Editing Cromwell, Oklahoma

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Cromwell, Oklahoma
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

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|map_caption              = Location of Cromwell, Oklahoma
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<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Oklahoma]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Oklahoma|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Seminole County, Oklahoma|Seminole]]

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|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
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|population_total         = 238
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|postal_code              = 74837
|area_code                = [[Area code 405|405]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 40-18450<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
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'''Cromwell''' is a town in [[Seminole County, Oklahoma|Seminole County]], [[Oklahoma]], United States. It is within the jurisdiction of the [[Muscogee (Creek) Nation]]. The population was 238 at the time of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.census.gov/search-results.html?searchType=web&cssp=SERP&q=Cromwell%20town,%20Oklahoma  |title=Cromwell (town), Oklahoma|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=August 29, 2023}}</ref>  It was named for oilman Joe I. Cromwell, who platted the original town in 1923. The population soared to several thousand people in a few weeks, and lawlessness was rampant in the community. Retired  legendary [[Old West]] [[Police|lawman]] [[Bill Tilghman]] was hired as Town Marshal to restore order. Tilghman was shot to death the following year,<ref name="EOHC-Cromwell">[http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/C/CR014.html Veitenheimer, Penny. "Cromwell," ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture''.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723234122/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/C/CR014.html |date=July 23, 2008 }} Accessed March 18, 2016.</ref> the most notable event in Cromwell's history.

==History==
Founded in 1923, and named for Muscogee oilman, Joe I. Cromwell, Cromwell had a post office on May 17, 1924.

Cromwell was a wild and wooly town in the early 1920s.   The town was said to be full of [[bar (establishment)|saloon]]s, [[brothel]]s and [[outlaw]]s.  About 150 businesses operated in Cromwell during the 1920s, many selling [[moonshine]] alcohol and narcotics to residents of the surrounding area. However, about seventy of these were permanently closed during an enforcement drive. The illegal sales continued because a Federal [[Bureau of Prohibition|Prohibition Unit]] agent named [[Wiley Lynn]] was connected to mobster Arnold Killian.<ref name="EOHC-Cromwell"/>

On [[Halloween]] night, 1924, Cromwell Town [[Marshal]] and legendary [[Old West]] [[Police|lawman]] [[Bill Tilghman]] was shot outside of a cafe called "Ma Murphy's", by the corrupt prohibition agent 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 burned to the ground, allegedly by friends of Tilghman.  There was no investigation into the massive fire, and Cromwell never recovered its former wild status, or size.

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|1.1|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1930= 249
|1940= 451
|1950= 313
|1960= 269
|1970= 287
|1980= 337
|1990= 268
|2000= 265
|2010= 286
|2020= 238
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 265 people, 97 households, and 77 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|247.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 113 housing units at an average density of {{convert|105.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 71.70% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.75% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 19.25% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 3.02% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 5.28% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|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 [[Marriage|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 65 or over.

==Education==
It is in the [[Butner Public Schools]]<!--UNI 06000--> school district.<ref name=CensusSDMap2020>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40133_seminole/DC20SD_C40133.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Seminole County, OK|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-10-12}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40133_seminole/DC20SD_C40133_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

==Schoolton==
Schoolton is a populated place now located within the official boundaries of Cromwell.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://oklahoma.hometownlocator.com/ok/seminole/schoolton.cfm |title= Schoolton (in Seminole County, OK) Populated Place Profile| publisher= HomeTownLocator|accessdate=June 28, 2021}}</ref>   It is located north about 4 miles from the central district of Cromwell on [[Oklahoma State Highway 56]], just north of [[Interstate 40]].<ref>{{cite web|url=  https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Cromwell,+OK/Schoolton,+Cromwell,+OK+74859/@35.3702119,-96.495481,12.69z/data=!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x87b38ba962e710d1:0xbe3f04a11819e924!2m2!1d-96.4572334!2d35.3400771!1m5!1m1!1s0x87b38b2d1eb81523:0x2c851dce77244003!2m2!1d-96.458622!2d35.3917428  |title=Cromwell, Oklahoma to Schoolton, Cromwell, OK|publisher=Google Maps|accessdate=June 28, 2021}}</ref>

The settlement had a post office from December 19, 1907, to June 30, 1917; an earlier post office named Irene was situated at this same approximate location until November 28, 1907.<ref name=Seminole/>  The Schoolton name was chosen by one William P. Weston, a local educator, in recognition of plans for a fine school system in the town.<ref name=Seminole>{{cite web|url= http://www.seminolenation-indianterritory.org/ghosttowns.htm |title=Ghost Towns|publisher=The Seminole Nation|accessdate=June 28, 2021}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/C/CR014.html Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Cromwell] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723234122/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/C/CR014.html |date=July 23, 2008 }}

{{Seminole County, Oklahoma}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Seminole County, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Towns in Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Muscogee (Creek) Nation]]