idabel was located inBok Tuklo County, a part of theApukshunubbee District of theChoctaw Nation, within what was known asIndian Territory.[8]
For the first four years, Idabel local government was conducted by the Choctaw tribe for its people. The federal government had legal jurisdiction in most matters over non-Choctaws. In 1906, the citizens elected their first mayor and established a mayor-council form of government.
At the time of statehood, November 16, 1907, the town was designated as the county seat of McCurtain County. A census in that year reported 726 residents. By 1910, the population had grown to 1,493. In 1920, there were 3,617 residents, but the number fell to 2,581 in 1930. Growth resumed by the end of theGreat Depression in the late 1930s.[7]
Thedeath of Henry Lee Johnson in 1980 resulted in a riot in the town that resulted in two deaths.[9]
Idabel residents elected their first African-American mayor in April 2019, mayor Craig Young.[citation needed]
On November 4, 2022, Idabel was hit bya destructive EF4 tornado. The tornado warranted atornado emergency and was at EF3 strength when it struck the city. It caused heavy damage, mainly to the southeast portion of the city.[10]
Idabel is in southern McCurtain County, lying between theLittle River and theRed River, about 21 miles (34 km) west of the Oklahoma-Arkansas state line and 43 miles (69 km) east ofHugo.[7]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the city has an area of 16.8 square miles (44 km2), of which 0.1 square miles (0.3 km2), or 0.70%, are water.[2] The Little River passes 2 miles (3 km) north of the city, and the Red River is 9 miles (14 km) to the south.
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Idabel has ahumid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[11]
| Climate data for Idabel, Oklahoma (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1907–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 87 (31) | 89 (32) | 94 (34) | 97 (36) | 99 (37) | 107 (42) | 111 (44) | 114 (46) | 109 (43) | 101 (38) | 89 (32) | 82 (28) | 114 (46) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 54.4 (12.4) | 58.9 (14.9) | 67.3 (19.6) | 74.9 (23.8) | 81.8 (27.7) | 89.1 (31.7) | 93.5 (34.2) | 93.6 (34.2) | 87.1 (30.6) | 77.1 (25.1) | 65.4 (18.6) | 56.7 (13.7) | 75.0 (23.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 41.9 (5.5) | 46.3 (7.9) | 54.1 (12.3) | 61.4 (16.3) | 70.2 (21.2) | 77.5 (25.3) | 81.8 (27.7) | 81.3 (27.4) | 74.3 (23.5) | 63.1 (17.3) | 52.2 (11.2) | 44.4 (6.9) | 62.4 (16.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 29.4 (−1.4) | 33.8 (1.0) | 40.9 (4.9) | 48.0 (8.9) | 58.7 (14.8) | 66.0 (18.9) | 70.1 (21.2) | 68.9 (20.5) | 61.4 (16.3) | 49.0 (9.4) | 39.1 (3.9) | 32.2 (0.1) | 49.8 (9.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −6 (−21) | −12 (−24) | 9 (−13) | 21 (−6) | 31 (−1) | 45 (7) | 45 (7) | 49 (9) | 36 (2) | 23 (−5) | 11 (−12) | −2 (−19) | −12 (−24) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.77 (96) | 4.09 (104) | 5.02 (128) | 5.37 (136) | 6.35 (161) | 4.12 (105) | 3.61 (92) | 3.03 (77) | 4.31 (109) | 5.18 (132) | 4.68 (119) | 4.98 (126) | 54.51 (1,385) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.6 (1.5) | 0.9 (2.3) | 0.2 (0.51) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.3 (0.76) | 2.0 (5.1) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 8.7 | 8.5 | 9.6 | 8.5 | 9.9 | 7.5 | 6.3 | 6.6 | 6.2 | 8.0 | 8.2 | 9.3 | 97.3 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.0 |
| Source:NOAA[12][13] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 1,493 | — | |
| 1920 | 3,067 | 105.4% | |
| 1930 | 2,581 | −15.8% | |
| 1940 | 3,689 | 42.9% | |
| 1950 | 4,671 | 26.6% | |
| 1960 | 4,967 | 6.3% | |
| 1970 | 5,946 | 19.7% | |
| 1980 | 7,622 | 28.2% | |
| 1990 | 6,957 | −8.7% | |
| 2000 | 7,658 | 10.1% | |
| 2010 | 7,010 | −8.5% | |
| 2020 | 6,961 | −0.7% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 7,004 | [14] | 0.6% |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
As of thecensus[4] of 2020, there were 6,961 people, 2,707 households, and 1,790 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 46.39%White, 22.61%African American, 10.86%Native American, 0.46%Asian, 1.81%Pacific Islander, 5.56% fromother races, and 12.31% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 10.37% of the population.
As of thecensus[4] of 2000, there were 7,658 people, 2,735 households, and 1,785 families residing in the city. The population density was 436.3 inhabitants per square mile (168.5/km2). There were 3,129 housing units at an average density of 196.4 per square mile (75.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 56.99%White, 24.45%African American, 10.44%Native American, 0.30%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 3.37% fromother races, and 4.43% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 4.96% of the population.
There were 2,735 households, out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.6% were married couples living together, 21.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.5% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,496, and the median income for a family was $24,189. Males had a median income of $24,182 versus $16,958 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $12,241. About 28.7% of families and 31.3% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 42.5% of those under age 18 and 18.4% of those age 65 or over.
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Idabel is served byUS-259,US-70,SH-3, andSH-37.[15]
McCurtain County Regional Airport (FAA ID: 4O4) is 2 miles (3 km) northwest of Idabel, and features a 5,002-by-75-foot (1,525 by 23 m) paved runway.[16]
Commercial air transportation is available out ofTexarkana Regional Airport, about 73 miles southeast.[17]
Idabel has rail freight service through theKiamichi Railroad.[18]
Initially, timber was the basis for the local economy, but this was supplanted by cotton production after the nearby forests were cleared. One cotton gin operated in Idabel in 1904, but six were in business in 1930. However, the Great Depression, depleted soil and destructive pests essentially wiped out this industry around Idabel. Landowners converted their properties to pastures and expanded beef production. Chicken farms were also established in the area and marginal agricultural land was turned into pine plantations.[7]
Parks actually within Idabel include Garvin City Park.[19]
Little River National Wildlife Refuge is to the northeast; further to the northeast areBroken Bow Lake,Beavers Bend State Park,Hochatown State Park (now part of Beavers Bend), McCurtain County Game Reserve, and the Carson Creek Recreation Area. To the southeast is the Red Slough Wildlife Management Area.[20]
The Museum of the Red River houses art as well as archaeology, includingAcrocanthosaurus atokensis, the Oklahoma State Dinosaur.[21]
The Barnes-Stevenson House is a 1912 restored Victorian house complete with period furnishings, and is on theNational Register of Historic Places listings in McCurtain County, Oklahoma.[22] Other Idabel locales on the list include theFrisco Station, theIdabel Armory, the Rouleau Hotel, and the Spaulding-Olive House.
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Idabel Public Schools serves the community.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
Municipalities and communities ofMcCurtain County, Oklahoma,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in another county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
