Braggs, Oklahoma

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Braggs, Oklahoma
Town
OKMap-doton-Braggs.PNG
Location in Oklahoma
Coordinates: 35°39′48″N95°11′54″W / 35.66333°N 95.19833°W / 35.66333; -95.19833
Country United States
State Oklahoma
County Muskogee
Area
[1]
 • Total
0.31 sq mi (0.81 km2)
 • Land0.31 sq mi (0.81 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
[2]
558 ft (170 m)
Population
 (2020) [3]
 • Total
270
 • Density859.87/sq mi (332.51/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code
74423
Area code(s) 539/918
FIPS code 40-08400 [4]
GNIS feature ID2411718 [2]

Braggs is a town in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 270 as of the 2020 census. [3] The town is best known as the site of Camp Gruber, a World War II military cantonment that was the home base of the 42nd Infantry Division (Rainbow Division) and the 88th Infantry Division (Blue Devil Division). [5]

Contents

History

This town was named Patrick, Indian Territory, on May 2, 1886, for John J. Patrick, its first postmaster. On September 10, 1888, it was renamed for a prominent landowner, Solomon Bragg. Braggs remained a small farming town through the first part of the 20th century. During its early years, the community was regularly visited by outlaws such as the Cook Gang, Cherokee Bill and Henry Starr.

In 1942, the U. S. Army created a military cantonment named Camp Gruber, just outside town. [a] The camp cost about $30 million and brought a surge of prosperity to Braggs. The camp covered 60,000 acres (240 km2) and trained thousands of new soldiers during World War II. Part of the camp was used to house captured German military men, until they were repatriated after the war. The camp was deactivated in 1947, ending the prosperity for Braggs [5]

Camp Gruber reopened in 1977 as a training facility for reserve and active duty units. It became the home for the National Guard Air Assault School in 1987. [5]

Geography

Braggs is in eastern Muskogee County, east of the Arkansas River along State Highway 10. It is 13 miles (21 km) south of Fort Gibson and 12 miles (19 km) north of Gore. Muskogee, the county seat, is 19 miles (31 km) to the northwest by road. Braggs is bordered to the north and east by Camp Gruber, [6] an Oklahoma Army National Guard (OKARNG) training facility. It is bordered to the south and west by the census-designated place of Sand Hill.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Braggs has a total area of 0.31 square miles (0.80 km2), all land. [1] Sand Creek touches the southeast corner of the town as it flows westerly toward the Arkansas River.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1910 259—
1920 43066.0%
1930 400−7.0%
1940 392−2.0%
1950 374−4.6%
1960 279−25.4%
1970 32516.5%
1980 3518.0%
1990 308−12.3%
2000 301−2.3%
2010 259−14.0%
2020 2704.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [7]

As of the census [4] of 2000, there were 301 people, 123 households, and 86 families residing in the town. The population density was 923.8 inhabitants per square mile (356.7/km2). There were 137 housing units at an average density of 420.4 per square mile (162.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 75.42% White, 1.66% African American, 14.95% Native American, 0.33% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 7.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.33% of the population.

There were 123 households, out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.5% were married couples living together, 104.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.6% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 164. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $21,750, and the median income for a family was $22,500. Males had a median income of $20,938 versus $20,938 for females. The per capita income for the town was $11,396. About 23.5% of families and 31.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 50.0% of those under the age of eighteen and 8.9% of those 65 or over.

Notable people

Notes

  1. ↑ Brig. General Edmund L. Gruber, for whom the camp was named, was noted for writing the original version of the "U.S. Field Artillery March", also known as "And the Caissons Go Rolling Along." [5]

References

  1. 1 2 "2024 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Oklahoma". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  2. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Braggs, Oklahoma
  3. 1 2 "P1. Race – Braggs town, Oklahoma: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  4. 1 2 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. 1 2 3 4 B. J. Brooks, "Braggs," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Accessed May 2, 2015
  6. ↑ Map of Camp Gruber Archived February 25, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved June 9, 2014
  7. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
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