Okmulgee is a city in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 13,022 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Okmulgee County . The town has been the capital of the Creek Nation since the United States Civil War. Okmulgee means "boiling waters" in the Creek language. The site was chosen because of the nearby rivers and springs.

Geography

Okmulgee is located at (35.624558, -95.963254) .

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 33.8 square miles (33.2 km²), all of it land.Actually, Okmulgee means "babbling brook", it is also translated as 'bubbling water'. It's located in the heart of Oklahoma's "Green Country", in the North East Quadrant of Oklahoma. It is also home to Oklahoma State University @ Okmulgee.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,022 people, 5,135 households, and 3,291 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,015.7 people per square mile (392.2/km²). There were 5,948 housing units at an average density of 463.9/sq mi (179.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 58.85% White, 21.29% African American, 13.61% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 5.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.83% of the population.

There were 5,135 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% were married couples living together, 17.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 12.7% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $4,344, and the median income for a family was $31,015. Males had a median income of $26,105 versus $19,722 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,633. About 19.6% of families and 54.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.0% of those under age 18 and 14.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

CareerTech

• Green Country Technology Center is located in Okmulgee

Post Secondary

• Oklahoma State University-Okmulgee

Notable Residents

• Oscar Pettiford, jazz bass player
• David Obey, US Congressmember, birthplace
• Will Sampson, actor
• Wright King, actor, birth place
• Bill Self, college basketball coach, birth place
• Samuel Checote burial site of first elected Chief of Creek Nation after the U.S. Civil War. The community of Checotah, Oklahoma is named for him.

References

Ron Gardenhire - Minnesota Twins Manager

External links

• Memoirs of Jeremiah Curtin in the Indian Territory ethnographer's notes of 1883 visits to Muskogee and Okmulgee; electronic record maintained by Library of Congress, accessed January 15, 2007.