Soper, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Soper is a town in Choctaw County
, Oklahoma
, United States
. The population was 600 at the 2000 census
. The town was named for P.L. Soper, who was a U.S. attorney in northern district of Indian territory, when the Frisco railroad came through the area in the early 20th century, and the community at that time took the name Soper. One of Soper's claim to fame is that of the bull rider "Freckles" Brown, born Warren Granger Brown, was from the town. "Freckles" Brown was a rodeo performer born in Wheatland, Wyoming on January 18, 1921. He died March 20, 1987, at his ranch in Soper, Oklahoma. Brown is remembered for riding an "unrideable" bull named Tornado in 1967. The bull, owned by Jim Shoulders, had thrown over 200 riders over a 14-year period before Brown's successful ride. Soper has been represented by the Soper High School at the State baseball tournament many times since their first appearance in fall on 1992. The fall 1992 team won runner-up that year, and for many years subsequecnt teams from the school made it to the semi-finals. The Soper High School baseball team finally won the state championship in the spring of 2009.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 600 people, 432 households, and 74 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,191.8 people per square mile (463.3/km²). There were 159 housing units at an average density of 631.7 per square mile (245.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 74.33% White, 19.33% Native American, and 6.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.
There were 132 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.2% were married couples
living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.2% were non-families. 41.7% 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 2.27 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 73.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $13,875, and the median income for a family was $18,333. Males had a median income of $16,875 versus $16,000 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $7,814. About 35.1% of families and 44.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.5% of those under the age of eighteen and 50.8% of those sixty five or over.
Choctaw County, Oklahoma
Choctaw County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 15,342. Its county seat is Hugo.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and is water....
, 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 600 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. The town was named for P.L. Soper, who was a U.S. attorney in northern district of Indian territory, when the Frisco railroad came through the area in the early 20th century, and the community at that time took the name Soper. One of Soper's claim to fame is that of the bull rider "Freckles" Brown, born Warren Granger Brown, was from the town. "Freckles" Brown was a rodeo performer born in Wheatland, Wyoming on January 18, 1921. He died March 20, 1987, at his ranch in Soper, Oklahoma. Brown is remembered for riding an "unrideable" bull named Tornado in 1967. The bull, owned by Jim Shoulders, had thrown over 200 riders over a 14-year period before Brown's successful ride. Soper has been represented by the Soper High School at the State baseball tournament many times since their first appearance in fall on 1992. The fall 1992 team won runner-up that year, and for many years subsequecnt teams from the school made it to the semi-finals. The Soper High School baseball team finally won the state championship in the spring of 2009.
Geography
Soper is located at 34°2′0"N 95°41′48"W (34.033385, -95.696573). The town is located approximately 12 miles west of Hugo, Ok, the county seat of Choctaw County, and approximately 10 miles east of Boswell, OK. Soper also is used to describe various communities in the area which include Buckhorn, Bluff, Gay, Nelson, and Sugar Creek, most of which were small school districts, which many still stand today, before they were closed and the students began using the Soper public school system. Soper has a volunteer fire department, local gas station and market, a pizza parlor and movie rental, and several prominent families that have been in the area for many years.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 town has a total area of 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 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 600 people, 432 households, and 74 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 1,191.8 people per square mile (463.3/km²). There were 159 housing units at an average density of 631.7 per square mile (245.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 74.33% White, 19.33% Native American, and 6.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.
There were 132 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.2% 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, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.2% were non-families. 41.7% 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 2.27 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 73.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $13,875, and the median income for a family was $18,333. Males had a median income of $16,875 versus $16,000 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 $7,814. About 35.1% of families and 44.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.5% of those under the age of eighteen and 50.8% of those sixty five or over.