Editing Checotah, Oklahoma

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Checotah, Oklahoma
|settlement_type          = Town
|nicknames                 = Steer Wrestling Capital of the World, Gem of the Prairie
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Kniseley and Long Building, Checotah Oklahoma.jpg
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = Kniseley and Long Building
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = OKMap-doton-Checotah.PNG
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location of Checotah, Oklahoma
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = State
|subdivision_name1        = [[Oklahoma]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Oklahoma|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[McIntosh County, Oklahoma|McIntosh]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref  = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 23.39
|area_land_km2            = 23.22
|area_water_km2           = 0.17
|area_total_sq_mi         = 9.03
|area_land_sq_mi          = 8.96
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.06

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 3018
|population_density_km2   = 129.97
|population_density_sq_mi = 336.64

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 620
|coordinates              = {{coord|35|28|55|N|95|31|21|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 74426
|area_code                = [[area codes 539 and 918|539/918]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 40-13650<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2409438<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2409438}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|http://www.checotah.net/}}
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
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}}
'''Checotah''' is a town in [[McIntosh County, Oklahoma]], United States. It was named for [[Samuel Checote]], the first chief of the [[Creek Nation]] elected after the [[American Civil War|Civil War]].<ref>[http://digital.library.okstate.edu/Chronicles/v016/v016p401.html Chronicles of Oklahoma] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805022203/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/Chronicles/v016/v016p401.html |date=August 5, 2011 }} chapter on Chief Checote.  Accessed September 24, 2011.</ref> Its population was 3,481 at the [[United States Census, 2000|2000 census]].  According to Census 2010, the population has decreased to 3,335; a 4.19% loss.<ref>[http://censusviewer.com/city/OK/Checotah CensusViewer:Checotah, Oklahoma Population.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615141521/http://censusviewer.com/city/OK/Checotah |date=June 15, 2013 }} Retrieved October 10, 2013.</ref>

Checotah is home to numerous antique malls, a Civil War battle site, and a downtown historic district.  Checotah claims to be the [[steer wrestling]] capital of the world.<ref>{{cite web|title=Checotah is Steer Wrestling Capital of the World|url=http://www.americanprofile.com/articles/checotah-is-steer-wrestling-capital-of-the-world/|work=American Profile|publisher=Publishing Group of America, Inc.|access-date=September 18, 2011|author=M. Bergstrom}}</ref> Early boosters called Checotah "The Gem of the Prairie".<ref name= "EOHC-Checotah">[http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CH011 Checotah Landmark Preservation Society, "Checotah."  ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture''.] Accessed February 20, 2013.]</ref>

==History==
[[File:Checotah Oklahoma Circa 1900.jpg|upright|left|thumb|A street scene in Checotah around 1900]]

The [[Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad]] (also known as the MKT or Katy) established a railhead on the old [[Texas Road]] in 1872 that became the site of present-day Checotah. Although it was named Checote Switch for [[Samuel Checote]], a later mapmaker spelled the name as Checotah. The town was chartered by the [[Creek Nation]] in 1893. The Dawes Commission held its first meeting here.<ref name= "EOHC-Checotah"/>

Between 1907 and 1909, the people of Checotah were involved in a dispute with nearby [[Eufaula, Oklahoma|Eufaula]] known as the [[McIntosh County Seat War]]. After Checotah was designated as the new [[county seat]], the people of Eufaula refused to hand over the county records. Soon after, a group of heavily armed men from Chectotah attempted to seize the records from the courthouse in Eufaula, but were beaten back and forced to surrender during the gunfight that followed. Eufaula was designated as the permanent seat of McIntosh County one year later.<ref name="Butler, pg. 65-73">{{cite book | last=Butler| first=Ken| title=More Oklahoma Renegades| publisher=Pelican Publishing| year=2007| isbn=978-1589804647}}</ref>

Checotah was on the route of the [[Jefferson Highway]] established in 1915, with that road running more than 2,300 miles from [[Winnipeg]], [[Manitoba]] to [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.jeffersonhighwayinoklahoma.com/ |title=The Jefferson Highway Route in Oklahoma|publisher= Oklahoma Members of the Jefferson Highway Association|access-date=October 27, 2019}}</ref>

==Geography==
Checotah is located at an elevation of {{convert|652|ft|m}} at the intersection of [[Interstate 40 in Oklahoma|I-40]] and [[U.S. Route 69 in Oklahoma|U.S. Route 69]]. Nearby is [[Eufaula Lake]], the largest-capacity lake wholly within the state of Oklahoma.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|9.0|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|0.1|sqmi|km2}} (0.67%) is covered by water.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 805
|1910= 1683
|1920= 2390
|1930= 2110
|1940= 2126
|1950= 2638
|1960= 2614
|1970= 3074
|1980= 3454
|1990= 3290
|2000= 3481
|2010= 3335
|2020= 3018
|footnote=[https://www.census.gov/prod/abs/www/decennial/ U.S. Decennial Census]
}}

As of the census<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, 3,481 people, 1,389 households, and 912 families were residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|389.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The 1,576 housing units had an average density of {{convert|176.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the city was 67.91% White, 6.92% African American, 15.91% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 8.53% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.29% of the population.

Of the 1,389 households, 31.5% had children under 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples living together, 17.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were not families. About 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65  or older. The average household size was 2.39, and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city, the age distribution was 26.1% under 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.7% who were 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 77.7 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 72.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,029, and for a family was $30,741. Males had a median income of $26,094 versus $17,298 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,921. About 16.1% of families and 20.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.4% of those under 18 and 7.6% of those 65 or over. The median house value is $50,500.

==National Register of Historic Places==
{{main| National Register of Historic Places listings in McIntosh County, Oklahoma}}
Checotah has multiple sites on the National Register of Historic Places listings in McIntosh County, Oklahoma, including the Checotah Business District (Gentry Ave between W 1st and W Main Sts., and Broadway Ave between Lafayette and Spaulding Aves), Checotah City Hall (201 N Broadway), Checotah MKT Depot (Paul Carr Dr.), the [[Methodist Episcopal Church, South|Methodist Episcopal Church (South)]] (419 W. Gentry St.), the [[Oklahoma Odd Fellows Home at Checotah]] (211 W North St.), and the Tabor House (631 W. Lafayette).

==Honey Springs Battlefield==
Checotah considers itself the host of the [[Battle of Honey Springs|Honey Springs Battlefield]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.checotah.net/|title=Checotah|publisher=City of Checotah|access-date=October 20, 2019|archive-date=April 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424035340/http://www.checotah.net/|url-status=dead}}</ref> which is 4.5 miles (7.2&nbsp;km) northeast of town.

==Popular culture==
* ''[[American Idol (season 4)|American Idol]]'' winner [[Carrie Underwood]] wrote a song on her album ''[[Some Hearts]]'' called "I Ain't in Checotah Anymore". It includes references to the local high-school team (Wildcats), Highways [[U.S. Route 69 in Oklahoma|69]] and [[Interstate 40 in Oklahoma|40]], the Okra Fest (no longer held),<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.muskogeephoenix.com/archives/checotah-cancels-okrafest/article_d3f2e942-46d9-53f0-93ef-3ae26a785b3f.html |title= Checotah cancels Okrafest|publisher=Muskogee Phoenix, August 16, 2010|access-date=October 20, 2019}}</ref> and Eufaula Lake.

==Notable people==
* [[Paul H. Carr (sailor)|Paul H. Carr]], [[Silver Star]] recipient
* [[Woody Crumbo]], Native American artist, lived and worked in Checotah.<ref>Hunt, David C. [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CR021 Crumbo, Woodrow Wilson (1912–1989)], ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'', Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved February 18, 2016.</ref>
* [[Merle Haggard]]'s parents James Francis Haggard and Flossie Mae Harp
* [[Jim G. Lucas]] (1914–1970), Journalist and war correspondent, winner of Pulitzer Prize in Journalism<ref name= "EOHC-Checotah"/> 
* [[Mel McDaniel]], [[country music]]ian
* [[Tracy Scroggins]], NFL [[linebacker]]
* [[Carrie Underwood]], [[Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]]-winning country musician

==References==
<references />

==External links==
* [http://www.checotah.net/ Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424035340/http://www.checotah.net/ |date=April 24, 2015 }}
* [https://www.checotah.k12.ok.us/page/12135 Checotah High School]
* [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CH011 Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture – Checotah]

{{McIntosh County, Oklahoma}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in McIntosh County, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Cities in Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Muscogee (Creek) Nation]]