Redbird, Oklahoma

Redbird, Oklahoma
Town
Location of Redbird, Oklahoma Location of Redbird, Oklahoma
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
County	Wagoner
Area
• Total	0.8 sq mi (2.1 km2)
• Land	0.8 sq mi (2.1 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Population (2010)
• Total	137
• Density	185.0/sq mi (71.4/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	74458
Area code(s)	539/918
FIPS code	40-62200

Redbird is a town in Wagoner County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 137 at the 2010 census, a 10.5 percent decline from 153 at the 2000 census. Founded at the turn of the 20th century, it was one of more than fifty all-black towns in Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory. It is one of thirteen surviving black communities in Oklahoma.

History

Redbird originated with the settlement by the family of E. L. Barber, who founded the First Baptist Church in 1889. Other families soon moved into the area. By 1902, Red Bird had obtained a post office. More than 600 people showed up at the official opening of Red Bird on August 10, 1907.

Geography

Redbird is located at (35.888676, -95.588211).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1920	336		—
1930	218		−35.1%
1940	393		80.3%
1950	411		4.6%
1960	310		−24.6%
1970	230		−25.8%
1980	199		−13.5%
1990	166		−16.6%
2000	153		−7.8%
2010	137		−10.5%
Est. 2014	141		2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 153 people, 64 households, and 33 families residing in the town. The population density was 185.0 people per square mile (71.2/km²). There were 76 housing units at an average density of 91.9 per square mile (35.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 87.58% African American, 5.88% Native American, 4.58% White, 0.65% from other races, and 1.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.96% of the population.

There were 64 households out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 23.4% were married couples living together, 18.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.9% were non-families. 39.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% 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 3.26.

In the town the population was spread out with 33.3% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 21.6% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 104.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $15,139, and the median income for a family was $30,625. Males had a median income of $28,750 versus $25,833 for females. The per capita income for the town was $8,944. About 27.3% of families and 36.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 44.6% of those under the age of eighteen and 43.5% of those sixty five or over.

Education

Redbird residents are assigned to schools in the Porter Consolidated Schools. The students travel 5 miles (8.0 km) to the nearest schools since Porter Consolidated does not operate any schools in Redbird. Redbird was previously served by Red Bird Public Schools.

See also

• Boley, Brooksville, Clearview, Grayson, Langston, Lima, Rentiesville, Summit, Taft, Tatums, Tullahassee, and Vernon, other "All-Black" settlements that were part of the Land Run of 1889.

External links

• All-Black Towns in Oklahoma