Roland, Oklahoma

Roland, Oklahoma
Location of Roland, Oklahoma
Location of Roland, Oklahoma
Coordinates: 35°24′53″N 94°30′49″W / 35.41472°N 94.51361°W / 35.41472; -94.51361
CountryUnited States
StateOklahoma
CountySequoyah
Area
 • Total
3.03 sq mi (7.84 km2)
 • Land3.00 sq mi (7.76 km2)
 • Water0.027 sq mi (0.07 km2)
Elevation466 ft (142 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
3,316
 • Density1,106.3/sq mi (427.14/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
74954
Area codes539/918
FIPS code40-63800[3]
GNIS feature ID2412571[2]
Websitewww.rolandschools.org

Roland is a town in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area and the second most populated place in Sequoyah County.

The population was 3,316 at the 2020 census, slightly higher than the 3,169 recorded in the 2010 census and the 2,842 recorded in the 2000 census.

History

This area was a dispersed rural community in the Cherokee Nation during the 19th century, until 1888, when the Kansas and Arkansas Valley Railway (KAVR) built a railroad line through it.[a]

Meanwhile, the formerly-dispersed residents coalesced into a small town called either Garrison or Garrison Creek. A post office was established in the town in 1902, and the town renamed itself as Roland in 1904. The 1910 census recorded 228 residents.[4]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2), of which 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) (0.75%)is water. Roland is 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Muldrow and 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Fort Smith.[4]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1910228
192027118.9%
1930212−21.8%
194031146.7%
195044342.4%
1960100−77.4%
1970827727.0%
19801,47278.0%
19902,48168.5%
20002,84214.6%
20103,16911.5%
20203,3164.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Roland had a population of 3,316. The median age was 34.4 years. 27.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 88.2 males age 18 and over.[6][7]

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[8]

There were 1,292 households in Roland, of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 40.8% were married-couple households, 20.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[6]

There were 1,402 housing units, of which 7.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.8%.[6]

Racial composition as of the 2020 census[7]
Race Number Percent
White 1,978 59.7%
Black or African American 152 4.6%
American Indian and Alaska Native 544 16.4%
Asian 24 0.7%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 1 0.0%
Some other race 74 2.2%
Two or more races 543 16.4%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 156 4.7%

2000 census

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 2,842 people, 1,055 households, and 815 families in the town. The population density was 1,075.6 inhabitants per square mile (415.3/km2).

There were 1,055 households, out of which 41.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% were married couples living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 19.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 31.5% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $29,015, and the median income for a family was $32,863. Males had a median income of $26,294 versus $19,779 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,410. About 16.9% of families and 20.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.9% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over.

Notable person

Joshua Wheeler (1975-2015); American soldier killed in Iraq in 2015, born in Roland.

See also

  • Cherokee Casino Roland

Notes

  1. ^ The KAVR railroad line was soon leased by the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway (also known as (StLIM&S or Iron Mountain Railway). StLIM&S merged into the Missouri Pacific Railroad in 1927, which merged into the Union Pacific Railroad in 1982.[4]

References

  1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Roland, Oklahoma
  3. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ a b c Larry O'Dell, "Roland," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Accessed March 18, 2015.
  5. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  6. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  7. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  8. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2026.