Cromwell is a town in Seminole County, Oklahoma, United States. It is within the jurisdiction of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. The population was 238 at the time of the 2020 census. It was named for oilman Joe I. Cromwell, who platted the original town in 1923. The population soared to several thousand people in a few weeks, and lawlessness was rampant in the community. Retired legendary Old West lawman Bill Tilghman was hired as Town Marshal to restore order. Tilghman was shot to death the following year, the most notable event in Cromwell's history.
History
Founded in 1923, and named for Muscogee oilman, Joe I. Cromwell, Cromwell had a post office on May 17, 1924.
Cromwell was a wild and wooly town in the early 1920s. The town was said to be full of saloons, brothels and outlaws. About 150 businesses operated in Cromwell during the 1920s, many selling moonshine alcohol and narcotics to residents of the surrounding area. However, about seventy of these were permanently closed during an enforcement drive. The illegal sales continued because a Federal Prohibition Unit agent named Wiley Lynn was connected to mobster Arnold Killian.
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2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Cromwell had a population of 238. The median age was 41.0 years. 29.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 110.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 107.4 males age 18 and over.
There were 89 households in Cromwell, of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.4% were married-couple households, 19.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 15.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
! Race !! Number !! Percent
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| White || 172 || 72.3%
|-
| Black or African American || 1 || 0.4%
|-
| American Indian and Alaska Native || 41 || 17.2%
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| Asian || 1 || 0.4%
|-
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 0 || 0.0%
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| Some other race || 0 || 0.0%
|-
| Two or more races || 23 || 9.7%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 6 || 2.5%
|}
2000 census
As of the census
Schoolton
Schoolton is a populated place now located within the official boundaries of Cromwell. It is located north about 4 miles from the central district of Cromwell on Oklahoma State Highway 56, just north of Interstate 40.
The settlement had a post office from December 19, 1907, to June 30, 1917; an earlier post office named Irene was situated at this same approximate location until November 28, 1907.
References
External links
- Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Cromwell