Fairfield, Oklahoma

Fairfield, Oklahoma
Census-designated place
Location within Adair County and the state of Oklahoma
Coordinates: 35°51′29″N94°36′58″W / 35.85806°N 94.61611°W / 35.85806; -94.61611
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
County	Adair
Area [1]
• Total	4.98 sq mi (12.89 km2)
• Land	4.96 sq mi (12.85 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.04 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	626
• Density	126.18/sq mi (48.72/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CST)
FIPS code	40-24875

Fairfield is a census-designated place (CDP) in Adair County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 584 at the 2010 census. ^[2]

History

Mulberry Mission was founded in Pope County, Arkansas Territory, among the Western Cherokees by Dr. Marcus Palmer ^{[lower-alpha 1]} It was a branch of Dwight Mission, which moved to Indian Territory and was renamed as the Fairfield Mission, when most of the Cherokees were forced to move there from their former homes in the Southeast. In 1832, The mission established a lending library that contained about 150 books. ^{[lower-alpha 2]} Sited on Sallisaw Creek, about 8 miles (13 km) southwest of Stilwell, Oklahoma, the mission closed in 1859. No structures remain in place. The mission cemetery still remains, and it has been renamed as McLemore Cemetery. ^{[4] [3]}

Geography

Fairfield is located at 35°51′29″N94°36′58″W / 35.85806°N 94.61611°W / 35.85806; -94.61611 (35.857975, -94.616168). ^[5]

According to Carolyn Foreman's history of the mission, it was 15 miles (24 km) from Evansville, Arkansas, 35 miles (56 km) from Fort Smith and about 35 miles (56 km) from Fort Gibson. ^[3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.0 square miles (12.9 km²), of which 0.015 square miles (0.04 km²), or 0.30%, is water. ^[2]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2020	626		—
U.S. Decennial Census [6]

As of the census ^[7] of 2000, there were 367 people, 118 households, and 96 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 102.3 people per square mile (39.5 people/km²). There were 124 housing units at an average density of 34.6 per square mile (13.4/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 36.51% White, 49.05% Native American, and 14.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.63% of the population.

There were 118 households, out of which 44.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.6% were non-families. 16.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.11 and the average family size was 3.45.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 36.2% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $23,750, and the median income for a family was $26,667. Males had a median income of $23,000 versus $19,722 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $10,497. About 27.5% of families and 25.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.6% of those under age 18 and 21.1% of those age 65 or over.

Notable person

• Mike Dart, award-winning, contemporary Cherokee basket weaver

Notes

1. Palmer was a native of Greenwich, Connecticut who had come with his wife to live among the Western Cherokees under the auspices of Boston-based American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions in 1821. He served first at Union Mission, then was transferred to Mulberry in November 1829. ^[3] Mulberry was so named because it was on Mulberry Creek in Arkansas. ^[3]
2. This is believed to be the first lending library in the present state of Oklahoma.

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
2. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Fairfield CDP, Oklahoma". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
3. Foreman, Carolyn Thomas. "Fairfield Mission." Chronicles of Oklahoma. Vol. 27. p. 373. Archived May 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Accessed December 21, 2016.
4. "Fairfield Mission." Accessed December 12, 2016.
5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
6. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
7. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.