Muskogee, Oklahoma

Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 38,310 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Muskogee County. Muskogee is currenly the eleventh largest city in Oklahoma.

History

Muskogee first received recognition when in 1805 US President Thomas Jefferson addressed the United States Congress seconding the recommendation of Meriwether Lewis that a trading post be established near the modern day city. French fur traders had already exited in the area for some time before the American acquisition of the Louisiana Purchase. The French were believed to have established a temporary village near Muskogee in 1806, but the first permanent settlement was established in 1817 on the south bank of the Verdigris River, north of Muskogee.

When President Andrew Jackson passed the Indian Removal Act of 1830, the Five Civilized Tribes were relocated from their homes in the south to Indian Territory through the Trail of Tears. Of the five tribes, the Cherokee and Creek tribes established settlements near Muskogee, with the town being incorporated into both Indian Nations. The Creeks, recognizing the economic value of the location, made Muskogee the Capital of the Creek Nation in 1836.

Following the American Civil War, renewed interest was created in western expansion. The United States Federal government allowed railroads to be built on Indian soil for the first time. In 1872, the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad was extended to this area. In 1889, recognizing Muskogee’s growing economic and political value, a United States federal court was established at the city. This was the first federal court that exercised jurisdiction in Indian Territory that was actually located within the Territory. Before this point, all jurisdictions had be given to the federal court located in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

With the establishment of a federal court, Indian Territory was opened to white settlers via land runs. Modern day Muskogee’s official founding was in 1898, even though settlements had existed in the area for decades before under the same name. Also, it was not until 1898 that a non-citizen of Indian Territory could legally own land in this area. Even though Muskogee sat at the intersection of three rivers and offered vast fertile farm lands, the town remained relatively quiet for the first years following its founding.

Muskogee made a turn towards prominences throughout what is now modern day Oklahoma when an Ohio native moved to the city: Charles N. Haskell. When Haskell came to the town in March of 1901, he found it a quiet town of over four thousand people. However immediately on his arrival, the town took new life, business blocks were constructed with Haskell building the first five-story business block in Oklahoma Territory. Haskell organized and built all the railroads running into that city with the exception of but a small few. He built and owned fourteen brick buildings in the city. Through his influence, Muskogee grew to be a center of business and industry with a population of over twenty thousand inhabitants in a matter of years. Haskell often told others that he hoped Muskogee would become the “Queen City of the Southwest.”

As Muskogee’s economic and business importance grew, so did its political power. When the Civilized Tribes met together in order to propose an Indian State, the State of Sequoyah, they met on August 21, 1905 in Muskogee to draft is constitution, with Muskogee to serve as the State’s capital. Vetoed by US President Theodore Roosevelt, the Indian State was never to be. Instead, the State of Oklahoma was to be admitted to the Union on November 16, 1907 as the 46th State.

Today, Muskogee is a growing economic center for eastern Oklahoma. With a population of over 38,000, not only is Muskogee the eleventh largest city but also one of the most diverse cities in Oklahoma. 24 different nationalities are represented within in the city’s limits as well as 17 non-English languages being spoken as first languages. Muskogee combines a unique blend of past and present, with many of the streets of the downtown district still showing their original brick roads. Buildings dating back to the time of Haskell sit side by side with the latest in modern engineering.

Muskogee operates the Port of Muskogee, which is the furthest inland port that is accessible to the Gulf of Mexico in the United States. The Five Civilized Tribes Museum, a museum dedicated to preserving the art and culture of the five civilized tribes, as well Honor Heights Park, a World War One memorial park which is world famous for its azaleas and its annual Azalea Festival. During the winter time, people from across all 50 states travel to Muskogee to see Honor Heights transformed into the Garden of Lights, a 132 acre Christmas lights display. Muskogee is also home to the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in which great Oklahoma Musicians have been honored since 1997.

Muskogee was the birthplace of jazz musicians Pee Wee Russell and Barney Kessel.

Muskogee was commemorated in the 1969 Merle Haggard song "Okie from Muskogee''".

Geography

Muskogee is located at (35.746617, -95.368047).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 100.4 km² (38.8 mi²). 96.7 km² (37.3 mi²) of it is land and 3.7 km² (1.4 mi²) of it (3.69%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 38,310 people, 15,523 households, and 9,950 families residing in the city. The population density was 396.1/km² (1,026.0/mi²). There were 17,517 housing units at an average density of 181.1/km² (469.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 61.12% White, 17.90% African American, 12.34% Native American, 0.90% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.57% from other races, and 6.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.28% of the population.

There were 15,523 households out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.2% were married couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,418, and the median income for a family was $33,358. Males had a median income of $28,153 versus $20,341 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,351. About 14.6% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.9% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.

Points of interest

Noteworthy residents

Keith Birdsong, illustrator known for his Star Trek novel covers.
Charles N. Haskell, noted lawyer, oilman, statesman, and the first governor of Oklahoma.

External links

Ataloa Lodge Museum

Cities in Oklahoma | Muskogee County, Oklahoma | County seats in Oklahoma