Heavener is a town in Le Flore County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2020 census, Heavener had a population of 2,985. Heavener is notable for the Heavener Runestone just outside the city limits.
History
Joseph H. Heavener and some other white settlers arrived, secured permits to farm from the Chocktaw Indians, and settled down to farm. In 1880, Zachary Taylor Ward and his Choctaw wife, Tabitha Hickman Ward, moved their store from Skullyville to the present site of Heavener. Ward died in 1883, and his widow, Tabitha, married Heavener. The couple owned the land on which the town was established. Before being named Heavener by a popular vote in 1895, the area was known by several different names, including Prairie of the Tall Grass, Choctaw City, Prairie View, Long Prairie, and Grand Prairie.
At the time of its founding, and through Oklahoma's statehood in 1907, Heavener was located in Sugar Loaf County, one of the counties making up the Moshulatubbee District of the Choctaw Nation.
Suitable agricultural land around Heavener attracted many farmers as settlers. Other improvements soon followed. A cotton gin and a grist mill were built in the town in 1885. In 1896 the Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railroad built tracks through the town. A post office was established in a boxcar on May 12, 1896, while another boxcar became the train station. In 1900-1901 a predecessor of the Arkansas Western Railroad constructed tracks from Heavener east into Arkansas.
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2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Heavener had a population of 2,985. The median age was 33.6 years. 30.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 103.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.3 males age 18 and over.
There were 1,048 households in Heavener, of which 40.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 42.7% were married-couple households, 21.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
! Race !! Percent
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| White || 49.6%
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| Black or African American || 0.1%
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| American Indian and Alaska Native || 11.7%
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| Asian || 0.3%
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| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 0.2%
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| Some other race || 24.0%
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| Two or more races || 14.0%
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| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 36.9%
|}
2000 census
As of the 2000 census there were 3,201 people, 1,113 households, and 783 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 1,255 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 73.79% White, 0.62% African American, 9.84% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 10.56% from other races, and 5.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.52% of the population.
There were 1,113 households, out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.27.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 14.9% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,750, and the median income for a family was $28,654. Males had a median income of $19,848 versus $18,487 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,313. About 23.6% of families and 26.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.7% of those under age 18 and 12.5% of those age 65 or over.
The current mayor is Troy Dyer.