Cromwell, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Cromwell is a town in Seminole County
, Oklahoma
, United States
. The population was 265 at the 2000 census.
s, brothel
s and outlaw
s. On Halloween
night, 1924, Cromwell Town Marshal
and legendary Old West lawman
Bill Tilghman
was shot outside of a cafe called "Ma Murphy's", by a corrupt prohibition agent named Wiley Lynn. Tilghman died in the early morning hours of the first of November. Tilghman had been brought in to help bring the town under control. One month later the town of Cromwell was torched, with every brothel, bar, flop house and pool hall allegedly having been burned to the ground by friends of Tilghman. There was no investigation into the massive fire, and Cromwell never recovered its former wild status.
, the town has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 265 people, 97 households, and 77 families residing in the town. The population density
was 247.7 people per square mile (95.6/km²). There were 113 housing units at an average density of 105.6 per square mile (40.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 71.70% White, 0.75% African American, 19.25% Native American, 3.02% from other races
, and 5.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.02% of the population.
There were 97 households out of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples
living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.6% were non-families. 17.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.1% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 84.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,833, and the median income for a family was $31,607. Males had a median income of $18,750 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $12,751. About 15.2% of families and 20.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.0% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those sixty five or over.
Seminole County, Oklahoma
Seminole County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 24,894 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Wewoka. Before Oklahoma's admission as a state, the county was the entire small portion of Indian Territory allocated to the Seminoles. Seminole County has been an...
, 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 265 at the 2000 census.
History
Cromwell was a wild and wooly town in the early 1920s. The town was said to be full of saloonBar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
s, brothel
Brothel
Brothels are business establishments where patrons can engage in sexual activities with prostitutes. Brothels are known under a variety of names, including bordello, cathouse, knocking shop, whorehouse, strumpet house, sporting house, house of ill repute, house of prostitution, and bawdy house...
s and outlaw
Outlaw
In historical legal systems, an outlaw is declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, this takes the burden of active prosecution of a criminal from the authorities. Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
s. On Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
night, 1924, Cromwell Town Marshal
Marshal
Marshal , is a word used in several official titles of various branches of society. The word is an ancient loan word from Old French, cf...
and legendary Old West lawman
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
Bill Tilghman
Bill Tilghman
William Matthew "Bill" Tilghman was a lawman in the American Old West.-Early life :Bill Tilghman was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on July 4, 1854. He became a buffalo hunter at age 15 and claimed he killed over 1000 bison over his five years of activity...
was shot outside of a cafe called "Ma Murphy's", by a corrupt prohibition agent named Wiley Lynn. Tilghman died in the early morning hours of the first of November. Tilghman had been brought in to help bring the town under control. One month later the town of Cromwell was torched, with every brothel, bar, flop house and pool hall allegedly having been burned to the ground by friends of Tilghman. There was no investigation into the massive fire, and Cromwell never recovered its former wild status.
Geography
Cromwell is located at 35°21′1"N 96°27′35"W (35.350195, -96.459700). 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 1.1 square miles (2.8 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 2000, there were 265 people, 97 households, and 77 families 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 247.7 people per square mile (95.6/km²). There were 113 housing units at an average density of 105.6 per square mile (40.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 71.70% White, 0.75% African American, 19.25% Native American, 3.02% 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 5.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.02% of the population.
There were 97 households out of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% 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, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.6% were non-families. 17.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.1% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 84.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,833, and the median income for a family was $31,607. Males had a median income of $18,750 versus $21,250 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 $12,751. About 15.2% of families and 20.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.0% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those sixty five or over.