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Okemah, Oklahoma

13 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1900 and the latest in 1985. It stands in the Okemah census division. It lies in ZIP code area 74859. The Survey maps it on the Okemah quadrangle. 3,074 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 909 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Okemah within Okfuskee County

On record in Okemah

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 2 records

Surveyed buildings and structures 1 record

Population over time

2 figures

Okemah fell from 3,223 to 3,074 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
20103,223
20203,074-149 (-5%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

6 surveys from 13 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.

Photographs

1 photograph,

Taken for the Office of War Information and the Farm Security Administration, who photographed the country between 1935 and 1944. Works of United States government photographers, with no known restriction on use. Each opens its catalogue record.

Woody Guthrie Birthplace, Okemah, Okfuskee County, OK
Woody Guthrie Birthplace, Okemah, Okfuskee County, OK
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress

Fires near this place

87 since 1996

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 87 fires within 5 miles of Okemah between 1996 and 2020, burning about 7,516 acres in total. 1 started naturally. 24 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
Debris and open burning31
Arson/incendiarism24
Missing data/not specified/undetermined22
Misuse of fire by a minor3
Equipment and vehicle use3
Recreation and ceremony1
Power generation/transmission/distribution1
Natural1
Other causes1

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
24 September 2016Debris and open burning1.2 acresOkmulgee Field OfficeHICKS
7 August 2008Recreation and ceremonyunder an acreOkmulgee Field OfficeSUGAR WATER
7 August 2008Natural4.1 acresOkmulgee Field OfficeLEFT ARMPIT
5 August 2012Equipment and vehicle useunder an acreOkmulgee Field OfficeHARJO
21 August 2010Debris and open burning1.4 acresOkmulgee Field OfficeBROWN
19 August 2010Missing data/not specified/undetermined65 acresOkmulgee Field OfficeRENOLYDS
14 August 2008Debris and open burningunder an acreOkmulgee Field OfficeJULIAN
8 July 2008Debris and open burning1.7 acresOkmulgee Field OfficeBLACK RANGER

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Okfuskee County

Mines and quarries near this place

4 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 4 workings within 5 miles of Okemah: 4 past producers. None of them still produces. What was taken out: Clay, 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
Unknown Sandstone PitStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown Shale PitClayPast Producer
Unknown Shale PitClayPast Producer
Unknown Shale PitClayPast Producer

Every working recorded in Okfuskee County

Storms near this place

60 of 105 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Okemah in 105 storm reports between 1993 and 2026: 48 hail, 42 thunderstorm wind, 6 flash flood, 4 tornado. 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
August 2007Flash FloodOkemah$250,000Heavy rain caused severe flooding in and around Okemah. Six people were evacuated from homes isolated by high water. Four homes had water in them. Water was up to five feet deep on some roads. Approximately fifteen roads had to be closed due to high water. Rural roads were severely damaged.
September 1999HailOkemah$200,000There were several reports of large hail from Okemah to Clearview. Following are individual reports:Time (CDT) Location Size700 PM Okemah .88"707 PM Okemah 1"710 PM 3 E Okemah 2.75"715 PM Okemah 1.75"720 PM Clearview 1"The hail in Okemah broke and cracked windows in several residences, and many vehicles sustained hail damage.
April 2023HailOkemah$150,000Large hail nearly the size of grapefruit damaged homes, businesses, and vehicles.
May 1995Tornado (F0)Okemah$50,000A tornado touched down briefly three miles east southeast of Okemah at 1638CST. This F0 tornado damaged several homes and downed power lines.
July 1997Thunderstorm WindOkemah$50,000no account filed
April 1999Thunderstorm WindOkemah$40,000An 18-wheeler semi-truck was blown over as it was traveling east on I-40 near mile marker 223.
May 2022HailOkemah$35,000Tennis ball size hail damaged homes and vehicles.
May 2025HailOkemah$30,000Ping pong ball size hail damaged homes and vehicles.
March 2020Tornado (EF1)Okemah$30,000This tornado developed south of I-40 and west of the N3760 Road. It moved east-northeast destroying a large outbuilding, damaging a home, and snapping large tree limbs as it crossed S 14th Street. Another outbuilding was destroyed east of S 14th Street, and large tree limbs were snapped as it crossed Highway 27. The tornado appeared to dissipate before crossing the N3780 Road, south of the E1100 Road. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in the tornado was 90 to 100 mph.
October 2011Thunderstorm WindOkemah$25,000Emergency management reported trees and power lines blown down by strong thunderstorm wind in and south of town. Minor structural damage was also done to mobile homes.
September 1999LightningOkemah$25,000A house in Okemah was struck by lightning, igniting the back portion of the house and destroying the back portion of the residence.
March 2023HailOkemah$20,000Ping pong ball size hail damaged vehicles and homes.
May 2020HailOkemah$20,000Golf ball size hail damaged vehicles and homes.
July 2013Thunderstorm WindOkemah$20,000Strong thunderstorm wind blew down several large trees and destroyed a greenhouse.
August 2001LightningOkemah$20,000Lightning struck a house near Okemah. The resulting fire was restricted to the attic of the home, but smoke and water damaged most of the structure.
April 2013HailOkemah$15,000no account filed
April 2003LightningOkemah$10,000Lightning struck the roof of a home west of Okemah. The lightning made a hole in the roof and then traveled through the electrical system of the house where it exited an outlet and started a bed on fire. The fire department was immediately called and the fire did not spread beyond the bedroom.
September 2001Thunderstorm WindOkemah$10,000Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour damaged utility barns, blew down trees and blew down power poles.
May 2008HailOkemah$10,000no account filed
May 2008HailOkemah$10,000no account filed
May 2012Thunderstorm WindOkemah$5,000Strong thunderstorm wind blew trees and power lines.
February 2009Thunderstorm WindOkemah$5,000Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew the roof off a barn.
May 2003Thunderstorm WindOkemah$5,000Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour damaged a few outbuildings and blew down trees.
May 2015HailOkemah$5,000no account filed
June 2004Thunderstorm WindOkemah$3,000Thunderstorm winds estimated in excess of 60 miles an hour blew down power lines and large tree limbs.
May 2001Thunderstorm WindOkemah$3,000Thunderstorm winds blew down large tree limbs and damaged the roof of a house.
April 1996Thunderstorm WindOkemah$2,000no account filed
November 1998Thunderstorm WindOkemah$1,600A large tree limb was blown down in Noble Park. A business sign was folded over.
January 2008Thunderstorm WindOkemah$1,000Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 miles an hour blew down a power pole.
August 2006Thunderstorm WindOkemah$1,000Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 miles an hour blew down large tree limbs and a power pole.
June 2002Thunderstorm WindOkemah$1,000Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 miles an hour damaged the canopy on the north side of a gas station.
May 1999Thunderstorm WindOkemah$200A tree and several tree branches were blown down in Okemah.
March 2001Thunderstorm WindOkemah$100Thunderstorm winds blew down several large tree limbs.
May 2001Thunderstorm WindOkemah$100Thunderstorm winds blew down several large tree limbs.
November 1999Thunderstorm WindOkemah$100A large tree was blown over in Okemah.
November 1998Thunderstorm WindOkemah$100A tree was blown into the intersection of South Second and Birch Streets, blocking traffic.
May 1998Thunderstorm WindOkemah$100Tree knocked down by thunderstorm winds
March 1997Thunderstorm WindOkemah$100no account filed
March 2026Thunderstorm WindOkemah-Strong thunderstorm wind snapped large tree limbs.
April 2024Flash FloodOkemah-Several roads were flooded in and around Okemah.
May 2019Thunderstorm WindOkemah-Strong thunderstorm wind snapped large tree limbs.
May 2017FloodOkemah-Highway 48 was flooded and closed one mile south of I-40 at the Canadian River Bridge.
May 2017Thunderstorm WindOkemah-Strong thunderstorm wind blew down trees in Okemah.
May 2015FloodOkemah-A section of Highway 27 was washed out south of Okemah. Much of Highway 48 was closed throughout Okfuskee County.
May 2015Flash FloodOkemah-Several roads in and around town were flooded and closed. Homes were evacuated due to rapidly rising water.
April 2014Thunderstorm WindOkemah-Strong thunderstorm wind blew down large tree limbs.
June 2013Flash FloodOkemah-Numerous streets were flooded in and around town. Some were closed due to high water.
August 2011Thunderstorm WindOkemah-Strong thunderstorm wind blew down numerous large tree limbs.
May 2010Thunderstorm WindOkemah-Large tree limbs were snapped by strong thunderstorm wind gusts.
May 2008Thunderstorm WindOkemah-Thunderstorm winds estimated to 60 mph blew down large tree limbs.
July 2007Flash FloodOkemah-Heavy rain caused water to flow over Highway 62.
July 2007Thunderstorm WindOkemah-Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew down a pair of large trees.
March 2005Tornado (F0)Okemah-Several storm chasers witnessed a tornado northeast of town. The tornado remained over open country and produced no known damage.
March 2005Tornado (F0)Okemah-Storm chasers observed a second tornado touchdown from the supercell. The tornado remained over open country and produced no known damage.
April 2003Thunderstorm WindOkemah-Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 miles an hour blew down numerous large tree limbs.
June 2002Thunderstorm WindOkemah-Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 miles an hour blew down large tree limbs.
June 2002Flash FloodOkemah-A thunderstorm produced 2.17 inches of rain at Okemah in a short time. This rain rain caused severe street flooding. A few streets on the north side of the city had to be barricaded.
November 1999HailOkemah-Location: near OK Hwy 48 and I-40
May 1998HailOkemah-Hail accumulated to depths of 1 to 2 inches
May 1998HailOkemah-At intersection of SH 48 and I-40

Every storm recorded in Okfuskee 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
Castle5.0 miles13
Clearview6.7 miles13
Morse7.3 miles11
Bearden7.3 miles12
Last Chance7.5 miles11
IXL7.6 miles11
Oriental8.2 miles11
Mason9.6 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 OkemahAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q3032300The 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 1096198. 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.