Coweta is a city in Wagoner County, Oklahoma, United States, a suburb of Tulsa. As of the 2020 census, Coweta had a population of 9,654. Part of the Creek Nation in Indian Territory before Oklahoma became a U.S. state, the town was first settled in 1840.
History
thumb|left|Oklahoma Farmers parade in downtown Coweta, 1905
Before statehood, when the Five Tribes or Five Civilized Tribes were moved to Indian Territory from the Southeastern United States, the area that is now Coweta was designated as part of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Coweta was named after a Lower Creek town on the Chattahoochee River in southwestern Georgia. It was first settled by Muscogee about 1840.
In 1843, Robert Loughridge, a Presbyterian minister, arrived in the area and established a mission, named "Koweta". He had gained Creek Council approval for this the year before. Loughridge left Koweta in 1850 to supervise the newly completed Tullahassee Mission School. Both schools closed in 1861 at the outbreak of the American Civil War, when missionaries left the Territory.
As a result of negotiations with the congressionally appointed Dawes Commission, regarding the allotment of tribal communal lands in 1897–1898, the Creek courts’ jurisdiction was turned over to the federal government.
Notable events in 1903 included the arrival of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad in Coweta; founding of the community's first newspaper, The Courier; construction of the first public school for whites; and installation of a telephone line.
Geography
Coweta is located at (35.963155, -95.661586). Coweta is on the Arkansas River, southeast of Tulsa and northwest of Muskogee.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Coweta had a population of 9,654. The median age was 35.0 years. 27.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.4% 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 89.7 males age 18 and over.
92.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 7.7% lived in rural areas.
There were 3,677 households in Coweta, of which 37.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.1% were married-couple households, 16.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
! Race !! Percent
|-
| White || 66.8%
|-
| Black or African American || 2.9%
|-
| American Indian and Alaska Native || 11.3%
|-
| Asian || 0.6%
|-
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 0.1%
|-
| Some other race || 2.5%
|-
| Two or more races || 15.8%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 5.3%
|}
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, 7,139 people, 2,582 households, and 1,988 families were residing in the city.
Media
Coweta has one newspaper, the Coweta American. The paper is published every Wednesday. It is owned by BH Media Group.
Economy
Historically, Coweta's economy was based on agriculture' until the 1960s. Production of grain is still important, but cotton acreage has decreased greatly. Now, the city's largest employers are Coweta school system, Walmart (one retail store), and the City of Coweta. Many employed residents now commute to Tulsa, Broken Arrow, or Muskogee. The building, now event space, has its original chandelier and 10 of the 32 original pews.
Notable people
- William R. "Bill" Bright (October 19, 1921 – July 19, 2003), founder of Campus Crusade for Christ
- Rick Bryan (March 20, 1962 - July 25, 2009) was a two-time All-American for the Oklahoma Sooners, and 9-year NFL player (Atlanta Falcons).
- Bruce Cowling (1919-1986), an actor, was born in Coweta.
- Crooked X, a rock band, was discovered on the CBS television's The Early Show.
- Lilah Denton Lindsey was a Creek, civic leader, and women's club organizer.
- George Milburn (1903 - 1966), author, was born and raised in Coweta.