Bernice, Oklahoma
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Bernice is a town in Delaware County,
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. The population was 562 at the 2010 census, an increase of 11.5 percent over the figure of 504 recorded in 2000. The town is now primarily a vacation and retirement area. It claims to be the "
Crappie Crappies () are two species of North American freshwater fish of the genus ''Pomoxis'' in the family Centrarchidae (sunfishes). Both species of crappies are popular game fish among recreational anglers. Etymology The genus name ''Pomoxi ...
Fishing Capital of the World."Sharon Koons, "Bernice." ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture''.
Accessed July 19, 2012.


History

Bernice was founded in 1912, after Rose Mode and his partner, Charles Lee, bought of land in the Horse Creek Basin of northwestern Delaware County. The town was named for Mode's daughter, Bernice. A post office was established on February 12, 1913, and the town soon become a local agricultural center. By 1918, Bernice had an estimated population on nearly 400 people. Businesses included a bank, a milliner, a grain elevator, a sawmill, a hotel, a flour mill and three general stores. The population declined after
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
and the
Great Depression The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...
from 198 in 1920 to 162 in 1930, and 91 in 1940. After
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, population growth rebounded to 318 in 1980. Construction of Pensacola Dam and Grand Lake o' the Cherokees put the original town in a flood plain, so the residents moved to high ground outside the proposed lake. At present, the town serves as a vacation spot for many residents of surrounding communities. Indian Hills Resort, the oldest recreational business in the town, was established in 1940. Bernice State Park, approximately one-half mile east of town, across the
Neosho River The Neosho River is a tributary of the Arkansas River in eastern Kansas and northeastern Oklahoma in the United States. Its tributaries also drain portions of Missouri and Arkansas. The river is about long.U.S. Geological Survey. National ...
, also attracts vacationers.


Geography

Bernice is located along the west bank of Horse Creek. 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 , of which is land and (38.62%) is water.


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 2000, there were 504 people, 245 households, and 152 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 385 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 81.35%
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 ...
, 12.90% Native American, and 5.75% from two or more races.
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 1.19% of the population. There were 245 households, out of which 20.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% 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, 3.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 35.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.59. In the town, the population was spread out, with 16.7% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 20.8% from 25 to 44, 31.3% from 45 to 64, and 24.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.9 males. The median income for a household in the town was $24,844, and the median income for a family was $30,288. Males had a median income of $24,444 versus $15,833 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 $15,005. About 9.5% of families and 14.1% 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 ...
, including 24.4% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.


Education

Most of Bernice is zoned to Cleora Public School while a section to the north is in Afton Public Schools.


References


External links


Bernice - Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture

Map to Bernice
{{authority control Towns in Delaware County, Oklahoma Towns in Oklahoma Populated places within the Cherokee Nation reservation Populated places established in 1912 1912 establishments in Oklahoma