Eufaula, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Eufaula is a city in McIntosh County
, Oklahoma
, United States
. The population was 2,639 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of McIntosh County
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 9.6 square miles (24.9 km²), of which 6.6 square miles (17.1 km²) is land and 3 square miles (7.8 km²) (31.15%) is water.
Eufaula is home to Lake Eufaula
, the largest lake contained entirely within the state of Oklahoma because of the Eufaula Dam. Lake Eufaula contains Standing Rock, an historical monument which can no longer be seen since the creation of the lake.
of 2000, there were 2,639 people, 1,150 households, and 663 families residing in the city. The population density
was 397.8 people per square mile (153.7/km²). There were 1,468 housing units at an average density of 221.3 per square mile (85.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 66.46% White, 17.92% Native American, 7.43% African American, 1.21% Hispanic or Latino of any race, 0.30% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races
. Respondents of two or more races represented 7.58% of the population.
There were 1,150 households out of which 21.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples
living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.3% were non-families. 38.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 25.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.8% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 20.0% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 29.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 81.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,547, and the median income for a family was $28,871. Males had a median income of $25,673 versus $19,405 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,521. About 20.9% of families and 27.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.4% of those under age 18 and 17.8% of those age 65 or over.
and the James-Younger Gang
, who used the area north of the dam as their hideout.
Eufaula, the county seat of McIntosh County, is located in the southern part of the county, on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, not far from the Canadian River.
The name "Eufaula" comes from the Eufaula tribe, part of the Muscogee Creek Confederacy, whose tribal jurisdictional area the town falls under today. As early as the year 1800, the Muscogee Creeks had a town of that name, on Eufaula Creek, near the present site of Talladega, Alabama
. It was one of their early Upper Creek towns. Pickett's History of Alabama mentions an Indian town, belonging to the Creeks, which he calls Eufaulahatche. Little Eufauly is mentioned by one of the historians as early as 1792. Another upper creek town called Eufaula, was located on the Tallapoosa River
, near the present town of Dadeville, Alabama
. Another Eufaula, known as a lower creek town, was located on the east bank of the Chattahoochee River, within the limits of the present County of Quitman
in the State of Georgia. In 1799 some of the Indians of this settlement went down to the mouth of Flint River and established another town of the same name. And still another lower creek town, called Eufaula, was located on the Chattahoochee River
, in Henry County, Alabama.
Eufaula began to develop into a town soon after the arrival of the railroad in 1872, although for forty years before that time it was a well-known Indian center, a favorite meeting place for the Creeks. Many of the pow-wow
s or Indian conferences were held in that vicinity during the early days. The old Indian settlement of that name was, however, several miles from the present site of the town, but through the influence of G. W. Grayson, the present Chief of the Creeks, his brother Samuel, George Stidham and others, the Railroad Company was induced to locate one of its stations at the present site of the town and the old Indian village was moved to the station. D. B. Whitlow and Joseph Coody established the first store on the west side of the railroad and the Graysons and G. E. Seales started a store on the east side about the same time. Dr. W. H. Bailey was the first physician and druggist to locate in the new town. Rev. R. C. McGee, a Presbyterian missionary, established one of the first churches in Eufaula and remained in charge of it for many years. The old Asbury Mission School, located two miles northeast of Eufaula was, for many years previous to the Civil war, the leading educational institution of that vicinity. It served the Creek people faithfully, but was finally destroyed by fire.
Some of the most prominent citizens of the Creek Nation have resided in or near Eufaula, among whom were the two Graysons, George W. and his brother, Samuel. Samuel was an intelligent Indian, deeply interested in the educational welfare of his people. He resided in that vicinity for many years, and was extensively engaged in cattle raising and merchandising. His death occurred in Eufaula in the early 2000s.
George W. Grayson
George W. Grayson
, the late Chief of the Creek Nation who died recently at about seventy-eight years of age, was over six feet in height, and notwithstanding his advanced age, was as straight as an arrow. He was born near Eufaula and had resided in the Creek Nation from his birth. He attended school at the old Asbury Mission in his youth and later attended the University of Arkansas. He acquired a good English education and so thoroughly learned the Creek language, that his services as an interpreter have been in frequent demand. He had given much of his time to his people having served for several terms in the Creek Council, and having made frequent trips to Washington as the Creek delegate.
Charles Gibson
Charley Gibson was a well-known Creek citizen who spent his whole life in the vicinity of Eufaula. He was born in 1846, on a farm near Eufaula, and although his opportunities for securing an education were very limited, he acquired a good practical education. Upon reaching manhood he engaged in the mercantile business, first as a clerk in Grayson's store, then as the proprietor of a grocery. During the latter part of his life he acquired quite a reputation as a local news correspondent and his inimitable style of composition made him popular with the newspaper fraternity. He was a generous-hearted man and interested in the welfare of his people, as was proven by the fact that he reared and educated several Creek orphans. Source: 1
C. E. Foley
Among the early white settlers, no one has stood higher in the estimation of the citizens of Eufaula, than Mr. C. E. Foley. He showed his faith in the future of the town by organizing a bank, building a hotel, and in promoting various other enterprises. His kindheartedness and his public spiritedness have caused him to be regarded as everybody's friend.
Alexander Posey
Alex Posey
was another Creek, native of Eufaula, who attained considerable local prominence as a writer, both of prose and poetry. He first saw the light of day on August 23, 1873. He grew up on a farm, and after attending the crude day schools of that period, he attended the Bacone College at Muskogee. He was a typical Indian in appearance.' His long, black hair, his characteristic Indian complexion, his straight manly bearing and genteel manners, gave him a close resemblance of the ideal type of the noble red man. He was a persistent reader and student, well informed in matters of general, as well as of local interest. He was fond of writing both prose and poetry and a collection of his poems was printed some years ago, in book form. He adopted the nom-de-plume of "Chumubbie Harjo" in his writings and his prose productions were usually in artificial imitation of a fullblood's style of English. He was interested in the education of his people and for several years served as superintendent of the Creek Boarding School at Eufaula. He died several years ago while yet in the prime of life. Source: 1
Harmon Davis
Harmon C. Davis grew up in rural Oklahoma. His family was always musically inclined, so he naturally learned how to play the guitar at a young age in his life. Later on, he learned to play the steel guitar, and mastered the instrument. He played in his brothers bluegrass band, Olen and The Bluegrass Traveler's, every weekend on his radio station, KCES FM. Harmon Davis had the first radio station in Southeastern Oklahoma. It was KCES FM. The station survived from the mid fifties until about 1999 when he sold the station to KFOX FM. The radio station was very important to the small town and was the Lake Eufaula Giant, the voice could be heard all over lake Eufaula by turning into the station 102.3.
J. C. Watts
J. C. Watts (born November 18, 1957) is an American politician from Eufaula, Oklahoma who was a college football quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners and professionally in the Canadian Football League.
Jefferson Highway
When the Jefferson Highway
was first located through Eufaula the only way of crossing the South Canadian River, about four miles below the town, was by means of a rather uncertain ferry, and the citizens of Eufaula, feeling the great need of a good bridge across the river, incorporated- The Jefferson Highway Bridge Company, and at a cost of almost a quarter of a million dollars, built the present splendid structure of steel and concrete, forty feet above low water; affording a 365 day crossing throughout the year. Already the traffic over this bridge, which was opened for use April 21, 1920, bids fair to justify the large expenditure upon it and it is rapidly becoming one of the notable landmarks of the neighborhood. Source: 1
The first issue of the Indian Journal was published in 1876 said to be one of the first paper in Indian Territory(OK). A famous people who worked at the Indian Journal was Alexander Posey
. This paper is still a working newspaper. One of the first Masonic lodges in Indian Territory was organized here and the city claims as many thirty-second degree Masons as any other town of its size in the state. source: 1
Source: 5
Lake Eufaula Reflections book ISBN 0898658535 ISBN 9780898658538 Publisher: Friends of the Eufaula Memorial Library - 1992
McIntosh County, Oklahoma
McIntosh County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 19,456. Its county seat is Eufaula.-Geography:...
, 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 2,639 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 McIntosh County
McIntosh County, Oklahoma
McIntosh County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 19,456. Its county seat is Eufaula.-Geography:...
.
Geography
Eufaula is located at 35°17′31"N 95°35′12"W (35.291895, -95.586528).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 9.6 square miles (24.9 km²), of which 6.6 square miles (17.1 km²) is land and 3 square miles (7.8 km²) (31.15%) is water.
Eufaula is home to Lake Eufaula
Lake Eufaula
Lake Eufaula may refer to:*Eufaula Lake, an artificial lake on the Canadian River in Oklahoma, USA*Walter F. George Lake, an artificial lake on the Chattahoochee River between Alabama and Georgia, USA that is also known known as Lake Eufaula, from the town of Eufaula, Alabama on its western banks...
, the largest lake contained entirely within the state of Oklahoma because of the Eufaula Dam. Lake Eufaula contains Standing Rock, an historical monument which can no longer be seen since the creation of the lake.
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 2,639 people, 1,150 households, and 663 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 397.8 people per square mile (153.7/km²). There were 1,468 housing units at an average density of 221.3 per square mile (85.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 66.46% White, 17.92% Native American, 7.43% African American, 1.21% Hispanic or Latino of any race, 0.30% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.27% 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...
. Respondents of two or more races represented 7.58% of the population.
There were 1,150 households out of which 21.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% 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, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.3% were non-families. 38.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 25.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.8% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 20.0% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 29.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 81.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,547, and the median income for a family was $28,871. Males had a median income of $25,673 versus $19,405 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 $15,521. About 20.9% of families and 27.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.4% of those under age 18 and 17.8% of those age 65 or over.
History
The area surrounding Eufaula Lake has a colorful history, recalling such notorious characters as Belle StarrBelle Starr
Myra Maybelle Shirley Reed Starr , better known as Belle Starr, was a notorious American outlaw.-Early life:...
and the James-Younger Gang
James-Younger gang
The James-Younger Gang was a notable 19th-century gang of American outlaws that included Jesse James.The gang was centered in the state of Missouri. Membership fluctuated from robbery to robbery, as the outlaws' raids were usually separated by many months...
, who used the area north of the dam as their hideout.
Eufaula, the county seat of McIntosh County, is located in the southern part of the county, on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, not far from the Canadian River.
The name "Eufaula" comes from the Eufaula tribe, part of the Muscogee Creek Confederacy, whose tribal jurisdictional area the town falls under today. As early as the year 1800, the Muscogee Creeks had a town of that name, on Eufaula Creek, near the present site of Talladega, Alabama
Talladega, Alabama
Talladega is a city in Talladega County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 15,143. The city is the county seat of Talladega County. Talladega is approximately 50 miles east of Birmingham, Alabama....
. It was one of their early Upper Creek towns. Pickett's History of Alabama mentions an Indian town, belonging to the Creeks, which he calls Eufaulahatche. Little Eufauly is mentioned by one of the historians as early as 1792. Another upper creek town called Eufaula, was located on the Tallapoosa River
Tallapoosa River
The Tallapoosa River runs from the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains in Georgia, in the United States, southward and westward into Alabama. It is formed by the confluence of McClendon Creek and Mud Creek in Paulding County, Georgia. Lake Martin at Alexander City, Alabama is a large and...
, near the present town of Dadeville, Alabama
Dadeville, Alabama
Dadeville is a city in Tallapoosa County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 3,212. The city is the county seat of Tallapoosa County.Dadeville is part of the Alexander City Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. Another Eufaula, known as a lower creek town, was located on the east bank of the Chattahoochee River, within the limits of the present County of Quitman
Quitman, Georgia
This article is about the Georgia city. For the county in the same state see Quitman County, Georgia.Quitman is a city in Brooks County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,638 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Brooks County....
in the State of Georgia. In 1799 some of the Indians of this settlement went down to the mouth of Flint River and established another town of the same name. And still another lower creek town, called Eufaula, was located on the Chattahoochee River
Chattahoochee River
The Chattahoochee River flows through or along the borders of the U.S. states of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. It is a tributary of the Apalachicola River, a relatively short river formed by the confluence of the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers and emptying into Apalachicola Bay in the Gulf of...
, in Henry County, Alabama.
Eufaula began to develop into a town soon after the arrival of the railroad in 1872, although for forty years before that time it was a well-known Indian center, a favorite meeting place for the Creeks. Many of the pow-wow
Pow-wow
A pow-wow is a gathering of North America's Native people. The word derives from the Narragansett word powwaw, meaning "spiritual leader". A modern pow-wow is a specific type of event where both Native American and non-Native American people meet to dance, sing, socialize, and honor American...
s or Indian conferences were held in that vicinity during the early days. The old Indian settlement of that name was, however, several miles from the present site of the town, but through the influence of G. W. Grayson, the present Chief of the Creeks, his brother Samuel, George Stidham and others, the Railroad Company was induced to locate one of its stations at the present site of the town and the old Indian village was moved to the station. D. B. Whitlow and Joseph Coody established the first store on the west side of the railroad and the Graysons and G. E. Seales started a store on the east side about the same time. Dr. W. H. Bailey was the first physician and druggist to locate in the new town. Rev. R. C. McGee, a Presbyterian missionary, established one of the first churches in Eufaula and remained in charge of it for many years. The old Asbury Mission School, located two miles northeast of Eufaula was, for many years previous to the Civil war, the leading educational institution of that vicinity. It served the Creek people faithfully, but was finally destroyed by fire.
Some of the most prominent citizens of the Creek Nation have resided in or near Eufaula, among whom were the two Graysons, George W. and his brother, Samuel. Samuel was an intelligent Indian, deeply interested in the educational welfare of his people. He resided in that vicinity for many years, and was extensively engaged in cattle raising and merchandising. His death occurred in Eufaula in the early 2000s.
George W. Grayson
George W. Grayson
George Washington Grayson
George Washington Grayson was a Creek scholar, writer, merchant, rancher, newspaper publisher of the Indian Journal, and nationalist. During the American Civil War, he served as a Confederate captain, leading a company of the Second Creek Mounted Volunteers. He was also one of the founders of...
, the late Chief of the Creek Nation who died recently at about seventy-eight years of age, was over six feet in height, and notwithstanding his advanced age, was as straight as an arrow. He was born near Eufaula and had resided in the Creek Nation from his birth. He attended school at the old Asbury Mission in his youth and later attended the University of Arkansas. He acquired a good English education and so thoroughly learned the Creek language, that his services as an interpreter have been in frequent demand. He had given much of his time to his people having served for several terms in the Creek Council, and having made frequent trips to Washington as the Creek delegate.
Charles Gibson
Charley Gibson was a well-known Creek citizen who spent his whole life in the vicinity of Eufaula. He was born in 1846, on a farm near Eufaula, and although his opportunities for securing an education were very limited, he acquired a good practical education. Upon reaching manhood he engaged in the mercantile business, first as a clerk in Grayson's store, then as the proprietor of a grocery. During the latter part of his life he acquired quite a reputation as a local news correspondent and his inimitable style of composition made him popular with the newspaper fraternity. He was a generous-hearted man and interested in the welfare of his people, as was proven by the fact that he reared and educated several Creek orphans. Source: 1
C. E. Foley
Among the early white settlers, no one has stood higher in the estimation of the citizens of Eufaula, than Mr. C. E. Foley. He showed his faith in the future of the town by organizing a bank, building a hotel, and in promoting various other enterprises. His kindheartedness and his public spiritedness have caused him to be regarded as everybody's friend.
Alexander Posey
Alex Posey
Alexander Posey
Alexander Lawrence Posey was a Native American Muscogee Creek poet, humorist, journalist, and politician.-Early life:Alexander Posey born on August 3, 1873, near present Eufaula, Creek Nation...
was another Creek, native of Eufaula, who attained considerable local prominence as a writer, both of prose and poetry. He first saw the light of day on August 23, 1873. He grew up on a farm, and after attending the crude day schools of that period, he attended the Bacone College at Muskogee. He was a typical Indian in appearance.' His long, black hair, his characteristic Indian complexion, his straight manly bearing and genteel manners, gave him a close resemblance of the ideal type of the noble red man. He was a persistent reader and student, well informed in matters of general, as well as of local interest. He was fond of writing both prose and poetry and a collection of his poems was printed some years ago, in book form. He adopted the nom-de-plume of "Chumubbie Harjo" in his writings and his prose productions were usually in artificial imitation of a fullblood's style of English. He was interested in the education of his people and for several years served as superintendent of the Creek Boarding School at Eufaula. He died several years ago while yet in the prime of life. Source: 1
Harmon Davis
Harmon C. Davis grew up in rural Oklahoma. His family was always musically inclined, so he naturally learned how to play the guitar at a young age in his life. Later on, he learned to play the steel guitar, and mastered the instrument. He played in his brothers bluegrass band, Olen and The Bluegrass Traveler's, every weekend on his radio station, KCES FM. Harmon Davis had the first radio station in Southeastern Oklahoma. It was KCES FM. The station survived from the mid fifties until about 1999 when he sold the station to KFOX FM. The radio station was very important to the small town and was the Lake Eufaula Giant, the voice could be heard all over lake Eufaula by turning into the station 102.3.
J. C. Watts
J. C. Watts (born November 18, 1957) is an American politician from Eufaula, Oklahoma who was a college football quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners and professionally in the Canadian Football League.
Schools
The settlers of Eufaula demonstrated their interest in education by erecting a school on the east side of the railroad, and establishing a free school by voluntary taxation, before there was any law authorizing the levy of taxes for school purposes. As soon as the Curtis Act was passed by Congress, Eufaula took advantage of it by levying taxes and starting to build up a first class public school system, and to make other needed public improvements. The city now has paved streets, a splendid "White Way," five brick and stone schoolhouses, seven churches, a large cotton oil mill, light and ice plant, well built and attractive business blocks, three parks, a fine waterworks and sewage system, four banks, two hotels, the three story brick boarding school for Creek girls and an abundance of natural gas for domestic and commercial purposes. There is also a very .active civic club whose purpose is to make the town a better place to live in, rather than to increase its numbers, an ambition which is concurred in generally by the 3,000 prosperous and contented people who live here. Source: 1Jefferson Highway
When the Jefferson Highway
Jefferson Highway
The Jefferson Highway was an automobile highway stretching through the central United States from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jefferson Highway was replaced with the new numbered US Highway system in the late 1920s...
was first located through Eufaula the only way of crossing the South Canadian River, about four miles below the town, was by means of a rather uncertain ferry, and the citizens of Eufaula, feeling the great need of a good bridge across the river, incorporated- The Jefferson Highway Bridge Company, and at a cost of almost a quarter of a million dollars, built the present splendid structure of steel and concrete, forty feet above low water; affording a 365 day crossing throughout the year. Already the traffic over this bridge, which was opened for use April 21, 1920, bids fair to justify the large expenditure upon it and it is rapidly becoming one of the notable landmarks of the neighborhood. Source: 1
News Paper
Indian JournalThe first issue of the Indian Journal was published in 1876 said to be one of the first paper in Indian Territory(OK). A famous people who worked at the Indian Journal was Alexander Posey
Alexander Posey
Alexander Lawrence Posey was a Native American Muscogee Creek poet, humorist, journalist, and politician.-Early life:Alexander Posey born on August 3, 1873, near present Eufaula, Creek Nation...
. This paper is still a working newspaper. One of the first Masonic lodges in Indian Territory was organized here and the city claims as many thirty-second degree Masons as any other town of its size in the state. source: 1
Media
- The TV Show, “Dirty Jobs” filmed in Eufaula for Catfish Noodling on Season 2, Episode 9 called, “Dirtiest Water Jobs.” Original air date was December 20, 2005.
Source: 5
- Eufaula Ironheads were mentioned on Carrie UnderwoodCarrie UnderwoodCarrie Marie Underwood is an American country singer-songwriter and actress who rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, in 2005...
Song I aint in Cheocta Anymore. They were said to be beaten by the Wildcats.
- The Eufaula Mayor Speeches were on March 8, 2011, Tuesday at the Eufaula High School Auditorium. Also includes city council delegates. Source: Recorded Mayor Speeches of 2011
External links
- Eufaula City Hall
- Eufaula Chamber of Commerce
- Eufaula Area Arts
- Lake Eufala website
- Eufaula Memorial Library
- Eufaula Public Schools District Website
- Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Eufaula
- Eufaula information, photos and videos on TravelOK.com Official travel and tourism website for the State of Oklahoma
Lake Eufaula Reflections book ISBN 0898658535 ISBN 9780898658538 Publisher: Friends of the Eufaula Memorial Library - 1992