Vian, Oklahoma

Vian, Oklahoma
Town
Vian Town Hall

Location of Vian, Oklahoma
Coordinates: 35°29′52″N 94°58′15″W / 35.49778°N 94.97083°W / 35.49778; -94.97083Coordinates: 35°29′52″N 94°58′15″W / 35.49778°N 94.97083°W / 35.49778; -94.97083
Country United States
State Oklahoma
County Sequoyah
Government
 • Mayor Dennis Fletcher
Area
 • Total 0.8 sq mi (2.1 km2)
 • Land 0.8 sq mi (2.1 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation 541 ft (165 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 1,486
 • Density 1,857.5/sq mi (707.6/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code 74962
Area code(s) 539/918
FIPS code 40-77250[1]
GNIS feature ID 1099250[2]

Vian is a town in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,466 at the 2010 census, a 7.6 percent gain from 1,362 at the 2000 census.[3] It was named for Big Vian and Little Vian Creeks. Nearby tourist attractions include Lake Tenkiller, Lake Robert S. Kerr and Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge.[4]

History

Vian began as a trading post where the primary goods were meat-related, between Big Vian and Little Vian Creeks in the Cherokee Nation. When a post office was established in 1886, the first postmaster, Mahala Thompson, wanted to name the town Round Mountain, but the name was already in use and was thus rejected. The post office was therefore named Vian for the two creeks, which get their name from the French word for meat. After the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway laid tracks through the town in 1888, it became an important shipping point for cotton produced in the surrounding farmland. Before Vian was incorporated and shown on maps as a town in 1903, the Vian Town Hall was founded in 1902, as seen on the plaque in the photo. It was the original county seat of Sequoyah County before it was moved to Sallisaw.[4]

Originally, Vian was a more bustling town than what it is today. A theater and many other venues existed here. Its downfall was seen most keenly when the county seat was moved.

In 2013, one of Vian's oldest buildings burned to the ground due to a fire in a neighboring café.[4]

Geography

Vian is located at 35°29′52″N 94°58′15″W / 35.49778°N 94.97083°W / 35.49778; -94.97083 (35.497910, -94.970841).[5] It is 11 miles (18 km) west of Sallisaw.[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km2), all land.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1900296—
1910794168.2%
19201,17648.1%
1930900−23.5%
19409414.6%
1950927−1.5%
19609300.3%
19701,13121.6%
19801,52134.5%
19901,414−7.0%
20001,362−3.7%
20101,4667.6%
Est. 20151,396[6]−4.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,362 people, 503 households, and 339 families residing in the town.[1] The population density was 1,702.3 people per square mile (657.3/km²). There were 558 housing units at an average density of 697.4 per square mile (269.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 51.54% White, 6.98% African American, 26.51% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.22% from other races, and 14.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.13% of the population.

There were 503 households out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% were married couples living together, 17.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% 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 28.6% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $18,264, and the median income for a family was $24,167. Males had a median income of $26,731 versus $16,806 for females. The per capita income for the town was $10,471. About 28.2% of families and 35.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.2% of those under age 18 and 33.5% of those age 65 or over.

General description

The center of Vian is located at the intersection of OK-82's southern segment (the terminus is located just south of the town, where it is called Thornton Street and is the main street) and US-64 (Schley Street). It is exit 297 on I-40 and is a major location on the interstate in the county because it is the only way to Tenkiller Ferry Lake and the state park of the same name, popular destinations. The closest town to the west is Gore, at 12 miles west of town, and the closest town to the east is Sallisaw, at 11 miles eastward.

Vian has three convenience stores, one grocery store, a locally owned furniture/decor store, and two resale shops as of May 2013. We also have a Nana's Donut Shop, Miss Lilly's eating place, Subway, Simple Simons and a Dollar General as of 2017.

In May 2017, the city government of Vian was put on the national stage due to accusations of corruption. A city police officer pulled over city councilman E. O. Smith's son, Joshua Smith, and discovered he was driving on a suspended license, a repeat offense. After performing an arrest, the officer was threatened by City Attorney Larry Vickers, and told she'd likely be terminated. Mayor Dennis Fletcher ordered the criminal Joshua Smith released.[8] The officer and police chief resigned.[9]

Notable residents

References

  1. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ↑ CensusViewer: Population of the City of Vian, Oklahoma
  4. 1 2 3 4 Larry O'Dell, "Vian." Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Accessed May 26, 2012.]
  5. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  8. ↑ http://www.sequoyahcountytimes.com/news/article_13855ae0-3720-11e7-b167-8f87dddcfe8a.html. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ↑ http://5newsonline.com/2017/05/10/vian-police-chief-resigns/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
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