Poteau, Oklahoma

Le Flore County

40-60350

Poteau is a city and administrative headquarters simultaneously ( County Seat) of Le Flore County in the U.S. state of Oklahoma.

Geography

The nearest major town of Fort Smith, Arkansas is located about 35 kilometers to the northeast. Spiro is located at a distance of 15 kilometers to the north. The Poteau River and the main thoroughfares U.S. Highway 59 and U.S. Highway 271 pass through the city. At the southern edge of the town of Robert S. Kerr Airport and Lake Wister State Park close to. Poteau is located in Poteau Valley and is surrounded by mountains and hills, including the west by Cavanal Hill, which is sometimes referred to as "The World's Highest Hill ".

History

Indigenous people of the region were different Indian tribes, which is confirmed by numerous artifacts, parts of which can be seen in the local Kerr museum. First secure proven European settlements in the area were built in 1719. The city was founded in 1885 with a few houses and a warehouse in 1888 was followed by a post office and the City of Poteau was registered on 8 October 1898. The name was adopted by the Poteau River. After 1900, several coal mines were opened, and the venue continued to grow. Today, mining is still an important industry for the area. The former governor of Oklahoma Robert S. Kerr entertained in Poteau a ranch.

Demographic data

In 2011 a population of 8539 persons was determined, which represents an increase of 7.6 % over the year 2000. The average age of the residents was in 2011 with 34.4 years, well below the average of Oklahoma, which was 40.6 years. The proportion of Aboriginal amounted to around 11%.

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