Idabel, Oklahoma

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement |name = Idabel, Oklahoma |native_name = {{native name|cho|Bokhoma}} |settlement_type = City |nickname = Dogwood Capital of Oklahoma |motto =

|image_skyline = Idabel August 2018 08 (Idabel City Hall).jpg |image_caption = Idabel City Hall |image_flag = |image_seal =

|image_map = OKMap-doton-Idabel.PNG |mapsize = 250px |map_caption = Location in Oklahoma

|unit_pref = Imperial |area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2024">{{cite web |title=2024 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Oklahoma|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_gaz_place_40.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=June 13, 2025}}</ref> |area_total_sq_mi = 16.75 |area_land_sq_mi = 16.63 |area_water_sq_mi = 0.12 |area_total_km2 = 43.38 |area_land_km2 = 43.08 |area_water_km2 = 0.30

|population_as_of = 2020 |population_footnotes = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P1?q=&g=160XX00US4036750| title=P1. Race – Idabel city, Oklahoma: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=June 13, 2025}}</ref> |population_total = 6961 |pop_est_as_of = |pop_est_footnotes = |population_est = |population_density_sq_mi = 418.51 |population_density_km2 = 161.58

|timezone = Central (CST) |utc_offset = -6 |timezone_DST = CDT |utc_offset_DST = -5 |elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/> |elevation_ft = 463 |coordinates = {{coord|33|53|44|N|94|49|35|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}<ref name=gnis/> |postal_code_type = ZIP Code |postal_code = 74745 |area_code = 580 |blank_name = FIPS code |blank_info = 40-36750 <ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> |blank1_name = GNIS feature ID |blank1_info = 2410089<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2410089}}</ref> |website = {{URL|www.idabel-ok.gov/}} |footnotes = }}

'''Idabel''' is a city in and the county seat of McCurtain County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 6,961 at the 2020 census.<ref name="Census 2020"/> It is in Oklahoma's southeast corner, a tourist region known as Choctaw Country.

==History== left|thumb|Part of downtown Idabel left|thumb|Martha A. Johnson Library in Idabel Idabel was established in 1902 as a station by the Arkansas and Choctaw Railway. (This was later part of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway, and the line is now operated by the Kiamichi Railroad).<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.odot.org/maps/railroad/2016-2017/RRmap1_2016-17_web.pdf |title=Oklahoma 2018-2020 State Railroad Map|publisher=Oklahoma Department of Transportation|access-date=October 11, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.up.com/customers/shortline/profiles_d-k/krr/index.htm |title=Kiamichi Railroad Company KRR #424|publisher=Union Pacific|access-date=October 11, 2022}}</ref>

The city was first named "Purnell", after Isaac Purnell, a railroad official. When postal officials rejected that designation, the name was changed to "Mitchell", honoring another railroad company officer. Postal officials rejected that name because another post office of the same name already existed elsewhere in the territory. They named the post office ''Bokhoma'' (a Choctaw word meaning Red River); it opened December 15, 1902.

Railroad officials then chose the name Idabel, a compound of the names of Isaac Purnell's two daughters, Ida and Bell. The post office was renamed as Idabel.<ref name="EOHC-Idabel">Coleman, Louis. [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=ID002 "Idabel"], ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'' Oklahoma Historical Society, Accessed September 3, 2015.</ref>

At the time of its founding, Idabel was located in Bok Tuklo County, a part of the Apukshunubbee District of the Choctaw Nation, within what was known as Indian Territory.<ref>Morris, John W. ''Historical Atlas of Oklahoma'' (Norman: University of Oklahoma, 1986), plate 38.</ref>

For the first four years, Idabel local government was conducted by the Choctaw tribe for its people. The federal government had legal jurisdiction in most matters over non-Choctaws. In 1906, the citizens elected their first mayor and established a mayor-council form of government.

At the time of statehood, November 16, 1907, the town was designated as the county seat of McCurtain County. A census in that year reported 726 residents. By 1910, the population had grown to 1,493. In 1920, there were 3,617 residents, but the number fell to 2,581 in 1930. Growth resumed by the end of the Great Depression in the late 1930s.<ref name="EOHC-Idabel"/>

The death of Henry Lee Johnson in 1980 resulted in a riot in the town that resulted in two deaths.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Okla. Town Tense After Night of Rioting, Gunfire|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1980/01/22/okla-town-tense-after-night-of-rioting-gunfire/62cdbcc5-92fd-47fd-ac23-31d1d72c40ed/|access-date=2021-05-02|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

Idabel residents elected their first African-American mayor in April 2019, mayor Craig Young.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}

===2022 tornado=== On November 4, 2022, Idabel was hit by a destructive EF4 tornado. The tornado warranted a tornado emergency and was at EF3 strength when it struck the city. It caused heavy damage, mainly to the southeast portion of the city.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Colleen |date=2022-11-05 |title=Injuries, fatalities reported after tornado slams southeastern Oklahoma |url=https://okcfox.com/news/local/injuries-fatalities-reported-after-tornado-slams-southeastern-oklahoma-idabel-mccurtain-clarksville-paris-texas-tornado-wind-max-gusts-okwx-weather-storm-damage-trinity-baptist-church-calera-broken-bow-death-destruction-damage |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=KOKH |language=en}}</ref>

==Geography== Idabel is in southern McCurtain County, lying between the Little River and the Red River, about {{convert|21|mi}} west of the Oklahoma-Arkansas state line and {{convert|43|mi}} east of Hugo.<ref name="EOHC-Idabel"/>

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has an area of {{convert|16.8|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|0.1|sqmi|1}}, or 0.70%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2024"/> The Little River passes {{convert|2|mi|0}} north of the city, and the Red River is {{convert|9|mi|0}} to the south.

===Climate=== The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Idabel has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=154443&cityname=Idabel%2C+Oklahoma%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Idabel, Oklahoma]</ref>

{{Weather box |location = Idabel, Oklahoma (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1907–present) |single line = Y |collapsed = yes |Jan record high F = 87 |Feb record high F = 89 |Mar record high F = 94 |Apr record high F = 97 |May record high F = 99 |Jun record high F = 107 |Jul record high F = 111 |Aug record high F = 114 |Sep record high F = 109 |Oct record high F = 101 |Nov record high F = 89 |Dec record high F = 83 |year record high F = 114

|Jan record low F = −6 |Feb record low F = -12 |Mar record low F = 9 |Apr record low F = 21 |May record low F = 31 |Jun record low F = 45 |Jul record low F = 45 |Aug record low F = 49 |Sep record low F = 36 |Oct record low F = 23 |Nov record low F = 11 |Dec record low F = -2 |year record low F = -12 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation inch = 3.77 |Feb precipitation inch = 4.09 |Mar precipitation inch = 5.02 |Apr precipitation inch = 5.37 |May precipitation inch = 6.35 |Jun precipitation inch = 4.12 |Jul precipitation inch = 3.61 |Aug precipitation inch = 3.03 |Sep precipitation inch = 4.31 |Oct precipitation inch = 5.18 |Nov precipitation inch = 4.68 |Dec precipitation inch = 4.98 |year precipitation inch = 54.51 |Jan snow inch = 0.6 |Feb snow inch = 0.9 |Mar snow inch = 0.2 |Apr snow inch = 0.0 |May snow inch = 0.0 |Jun snow inch = 0.0 |Jul snow inch = 0.0 |Aug snow inch = 0.0 |Sep snow inch = 0.0 |Oct snow inch = 0.0 |Nov snow inch = 0.0 |Dec snow inch = 0.3 |year snow inch = 2.0 |unit precipitation days = 0.01 in |Jan precipitation days = 8.7 |Feb precipitation days = 8.5 |Mar precipitation days = 9.6 |Apr precipitation days = 8.5 |May precipitation days = 9.9 |Jun precipitation days = 7.5 |Jul precipitation days = 6.3 |Aug precipitation days = 6.6 |Sep precipitation days = 6.2 |Oct precipitation days = 8.0 |Nov precipitation days = 8.2 |Dec precipitation days = 9.3 |year precipitation days = 97.3 |unit snow days = 0.1 in |Jan snow days = 0.3 |Feb snow days = 0.5 |Mar snow days = 0.1 |Apr snow days = 0.0 |May snow days = 0.0 |Jun snow days = 0.0 |Jul snow days = 0.0 |Aug snow days = 0.0 |Sep snow days = 0.0 |Oct snow days = 0.0 |Nov snow days = 0.0 |Dec snow days = 0.1 |year snow days = 1.0 |source 1 = NOAA<ref name= nws>{{cite web | url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=shv | title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data | publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | access-date = August 21, 2021 | archive-date = June 27, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150627103535/http://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=shv | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name=NCEI> {{cite web | url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00344451&format=pdf | title = Station: Idabel, OK | work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020) | publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | access-date = August 21, 2021}}</ref> }}

==Demographics== {{US Census population |align=right |1910= 1493 |1920= 3067 |1930= 2581 |1940= 3689 |1950= 4671 |1960= 4967 |1970= 5946 |1980= 7622 |1990= 6957 |2000= 7658 |2010= 7010 |2020= 6961 |estyear=2021 |estimate=7004 |estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2019CenPopScriptOnlyDirtyFixDoNotUse">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2019.html|date=July 1, 2021|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 23, 2022}}</ref> |align-fn=center |footnote=[https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census] }}

===2020 census===

As of the 2020 census, Idabel had a population of 6,961, 2,721 households, and 1,790 families residing in the city. The median age was 35.1 years; 28.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 89.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 83.4 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME%2CDP1_0021P%2CDP1_0024P%2CDP1_0025C%2CDP1_0049C%2CDP1_0045C%2CDP1_0069C%2CDP1_0073C%2CDP1_0125P%2CDP1_0126P%2CDP1_0129P%2CDP1_0133P%2CDP1_0137P%2CDP1_0138P%2CDP1_0139P%2CDP1_0141P%2CDP1_0142P%2CDP1_0143P%2CDP1_0145P%2CDP1_0146P%2CDP1_0147C%2CDP1_0148C%2CDP1_0149C%2CDP1_0156C%2CDP1_0157C%2CDP1_0158C%2CDP1_0159P%2CDP1_0160P&for=place%3A36750&in=state%3A40|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=January 16, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020PL"/>

79.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 20.7% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME%2CP2_002N%2CP2_003N&for=place%3A36750&in=state%3A40|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=January 16, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 2,721 households in Idabel, of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 34.4% were married-couple households, 18.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 40.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 3,128 housing units, of which 13.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 51.2% were owner-occupied and 48.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.1%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

{| class="wikitable" |+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME%2CP1_001N%2CP1_003N%2CP1_004N%2CP1_005N%2CP1_006N%2CP1_007N%2CP1_008N%2CP1_009N%2CP2_001N%2CP2_002N%2CH1_001N%2CH1_002N&for=place%3A36750&in=state%3A40|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=January 16, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> ! Race !! Percent |- | White || 46.4% |- | Black or African American || 22.6% |- | American Indian and Alaska Native || 10.9% |- | Asian || 0.5% |- | Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 1.8% |- | Some other race || 5.6% |- | Two or more races || 12.3% |- | ''Hispanic or Latino (of any race)'' || 10.4% |}

===2000 census===

As of the census<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 7,658 people, 2,735 households, and 1,785 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|436.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 3,129 housing units at an average density of {{convert|196.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 56.99% White, 24.45% African American, 10.44% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 3.37% from other races, and 4.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.96% of the population.

There were 2,735 households, out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.6% were married couples living together, 21.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.5% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $20,496, and the median income for a family was $24,189. Males had a median income of $24,182 versus $16,958 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,241. About 28.7% of families and 31.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.5% of those under age 18 and 18.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Transportation== thumb|Idabel train station aka Frisco Station Idabel is served by US-259, US-70, SH-3, and SH-37.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Idabel,+OK+74745/@33.9019005,-94.8988165,12z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x86356e0d226c567d:0x9db142997d220536!8m2!3d33.8956647!4d-94.8263281 |title=Idabel, Oklahoma|publisher=Google Maps|access-date=September 17, 2020}}</ref>

McCurtain County Regional Airport (FAA ID: 4O4) is {{convert|2|mi|0}} northwest of Idabel, and features a {{convert|5002|by|75|ft|adj=on}} paved runway.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airnav.com/airport/4O4| title= McCurtain County Regional Airport|publisher=AirNav.com|access-date=September 17, 2020}}</ref>

Commercial air transportation is available out of Texarkana Regional Airport, about 73 miles southeast.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Texarkana+Regional+Airport,+Airport+Drive,+Texarkana,+AR/Idabel,+OK+74745/@33.6733821,-94.9681806,9z/data=!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x86346bf9c5132af3:0x3c376e1b510bd965!2m2!1d-93.9941485!2d33.4568776!1m5!1m1!1s0x86356e0d226c567d:0x9db142997d220536!2m2!1d-94.8263281!2d33.8956647 |title=Texarkana Regional Airport to Idabel, Oklahoma|publisher=Google Maps|access-date=January 12, 2021}}</ref>

Idabel has rail freight service through the Kiamichi Railroad.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.brokenarrowedc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/State-Rail-Map-2018-2020.pdf|title=Oklahoma 2018-2020 State Railroad Map|publisher=Oklahoma Department of Transportation|accessdate=September 22, 2021|archive-date=October 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028092136/https://www.brokenarrowedc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/State-Rail-Map-2018-2020.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Economy== Initially, timber was the basis for the local economy, but this was supplanted by cotton production after the nearby forests were cleared. One cotton gin operated in Idabel in 1904, but six were in business in 1930. However, the Great Depression, depleted soil and destructive pests essentially wiped out this industry around Idabel. Landowners converted their properties to pastures and expanded beef production. Chicken farms were also established in the area and marginal agricultural land was turned into pine plantations.<ref name="EOHC-Idabel"/>

==Parks, recreation and attractions== Parks actually within Idabel include Garvin City Park.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/search?q=%22garvin+city+park%22+idabel+ok |title=Garvin City Park|access-date=July 9, 2020}}</ref>

Little River National Wildlife Refuge is to the northeast; further to the northeast are Broken Bow Lake, Beavers Bend State Park, Hochatown State Park (now part of Beavers Bend), McCurtain County Game Reserve, and the Carson Creek Recreation Area. To the southeast is the Red Slough Wildlife Management Area.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Idabel,+OK+74745/@33.9019005,-95.10893,10z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x86356e0d226c567d:0x9db142997d220536!8m2!3d33.8956647!4d-94.8263281 |title=Idabel, Oklahoma|publisher=Google Maps|access-date=July 9, 2020}}</ref>

The Museum of the Red River houses art as well as archaeology, including Acrocanthosaurus atokensis, the Oklahoma State Dinosaur.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.museumoftheredriver.org/ |title=Home Page|publisher=Museum of the Red River|access-date=July 9, 2020}}</ref>

The Barnes-Stevenson House is a 1912 restored Victorian house complete with period furnishings, and is on the National Register of Historic Places listings in McCurtain County, Oklahoma.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.travelok.com/listings/view.profile/id.392 |title=Barnes-Stevenson House|publisher=TravelOK.com|access-date=July 9, 2020}}</ref> Other Idabel locales on the list include the Frisco Station, the Idabel Armory, the Rouleau Hotel, and the Spaulding-Olive House.

==Education== thumb|The former State Theater, across from the courthouse in Idabel, houses a law office, the Legal Arts Building. right|thumb|''McCurtain Daily Gazette'' office in Idabel

===Public schools=== Idabel Public Schools serves the community. * Idabel High School - Grades 9–12 * Idabel Middle School - Grades 6–8 * Central Elementary - Grades 3–5 * Idabel Primary South - Grades 1–2 PRE-K–K * EvenStart - Ages 2–4 * Southeast Elementary - pre-k–4–Adult Ed * [http://www.denison.k12.ok.us Denison Elementary] - Pre-Kindergarten - 8th

===Advanced education=== * Kiamichi Technology Center * Southeastern Oklahoma State University, McCurtain County campus (formerly called the ET Dunlap Center) * Eastern Oklahoma State College

==Notable people== * Vice Admiral Phillip Balisle, United States Navy<ref name=NAVSEA-Helm-PR>{{cite web|last1=Nagel|first1=David|title=Vice Adm. Phillip Balisle Takes Helm at NAVSEA|url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=2372|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908065937/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=2372|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 8, 2017|website=Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs|publisher=United States Navy|access-date=9 May 2017}}{{PD-notice}}</ref> * Randall Burks, former professional football player<ref>[https://bleacherreport.com/articles/209709-the-10-best-and-worst-one-game-careers-in-nfl-history The 10 Best and Worst One-Game Careers in NFL History], Bleacher Report. (accessed October 14, 2013)</ref> * Ray Burris, professional baseball player * Hadley Caliman, jazz musician<ref>[http://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/musician.php?id=3837#.UlwXh_Mo7Dc All About Jazz - Hadley Caliman]</ref> * Robert Evans, podcaster and journalist * Earl Grant, organist * Larzette Hale-Wilson, first Black woman in US to earn a PhD in accounting and the first Black female CPA in the state of Georgia. * Jeff Keith, lead singer for the rock band Tesla<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/tesla-mn0000029808 Tesla], Allmusic.com. (accessed October 13, 2013)</ref> * Sunny Murray, jazz drummer, composer and band leader * Harold Stevenson, artist (1929–2018) * Countess Vaughn, actress<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0891153/ Countess Vaughn], Internet Movie Database. (accessed October 14, 2013)</ref>

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{Official|www.idabel-ok.gov}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070627105832/http://www.idabel.lib.ok.us/ Idabel Public Library] * [http://idabelps.org/ Idabel Public Schools] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20130624025256/http://www.mccurtain.okstate.edu/ McCurtain County OSU Extension Center] * [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=ID002 Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Idabel]

Category:Cities in Oklahoma Category:Cities in McCurtain County, Oklahoma Category:County seats in Oklahoma Category:Populated places established in 1902 Category:1902 establishments in Indian Territory Category:Cities in the Ark-La-Tex Category:Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma