Spiro, Oklahoma
| Spiro, Oklahoma | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
Spider engraved on shell, from Spiro Mounds, near the town of Spiro.
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 Location of Spiro, Oklahoma |
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| Coordinates: 35°14′29″N 94°37′15″W / 35.24139°N 94.62083°WCoordinates: 35°14′29″N 94°37′15″W / 35.24139°N 94.62083°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Le Flore |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.2 sq mi (5.7 km2) |
| • Land | 2.1 sq mi (5.5 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2) |
| Elevation | 492 ft (150 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 2,167 |
| • Density | 1,049.5/sq mi (405.2/km2) |
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 74959 |
| Area code(s) | 539/918 |
| FIPS code | 40-69350 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1098363 |
Spiro 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 2,164 at the 2010 census, a 2.8 percent decline from 2,227 at the 2000 census. Developed as a railroad station in an agricultural area in the late 19th century, the small town is notable for its proximity to the Spiro Mounds. This is a Mississippian culture center that was active from about 850CE to 1450CE, and controlled a large area in present-day southeastern Oklahoma and nearby states. Today the 80-acre site with several earthwork mounds is preserved as Oklahoma's only State Archeological Park and one of North America's most important archaeological sites. It is the westernmost site of the expansive Mississippian culture, which had associated centers through the Mississippi and tributary river valleys.
In 1895 - 1896, the Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railroad (later owned by the Kansas City Southern Railroad) established a station at the present site of Spiro, which connected the area to the city of Fort Smith, Arkansas. This railroad access attracted residents from the nearby town of Skullyville and Spiro soon developed as the principal town in this area. The town population was 543 in 1900.
The US Post Office at Spiro was established in 1898. Several accounts differ as to how the post office was named. One claims that Spiro was the maiden name of the first postmistress. Another claims it was the maiden name of the mother of a Fort Smith banker. Yet another claims it was named for the father-in-law of a Fort Smith banker.
For a time the local economy was based on cotton as a commodity crop. In 1901, Spiro had three cotton yards and one gin. By 1910, there were three cotton gins and the population had grown to 1,173. Cotton cultivation became more mechanized and labor needs declined; in addition, the Great Depression of the 1930s took the heart out of the market. Timber harvesting and processing and livestock became important industries in the region. The population declined to 969 in 1930, as agricultural workers migrated to other areas for jobs. It rebounded to 1,365 by 1950 as the economy grew.
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