Durant, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia : D : DU : DUR : Durant, Oklahoma
Durant is a city in Bryan County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 13,549 at the 2000 census, but, the July 2004 census puts Durant's population at 14,780. It is the county seat of Bryan County[Geographic references#6GR6].
Durant was ranked as the fastest growing rural city in Oklahoma in 2004, having the fastest growth rate outside of the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metropolitan areas. Less than ten miles away, Lake Texoma has over 5 million tourists every year and is one of the largest man-made lakes in the country, contributing to Durant's exponential economic growth.
Durant is home to Southeastern Oklahoma State University and also the Headquarters of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, in which Durant ranks as the second largest city within the Choctaw Nation, following McAlester. The city has officially been recognized as the Magnolia Capital of Oklahoma, as for SOSU is known as "Campus of 1,000 Magnolias".
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 49.4 km² (19.1 mi²). 49.3 km² (19.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.16%) is water.
Durant is located approximately 14 miles north of the Red River of the South (aka Red River), which is the border between Oklahoma and Texas. Dallas is also about 88 miles south of Durant, but, McKinney is 30 miles closer to Durant which is where the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex actually begins.
Demographics
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there were 13,549 people, 5,488 households, and 3,309 families residing in the city. The population density was 274.9/km² (712.1/mi²). There were 6,082 housing units at an average density of 123.4/km² (319.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 78.99% White, 1.54% African American, 12.27% Native American, 0.90% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.57% from other races, and 4.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.56% of the population.
There were 5,488 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 18.1% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 17.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,328, and the median income for a family was $32,988. Males had a median income of $26,574 versus $19,676 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,849. About 17.2% of families and 22.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.8% of those under age 18 and 17.6% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Durant High School is located in the center of the town on a hilly terrain, creating beautiful views of the school and from the school. The high school has approximately 900 students, which makes it one of the largest schools in Southeastern Oklahoma. Grades 9-12 attend Durant High School. The school offers numerous elective classes such as art, athletics, drama, agricultural education, Spanish and Choctaw, computers and technology, and also advanced placements for the basic classes.Durant Middle School is located just outside of the downtown district, being built in the early 1900's and perhaps being the oldest school building in Durant. It originally housed the High School. Grades 7-8 attend the Middle School with about 480 students.
Three elementary schools are located in Durant; Washington Irving (600 students), Northwest Heights (580 students), and Robert E. Lee (250 students). George Washington formerly served as an elementary school before closing in 2003 due to funding problems.
The mascot for the Durant Public Schools is the Lion.
Durant also has a private school, Victory Life Academy, which has an enrollment of about 250 students. It serves grades Pre-K through 12.
Transportation
Durant is served by three major U.S. Highways: U.S. 69, U.S. 70, and U.S. 75.Eaker Field, the town's airport and home to Southeastern Oklahoma State University's Aviation Sciences Institute, was a U.S. Navy auxiliary airfield during WWII. It is named after U.S. Army Air Force General Ira C. Eaker, early commander of the legendary Eighth Air Force in wartime England, who graduated from the university (then known as Southeastern State Teacher's College) in 1917.
Durant is also a major railroad center. Union Pacific Railroad and Kiamichi Railroad intersect in Downtown, with Union Pacific being much more busier.
Born in Durant
- Joe Dobson-1948 American League All-Star.
External links
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