The city was platted in 1906 as a relocation setting for the residents of Tidmore, when the railroad line was placed north of the town.[7] WhenOklahoma Territory andIndian Territory merged to become theU.S. state ofOklahoma in 1907, there were 206 residents.[7]
Seminole competed to be the county seat ofSeminole County, but lost toWewoka.[8] The town of Seminole was incorporated as a city in December 1924.[9]
Upon the discovery of a high-producing oil well in the city in 1926, Seminole transformed from a town of 854 to a boom town of 25,000 to 30,000 residents.[7][10] In August 1970 Seminole hosted its first All-Night Gospel Singing. During its heyday an estimated twenty-five thousand people attended the annual event. After the boom, the population declined to about 11,000 and remained that way until 1970.[7]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.5 square miles (38 km2), of which 13.9 square miles (36 km2) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2) (3.93%) is water.
As of the2020 census, Seminole had a population of 7,146. The median age was 34.7 years. 25.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.0 males age 18 and over.[15][16]
87.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 12.1% lived in rural areas.[17]
There were 2,703 households in Seminole, of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 36.2% were married-couple households, 20.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 35.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[15]
There were 3,189 housing units, of which 15.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 53.7% were owner-occupied and 46.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 16.7%.[15]
As of the2000 census, there were 6,899 people, 2,760 households, and 1,827 families residing in the city. The population density was 494.7 inhabitants per square mile (191.0/km2). There were 3,172 housing units at an average density of 227.4 per square mile (87.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 73.42%White, 3.97%African American, 16.38%Native American, 0.32%Asian, 0.04%Pacific Islander, 0.72% fromother races, and 5.15% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 2.61% of the population.[3]
There were 2,760 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% weremarried couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.9% 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 3.02.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.5% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,120, and the median income for a family was $29,091. Males had a median income of $26,765 versus $17,474 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $12,946. About 16.3% of families and 19.9% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 28.2% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.
Seminole Municipal Airport (KSRE, or FAA ID: SRE), owned by the city and located about 3 miles to the north, features two runways, the longer of which is paved and 5004’ by 75’.[20]
Sportsman Lake is to the east-southeast of the city.[19] Along with the associated 1400-acre wildlife refuge which surrounds it,[22] the lake offers boat docks and ramps; primitive campsites as well as RV sites; equestrian trails and facilities; and, other amenities.[23]
Wewoka Lake is further to the east-southeast.[19] While developed by the City of Wewoka in the 1920’s as a water reservoir,[24] opportunities at the lake today include fishing & boating; RV & primitive camping; and, swimming & water skiing.[23][25]
^abcdMorris, Elsie.SEMINOLE (TOWN)," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. (accessed July 31, 2013)
^Wilson, Linda D.Wewoka, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. (accessed July 31, 2013)
^"Who We Are".City of Seminole. RetrievedJanuary 2, 2025.
^Welsh, Louise; Townes, Willa Mae; Morris, John W. (1981).A History of The Greater Seminole Oil Field. Oklahoma Heritage Association. pp. 69–96.ISBN0865460310.