Sallisaw, Oklahoma

Sallisaw is a city in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,989 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Sequoyah CountyGR|6.

Geography

Sallisaw is located at coor dms|35|27|29|N|94|47|40|W|city (35.457978, -94.794421)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 33.4 km² (12.9 mi²). 32.9 km² (12.7 mi²) of it is land and 0.5 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (1.40%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 7,989 people, 3,206 households, and 2,151 families residing in the city. The population density was 242.9/km² (629.0/mi²). There were 3,556 housing units at an average density of 108.1/km² (280.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 68.29% White, 1.35% African American, 20.30% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.11% from other races, and 8.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.25% of the population.

There were 3,206 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,821, and the median income for a family was $31,572. Males had a median income of $26,793 versus $19,775 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,231. About 18.5% of families and 23.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.6% of those under age 18 and 15.9% of those age 65 or over.

The city is served by the Kansas City Southern and Union Pacific Railroads, US 64, US 59 and I-40. The Arkansas River Navigation System is just south of town.

History of Sallisaw's Name

The word Sallisaw was taken from the French word 'salaison' meaning salt provisions.Fact|date=June 2008 Many years before the town was founded, the French, who hunted in this area, called Sallisaw Creek 'Salaiseau' because hunters salted bison meat there.

Cultural References

The Joad family from the Pulitzer Prize -winning novel "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck were sharecroppers from Salisaw.

External links

* [http://www.sallisawok.org/ City of Sallisaw's Website]
* [http://www.sallisawps.org/ Sallisaw Public Schools Website]