View source for Choctaw, Oklahoma

{{Short description|City in Oklahoma, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Choctaw County, Oklahoma}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Choctaw, Oklahoma
|settlement_type          = 
|nickname                 = 
| motto = {{force singular}} "Celebrating the Past, Enjoying the Present, & Preparing for the Future."
|image_skyline            = City Hall, Choctaw, Oklahoma.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Choctaw City Hall
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = 
|image_map        = Oklahoma County Oklahoma Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Choctaw highlighted.svg
|map_caption       = Location in [[Oklahoma County, Oklahoma|Oklahoma County]] and the state of [[Oklahoma]]
| pushpin_map = USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States
<!-- 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        = [[Oklahoma County, Oklahoma|Oklahoma]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         = 
|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           = 70.34
|area_land_km2            = 70.25
|area_water_km2           = 0.09
|area_total_sq_mi         = 27.16
|area_land_sq_mi          = 27.12
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.04
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 12182
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|pop_est_footnotes         = 
|population_density_km2   = 173.42
|population_density_sq_mi = 449.14
|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             = 1155
|coordinates              = {{coord|35|28|49|N|97|16|00|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 73020
|area_code                = [[Area code 405|405]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 40-14200<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2409457<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2409457}}</ref>
|website                  = http://www.choctawcity.org 
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Choctaw''' is a city in [[Oklahoma County, Oklahoma]], United States, with a population of 12,182 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], a 9.3% increase from 2010. It is the oldest chartered town in [[Oklahoma Territory]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Choctaw (town) {{!}} The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture|url=https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CH048|access-date=2021-10-07|website=www.okhistory.org}}</ref> The city is located approximately 10 miles (16.1&nbsp;km) east of [[Oklahoma City]] and is part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.

Choctaw became a community in 1890, but was not given actual status as a town until 1893 when a territorial governor was appointed for Oklahoma. It officially celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1993.<ref>[http://www.choctawcity.org/welcome.htm City of Choctaw website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081231113541/http://www.choctawcity.org/welcome.htm |date=December 31, 2008}}</ref>
In 1950, Choctaw was in an agricultural area. It had a population of 355 in that year.<ref>''Columbia-Lippincott Gazetteer''. (New York: Columbia University Press, 1952) p. 403</ref> Despite its name, the town has no cultural, historical or governmental ties to the [[Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma]]. The tribal headquarters and casino are located in the southeastern part of the state in [[Durant, Oklahoma]], and the [[Choctaw Capitol Building]] and annual Labor Day Festival are in [[Tuskahoma, Oklahoma]].

Before Choctaw was chartered, the area included a part of William McClure's 7C Ranch and was known for a trading post and a camping spot near a spring.<ref name="everett">Everett, Dianna. [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CH048 "Choctaw (City),"] ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'', Oklahoma Historical Society, 2009. Accessed March 25, 2015.</ref>

A community emerged on the east {{convert|80|acre|ha}} of land John S. Muzzy claimed in the 1889 land run and received a postal designation in early 1890.<ref name="everett"/>

The town incorporated in April 1904. When Oklahoma became a state in 1907, the town had 230 residents, four churches, a school, a bank, a newspaper and telephone service. By 1909, the town had three gins. The population grew very little during the Great Depression.<ref name="everett"/>

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Oklahoma}}
Choctaw is a city just east of [[Oklahoma City]] and has a total area of {{convert|27.1|sqmi|km2}}, of which 27.1 square miles is land and {{convert|0.04|sqmi|km2}} is water.

=== Ecoregion and tourism region ===
Choctaw is located in the [[Cross Timbers]] [[ecoregion]] and the [[Central Oklahoma|Frontier Country]] [[tourism region]].<ref>{{Cite FTP |url=ftp://newftp.epa.gov/EPADataCommons/ORD/Ecoregions/ok/ok_eco_pg.pdf|server=FTP server|url-status=dead|title=Ecoregions of Oklahoma}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.travelok.com/cities-and-regions|title=Cities & Regions|website=TravelOK}}</ref>

===Climate===
Choctaw has a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''Cfa'') and lies in an area known as [[Tornado Alley]], characterized by frequent interaction between cold and warm air masses producing [[severe weather]]. An average of 54 [[tornado]]es strike the state per year.<ref>[http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/severeweather/tornadoes.html Tornado Climatology], NOAA National Climatic Data Center. (accessed July 26, 2013)</ref>{{Weather box 
|location = Choctaw, Oklahoma
|single line = Y
|Jan high F = 50
|Feb high F = 54
|Mar high F = 63
|Apr high F = 72
|May high F = 79
|Jun high F = 87
|Jul high F = 93
|Aug high F = 93
|Sep high F = 84
|Oct high F = 74
|Nov high F = 62
|Dec high F = 51
|Jan low F = 25
|Feb low F = 29
|Mar low F = 37
|Apr low F = 46
|May low F = 57
|Jun low F = 65
|Jul low F = 70
|Aug low F = 69
|Sep low F = 60
|Oct low F = 48
|Nov low F = 37
|Dec low F = 28
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.55
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.26
|Mar precipitation inch = 3.11
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.38
|May precipitation inch = 5.44
|Jun precipitation inch = 5.73
|Jul precipitation inch = 2.58
|Aug precipitation inch = 2.81
|Sep precipitation inch = 4.56
|Oct precipitation inch = 4.54
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.69
|Dec precipitation inch = 2.11
|year precipitation inch= 40.76
|source 1 = <ref>"[http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/73020]," Weather.com (accessed November 16, 2012).</ref>
|date=November 2012
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 230
|1910= 242
|1920= 199
|1930= 242
|1940= 289
|1950= 355
|1960= 623
|1970= 4750
|1980= 7520
|1990= 8545
|2000= 9377
|2010= 11146
|2020= 12182
|footnote=Sources:<ref name="GR2" /><ref name="Census1910">{{cite web|title=Population-Oklahoma|url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/36894832v3ch3.pdf|work=U.S. Census 1910|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=November 22, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Census1930">{{cite web|title=Population-Oklahoma|url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/03815512v1ch08.pdf|work=15th Census of the United States|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=November 27, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Census1960">{{cite web|title=Number of Inhabitants: Oklahoma|url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/37749197v1p38ch2.pdf|work=18th Census of the United States|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=November 22, 2013}}{{dead link|date=November 2016|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="Census1990">{{cite web|title=Oklahoma: Population and Housing Unit Counts|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-38.pdf|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=November 22, 2013}}</ref><ref name="CensusPopEst">{{cite web|title=Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=November 25, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611010502/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|archive-date=June 11, 2013 }}</ref>
}}

===2000 census===
At the 2000 [[census]],<ref name="GR2" /> there were 9,377 people, 3 households and 2,808 families residing in the city.{{clarify |date=May 2018|reason=sentence mentions thousands of residents, but only 3 households}} The population density was {{convert|346.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 3,617 housing units at an average density of {{convert|133.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 88.80% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.64% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 3.70% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.62% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.06% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.85% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 4.32% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.79% of the population.

There were 3,450 households, of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.0% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.6% were non-families. 16.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 2.99.

25.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males.

The [[median household income]] was $49,291 and the median family income was $55,437. Males had a median income of $36,540 versus $27,914 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $21,041. About 3.7% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 9.0% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.

==City government==
[[File:Choctaw Library, Choctaw, Oklahoma.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|Choctaw Library, part of the [[Metropolitan Library System (Oklahoma)|Metropolitan Library System]]]]
The City of Choctaw has a [[city council]] made up of elected officials and led by a [[mayor]]. A council-appointed city manager administers the day-to-day affairs of the city and oversees city staff. Individual departments such as the police department and fire department are overseen by a police chief and fire chief, respectively.

==Arts and culture==

The town has a small museum dedicated to [[beer stein]]s, the Stramski Collection.<ref>[http://www.oldgermany.com/oktoberfest.php Oktoberfest] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824152258/http://www.oldgermany.com/oktoberfest.php |date=August 24, 2010}}, Old Germany Restaurant, accessed January 25, 2010.</ref>

==Education==
The majority of Choctaw is in the [[Choctaw-Nicoma Park School District]].<ref name=CensusSDmap2020>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40109_oklahoma/DC20SD_C40109.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Oklahoma County, OK|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-01-28}}</ref> [[Choctaw High School]] is the zoned high school of the district.

Choctaw High School's Varsity Academic Team, coached by Paula Sendall, is ranked 1st in Oklahoma as of 2017 and has been invited to multiple national-level competitions after winning the 6A State Championship in February 2017.<ref>[http://www.ossaa.net/docs/2016-17/AcademicBowl/AC_2016-17_6AFinalStateBracket.pdf?id=691 2017 OSSAA 6A State Bracket] (accessed April 25, 2017)</ref> Choctaw public schools spend $4,133 per student. The average school expenditure in the U.S. is $6,058. There are about 15 students per teacher in Choctaw.<ref>[http://www.bestplaces.net/city/Choctaw-Oklahoma.aspx Choctaw, Oklahoma], Sperling's Best Places. [http://www.bestplaces.net] (accessed January 20, 2009)</ref> Students graduating from Choctaw High School also have the opportunity to take advantage of the "Ticket to Rose" program at [[Rose State College]]. Ticket to Rose provides a scholarship for tuition and mandatory fees for all graduates of Choctaw High School.

Other parts of Choctaw are in [[Jones Public Schools]] and [[Oklahoma City Public Schools]] (OKCPS).<ref name=CensusSDmap2020/> Zoned schools of the OKCPS part include Willow Brook Elementary School (PreKindergarten-Grade 1),<!--https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&Zip=73141&Miles=20&DistrictType=1&DistrictType=2&DistrictType=3&DistrictType=4&DistrictType=5&DistrictType=6&DistrictType=7&NumOfStudentsRange=more&NumOfSchoolsRange=more&ID=402277001207--> Spencer Elementary School (grades 2-4)<!--https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&Zip=73084&Miles=5&ID=402277001189-->, Rogers Intermediate School (grades 5-6)<!--https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&Miles=10&Zip=73066&ID=402277029860-->,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.okcps.org/cms/lib/OK01913268/Centricity/domain/115/attendance%20maps/ALL_Elementary%2020190422.pdf|title=ALL_Elementary%2020190422.pdf|publisher=[[Oklahoma City Public Schools]]|access-date=2024-01-28}}</ref> and [[Star Spencer Mid-High School]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.okcps.org/cms/lib/OK01913268/Centricity/domain/115/attendance%20maps/ALL_Middle%2020190422.pdf|title=ALL_Middle%2020190422.pdf|publisher=[[Oklahoma City Public Schools]]|access-date=2024-01-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.okcps.org/cms/lib/OK01913268/Centricity/domain/115/attendance%20maps/ALL_High%2020190422.pdf|title=ALL_High%2020190422.pdf|publisher=[[Oklahoma City Public Schools]]|access-date=2024-01-28}}</ref>

Choctaw contains a career technology school, the Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center.

== Notable people ==
* [[Lyle Boren]], father of [[David L. Boren]] and former U.S. Congressman<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://oklahomahof.com/member-archives/b/boren-lyle-h-1986 | title = Oklahoma Hall of Fame: Boren, Lyle H. |access-date = July 22, 2019}}</ref>
* [[Gary Haught]], former MLB pitcher<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://oklahoman.com/article/2185695/controversial-call-ends-choctaw-season | title = Controversial Call Ends Choctaw's Season | access-date = Jul 22, 2019}}</ref>
* [[Louis L'Amour]], author<ref>{{Cite web | url= http://www.louislamour.com/aboutlouis/biography3.htm | title = Biography of Louis L'Amour | access-date = Jul 22, 2019}}</ref>
* [[Becka Leathers]], wrestler<ref>{{Cite web | url =https://www.mustangpaper.com/2016/08/08/leathers-trains-with-team-usa/ | title =Leathers trains with Team USA | access-date =Jul 22, 2019 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20190722211100/https://www.mustangpaper.com/2016/08/08/leathers-trains-with-team-usa/ | archive-date =July 22, 2019 | url-status =dead }}</ref>
* [[Michael Maples (racing driver)|Michael Maples]], race driver
* [[Ryan Merriman]], actor<ref>{{IMDb name|0581365|Ryan Merriman}} (accessed July 22, 2019)</ref>
* [[:de:Ashlynn Brooke|Ashylynn Brooke]], adult film actress <ref>{{Cite web |title=Ashlynn Brooke - Biography |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2516967/bio/ |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Restless Heart|Greg Jennings]], musician<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goff |first=Kevan M. |title=Restless Heart Opens for Judds |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1989/04/14/restless-heart-opens-for-judds/62617395007/ |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=The Oklahoman |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
* [http://www.choctawcity.org City of Choctaw]
* Everett, Dianna. [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CH048 "Choctaw (City),"] ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'', Oklahoma Historical Society, 2009. Accessed March 25, 2015. 
* [http://www.choctawtimes.com Choctaw Times]

{{Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area}}
{{Oklahoma County, Oklahoma}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Oklahoma City metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Cities in Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Cities in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1890]]
[[Category:1890 establishments in Oklahoma Territory]]