62-521: Custer City is a town in Custer County , Oklahoma , United States. Custer City is northeast of Clinton and northwest of Weatherford along Oklahoma 33 . The population was 367 at the time of the 2020 census . Custer City was originally known as Graves, and a post office was established there on January 22, 1894. The post office changed its name to Custer City on September 28, 1904, in honor of Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer . According to
124-541: A Catholic grade school for black children, St. John the Baptist School; it closed in 1968. The Southwest Times Record is the largest newspaper in the city, as well as the region. It is owned by Gannett . The Hispanos Unidos is the only Spanish-language publication in the region. Other publications in the Fort Smith area include Entertainment Fort Smith and Do South Magazine . AM radio Stations in
186-564: A cost of $ 210,000. While Lt. Edward Fitzgerald Beale was moving through the future county his crew built 7 wooden bridges across major creeks to make it easier for travelers to move over the hilly country. This road became the first federally funded interstate highway to be constructed in the American Southwest . It is the Grandmother of federal roads, with Route 66 being one of its children. The best source for this information
248-795: A four-year institution. In 2001, the Sebastian County electorate voted to support the merger. A formal request to change affiliation status to that of a bachelor's degree-granting institution under the name of the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith was submitted to the Higher Learning Commission in August 2001 and approved by the Institutional Actions Council on November 19, 2001. The merger, which became official on January 1, 2002, endorsed
310-411: A household in the county was $ 28,524, and the median income for a family was $ 37,247. Males had a median income of $ 27,066 versus $ 19,479 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 15,584. About 12.40% of families and 18.50% of the population were below the poverty line , including 21.00% of those under age 18 and 10.50% of those age 65 or over. School districts (all K-12) include: There
372-403: A household in the town was $ 30,500, and the median income for a family was $ 39,000. Males had a median income of $ 33,571 versus $ 13,409 for females. The per capita income for the town was $ 15,165. About 18.4% of families and 27.1% of the population were below the poverty line , including 54.8% of those under age 18 and 14.1% of those age 65 or over. Custer City has three NRHP-listed sites: It
434-534: A large tornado, part of the April 1996 tornado outbreak sequence , destroyed and heavily damaged much of historic downtown Fort Smith around the Garrison Avenue Bridge. The storm tracked from eastern Pittsburg County, Oklahoma into Fort Smith and Van Buren, Arkansas. The tornado left four people dead in western Arkansas. Days later, the damaged Eads Brothers Furniture building in downtown Fort Smith
496-516: Is found in the report written by Lt. Beale in 1860 and entitled "Wagon Road Fort Smith To The Colorado River " published by the U.S Congress . This report can be read in an article written in the Chronicles Of Oklahoma in 1934 with the same title. Before Custer County became a county four major expeditions were conducted through the area. The first was Josiah Gregg's route from Santa Fe, New Mexico to Fort Smith, Arkansas during
558-502: Is home to several corporations, including ABB Motors & Mechanical , ArcBest and poultry company OK Foods . According to the city's 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are: Various television programs and movies have been filmed in Fort Smith, including The Blue and The Gray (1982), A Soldier's Story (1984), Biloxi Blues (1988) Trespass and Tuskegee Airmen (1995) There are multiple museums in Fort Smith, located primarily in
620-537: Is in the Thomas-Fay-Custer Unified Schools school district. Previously Custer City had its own school district. In 1989, the district's enrollment was 200. Custer County, Oklahoma Custer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma . As of the 2020 census , the population was 28,513. Its county seat is Arapaho . The county was named in honor of General George Armstrong Custer . Custer County comprises
682-497: Is part of the University of Arkansas System . The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith was founded in 1928 as an extension of the Fort Smith Public School system, with the superintendent, James William Ramsey, acting as the college president and the high school principal as dean. Known originally as Fort Smith Junior College , the institution operated within the Fort Smith public school system until 1950, when
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#1732794131467744-682: Is the third-most populous city in Arkansas , United States, and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County . As of the 2020 census , the population was 89,142. It is the principal city of the Fort Smith, Arkansas–Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area , a region of 298,592 residents that encompasses the Arkansas counties of Crawford , Franklin , and Sebastian, and the Oklahoma counties of LeFlore and Sequoyah . Fort Smith lies on
806-491: Is the main shopping destination of Western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma. Central Mall is the state's largest indoor shopping center in terms of area. Some notable shopping locations in the city of Fort Smith are: In addition to sports teams sponsored by Fort Smith Public Schools and University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, Fort Smith has several independent recreational sports programs and annual tournaments administered by local organizations: The city has one major university that
868-545: The Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (ARCOM), a private, non-profit institution, welcomed its inaugural class in August 2017. Graduates of ARCOM receive a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. The public schools in the majority of Fort Smith, as well as a section of Barling , are operated by the Fort Smith School District . Currently, the district includes 26 schools. During
930-618: The Arkansas River for a fort. General Smith never visited the town or the forts that bore his name. A stockade was built and occupied from 1817 until 1822 by a small troop of regulars commanded by Major William Bradford . A small settlement began forming around the fort, but the Army abandoned the first Fort Smith in 1824 and moved 80 miles further west to Fort Gibson . John Rogers, an Army sutler and land speculator, bought up former government-owned lands at this site and promoted growth of
992-776: The Butterfield Overland Mail 's 7th Division route across Indian Territory from Fort Smith to Texas and as a junction with the mail route from Memphis, Tennessee , an important port on the east side of the Mississippi River. For roughly a year of the American Civil War , the fort was occupied by the Confederate States Army . Union troops under General Frederick Steele took control of Fort Smith on September 1, 1863 . A small fight occurred there on July 31, 1864, but
1054-547: The Union Army maintained command in the area until the war ended in 1865. As a result, many refugee slaves, orphans, Southern Unionists , and others came here to escape the guerrilla warfare raging in Arkansas, Missouri, and the border states . The slaves were freed under the Emancipation Proclamation of January 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln . Federal troops abandoned the post of Fort Smith for
1116-484: The United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km), all land. As of the census of 2000, there were 393 people, 169 households, and 110 families residing in the town. The population density was 653.2 inhabitants per square mile (252.2/km). There were 206 housing units at an average density of 342.4 per square mile (132.2/km). The racial makeup of the town
1178-605: The 2019–2020 school year, the district had an enrollment of more than 14,748 students. It has 2 high schools, 4 middle schools, 19 elementary schools, and 1 alternative learning center. Fort Smith public schools provide education from kindergarten through the 12th grade, as do some private Protestant schools. Catholic parochial schools offer education through the ninth grade. Middle Schools in Fort Smith include Chaffin Middle School, Ramsey Middle School, Kimmons Middle School, and Darby Middle School. Private schools covering
1240-490: The Arkansas–Oklahoma state border, situated at the confluence of the Arkansas and Poteau rivers, also known as Belle Point . Fort Smith was established as a western frontier military post in 1817, when it was also a center of fur trading. The city developed there. It became well known as a base for migrants' settling of the " Wild West " and for its law enforcement heritage, as it was the hub for white law enforcement of
1302-576: The Beale Road. In 1868 Custer's troops followed a portion to the road in the Clinton area while following down the Washita River to Fort Cobb . During the reservation years Parties of Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians used Beale's Route while passing through their lands. In 1892 When this county was opened to American settlers, The Beale Wagon Road served as the main road for those farmers who used
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#17327941314671364-644: The Civil War interrupted traffic flow, which forced people to use the Santa Fe Trail through Kansas . After the war traffic flow was slow but picked up during the late 1860s. During the summer of 1866 a large regiment of U.S troops passed through the county including African American troops, known as the Buffalo Soldiers . They lost their commanding officer while he was on a hunting trip. He eventually found his way back to Fort Smith by following
1426-554: The Fort Smith district. At that time, the Fort Smith district not only held the responsibility for law in Western Arkansas, but also the Indian Territory. Judge Parker served as U.S. District Judge 1875–1896. He was nicknamed the "Hanging Judge": in his first term after assuming his post, he tried 18 people for murder, convicted 15 of them, and sentenced eight of those to die. Six of these men were later hanged on
1488-740: The Weatherford, Oklahoma, Micropolitan Statistical Area . Custer County was formed on 1891 as an original county from former Cheyenne land, and called G County. On November 6, 1896, it was renamed Custer County after General George Armstrong Custer , who had fought the Southern Cheyenne Indians at the Battle of the Washita 20 miles west in Roger Mills County . The county was settled by American settlers during
1550-503: The adjacent Indian Territory. The city government is led by Mayor George McGill (D), who in 2018 was elected as the city's mayor (the first African American in its history), and a city Board of Directors composed of three members elected at-large and four members elected by ward. The United States acquired the territory and large areas west of the Mississippi River from France in the Louisiana Purchase (1803). Soon after,
1612-421: The age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.03. In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.4% under
1674-460: The age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 32,157, and the median income for a family was $ 41,012. Males had a median income of $ 29,799 versus $ 22,276 for females. The per capita income for
1736-639: The base. They used troops to forcibly relocate the Choctaw and Cherokee , from their ancestral homelands in the Southeast; they were the last of the tribes to leave. Remnants of the Five Civilized Tribes remained in the southeast, and some of their descendants have reorganized and been federally recognized. The Cherokee called the forced migration the Trail of Tears , as some of their people and
1798-401: The central United States. The city has been struck by three major tornadoes , which occurred in the years of 1898 , 1927 and 1996 . As of the 2020 United States census , there were 89,142 people, 36,210 households, and 22,349 families residing in the city. As of the 2010 census , there were 86,209 people, 34,352 households, and 21,367 families residing in the city. The population density
1860-482: The city was $ 18,994. About 12.1% of families and 15.8% of the population were below the poverty line , including 22.2% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over. Fort Smith has long been a regional manufacturing center, with major plants located in the city operated by Rheem , Trane, Georgia-Pacific , Gerber, Kraft Heinz Company-Planters Peanuts, Mars Petcare, Umarex USA, Graphic Packaging, International Paper, Pernod Ricard-USA, and many others. Fort Smith
1922-468: The concept of UA-Fort Smith as a unique university, one that offers applied and traditional baccalaureate degree programs, one- and two-year associate and technical programs, and noncredit business and industry training programs. While the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith is the city's only state supported institution of higher learning. In addition to the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith (UAFS),
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1984-410: The county. The population density was 26 people per square mile (10 people/km ). There were 11,675 housing units at an average density of 12 units per square mile (4.6/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 81.41% White , 2.87% Black or African American , 5.81% Native American , 0.88% Asian , 0.04% Pacific Islander , 5.80% from other races , and 3.20% from two or more races. 9.03% of
2046-623: The downtown area and the Chaffee Crossing Historic District. Fort Smith has an active music scene. There are frequent live performances in the downtown area by local and national Jazz, Blues, Country, Americana and Rock bands. Local bands regularly frequent the riverfront area highlighting the river valley's finest. As the third largest city in western Arkansas, Fort Smith offers many activities and attractions. Fort Smith's theater and event venues regularly host major concerts and touring theater companies. Fort Smith
2108-568: The government sent the Pike Expedition (1806) to explore the areas along the Arkansas River . The U.S. founded Fort Smith in 1817 as a military post. It was named after General Thomas Adams Smith (1781–1844), who commanded the United States Army Rifle Regiment in 1817, headquartered near St. Louis. General Smith had ordered Army topographical engineer Stephen H. Long (1784–1864) to find a suitable site on
2170-449: The high stays at or below freezing on 3.8 days, reaches 90 °F (32 °C) on 77.8 days, and 100 °F (38 °C) on 11.1 days annually. The average first and last occurrences for freezing temperatures are November 6 and March 25, respectively. Extreme temperatures range from −15 °F (−26 °C) on February 12, 1899 to 115 °F (46 °C) on August 3, 2011. Fort Smith is situated near an area known as Tornado Alley in
2232-539: The larger area to be served and reflecting the more comprehensive mission. The name of the college was changed yet again in February 1998 to Westark College , more accurately portraying the role and scope of the institution. On December 15, 2000, the Board of Trustees of Westark College entered into an agreement with the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas to merge with the University of Arkansas System as
2294-529: The last time in 1871. The town continued to thrive despite the absence of federal troops. Two of Fort Smith's most notable historic figures were Judge Isaac C. Parker and William Henry Harrison Clayton, also known as W. H. H. Clayton . In 1874, William Clayton was appointed United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas by President Ulysses S. Grant . Fort Smith was a bustling community full of brothels, saloons, and outlaws, just across
2356-469: The many deep creeks they encountered on the route. In 1853 the first railroad survey was conducted from Fort Smith, Arkansas to Los Angeles, California. This survey was directed by Lt. Amiel Weeks Whipple, and financed by Congress. Whipple's survey party entered Custer County in its southeast corner. Whipple followed almost the same path as the 49ers had, recommending bridges be built over the streams in question. Five years later, in 1858, Lt. Edward F. Beale
2418-611: The new civilian town of Fort Smith. Due to the strategic location of this site, the federal government re-established a military presence at Fort Smith during the Indian removal era of the 1830s, primarily of tribes from the American Southeast to west of the Mississippi River in Indian Territory , which is present-day Oklahoma. In 1838, the Army moved back into the old military post near Belle Point, and expanded
2480-415: The people who were enslaved died from starvation, hypothermia, exhaustion and many illnesses along the way. The army enforced the removal of these tribes to the reserved Indian Territory, where the federal government set aside land that was less fertile while imposing detentes between distinct nations. Many displaced people stopped walking and settled in Fort Smith and adjoining Van Buren on the other side of
2542-426: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. By 2020, its population grew to 28,513. There were 10,136 households, out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.60% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.10% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.80% had someone living alone who
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2604-677: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race (11.6% Mexican, 2.2% Salvadoran, 0.4% Guatemalan, 0.3% Puerto Rican, 0.2% Honduran, 0.1% Cuban, 0.1% Peruvian, 0.1% Colombian). In language, Fort Smith has more than ten Asian languages spoken by more than two percent of the population. Also, the increase in immigration from Latin American countries in the late 20th century increased the number of residents who speak Spanish. 7.10% reported speaking Spanish at home, while 3.38% speak Vietnamese and Lao , and 2.50% speak Tagalog . In 2000, there were 32,398 households, of which 30.8% had children under
2666-426: The river from Indian Territory. William Clayton realized a strong judge would be necessary to bring law and order to the region. He knew that Parker was a strong judge. But Parker had been appointed Chief Justice of Utah Territory and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. With the help of President Grant and U.S. Senator Powell Clayton , former governor of Arkansas, William Clayton was able to gain the appointment of Parker in
2728-652: The river. The U.S. Army also used Fort Smith as a base during the Mexican–American War (1846-1848). As a result, the U.S. acquired large territories in the Southwest, and later annexed the Republic of Texas, which had been independent from 1836-1846. Sebastian County was formed in 1851, separated from Crawford County north of the Arkansas River. In 1858, Fort Smith was designated as a Division Center of
2790-458: The road to travel to towns which were on or close to the road. The road lost its identity when section line county roads were established. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 1,002 square miles (2,600 km ), of which 989 square miles (2,560 km ) is land and 13 square miles (34 km ) (1.3%) is water. As of the census of 2000, there were 26,142 people, 10,136 households, and 6,578 families residing in
2852-490: The same day. Over the course of his career in Fort Smith, Parker sentenced 160 people to death. Of those, 79 were executed on the gallows. His courthouse is now marked as a National Historic Site , where "more men were put to death by the U.S. Government... than in any other place in American history." Parker was assisted in his law enforcement efforts by famed African-American marshal Bass Reeves . William Clayton served as U.S. Attorney under four different presidents and later
2914-408: The same grade range include Trinity Catholic School, Union Christian Academy, and Northside Christian Academy. High schools in Fort Smith include the public Northside High School and Southside High School , along with the private Union Christian Academy and Northside Christian Academy. Some portions of Fort Smith in the south are zoned to Greenwood School District . Fort Smith previously had
2976-415: The school was incorporated as a private, nonprofit institution with its own governing board. In September 1952, the college moved from borrowed facilities in the high school to its current site, initially occupying 15 acres (6.07 ha ). In 1966, the institution's name was changed from Fort Smith Junior College to Westark Junior College and in 1972, it was renamed Westark Community College , indicating
3038-644: The third official land run of April 19, 1892. On this day the first newspaper of the county appeared, the Arapaho Arrow. Before Custer County became a county two major expeditions were conducted through the area. The first was the Whipple Railroad Expedition surveyed during the year 1853 and was then followed by the construction of Beale's Wagon Road in 1858. Both of these expedition were federally funded. The Beale Wagon Road went from Fort Smith, Arkansas to Los Angeles, California at
3100-418: The years 1839–1840. This route became known as the Fort Smith to Santa Fe Trail and entered the county a few miles northeast of Hydro, Oklahoma . From there it moved northward past the mounds near Thomas, Oklahoma . Once past the mounds the road went more northwest and left the county north of the headwaters of Deer Creek. During the year 1849 thousands of gold seekers passed through the county. One such group
3162-452: The years 1859–1860. When Beale's construction crew entered the southeast corner of Custer County, they followed the same route the 49ers had in 1849. When he came to creeks that needed bridging, temporary wooden bridges were constructed across 7 creeks before leaving the county. These bridges were supposed to be replaced by Iron bridges, however Congress did not allocate enough money to have this come to pass. Total construction time for this road
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#17327941314673224-479: Was 1,391.2 inhabitants per square mile (537.1/km ). There were 37,899 housing units at an average density of 612.3 per square mile (236.4/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 69.3% White , 9.0% Black or African American , 1.8% Native American , 5.3% Asian (2.2% Vietnamese, 1.7% Laotian, 0.3% Asian Indian, 0.2% Filipino, 0.1% Korean, 0.1% Chinese, 0.1% Hmong, 0.1% Pakistani), 0.1% Pacific Islander , 10.3% from other races, and 4.2% from two or more races . 16.5% of
3286-815: Was 1857-1860 and the Federal U.S. Government spent $ 210,000.00 to build this road from Fort Smith, Arkansas to Los Angeles, California. Thus making this road the first federally funded interstate highway to be built in the Southwest some 66 years before the famed Route 66 highway began in 1926. So if historians have named Route 66 the Mother Road, then the Beale Wagon Road must be the Grandmother Road and Route 66 one of its children. The Beale Wagon Road saw little use in Custer County because
3348-450: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.93. In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.4 males. The median income for
3410-458: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.05. In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.30% under the age of 18, 17.40% from 18 to 24, 24.50% from 25 to 44, 20.10% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 94.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.00 males. The median income for
3472-490: Was 94.66% White , 3.56% Native American , 0.51% from other races , and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.53% of the population. There were 169 households, out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.0% had someone living alone who
3534-610: Was admitted to the Union in 1907. Governor Frantz and Judge Clayton both lost their territorial positions when Oklahoma became a state; a new governor was elected and the Roosevelt administration appointed a new judge. During investment in the military prior to World War II, the Army returned to Fort Smith in 1941. It established the Fort Chaffee Military Reservation east of the city. On April 21, 1996,
3596-537: Was appointed as Chief Justice of Indian Territory. He was instrumental in achieving statehood for Oklahoma in 1907, after Native American claims were extinguished by distribution of communal lands under the Dawes Act and the breakup of tribal governments. Together with Territorial Governor Frank Frantz , Clayton took a copy of the Oklahoma Constitution to President Theodore Roosevelt after the state
3658-615: Was destroyed by one of the largest fires in the city's history. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 64.6 square miles (167 km ), of which 61.7 square miles (160 km ) is land and 3.9 square miles (10 km ) (6.3%) is water. Fort Smith has a humid subtropical climate with generally mild winters and hot, humid summers. The monthly mean temperature ranges from 40.4 °F (4.7 °C) in January to 83.1 °F (28.4 °C) in July; on average,
3720-526: Was instructed by the U.S Secretary of War, John B. Floyd to improve an already existing road system from Fort Smith, Arkansas to Albuquerque, New Mexico . The purpose was to create one major road to follow than the many routes that were being used. Beale was also instructed to locate bridge sites where Iron bridges would be built to ease the problem of creek and river crossings. As a result, 6 Iron bridges were constructed in Eastern Oklahoma during
3782-624: Was made up of 1,500 individuals and escorted by Captain Randolph B. Marcy . When this company entered future Custer County, southeast of Weatherford, Oklahoma , Marcy and the military escort traveled northward to join the Fort Smith Santa Fe Trail. The gold seekers blazed a new trail northwestward towards the Antelope Hills located in modern Roger Mills, County. Their major complaint was the difficulty they had crossing
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#17327941314673844-444: Was previously a Butler school district. In 2008, the district administration was seeking a merger with Arapaho school district. In 1989 Thomas and Custer City had separate school districts. That year, several Custer County districts were considering merging and/or establishing joint high schools. 35°38′N 99°01′W / 35.64°N 99.01°W / 35.64; -99.01 Fort Smith, Arkansas Fort Smith
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