Rock Island, Oklahoma | |
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Town | |
Location of Rock Island, Oklahoma |
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Coordinates: 35°10′58″N 94°28′37″W / 35.18278°N 94.47694°WCoordinates: 35°10′58″N 94°28′37″W / 35.18278°N 94.47694°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Oklahoma |
County | Le Flore |
Area | |
• Total | 12.2 sq mi (31.5 km2) |
• Land | 12.1 sq mi (31.3 km2) |
• Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2) |
Elevation | 495 ft (151 m) |
Population (2010) | |
• Total | 646 |
• Density | 53.3/sq mi (20.6/km2) |
Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
• Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
FIPS code | 40-63600 |
GNIS feature ID | 1097351 |
Rock Island is a town in Le Flore County, Oklahoma, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 646 at the 2010 census, a decline of 8.9 percent from 709 at the 2000 census.
The Fort Smith and Southern Railway built a north-south line through what is now Le Flore County in 1896. The Midland Valley Railroad built an east-west line the following year. The settlement that began evolving at the crossing was originally called Maxey Junction. A post office established in the community was named "Rock Island" by the U. S. Post Office Department, and the town was renamed in 1905.
Rock Island started the process of incorporation in 1989, but the County Commissioners did not approve the incorporation until 2004.
Rock Island is located at 35°10′58″N 94°28′37″W / 35.18278°N 94.47694°W (35.182759, -94.477029). It is 13 miles (21 km) northeast of Poteau.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 12.2 square miles (32 km2), of which, 12.1 square miles (31 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (0.66%) is water.
Rock Island's economy has depended on agriculture since its founding. Many residents now commute to work in nearby towns such as Poteau and Fort Smith.
Jenson Tunnel is located just northeast of Rock Island and is the only known railroad tunnel in Oklahoma. Now used by the Kansas City Southern, it was built by Frisco Railway in 1885 and is approximately 1,180 feet long.
As of the census of 2000, there were 709 people, 264 households, and 213 families residing in the town. The population density was 58.6 people per square mile (22.6/km²). There were 279 housing units at an average density of 23.1 per square mile (8.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 87.73% White, 5.64% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.56% from other races, and 5.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.97% of the population.