Mounds, Oklahoma

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mounds is a town in Creek County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,153 at the 2000 census.

[edit] Geography

Mounds is located at 35°52′34″N, 96°3′36″W (35.876076, -96.059951)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.0 km² (1.2 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 1,153 people, 449 households, and 312 families residing in the town. The population density was 380.5/km² (986.7/mi²). There were 500 housing units at an average density of 165.0/km² (427.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 76.06% White, 1.21% African American, 15.61% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 1.21% from other races, and 5.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.82% of the population.

There were 449 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the town the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $27,050, and the median income for a family was $35,417. Males had a median income of $28,438 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,917. About 10.2% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and 22.3% of those age 65 or over.

Mounds History

Mounds, Oklahoma, U.S.A. Home to around one thousand people, Mounds sits south of Kiefer and north of Beggs. Mounds was first named Twin Mounds, after the two hills that sit to the north and east of what used to be the Clarence Patrick farm. The town was located miles northeast of where it sits today.

When the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad extended its lines from Sapulpa to Texas, Twin Mounds wanted to be on the railroad as well. The town was moved to a new site on the railroad known as Middle Mounds. Settlers ran into some difficulties when they tried to build a depot in Middle Mounds, and a plan was made to move the town to its present day location. They again renamed the town, this time calling it Mounds. Mounds Community Center Supplied by the Frisco Railroad, Mounds was growing fast. Farming and stock raising industries attracted many new settlers. Mounds started a one-year high school, which graduated its first class in 1907. A total of sixteen people graduated that year, more students than both Sapulpa (four), and Tulsa (two). Church services in those days were held in the schoolhouse, which was located where present day Chambers Mill sits.

  Chambers Mills

Mounds continued to grow, and soon there were many people as well as businesses. At one time, there were two cotton gins, a large market, three lumberyards, four livery stables, three slaughterhouses, three blacksmith shops, three drugstores, and two hotels.

One of several older buildings still standing in Mounds
With the oil boom came more people and prosperity. Oil, to the settlers, meant money to spend on better houses, cars, and other luxuries. Mr. Swan, of the Smith and Swan Gas Company, owned the first car in Mounds. 

Entertainment in the early days consisted of watching the trains come in or hiking to the tops of the many hills situated around the town. Holidays such as Halloween could be a bit exciting in those earlier years. Sometimes pranks were played, such as placing a buggy on the roof of the drugstore.

Mounds Municiple Offices

Mounds enjoyed prosperity until around the year 1924. In that year, the population was estimated at two thousand people. Then the depression struck. People left the town, along with businesses. The oil had almost run out, and in 1950, the population had dropped to only five hundred and sixty people.

In 1957, Mounds built a new school, for which they paid $64,000. In 1963, the enrollment was over three hundred students. This year, 2002-2003, the enrollment is estimated at around eight hundred and forty students.

Mounds School District Information 918) 827-6100 PO BOX 189 MOUNDS, OK 74047-0189

Mounds services an approximate student population of 774 in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. With 53 full-time classroom teachers, the district's overall student/teacher ratio is 14.5:1. There are 2 schools associated with the agency, which is classified as being in or near a rural area (Mounds, OK). Mounds allocates approximately $2,854 per pupil for instructional expenses.

Key Statistics Grade Levels Offered Pre-K to 12 Students 774 Full-Time Teachers 53 Student/Teacher Ratio 14.5:1 Per Pupil Expenditures $2,854

District Resources Pre-K Teachers 1 Kindergarten Teachers 2 Elementary Teachers 30 Elementary Counselors 1 Middle/High School Teachers 18 Middle/High School Counselors 1 Librarians 1