Spavinaw, Oklahoma
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Spavinaw, Oklahoma
|settlement_type = Town
|nickname =
|motto =
|image_skyline =
|imagesize =
|image_caption =
|image_flag =
|image_seal =
|image_map = OKMap-doton-Spavinaw.PNG
|mapsize = 250px
|map_caption = Location in Oklahoma
|image_map1 =
|mapsize1 =
|map_caption1 =
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_type1 = State
|subdivision_name1 = Oklahoma
|subdivision_type2 = County
|subdivision_name2 = Mayes
|government_footnotes =
|government_type =
|leader_title =
|leader_name =
|leader_title1 =
|leader_name1 =
|established_title =
|established_date =
|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_total_km2 = 1.07
|area_land_km2 = 1.07
|area_water_km2 = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi = 0.41
|area_land_sq_mi = 0.41
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.00
|population_as_of = 2020
|population_total = 350
|pop_est_as_of =
|pop_est_footnotes =
|population_est =
|population_density_km2 = 326.51
|population_density_sq_mi = 845.41
|timezone = Central (CST)
|utc_offset = -6
|timezone_DST = CDT
|utc_offset_DST = -5
|elevation_ft = 705
|coordinates = {{coord|36|23|38|N|95|03|01|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type = ZIP Code
|postal_code = 74366
|area_code = 539/918
|blank_name = FIPS code
|blank_info = 40-69050{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}
|blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
|blank1_info = 2413314{{GNIS|2413314}}
|website =
|footnotes =
}}
Spavinaw is a town in Mayes County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 350 at the 2020 census, down from 437 in 2010. The town is best known as the birthplace of baseball player Mickey Mantle. It is also notable for the nearby Lake Spavinaw, the principal source of water for Tulsa.
History
File:Spavinaw OK (NBY 430816).jpg
The town is named for Spavinaw Creek, a stream named by French traders and explorers who travelled here in the 18th century. According to historian Muriel Wright, the name was a corrupted form of the French word ce'pee (meaning "young growth or shoots of wood") plus the French adjective vineux (wine colored). This term referred to a description of the color of black jack, post and red oak trees which grow here in springtime.[http://digital.library.okstate.edu/chronicles/v007/v007p188.html Wright, Muriel H. "Some Geographic Names of French Origin in Oklahoma." Chronicles of Oklahoma. Volume 7, Number 2, pp. 188-193.] Accessed March 5, 2016.
The first recorded settler here was Lewis Rogers, son of Captain John Rogers. Lewis set up a mill, a distillery and a salt works in 1829. In 1839, the Cherokee began moving into the Spavinaw area of Indian Territory as a result of Indian removal. The Cherokee council outlawed the operation of distilleries in their area and dispossessed Rogers of his distillery and the salt works, both of which had already been damaged by a flooding of Spavinaw Creek.[http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/S/SP006.html Thomas, Betty Lou Harper. Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. "Spavinaw."]
In 1846, Jacob Croft, a Mormon en route to Utah, decided to settle here instead. He was hired by Joseph Lynch Martin to restore the mill. In 1855, a group of Mormon missionaries from Utah arrived at Croft's home and began converting Cherokees and Creeks. When they began urging the converts to move to Utah, Lewis Rogers complained to the Cherokee council. In October 1856, Chief John Ross ordered all Mormons out of the Cherokee nation.
After the Civil War, Joseph "Greenbrier Joe" Lynch, brother-in-law of Joseph Lynch Martin, began operating the mill and the salt works. Greenbrier Joe had saved enough money to buy {{convert|100000|acres|ha}}.[http://grandlakenewsonline.com/spavinaw-profile-of-oklahoma-history-p1506-126.htm "Spavinaw, Profile of American History."] Retrieved February 13, 2015. The community that grew up around these works became known as "Lynch's Mill". In October 1878, the community was renamed Spavinaw Mills.
Lake Spavinaw
After the city of Tulsa began the Spavinaw Water Project in the 1920s, construction began on the Spavinaw Dam, which created Lake Spavinaw from Spavinaw Creek. The project submerged the site of the former Spavinaw Mills. The residents moved a short distance to found a new town called Spavinaw.
Geography
Spavinaw is in northeastern Mayes County, on the north side of Spavinaw Creek about {{convert|4|mi|0}} upstream from its confluence with the Neosho River in Lake Hudson. State Highways 20 and 82 pass through the town as Main Street. The combined highways lead southwest {{convert|13|mi}} to Salina. They split {{convert|1|mi|0}} north of town, with Highway 20 leading east {{convert|15|mi}} to Jay and Highway 82 leading north {{convert|4|mi|0}} to Langley.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of {{convert|0.4|sqmi|km2}}, all land. The Spavinaw Dam, forming Lake Spavinaw, the main water supplier of the city of Tulsa, is directly east of the town limits. Tulsa is {{convert|50|mi}} west of the town.
=Climate=
{{Weather box
| width = auto
| collapsed = yes
| single line = yes
| location = Spavinaw, Oklahoma (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1923–present)
| Jan record high F = 78
| Feb record high F = 85
| Mar record high F = 92
| Apr record high F = 94
| May record high F = 100
| Jun record high F = 106
| Jul record high F = 113
| Aug record high F = 114
| Sep record high F = 107
| Oct record high F = 98
| Nov record high F = 85
| Dec record high F = 78
| year record high F =
|Jan avg record high F = 68.2
|Feb avg record high F = 72.2
|Mar avg record high F = 79.3
|Apr avg record high F = 84.3
|May avg record high F = 89.0
|Jun avg record high F = 93.3
|Jul avg record high F = 98.5
|Aug avg record high F = 99.1
|Sep avg record high F = 94.0
|Oct avg record high F = 85.9
|Nov avg record high F = 77.0
|Dec avg record high F = 69.4
|year avg record high F = 100.5
| Jan high F = 48.1
| Feb high F = 53.0
| Mar high F = 61.9
| Apr high F = 70.5
| May high F = 77.9
| Jun high F = 86.0
| Jul high F = 91.0
| Aug high F = 90.7
| Sep high F = 83.3
| Oct high F = 72.9
| Nov high F = 60.8
| Dec high F = 50.8
| year high F = 70.6
| Jan mean F = 37.2
| Feb mean F = 41.5
| Mar mean F = 49.9
| Apr mean F = 58.9
| May mean F = 67.8
| Jun mean F = 76.5
| Jul mean F = 81.1
| Aug mean F = 80.2
| Sep mean F = 72.5
| Oct mean F = 61.6
| Nov mean F = 49.7
| Dec mean F = 40.5
| year mean F = 59.8
| Jan low F = 26.2
| Feb low F = 29.9
| Mar low F = 37.9
| Apr low F = 47.4
| May low F = 57.8
| Jun low F = 66.9
| Jul low F = 71.3
| Aug low F = 69.7
| Sep low F = 61.6
| Oct low F = 50.4
| Nov low F = 38.5
| Dec low F = 30.2
| year low F = 49.0
|Jan avg record low F = 9.8
|Feb avg record low F = 12.9
|Mar avg record low F = 19.7
|Apr avg record low F = 30.7
|May avg record low F = 42.5
|Jun avg record low F = 55.7
|Jul avg record low F = 62.6
|Aug avg record low F = 60.8
|Sep avg record low F = 47.5
|Oct avg record low F = 33.8
|Nov avg record low F = 22.0
|Dec avg record low F = 13.9
|year avg record low F = 5.5
| Jan record low F = -25
| Feb record low F = -12
| Mar record low F = -4
| Apr record low F = 19
| May record low F = 31
| Jun record low F = 47
| Jul record low F = 44
| Aug record low F = 48
| Sep record low F = 34
| Oct record low F = 19
| Nov record low F = 7
| Dec record low F = -11
| year record low F =
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 2.27
| Feb precipitation inch = 2.29
| Mar precipitation inch = 3.71
| Apr precipitation inch = 4.64
| May precipitation inch = 6.33
| Jun precipitation inch = 5.05
| Jul precipitation inch = 3.75
| Aug precipitation inch = 3.80
| Sep precipitation inch = 4.43
| Oct precipitation inch = 4.14
| Nov precipitation inch = 3.67
| Dec precipitation inch = 2.53
| year precipitation inch = 46.61
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 5.7
| Feb precipitation days = 6.3
| Mar precipitation days = 8.2
| Apr precipitation days = 8.6
| May precipitation days = 9.9
| Jun precipitation days = 8.5
| Jul precipitation days = 7.0
| Aug precipitation days = 6.1
| Sep precipitation days = 7.0
| Oct precipitation days = 8.1
| Nov precipitation days = 7.0
| Dec precipitation days = 6.1
| year precipitation days = 88.5
| Jan snow inch = 1.7
| Feb snow inch = 0.8
| Mar snow inch = 1.8
| Apr snow inch = 0.0
| May snow inch = 0.0
| Jun snow inch = 0.0
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 0.0
| Oct snow inch = 0.0
| Nov snow inch = 0.3
| Dec snow inch = 0.9
| year snow inch = 5.5
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 0.7
| Feb snow days = 0.4
| Mar snow days = 0.4
| Apr snow days = 0.0
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.0
| Nov snow days = 0.2
| Dec snow days = 0.5
| year snow days = 2.2
| source = NOAA{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=tsa
|title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = November 21, 2023}}{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00348380&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = November 21, 2023}}
}}
Demographics
{{US Census population
|1940= 255
|1950= 213
|1960= 319
|1970= 470
|1980= 623
|1990= 432
|2000= 563
|2010= 437
|2020= 350
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{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}}
}}
At the 2010 census, Spavinaw had a population of 437. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 59.3% non-Hispanic, white 27.9%, non-Hispanic Native American 2.1%, Hispanic Native American, 9.2% reporting two or more races and 4.3% Hispanic or Latino of any race.2010 general profile of population and housing characteristics of Spavinaw from the US Census
As of the census of 2000, there were 563 people, 215 households, and 141 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|1,450.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 290 housing units at an average density of {{convert|747.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 63.06% White, 26.11% Native American, 0.53% from other races, and 10.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.73% of the population.
There were 215 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were married couples living together, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 30.0% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $19,792, and the median income for a family was $22,188. Males had a median income of $24,028 versus $17,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $11,010. Approximately 28.7% of families and 27.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.2% of those under the age of 18 and 13.8% of those 65 and older.
Education
The majority of Spavinaw is in the Jay Public Schools school district. A northern portion is in the Adair Public Schools school district.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40097_mayes/DC20SD_C40097.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Mayes County, OK|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2024-10-12}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40097_mayes/DC20SD_C40097_SD2MS.txt Text list]
Notable people
- Mickey Mantle (1931–1995), Major League Baseball Hall of Fame player for the New York Yankees
- Audra Smoke-Conner (born 1968), Cherokee Nation tribal councilor (2003–2007)
See also
Oklahoma Historical Society. Chronicles of Oklahoma."Lynch's Mill was Spavinaw's Name in Early History." September 1927. Electronic version accessed January 18, 2011.[http://digital.library.okstate.edu/chronicles/v005/v005p322.html]