Jump to content

Tahlequah, Oklahoma

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 129.170.195.149 (talk) at 21:13, 28 October 2014. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Tahlequah, Oklahoma
City
Tahlequah, September 14, 2008
Tahlequah, September 14, 2008
Motto: 
"City Of Firsts"
CountryUnited States
StateOklahoma
CountyCherokee
Cherokee Nationfounded 1838; second capital city
Government
 • MayorJason Nichols (politician)
Area
 • Total12.0 sq mi (31.1 km2)
 • Land12.0 sq mi (31.1 km2)
 • Water0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation
797 ft (243 m)
Population
 (2012)
 • Total16,333
 • Density1,312.75/sq mi (506.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
74464-74465
Area code(s)539/918
FIPS code40-72100[1]
GNIS feature ID1098721[2]
Websitecityoftahlequah.com

Tahlequah (/ˈtæl[invalid input: 'ɨ']kwɑː/ TAL-ə-kwah; Cherokee: ᏓᎵᏆ)[3] is a city in Cherokee County, Oklahoma, United States located at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. It was founded as a capital of the 19th-century Cherokee Nation in 1838, as part of the new settlement in Indian Territory after the Cherokee were forced west from the American Southeast on the Trail of Tears.

The city's population was 15,753 at the 2010 census, an increase of 8.96 percent from 14,458 at the 2000 census.[4] It is the county seat of Cherokee County.[5] The main campus of Northeastern State University is located in the city. Tahlequah is the capital of the two federally recognized Cherokee tribes based in Oklahoma, the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians and the modern Cherokee Nation.

History

Origin of the name

A stop sign in Tahlequah in both the English and Cherokee languages

Many linguists believe the word 'Tahlequah' (Tah-le-quah) and the word 'Teh-li-co' are the same as 'di li gwa,' the Cherokee word for grain or rice. (See Cherokee Nation Lexicon (dikaneisdi) at cherokee.org under culture/language). Scholars report the Cherokee word 'di li gwa' describes a type of native grain with a red hue that grew in the flat open areas of east Tennessee. One area, Great Tellico (Tellico Plains, Tennessee), was named for the grass with the red seed tops. Others interpret a word 'tel-i-quah' as 'plains;' however, there is no word for 'plains' in the Cherokee lexicon, and the word 'tel-i-quah' is not found in the lexicon. The idea that 'tahlequah' means 'plains' lends weight to the belief that the name refers to the wide open grassy areas of Great Tellico.

When the Cherokee first arrived in the Tahlequah area, they noticed the native grasses that grew in the open areas around the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. This reminded them of the grassy open ‘Overhill’ areas of Tellico, so they called their new home 'di li gwa' (tah-le-quah or teh-li-co), the open place where the grass grows.

Local legend states the name is derived from Cherokee words meaning 'just two' or 'two is enough.' Supposedly three tribal elders had planned to meet to determine the location of the Cherokee Nation's permanent capital. Two elders arrived and waited for the third. As dusk approached, they decided that 'two is enough.' According to tribal elders and Cherokee County elders, this legend first began to circulate in the 1930s. Tahlequah was a settlement as early as 1832. After the Western Cherokee agreed in 1834 to let the newer migrants settle near them, they joined their government with the Eastern Cherokee at Tahlequah in 1839. Tahlequah was named long before it was chosen as the Cherokee capital.

Cherokee Nation capital

In 1839, Tahlequah was designated the capital of ancestors of both the Cherokee Nation and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians. Initially the government buildings were a complex of log or framed structures. Most of these buildings were destroyed during the Civil War, during which the Cherokee became divided into two bitterly opposing sides.

After the war, a brick capitol was built and first occupied in 1870. In 1907, at the time of Oklahoma statehood, the building was converted into the Cherokee County courthouse.[6]

Several markers of Cherokee and Native American heritage are found in town: street signs and business signs are noted in both the Cherokee language and English. Such signs use the syllabary created by Sequoyah, a Cherokee scholar of the 1820s who created the writing system.

The Cherokee Supreme Court Building, located in downtown Tahlequah and constructed in 1844, is the oldest public building in Oklahoma.[7]

Geography

Tahlequah is located at 35°54′46″N 94°58′17″W / 35.91278°N 94.97139°W / 35.91278; -94.97139 (35.912869, -94.971526).[8] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.0 square miles (31.1 km²), all land.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19001,482—
19102,89195.1%
19202,271−21.4%
19302,4959.9%
19403,02721.3%
19504,75056.9%
19605,84022.9%
19709,25458.5%
19809,7084.9%
199010,3987.1%
200014,45839.0%
201015,5737.7%
2012 (est.)16,3334.9%
Sources:[9][10][11][12][13][14]
Tahlequah is home to Northeastern State University.

As of the 2010 census,[15] there were 15,753 people, 6,111 households, and 3,351 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,312.75 per square mile (506.5/km²). There were 6,857 housing units at an average density of 571.4 per square mile (220.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 53.8% White, 2.4% African American, 30.0% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 3.7% from other races, and 8.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.8% of the population.

There were 6,111 households out of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.5% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.2% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.2% under the age of 18, 23.6% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27.8 years. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.[16]

The median income for a household in the city was $25,478, and the median income for a family was $35,633. Males had a median income of $27,583 versus $26,502 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,909. About 22.4% of families and 32.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.0% of those under age 18 and 17.3% of those age 65 or over.[17]

Notable people

See also: List of Northeastern State University alumni

In media

References

  1. ^ "US Census QuickFacts". Retrieved 2012-12-08.
  2. ^ "Geographic Names Information System". Retrieved 2012-12-08.
  3. ^ Cowen, Agnes Spade and Jane B. Noble. Comptemporary Cherokee Language Book. Tahlequah, OK: Heritage Printing, 1996: 77
  4. ^ Census Viewer:Population of the City of Tahlequah, Oklahoma
  5. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  6. ^ [1] Harrington, Beth. "Talequah"], Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Accessed May 12, 2012.
  7. ^ Martindale, Robert. "Cherokee Nation places three historical buildings in trust", Tulsa World, 28 June 2003
  8. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  9. ^ "Population-Oklahoma" (PDF). U.S. Census 1910. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  10. ^ "Population-Oklahoma" (PDF). 15th Census of the United States. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  11. ^ "Number of Inhabitants: Oklahoma" (PDF). 18th Census of the United States. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  12. ^ "Oklahoma: Population and Housing Unit Counts" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  13. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  14. ^ "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  15. ^ "2010 U.S. Census: Profile of General Population and Housing". Retrieved 2012-12-08.
  16. ^ "2010 U.S. Census: Age Groups and Sex". Retrieved 2012-12-08.
  17. ^ "2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates: Economic Characteristics". Retrieved 2012-12-08.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tahlequah,_Oklahoma&oldid=631515477"