South Coffeyville is a town in Nowata County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2020 census, South Coffeyville had a population of 683. The city of Coffeyville, Kansas is located approximately one mile north of the city, existing as a separate political entity.

History

thumb|left|Map of Indian Territory from 1889 [[Encyclopædia Britannica 9th edition]]

For millennia, the land now known as Oklahoma was inhabited by Native Americans. In the 17th century, white trappers first visiting the area found it occupied mostly by the Osage and Quawpaw tribes. In 1803, modern Oklahoma was secured by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase. In 1819, the Arkansas Territory was organized, then was split in 1824 and 1828. An 1828 treaty with the Cherokee Nation assigned the area of Nowata County to the Cherokees, who included it in 1856 in their newly created Cooweescoowee District. The Cherokees and the Delaware signed a treaty in 1867. In 1890, the area became part of the Oklahoma Territory. In 1907, Oklahoma became the 46th U.S. state and Nowata County was founded.

In 1888, the first settlement in the area was established as Stevens, a railhead tent and shack village, built just southwest of present South Coffeyville. It was named after a Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway builder, Stevens could be found on railroad maps until about 1902 but was eventually abandoned.

In 1906, a settlement called Polson was built approximately one mile northeast near the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway and Missouri Pacific Railways. Now part of the Union Pacific railway, the Missouri Pacific Railway had reached the present South Coffeyville townsite in 1889. The settlement was named after Martin and Earl Polson, early settlers, that designation was also short lived. flows past the north side of the community to its confluence with the Verdigris River 1.5 miles east.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.6&nbsp;square mile (1.6&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), all land.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, South Coffeyville had a population of 683. The median age was 40.9 years. 22.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.2 males age 18 and over.

97.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 2.3% lived in rural areas.

There were 287 households in South Coffeyville, of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.4% were married-couple households, 19.9% 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 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

Coffeyville Municipal Airport (KCFV; FAA ID: CFV) is about 9 miles north-northeast, and has two runways, the longest 5868’ x 100’.

Commercial air transportation is available out of Tulsa International Airport, about 63 miles south.

Notable people

  • Gail Kubik, composer, motion picture scorist, violinist, and teacher.

See also

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Nowata County, Oklahoma

References

Further reading

  • History of Nowata County; Felix M. Gay; Redlands Press; 1957.
  • South Coffeyville Vertical File; Research Division of Oklahoma Historical Society.