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Idabel, Oklahoma

12 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1950 and the latest in 1990. It stands in the Idabel census division. It lies in ZIP code area 74745. The Survey maps it on the Idabel quadrangle. 6,961 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 472 feet above sea level.

Idabel within McCurtain County

On record in Idabel

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 5 records

Population over time

2 figures

Idabel fell from 7,010 to 6,961 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
20107,010
20206,961-49 (-1%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

6 surveys from 12 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Fires near this place

133 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 133 fires within 5 miles of Idabel between 1992 and 2020, burning about 1,503 acres in total. 7 started naturally. 53 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Arson/incendiarism53
Debris and open burning27
Missing data/not specified/undetermined24
Equipment and vehicle use18
Natural7
Smoking3
Misuse of fire by a minor1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
8 September 2005Arson/incendiarismunder an acreOklahoma Division of Forestry10490
8 September 2005Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreTalihina AgencyHAYBALE#2
7 September 2017Arson/incendiarismunder an acreOklahoma Division of Forestrynot named
5 September 1993Missing data/not specified/undetermined10 acresOklahoma Division of Forestrynot named
4 September 2000Debris and open burningunder an acreOklahoma Division of Forestrynot named
29 September 1993Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresOklahoma Division of Forestrynot named
28 September 1999Debris and open burning14 acresOklahoma Division of Forestrynot named
26 September 2002Arson/incendiarismunder an acreOklahoma Division of Forestrynot named

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in McCurtain County

Mines and quarries near this place

9 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 9 workings within 5 miles of Idabel: 6 past producers, 3 producers. 3 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Stone, Crushed/Broken. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Idabel PlantStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Quality Rocks Inc Limestone PitStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Unknown Limestone PitStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown Limestone PitStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
County Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Unknown Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unknown Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unknown Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unknown Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer

Every working recorded in McCurtain County

Storms near this place

60 of 96 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Idabel in 96 storm reports between 1993 and 2026: 48 hail, 37 thunderstorm wind, 4 flash flood, 4 funnel cloud. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
May 2003Thunderstorm WindIdabel$200,000A violent thunderstorm moved rapidly southeast across McCurtain County, OK into Bowie County and Cass County, TX. This thunderstorm also produced a strong tornado in McCurtain County, OK which moved into northeast Texas and a second, stronger microburst, southeast of Maud, TX. Numerous trees were snapped and pushed over while several homes, mobile homes, tier homes, barns, garages and outbuildings were damaged. The microburst ranged from 3.2 miles long by 2.3 miles wide and was tear drop in shape.
November 2004Thunderstorm WindIdabel$90,000THUNDERSTORM WINDS DESTROYED BARNS...OVERTURNED A TRAILER HOUSE AND DID MINOR DAMAGE TO OTHER BUILDINGS EAST OF IDABEL.
February 1999Tornado (F1)Idabel$60,000The tornado, witnessed by dozens of people, touched down on new road construction, crossed the road and slammed into the ET Dunlap Center, peeled back the roof and destroyed the interior of the school as well as mangling a satellite dish. Six parked cars were pushed sideways into each other doing little damage. The tornado then moved across the Kiamichi Technology Center damaging the building before moving across Hwy 259 destroying several signs and bending three telephone pools to a 45 degree angle. The tornado then continued into a wooded region. The tornado was described by Randy Barton, an eyewitness, as an upside down bowl which came to a point on the ground. Several eyewitness were within 15 yards of the tornado. The school administrated said there would have been numerous injuries from a collapsing roof except one instructor called in sick cancelling class for the day and other classes were scheduled for just after the event.
May 2006Thunderstorm WindIdabel$30,000Some homes in town suffered roof damage from fallen limbs and from shingles being blown off. Some portable buildings were severly damaged.
June 2005HailIdabel$15,000Thunderstorm winds downed power poles onto a vehicle.
August 1995Thunderstorm WindIdabel$15,000An isolated severe thunderstorm produced damaging winds eight miles south of Idabel. A greenhouse collapsed due to the strong winds, and a trailer was flipped an estimated 23 feet. U.S. Highway 259 was closed when a barn was blown onto the highway, and numerous trees and power lines were blown down.
June 1998Thunderstorm WindIdabel$10,000Mobile home damaged from high wind gusts.
April 1994Thunderstorm WindIdabel$5,000Thunderstorms in far southeast Oklahoma on the 11th produced damaging winds during the late afternoon hours. Strong thunderstorms winds blew down numerous trees near Bethel and five miles southwest of Glover. In Idabel, strong thunderstorm winds blew down numerous trees with one falling on a house and another falling on power lines. Strong winds tore a roof off a mobile home just north of Idabel.
May 2015Flash FloodIdabel$2,000Although the truck driver was able to walk away to high ground, a truck remains stranded in high water along Lynn Lane, and the road is closed due to flooding.
March 2026Thunderstorm WindIdabel-A 63 mph wind gust was measured at the Idabel Mesonet site.
April 2026HailIdabel-Quarter size hail reported in Idabel.
May 2025HailIdabel-Nickel size hail fell in Idabel.
November 2024Thunderstorm WindIdabel-A NWS Storm Survey confirmed that severe downburst winds damaged a vehicle service building and showroom in Idabel. Three garage doors on the upwind side were blown inward, which likely allowed the wind into the building. This allowed the wind to lift and remove part of the roof to the service area, which caused the collapse of a brick facade wall on the downwind side. The wind blowing through the building also blew out a few large glass windows in the showroom. Debris was blown across the street and damaged several cars in the Choctaw Village and Choctaw Casino parking lot downwind to the north. The vehicle service building is located on a significantly elevated hill compared to the shopping center to the north, which likely exposed it to more wind. No additional structural damage was found at this point, and only one tree on the back lot from the service building was damaged, with the debris facing downwind.
June 2023HailIdabel-Quarter size hail reported just east of Idabel.
April 2022HailIdabel-Quarter size hail fell in Idabel.
April 2021Thunderstorm WindIdabel-Numerous trees were blown down across McCurtain County. Trees were downed onto homes near Idabel and Broken Bow.
May 2020Thunderstorm WindIdabel-Trees were blown down just south of Idabel.
May 2020Funnel CloudIdabel-A KTEN TV viewer captured a picture of a funnel cloud over Idabel.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindIdabel-Large branches were downed in Idabel.
June 2019HailIdabel-Quarter size hail fell in Idabel.
May 2015HailIdabel-Dime to quarter size hail was reported in Idabel.
May 2015HailIdabel-Quarter size hail fell at the Sherriff's Office in Idabel.
May 2015Thunderstorm WindIdabel-Several trees were reported downed across the county.
December 2012Thunderstorm WindIdabel-Several trees and powerlines were downed blocking roads across the southern half of the county near the Red River.
April 2011Thunderstorm WindIdabel-Sheriff dispatch reported numerous trees and powerlines downed along Hwy. 37 as well as along Boss Road.
June 2011Funnel CloudIdabel-A lowering of the cloud base resulted in multiple funnel clouds reported by a storm spotter just north of Idabel along Hwy. 259.
June 2011Thunderstorm WindIdabel-Winds estimated by a storm spotter just north of Idabel.
November 2011Thunderstorm WindIdabel-A trained spotter estimated 70 mph wind gusts in Idabel, Oklahoma.
April 2011Thunderstorm WindIdabel-A tree was downed in Idabel, Oklahoma.
April 2009Thunderstorm WindIdabel-A tree was downed in Idabel at the intersection of 8th and Enid Streets.
April 2009HailIdabel-Hail was reported on the west side of Idabel, Oklahoma.
May 2009HailIdabel-Penny sized hail reported at the courthouse in Idabel, Oklahoma.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindIdabel-Wind speed was measured at the McCurtain County Regional Airport.
October 2009Thunderstorm WindIdabel-Trees were blown down across Hwy. 3 just east of Idabel, Oklahoma.
October 2009Thunderstorm WindIdabel-A tree was blown down a county road just south of Idabel, Oklahoma.
February 2008Thunderstorm WindIdabel-Power lines were downed throughout the county resulting in numerous power outages.
April 2008HailIdabel-Hail fell just west of town.
May 2007Thunderstorm WindIdabel-Numerous trees downed 4 miles west of Valliant, Oklahoma.
May 2006Thunderstorm WindIdabel-Gust measured by the Oklahoma Mesonet and verified by the Quality Assurance Manager for the Oklahoma Mesonet. This wind speed ranks in the top 5 for one of the highest wind gusts ever recorded by an Oklahoma Mesonet site.
June 2005Thunderstorm WindIdabel-High winds caused a boat on a local waterway to be fliped over and capsized near Redland.
June 2005Thunderstorm WindIdabel-Trees were downed in Hollybrook.
May 2003Thunderstorm WindIdabel-Numerous trees down.
March 2002Flash FloodIdabel-County roads under water.
June 2001Thunderstorm WindIdabel-Numerous trees down across power lines.
December 2001Flash FloodIdabel-Hwy 37 flooded and closed. Many Farm to Market roads also closed.
April 2000Tornado (F1)Idabel-Numerous trees were toppled and stripped. No homes or structures were in the path of this tornado.
November 2000Flash FloodIdabel-Numerous roads flooded.
April 1999Thunderstorm WindIdabel-Several large trees down.
May 1999Tornado (F2)Idabel-Numerous trees blown over or snapped. A Pecan orchard was laid to waste. This tornado moved into McCurtain county from Red River county, TX.
June 1999Thunderstorm WindIdabel-Numerous trees and powerlines down.
June 1998Thunderstorm WindIdabel-Power company reported numerous downed trees and power lines.
November 1998Thunderstorm WindIdabel-Several large trees down.
April 1993Thunderstorm WindIdabel-Severe thunderstorms in southeast Oklahoma during the late afternoon and evening hours on the 19th produced hail mostly between quarter and golf ball size with baseball-size hail reported in Halworth. Strong thunderstorm winds downed a tree and ripped a roof off a chicken house 4 miles west of Battiest, produced minor roof damage 6 miles south of Broken Bow, blew a shed down 9 miles southeast of Clayton and downed trees and power lines 4 miles west of Idabel.
April 1993HailIdabel-Severe thunderstorms in southeast Oklahoma during the late afternoon and evening hours on the 19th produced hail mostly between quarter and golf ball size with baseball-size hail reported in Halworth. Strong thunderstorm winds downed a tree and ripped a roof off a chicken house 4 miles west of Battiest, produced minor roof damage 6 miles south of Broken Bow, blew a shed down 9 miles southeast of Clayton and downed trees and power lines 4 miles west of Idabel.
April 2015HailIdabel-no account filed
May 2015HailIdabel-no account filed
May 2012HailIdabel-no account filed
May 2011Funnel CloudIdabel-no account filed
June 2011HailIdabel-no account filed
April 2011HailIdabel-no account filed

Every storm recorded in McCurtain County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Shults4.6 miles11
Holly Creek5.7 miles12
Crossroads6.3 miles12
Kullituklo6.3 miles10
Iron Stob Corner6.4 miles9
Garvin7.4 miles9
Hill Chapel7.5 miles11
Redland8.1 miles11

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on IdabelAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q2106941The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 1101480. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.