Oklahoma
Oklahoma ( ; Choctaw language, Choctaw: , ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Texas to the south and west, Kansas to the north, Missouri to the northea ...
, United States. As of the 2020 census, the community had 398 residents. The town's name is derived from a
Cherokee language
file:Cherokee Speakers by County, 2000.png, 350px, Number of speakers
file:Lang Status 20-CR.svg, Cherokee is classified as Critically Endangered by UNESCO's ''Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger''
Cherokee or Tsalagi (, ) is an endangere ...
word, ', meaning fire.Wilson, Linda D "Achille," ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'', Oklahoma Historical Society, 2009. Accessed April 15, 2015.
History
The area that would become Achille was originally part of the
Chickasaw Nation
The Chickasaw Nation () is a federally recognized Indigenous nation with headquarters in Ada, Oklahoma, in the United States. The Chickasaw Nation descends from an Indigenous population historically located in the southeastern United States, in ...
in
Indian Territory
Indian Territory and the Indian Territories are terms that generally described an evolving land area set aside by the Federal government of the United States, United States government for the relocation of Native Americans in the United States, ...
. The Bloomfield Academy for Chickasaw girls was located southeast of present-day Achille from 1853 until 1914. Cherokee refugees located to the area during the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
and called it "", meaning fire.
The Missouri, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway built a line that crossed the region in 1908 and a post office was established in the community in 1910. The community grew from an estimated population of 50 to 500 in 1920. The town's population declined to 294 in 1960 and reached a peak number of 506 in 2000.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the town has a total area of , all land.
Demographics
As of the
census
A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...
of 2010, there were 492 people living in the town. The population density was . There were 213 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 71.34%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 0.20%
African American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
Hispanic
The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or Latino of any race were 0.59% of the population.
There were 188 households, out of which 63 (33.5%) included children under the age of 18, 82 (43.6%) were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...
living together, 36 (19.1%) consisted of a female householder with no husband present, 16 (8.5%) consisted of a male householder with no wife present, and 54 (28.7%) were non-families.Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data, U.S. Census. (accessed vi U.S. Census website search of Achille town, Oklahoma on October 18, 2013) Households made up of a single individual living alone accounted for 46 (24.5%) of households, and 58 (30.9%) households consisted of someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 25% under the age of 18, 10% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $28,333,2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, U.S. Census. (accessed vi U.S. Census website search of Achille town, Oklahoma on October 18, 2013) and the median income for a family was $24,000. Males had a median income of $21,190 versus $14,904 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year.
In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the town was $11,324. 17.4% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
. 39.6% of those under the age of 18 and 9.8% are 65 or older.
Economy
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma headquarters, casinos, and other operations are located in nearby Durant and serve as a major employer in the region.
Agriculture
Agriculture encompasses crop and livestock production, aquaculture, and forestry for food and non-food products. Agriculture was a key factor in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created ...
and
tourism
Tourism is travel for pleasure, and the Commerce, commercial activity of providing and supporting such travel. World Tourism Organization, UN Tourism defines tourism more generally, in terms which go "beyond the common perception of tourism as ...
are both important industries.
Government
During his first term as mayor, back in 2017, David Northcutt was investigated for firing a shot toward the ground in an argument with his boyfriend, and eventually resigned.
On October 28, 2018, current Achille Mayor David Northcutt, was arrested with an accomplice, Joshua Doughty, for first degree burglary and methamphetamine possession charges. Northcutt was released after posting $10,000 bail.
In December 2018, Achille Councilman Lynn Chambers was arrested and charged along with 4 others, for methamphetamine trafficking and gun possession while committing a felony. 200 grams of methamphetamine, 2 pounds of marijuana and several guns were discovered by police. Child endangerment charges are being considered as children were living at the location
In 2019, items including guns, drugs, and cash that had been seized by the Achille Police went missing from the police evidence locker, prompting an investigation by the
Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) is an independent state law enforcement agency of the government of Oklahoma. The OSBI assists the county sheriff offices and city police departments of the state, and works independent of the Ok ...
. Police Chief Chris Watson had handed the key to the evidence locker to the town's Board Of Trustees shortly before the breach, after having been suspended and then fired by the Board. "I cannot say that I am surprised because that entire city council is corrupt to the core" said Watson.
*While not born in the town, country singer and actor
Gene Autry
Orvon Grover "Gene" Autry (September 29, 1907 – October 2, 1998), nicknamed the Singing Cowboy, was an American actor, musician, singer, composer, rodeo performer, and baseball team owner, who largely gained fame by singing in a Crooner ...