Copan, Oklahoma

Copan is in Washington County, within a few miles of the Kansas state line. Copan’s population was 733 at the 2010 census, a decrease of 33 people since 2000.

Racial makeup of Copan is 81.5% white and 13.07% Native American. About 6.8% of families and 12% of the total population is below the official Federal poverty income level.

Washington County is the smallest county in Oklahoma. It is short and thin. The 2010 population was 50,976. Wikipedia says the Civil War “caused most of the inhabitants to move away …”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_County,_Oklahoma

Although no accepted major battles were fought in what is now Oklahoma, there were battles of Confederate tribes vs. Union tribes. Forces in those battles were more diverse than in forces farther east, involving Indians, blacks and whites on both sides.

“Archaeologists have identified sixteen Archaic (6000 B.C. to A.D. 1), twenty-three Woodland (A.D. 1 to 1000), and eight Plains Village (A.D. 1000 to 1500) sites in the county. Mounds similar to those of the Mississippian Culture are located in northern Washington County and date from circa A.D. 960. Various Caddoan-speaking peoples inhabited the region to about 1760 when the Osage of Missouri displaced them. Spain, France, and England claimed Oklahoma before the United States acquired the region in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803.”

http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=WA034

“Displaced” in the above article means the Osage invaded the area and ran the Caddeon-speakers farther south. Modern historians sometimes do not admit Indian tribes warred against each other. Only invading Europeans are allowed war-like qualities.

“Copan was devastated by fire in 1906, 1911, and 1912. Its population increased from 305 in 1907 to 521 in 1930, 549 in 1940, and 675 in 1970, reaching a high of 960 in 1980. The town had 796 residents in 2000 and 733 in 2010. Because of nearby Hulah and Copan lakes, Copan's present economy is based upon tourism and recreation. Impounded in 1951, Hulah Lake attracted new residents to Copan, many of whom constructed homes. The 1983 completion of Copan Lake brought renewed community growth, including a new post office and improved water and sewer lines.”

http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CO057