Holdenville, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Holdenville is a city in Hughes County
, Oklahoma
, United States
. The population was 4,732 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Hughes County
.
It is home to The Pork Group, a subsidiary of Tyson Foods
; the Holdenville State Fish Hatchery, one of four operated by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
; the Earl A. Davis Correctional Facility, a 1,600 bed medium security prison operated by the Corrections Corporation of America
; and the Creek Nation Casino, one of many operated by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation
.
was constructed in the 1890s from Arkansas
to Indian Territory
. Between 1895 and 1897, the construction passed through the Creek Nation. During this period, a railroad camp was set up to service the railroad construction. The railroad workers called the camp "Holden" in honor of J.F. Holden, the Auditor and Traffic Manager of Choctaw, Oklahoma, and Gulf Railroad. In 1895, a request was delivered to the U.S. Congress to establish a post office in Holden. The request was rejected because the name was too similar to another post office called "Holder." The proposed name was then altered to "Holdenville" and was accepted. In 1898, settlers petitioned Indian Territory
to incorporate Holdenville as a town. A hearing was granted and on November 14, 1898, Holdenville was incorporated as part of Indian Territory. Upon ratification in 1907, Article 17 § 8 of the Oklahoma State Constitution
designated Holdenville as the county seat
of Hughes County
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²), all land.
Holdenville sits approximately five miles north of the Holdenville City Lake, eight miles north of the Canadian River
, and six miles north of the Little River
. The area is mostly wooded and flanked by gently rolling hills, interrupted occasionally by small creeks
and streams.
of 2000, there were 4,732 people, 1,966 households, and 1,236 families residing in the city. The population density
was 975.9 people per square mile (376.7/km²). There were 2,302 housing units at an average density of 474.7 per square mile (183.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.06% White, 3.44% African American, 14.48% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.99% from other races
, and 5.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.45% of the population.
There were 1,966 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% were married couples
living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 23.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 81.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,282, and the median income for a family was $27,175. Males had a median income of $21,020 versus $17,951 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,326. About 14.8% of families and 20.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.2% of those under age 18 and 18.4% of those age 65 or over.
and Secondary
education in and around the city are provided by Holdenville Public Schools and Moss Public Schools.
Vocational and technical education in the area is dominated by Wes Watkins Technology Center
in Wetumka, OK. The center is open for public enrollment and also contracts with area school districts including Holdenville and Moss to provide concurrent training and certification in skilled trades. Higher Education
is largely dominated by Seminole State College, a public junior college
located in Seminole, OK, and East Central University
, a public regional four-year university located in Ada, OK. All three institutions are located within a 40 mile radius of Holdenville.
in October
. The Festival includes a parade
, classic car show, and an open air market fair with dozens of booths and vendors selling crafts, food
, apparel
, and retail merchandise
.
, baseball diamond, public swimming pool
, basketball court
, tennis court
, skate park, two pavilion
s, and numerous picnic tables. There is also a one-mile walking path, duck pond
, and a smaller adjacent park called Rose Park which mainly consists of flower garden
s.
, is the area's main source of aquatic and woodland recreation. The lake is surrounded by campsite
s, some of which are equipped with RV
hook-ups. There is also a public bathouse with restrooms and showers. The lake has two dock
s, one is covered and reserved for fishing, the other is open-air and used for boat docking. Boats and jet ski
s are allowed on the lake, but only in certain areas. Tubing
, knee-boarding and water skiing
are allowed depending on the water level. There are also numerous ATV trails in the vicinity.
Hughes County, Oklahoma
Hughes County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 14,154. Its county seat is Holdenville.-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 4,732 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 Hughes County
Hughes County, Oklahoma
Hughes County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 14,154. Its county seat is Holdenville.-Geography:...
.
It is home to The Pork Group, a subsidiary of Tyson Foods
Tyson Foods
Tyson Foods, Inc. is a multinational corporation based in Springdale, Arkansas, that operates in the food industry. The company is the world's second largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef, and pork only behind Brazilian JBS S.A., and annually exports the largest percentage of beef out of...
; the Holdenville State Fish Hatchery, one of four operated by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is an agency of the state of Oklahoma responsible for managing and protecting Oklahoma's wildlife population and their habitats. The Department is under the control of the Wildlife Conservation Commission, an 8-member board appointed by the Governor...
; the Earl A. Davis Correctional Facility, a 1,600 bed medium security prison operated by the Corrections Corporation of America
Corrections Corporation of America
Corrections Corporation of America is a company that owns and manages private prisons and detention centers and operates others on a concession basis. The company is the largest private corrections company in the United States and manages more than 60 facilities with a designed capacity of 90,000...
; and the Creek Nation Casino, one of many operated by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation
Muscogee (Creek) Nation
The Muscogee Nation is a federally recognized tribe of Muscogee people, also known as the Creek, based in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. They are regarded as one of the historical Five Civilized Tribes and call themselves Este Mvskokvlke...
.
History
The Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf RailroadChoctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad
The Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad , known informally as the "Choctaw Route," was an American railroad located in located in Arkansas, and Oklahoma. The company, originally known as the Choctaw Coal and Railway Company, completed its main line between West Memphis, Arkansas and western...
was constructed in the 1890s from Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
to Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
. Between 1895 and 1897, the construction passed through the Creek Nation. During this period, a railroad camp was set up to service the railroad construction. The railroad workers called the camp "Holden" in honor of J.F. Holden, the Auditor and Traffic Manager of Choctaw, Oklahoma, and Gulf Railroad. In 1895, a request was delivered to the U.S. Congress to establish a post office in Holden. The request was rejected because the name was too similar to another post office called "Holder." The proposed name was then altered to "Holdenville" and was accepted. In 1898, settlers petitioned Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
to incorporate Holdenville as a town. A hearing was granted and on November 14, 1898, Holdenville was incorporated as part of Indian Territory. Upon ratification in 1907, Article 17 § 8 of the Oklahoma State Constitution
Oklahoma Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Oklahoma is the governing document of the U.S. State of Oklahoma. Adopted in 1907, Oklahoma ratified the United States Constitution on November 16, 1907, as the 46th US State. At its ratification, the Oklahoma Constitution was the longest governing document of any...
designated Holdenville as 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 Hughes County
Hughes County, Oklahoma
Hughes County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 14,154. Its county seat is Holdenville.-Geography:...
.
Geography
Holdenville is located at 35°5′3"N 96°24′1"W (35.084199, -96.400305).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 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²), all land.
Holdenville sits approximately five miles north of the Holdenville City Lake, eight miles north of the Canadian River
Canadian River
The Canadian River is the longest tributary of the Arkansas River. It is about long, starting in Colorado and traveling through New Mexico, the Texas Panhandle, and most of Oklahoma....
, and six miles north of the Little River
Little River (Oklahoma)
The Little River is a tributary of the Canadian River, long, in central Oklahoma in the United States. Via the Canadian and Arkansas rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River....
. The area is mostly wooded and flanked by gently rolling hills, interrupted occasionally by small creeks
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
and streams.
Climate
Highways
U.S. Route 270U.S. Route 270U.S. Route 270 is a spur of U.S. Route 70. It currently runs for 643 miles from Liberal, Kansas at U.S. Route 54 to White Hall, Arkansas at Interstate 530 and U.S. Route 65. It passes through the states of Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas...
State Highway 48State Highway 48 (Oklahoma)State Highway 48 is a state highway in eastern Oklahoma that runs nearly from Bryan County to Pawnee County. SH-48 has one lettered spur in Johnston County.-Route description:...
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 4,732 people, 1,966 households, and 1,236 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 975.9 people per square mile (376.7/km²). There were 2,302 housing units at an average density of 474.7 per square mile (183.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.06% White, 3.44% African American, 14.48% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.99% 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 5.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.45% of the population.
There were 1,966 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% 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, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 23.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 81.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,282, and the median income for a family was $27,175. Males had a median income of $21,020 versus $17,951 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 $13,326. About 14.8% of families and 20.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.2% of those under age 18 and 18.4% of those age 65 or over.
Education
PrimaryPrimary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
and Secondary
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
education in and around the city are provided by Holdenville Public Schools and Moss Public Schools.
Vocational and technical education in the area is dominated by Wes Watkins Technology Center
Wes Watkins Technology Center
Wes Watkins Technology Center is a public career and technology education center located in Wetumka, Oklahoma and is part of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education system.-Namesake:Wes Watkins is an Oklahoma politician...
in Wetumka, OK. The center is open for public enrollment and also contracts with area school districts including Holdenville and Moss to provide concurrent training and certification in skilled trades. Higher Education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
is largely dominated by Seminole State College, a public junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
located in Seminole, OK, and East Central University
East Central University
East Central University is a four year public university in Ada, Oklahoma, located in the south central region of the state. The university also has courses available in McAlester, Shawnee, Ardmore, and Durant....
, a public regional four-year university located in Ada, OK. All three institutions are located within a 40 mile radius of Holdenville.
Fall Festival
Holdenville celebrates the annual Fall Festival on the first SaturdaySaturday
Saturday is the day of the week following Friday and preceding Sunday.Saturday is the last day of the week on many calendars and in conventions that consider the week as beginning on Sunday, or the sixth day of the week according to international standard ISO 8601 which was first published in...
in October
October
October is the tenth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of seven months with a length of 31 days. The eighth month in the old Roman calendar, October retained its name after January and February were inserted into the calendar that had originally been created by the...
. The Festival includes a parade
Parade
A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, floats or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually celebrations of some kind...
, classic car show, and an open air market fair with dozens of booths and vendors selling crafts, food
Food
Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
, apparel
Clothing
Clothing refers to any covering for the human body that is worn. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic and is a feature of nearly all human societies...
, and retail merchandise
Retail
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
.
Stroup Park
Stroup Park is the primary recreation area in Holdenville. It contains a playgroundPlayground
A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
, baseball diamond, public swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
, basketball court
Basketball court
In basketball, the basketball court is the playing surface, consisting of a rectangular floor with tiles at either end. In professional or organized basketball, especially when played indoors, it is usually made out of a wood, often maple, and highly polished...
, tennis court
Tennis court
A tennis court is where the game of tennis is played. It is a firm rectangular surface with a low net stretched across the center. The same surface can be used to play both doubles and singles.-Dimensions:...
, skate park, two pavilion
Pavilion
In architecture a pavilion has two main meanings.-Free-standing structure:Pavilion may refer to a free-standing structure sited a short distance from a main residence, whose architecture makes it an object of pleasure. Large or small, there is usually a connection with relaxation and pleasure in...
s, and numerous picnic tables. There is also a one-mile walking path, duck pond
Duck pond
A duck pond is a pond for ducks and other water fowl. Duck ponds provide habitats for water fowl and other birds, who use the water to bathe in and drink....
, and a smaller adjacent park called Rose Park which mainly consists of flower garden
Flower garden
A flower garden is any garden where flowers are grown for decorative purposes. Because flowers bloom at varying times of the year, and some plants are annual, dying each winter, the design of flower gardens can take into consideration to maintain a sequence of bloom and even of consistent color...
s.
Holdenville City Lake
Holdenville City Lake, in addition to providing 80% of the drinking water in Hughes CountyHughes County, Oklahoma
Hughes County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 14,154. Its county seat is Holdenville.-Geography:...
, is the area's main source of aquatic and woodland recreation. The lake is surrounded by campsite
Campsite
A campsite or camping pitch is a place used for overnight stay in the outdoors. In British English a campsite is an area, usually divided into a number of pitches, where people can camp overnight using tents or camper vans or caravans; this British English use of the word is synonymous with the...
s, some of which are equipped with RV
Recreational vehicle
Recreational vehicle or RV is, in North America, the usual term for a Motor vehicle or trailer equipped with living space and amenities found in a home.-Features:...
hook-ups. There is also a public bathouse with restrooms and showers. The lake has two dock
Dock (maritime)
A dock is a human-made structure or group of structures involved in the handling of boats or ships, usually on or close to a shore.However, the exact meaning varies among different variants of the English language...
s, one is covered and reserved for fishing, the other is open-air and used for boat docking. Boats and jet ski
Jet ski
Jet Ski is the brand name of a personal watercraft manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The name is sometimes mistakenly used by those unfamiliar with the personal watercraft industry to refer to any type of personal watercraft; however, the name is a valid trademark registered with the...
s are allowed on the lake, but only in certain areas. Tubing
Tubing (recreation)
Tubing is a recreational activity where an individual rides on top of an inner tube, either on water, snow, or through the air. The tubes themselves are also known as "donuts" or "biscuits" due to their shape.-Water:Tubing on water generally consists of two forms: towed and free-floating, also...
, knee-boarding and water skiing
Water skiing
thumb|right|A slalom skier making a turn on a slalom waterski.Waterskiing is a sport where an individual is pulled behind a boat or a cable ski installation on a body of water, skimming the surface.-History:...
are allowed depending on the water level. There are also numerous ATV trails in the vicinity.
Notable natives
- "Dizzy" DeanDizzy DeanJay Hanna "Dizzy" Dean was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the last National League pitcher to win 30 games in one season. Dean was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953....
, 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 - Jack JacobsJack Jacobs"Indian" Jack Jacobs was an American and Canadian football player in the National Football League and Western Interprovincial Football Union. He was a charter member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1963....
, Canadian Football LeagueCanadian Football LeagueThe Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
quarterback - Dave CoxDave CoxDavid E. Cox was an American politician from Holdenville, Oklahoma. A Republican, he served as a California State Senator, representing the 1st district from December 2004 until his death in July 2010, and also served as an California State Assemblyman for the six years immediately before his...
, California State Senator - Boone Pickens, billionaire oil and gas businessman
- Clu GulagerClu GulagerClu Gulager is an American television and film actor. He is particularly noted for his co-starring role as William H. Bonney in the 1960–62 NBC TV series The Tall Man and for his role in the later NBC series The Virginian...
, actor - Constance N. JohnsonConstance N. JohnsonConstance N. Johnson is the Oklahoma Senator representing District 48, which includes Oklahoma County, since a special election in September 2005.-Biography:...
, Oklahoma State Senator - Daren BrownDaren BrownDaren D. Brown is an American baseball manager, presently employed as the manager of the minor league Tacoma Rainiers...
, Seattle MarinersSeattle MarinersThe Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
manager - Dave ReddingDave Redding-Biography:A native of Holdenville, Oklahoma, Redding has one daughter, Taylor. He attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he was a three-year letterman on the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team.-Coaching career:...
, NFL assistant coach