Rock Island, Oklahoma

Rock Island, Oklahoma
Town
Location of Rock Island, Oklahoma
Coordinates: 35°10′59″N94°28′52″W / 35.18306°N 94.48111°W / 35.18306; -94.48111
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
County	Le Flore
Area [1]
• Total	12.23 sq mi (31.68 km2)
• Land	12.17 sq mi (31.53 km2)
• Water	0.06 sq mi (0.16 km2)
Elevation [2]	502 ft (153 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	717
• Density	58.90/sq mi (22.74/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
FIPS code	40-63600 [3]
GNIS feature ID	2412560 [2]

Rock Island is a town in Le Flore County, Oklahoma, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 646 at the 2010 census, a decline of 8.9 percent from the figure of 709 recorded in 2000. ^[4]

History

The Fort Smith and Southern Railway built a north–south line through what is now Le Flore County in 1886; the line was sold the next year to the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad ("the Frisco"). In 1903–04 the Midland Valley Railroad laid an east-west line. The settlement originally known as Maney Junction developed at the crossing of these railroads. ^[5]

A post office was established as Rock Island, Indian Territory on February 1, 1905. It was presumably named for Rock Island, Illinois. ^[6] At the time of its founding, the community was located in Skullyville County, part of the Moshulatubbee District of the Choctaw Nation. ^[7]

Rock Island started the process of incorporation in 1989, but the County Commissioners did not approve the incorporation until 2004. ^[8]

Geography

Rock Island is 13 miles (21 km) northeast of Poteau. ^[8]

The town sits on Oklahoma State Highway 112 at the western terminus of Oklahoma State Highway 120. ^[9]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 12.2 square miles (32 km²), of which 12.1 square miles (31 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) (0.66%) is water.

Economy

Rock Island's economy has depended on agriculture since its founding. Many residents now commute to work in nearby towns such as Poteau and Fort Smith. ^[8]

Railroad tunnel

Jenson Tunnel is located just northeast of Rock Island and is the only known railroad tunnel in Oklahoma. Now used by the Kansas City Southern, it was built by Frisco Railway in 1885 and is approximately 1,180 feet long.^{[ citation needed ]}

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1990	478		—
2000	709		48.3%
2010	646		−8.9%
2020	717		11.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [10]

As of the census ^[3] of 2000, there were 709 people, 264 households, and 213 families residing in the town. The population density was 58.6 inhabitants per square mile (22.6/km²). There were 279 housing units at an average density of 23.1 per square mile (8.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 87.73% White, 5.64% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.56% from other races, and 5.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.97% of the population.

There were 264 households, out of which 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.0% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.3% were non-families. 16.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% 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 3.02.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.1% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 115.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,625, and the median income for a family was $34,545. Males had a median income of $26,442 versus $18,625 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,115. About 8.9% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.6% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Rock Island, Oklahoma
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. CensusViewer:Rock Island, Oklahoma Population.
5. "Rock Island". Charlene Williams Dunn, Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
6. Shirk, George H. Oklahoma Place Names (Norman: University of Oklahoma, 1965), p. 181.
7. Morris, John W. Historical Atlas of Oklahoma (Norman: University of Oklahoma, 1986), plate 38.
8. Charlene Williams Dunn, "Rock Island," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Accessed March 22, 2015.
9. "Rock Island, OK". Google Maps. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.