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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Poteau

Oklahoma · 7,939 residents · 26.6 sq mi
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The short version

Poteau is home to 7,939 people in Oklahoma. Median home value sits at $54,700. The poverty rate is 22.1%, above the 12.4% national rate. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Households take in $26,178 at the median, 39% less than the US figure. Households here earn about 22% less than in Oklahoma as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Mid-age
median age 34.6
US median: 35.2
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

7,939
+10%since 1990
from 7,210 in 1990
1990 – 2025
34.6
Unchangedsince 1990
from 34.7 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
26.6 sq mi
Population, 19902024
7K8K8K9K9K19902000201020202024Poteau
20249K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 57.2%(571)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 96.9%(547)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 146.6%(527)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 198.6%(685)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 248%(637)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3413.2%(1,047)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4413.2%(1,051)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5411.7%(928)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 648.2%(654)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 747.3%(582)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 846%(480)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over2.9%(230)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$26,178
+6%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $18,793 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$15,175
+50%since 1990
from $10,146 in 1990
US average: $21,522
22.1%
−4.0 ptssince 1990
from 26.1% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$54,700
+10%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $37,800 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$385
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 1990
from $293 in 1990
US average: $602
66.4%
−0.1 ptssince 1990
from 66.6% in 1990
33.6% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic88.8%(6,404)
Black2.7%(194)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(125)
Asian0%(0)
2000
White, non-Hispanic78.3%(6,220)
Black2.2%(176)
Hispanic / Latino5.8%(462)
Asian0.3%(27)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican14.9%(1,332)
Puerto Rican0.2%(15)
Venezuelan0.1%(12)
Asian origin
Filipino0.7%(65)
Chinese0.2%(22)
Laotian0.2%(14)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.7%(60)
Ancestry
English20.8%(1,867)
Irish11.6%(1,037)
German9.5%(852)
American4.9%(440)
Italian3.8%(337)
Dutch1.9%(171)
Scottish1.6%(143)
French1.2%(107)
Swedish1.1%(97)
Scotch-Irish0.9%(83)
Portuguese0.5%(47)
British0.4%(36)
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data
Russian0.3%(27)
West Indian0.3%(27)
Polish0.2%(21)
Norwegian0.2%(18)
Welsh0.2%(18)
Austrian0.2%(17)
Romanian0.2%(14)
Ukrainian0.2%(14)
Czech0.1%(8)
Section 05

Education

16.4%
+0.9 ptssince 1990
from 15.4% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
70.5%
+3.2 ptssince 1990
from 67.3% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
5.3%
−1.8 ptssince 1990
from 7.2% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

14.9 min
−15%since 1990
from 17.5 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married22.2%(651)
Married59.2%(1,731)
Widowed3.7%(109)
Divorced14.9%(435)
Women 15+
Never married15.5%(512)
Married53.3%(1,758)
Widowed15.1%(499)
Divorced16%(527)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

16.4%
−7.0 ptssince 2013
from 23.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
31.9%
−5.5 ptssince 2020
from 37.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
13.8%
+2.9 ptssince 2020
from 10.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
19.0%
+1.4 ptssince 2020
from 17.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
31.8%
+4.2 ptssince 2020
from 27.6% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.3%
−1.2 ptssince 2020
from 3.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
48.0%
−0.8 ptssince 2020
from 48.8% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
47.1%
+5.8 ptssince 2020
from 41.3% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)19.6%(80)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)28.1%(115)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era44%(180)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War6.8%(28)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1%(4)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 409 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Poteau, Oklahoma?

Poteau, Oklahoma has about 7,939 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Poteau, Oklahoma?

The typical household in Poteau, Oklahoma earns about $26,178 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Poteau, Oklahoma expensive?

In Poteau, Oklahoma, the median home is worth about $54,700, and the typical rent is about $385 a month.

How educated are people in Poteau, Oklahoma?

About 16.4% of adults age 25 and over in Poteau, Oklahoma hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Poteau, Oklahoma?

About 22.1% of people in Poteau, Oklahoma live below the federal poverty line.

Has Poteau, Oklahoma grown since 1990?

Yes, Poteau, Oklahoma has grown since 1990. The population has added about 729 residents, a change of about 10 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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