View source for Spiro, Oklahoma

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Spiro, Oklahoma
|settlement_type          = Town
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = 
|image_skyline            = Spirospiderlarge.png
|imagesize                = 150px
|image_caption            = Spider engraved on shell, from [[Spiro Mounds]], near the town of Spiro.
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = 
|image_map                = OKMap-doton-Spiro.PNG
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Spiro, Oklahoma
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_type1        = State
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Oklahoma|County]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_name1        = [[Oklahoma]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Le Flore County, Oklahoma|Le Flore]]
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|established_title        = 
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = 
|established_date2        = 
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_sq_mi         = 2.43
|area_total_km2           = 6.30
|area_land_sq_mi          = 2.35
|area_land_km2            = 6.08
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.09
|area_water_km2           = 0.22
|area_urban_sq_mi         = 
|area_urban_km2           = 
|area_metro_sq_mi         = 
|area_metro_km2           = 
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_note          = 
|population_total         = 2102
|population_metro         = 
|population_urban                 = 
|population_density_km2   = 345.62
|population_density_sq_mi = 895.23
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]]
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|coordinates              = {{coord|35|14|28|N|94|37|25|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 489
|website                  = 
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 74959
|area_codes                = [[area codes 539 and 918|539/918]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 40-69350<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2413316<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2413316}}</ref>
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_footnotes = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
|population_footnotes = 
}}
'''Spiro''' is a town in [[Le Flore County, Oklahoma|Le Flore County]], [[Oklahoma]], United States. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], Spiro had a population of 2,102.<ref name="Census2020PLLede">{{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&for=place%3A69350&in=state%3A40|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=February 2, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

Developed as a railroad station in an agricultural area in the late 19th century, the small town is notable for its proximity to the [[Spiro Mounds]], a [[Mississippian culture]] center that was active from about 900 to 1450 CE that was part of a culture in Eastern Oklahoma and Western Arkansas. Today, the 80-acre site, with several earthwork mounds, is preserved as Oklahoma's only State Archeological Park and one of North America's most important archaeological sites. It is the westernmost site of the expansive Mississippian culture, which had associated centers through the Mississippi and tributary river valleys.
==History==
In 1895 and 1896, the Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railroad (later owned by the [[Kansas City Southern Railroad]]) established a station at the present site of Spiro, which connected the area to the city of [[Fort Smith, Arkansas]]. This railroad access attracted residents from the nearby town of [[Skullyville, Oklahoma|Skullyville]], and Spiro soon developed as the principal town in this area. The town population was 543 in 1900.<ref name="EOHC-Spiro">[http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=SP011 Harold Crain, "Spiro"], ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture''. Retrieved August 30, 2012.</ref>

A post office was established at Spiro, Indian Territory on September 21, 1898.<ref>Shirk, George H. ''Oklahoma Place Names'' (Norman: University of Oklahoma, 1965), p. 196.</ref>  At the time of its founding, Spiro was located in [[Skullyville County, Choctaw Nation|Skullyville County]], a part of the [[Moshulatubbee District]] of the [[Choctaw Nation]].<ref>Morris, John W. ''Historical Atlas of Oklahoma'' (Norman: University of Oklahoma, 1986), plate 38.</ref>

Several accounts differ as to how the post office was named. One claims that Spiro was the maiden name of the first postmistress. Another claims it was the maiden name of the mother of a Fort Smith banker.  According to the Oklahoma Historical Society, Spiro was named after Celia Spiro, wife of an Oklahoma banker, Iser H Nakdimen. He founded the City National Bank in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, and the First National Bank in Muldrow, Oklahoma.<ref>See page 368 of ''Chronicles of Oklahoma'', 1944 for the history of the name.https://archive.org/stream/chroniclesofokla2231okla/chroniclesofokla2231okla_djvu.txt
</ref>

Cotton was an important cash crop. In 1901, Spiro had three cotton yards and one [[cotton gin]]. By 1910, there were three [[cotton gin]]s and the population had grown to 1,173. As cotton cultivation became more mechanized, labor needs declined. The [[Great Depression]] of the 1930s took the heart out of the market. Timber harvesting and processing and livestock became important industries in the region. The population declined to 969 in 1930, as agricultural workers migrated to other areas for jobs. It rebounded to 1,365 by 1950 as the economy grew.<ref name="EOHC-Spiro"/>

On March 26, 1976, the town was struck by an F5 tornado, the highest level on the Fujita scale, resulting in two deaths.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Grazulis|first1=Thomas P.|title=Significant tornadoes, 1680–1991|date=1993|publisher=Environmental Films|location=St. Johnsbury, Vt.|isbn=1-879362-03-1}}</ref>

==Geography==
Spiro is located {{convert|3|mi|km}} south of the [[Arkansas River]], {{convert|17|mi|km}} southwest of [[Fort Smith, Arkansas]] and {{convert|10|mi|km}} west of the Oklahoma-[[Arkansas]] border.<ref name="EOHC-Spiro"/>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|2.2|sqmi|km2}}, of which  {{convert|0.1|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}} (3.18%) is covered by water.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 543
|1910= 1173
|1920= 1162
|1930= 969
|1940= 1041
|1950= 1365
|1960= 1450
|1970= 2057
|1980= 2221
|1990= 2146
|2000= 2227
|2010= 2164
|2020= 2102
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
| align = right
| align-fn = center
}}

===2020 census===

As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], Spiro had a population of 2,102. The median age was 40.6 years. 24.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 87.0 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%3A69350&in=state%3A40|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 25, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020PL"/>

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% 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%3A69350&in=state%3A40|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=April 25, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 842 households in Spiro, of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 38.8% were married-couple households, 19.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 35.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 989 housing units, of which 14.9% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.9%.<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%3A69350&in=state%3A40|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 25, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| [[White Americans|White]] || 1,473 || 70.1%
|-
| [[African Americans|Black or African American]] || 88 || 4.2%
|-
| [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian and Alaska Native]] || 304 || 14.5%
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]] || 11 || 0.5%
|-
| [[Native Hawaiians|Native Hawaiian]] and [[Pacific Islander|Other Pacific Islander]] || 0 || 0.0%
|-
| Some other race || 17 || 0.8%
|-
| [[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races]] || 209 || 9.9%
|-
| ''[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (of any race)'' || 70 || 3.3%
|}
===2000 census===

As of the census<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 2,227 people, 875 households, and 587 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|1,049.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 992 housing units at an average density of {{convert|467.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 80.47% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 5.21% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 6.11% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.18% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.35% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 6.69% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.51% of the population.

There were 875 households, out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.9% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 20.7% 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 81.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $18,241, and the median income for a family was $25,556. Males had a median income of $23,716 versus $16,694 for females. The per capita income for the town was $11,195. About 23.2% of families and 29.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.8% of those under age 18 and 29.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Notable people==
* [[Bill Blankenship]] –  [[American football|football]] coach, born in Spiro in 1956
* [[Albert E. Brumley]] (1905–1977) – gospel songwriter and publisher, born in Spiro in 1905
* [[Henry Burris]] – professional [[Canadian football]] player, born in Spiro in 1975
* [[Ryan Franklin]] (b. 1973) – [[Major League Baseball]] [[pitcher]], grew up in Spiro
* [[Dallas Frazier]] – [[Bakersfield Sound]] singer-songwriter, born in Spiro in 1939
* [[Rod Shoate]] – professional football player for the [[New England Patriots]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://www.spiro.lib.ok.us/ Spiro Public Library]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121024013411/http://www.library.okstate.edu/okmaps/ Oklahoma Digital Maps: Digital Collections of Oklahoma and Indian Territory]
{{Commons category|Spiro, Oklahoma}}
{{Le Flore County, Oklahoma}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in LeFlore County, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Towns in Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma]]