Carnegie, Oklahoma
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Carnegie is a town in Caddo County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,723 at the 2010 census, a 1.7 percent decline from the figure of 1,752 in 2000.


History and culture

Carnegie was named after the famous Scottish American philanthropist,
Andrew Carnegie Andrew Carnegie (, ; November 25, 1835August 11, 1919) was a Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist. Carnegie led the expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century and became one of the richest Americans i ...
. The original name of the town was Latham. The town was originally platted as North and South Latham. North Latham was north of the
Washita River The Washita River () is a river in the states of Texas and Oklahoma in the United States. The river is long and terminates at its confluence with the Red River, which is now part of Lake Texoma () on the TexasOklahoma border. Geography The ...
, while South Latham was south of the river. North Latham was really intended to be the commercial hub, but was never developed. Cynthia Savage, "Carnegie," ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture''.
Accessed April 17, 2015.
The Rock Island Railroad was supposed to go along the north side of the river. The railroad was relocated along the south bank of the Washita. So South Latham became the commercial hub. North Latham withered and/or was never developed. Leaders of the town decided shortly after incorporation in 1903 to rename the town Carnegie in the hopes he would build a library there. Although the town has a library, Andrew Carnegie never built one there. Of note, there is unofficially a "Carnegie Hall", known more properly as the Carnegie Memorial Auditorium, where community events are held. While currently on hiatus, for several years there was an annual "Stars of Carnegie Hall" talent show showcases individuals across the region and state in a local talent show, in which both local and regional talent are represented. Carnegie High School has won three state titles in boys basketball (1988,1992,1996), as well as three titles in girls cross country (2002,2003,2004). Carnegie High also has three won state titles in boys cross country.(1999,2000,2020) The Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma headquarters are located in Carnegie.


Geography

Carnegie is located at (35.104334, −98.601166). According to the
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of t ...
, the town has a total area of , all land. The town is on the south bank of the
Washita River The Washita River () is a river in the states of Texas and Oklahoma in the United States. The river is long and terminates at its confluence with the Red River, which is now part of Lake Texoma () on the TexasOklahoma border. Geography The ...
, west of Anadarko, at the intersection of state highways 9 and 58.


Climate


Demographics

As of the
census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...
of 2000, there were 1,637 people, 636 households, and 429 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 774 housing units at an average density of 694.1 per square mile (266.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 64.63%
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...
, 1.22%
African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 23.58% Native American, 8.80% from
other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 1.77% from two or more races.
Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...
or
Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...
of any race were 12.28% of the population. There were 636 households, out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.10. In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.4% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males. The median income for a household in the town was $20,987, and the median income for a family was $24,737. Males had a median income of $21,917 versus $14,868 for females. The
per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...
for the town was $12,432. About 24.9% of families and 30.5% of the population were below the
poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 42.2% of those under age 18 and 18.6% of those age 65 or over.


Government

Carnegie is governed by a five-member Town Board of Trustees, as authorized by the Oklahoma Constitution. Members are elected at large from within the town limits for four-year terms. Other public officials include a town clerk and a town treasurer. The Town of Carnegie operates and maintains a solid waste/sanitation service, and also a water and sewer service, operated through the Carnegie Public Works Authority. The town has a 19-member volunteer fire department. The Carnegie Tri-County Municipal Hospital Authority owns a critical-access hospital and clinic facility within the town that provides residents of the area with primary care, radiology, physical therapy, and medical laboratory services. Limited surgical services are also provided. The Carnegie Tri-County Municipal Hospital has three doctors and one nurse practitioner on staff. The hospital is managed and operated by Carnegie Tri-County Hospital Management, Inc. The Carnegie Library Board, appointed by the Town Board of Trustees, operates a library facility for area residents, providing internet access and a large collection of books, magazines, and audio books.


Economy

Agriculture has been the basis of Carnegie's economy throughout its history. The main production has been cotton, wheat, broomcorn, cattle, hogs and poultry. Oil production replaced agriculture briefly during the 1970s, but declined in economic importance after 1980.


Community

Carnegie is home t
Liberty Theater
the oldest continually operated movie theater in Oklahoma. Carnegie is host to many community events, including the Carnegie Tri-County Free Fair, the Carnegie Round-Up Club Rodeo, the World Championship
Domino Dominoes is a family of tile-based games played with gaming pieces, commonly known as dominoes. Each domino is a rectangular tile, usually with a line dividing its face into two square ''ends''. Each end is marked with a number of spots (also c ...
Tournament, as well as various other community events throughout the year. Carnegie also is the home of the
Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma Kiowa () people are a Native American tribe and an indigenous people of the Great Plains of the United States. They migrated southward from western Montana into the Rocky Mountains in Colorado in the 17th and 18th centuries,Pritzker 326 and ev ...
, which has tribal offices located on the west edge of town.


Transportation

The Town of Carnegie operates and maintains the Carnegie Municipal Airport (Location ID: 86F). There is one asphalt runway, 35/17, 3300 ft long. There are no refueling services available at the airport.


Utilities

* Carnegie Public Works Authority provides water, sewer, and sanitation services to the town. The Oklahoma Rural Water District #3 also provides water services to outlying areas around Carnegie. * Electric service is provided by
American Electric Power American Electric Power (AEP), (railcar reporting mark: AEPX) is a major investor-owned electric utility in the United States, delivering electricity to more than five million customers in 11 states. AEP ranks among the nation's largest g ...
Public Service Company of Oklahoma. * Natural Gas service is provided by
Oklahoma Natural Gas Oklahoma Natural Gas is the largest natural gas distributor in the state of Oklahoma. Originally founded in 1906, it is one of the oldest corporations in Oklahoma. Oklahoma Natural Gas is a regulated public utility which serves 871,000 customers, ...
. * Local telephone service, and fiber-optic internet is provided by Carnegie Telephone Company. * Digital Cable TV service is provided by Carnegie Cable Company.


Notable people

*
Barbara Lawrence Barbara Jo Lawrence (February 24, 1930 – November 13, 2013) was an American model, actress, and real estate agent. Early years Born to Morris and Bernice ( Eaton) Lawrence in Carnegie, Oklahoma, Barbara Jo moved with her mother to Kansas C ...
(1930–2013), actress, was born in Carnegie.


Notes


References


External links


Town of Carnegie, Oklahoma website

Carnegie, OK Chamber of Commerce website

Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture – Carnegie
{{authority control Towns in Caddo County, Oklahoma Towns in Oklahoma