Poteau: Demographics & People
About 8,959 people live in Poteau, in 3,286 households. Population grew 0.6% from 8,903 (2022) to 8,959 (2024). Median age 36.0 years. (2.7y younger than Le Flore County; 0.8y older than Oklahoma). Children under 18 are 27% of the population. Population is 65% White (non-Hispanic) and 15% Hispanic or Latino. The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.32). 61% of households are family-led. County is gaining 743 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 43% adult obesity, 23% smoke.
- 2.7 people per household (vs Oklahoma avg 2.6).
- 39% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Oklahoma 39%).
- 77 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Oklahoma 67).
Population & Trend
Population grew 0.6% from 8,903 (2022) to 8,959 (2024) — close to the U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~9,015 (extrapolated at 0.3%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 9,091.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 48,129 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 0.6% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 8,903 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 8,959 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 8,959 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
| Population Estimate | 9,091 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 36.0y is 2.9 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 27% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 36.0 years (vs Oklahoma 35.2y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 27.3% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 8,959 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 2,450 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 1,821.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 3,237.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 1,451 |
| Population under 18 | 2,450 |
| Median age | 36.0 years (vs Oklahoma 35.2y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 8,959 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.32 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.
| White residents | 6,311 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 133 |
| Asian residents | 30 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 1,354 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 32.0% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | somewhat diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 80.6% |
| Asian population | 1.1% (vs Oklahoma 3.2%) |
| Black population | 1.3% (vs Oklahoma 5.5%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 15.2% (vs Oklahoma 12.3%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 65.3% (vs Oklahoma 57.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.7% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 8% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 3,886 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 4,294 |
| Share born in this state | 43.4% |
| Share born in another state | 56.6% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 47.9% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.7% |
| Naturalized citizens | 8.0% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 821 |
| From Europe | 10 |
| From Africa | 29 |
Households & Family Composition
3,286 households. Averaging 2.7 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 61% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 1,992 families, 29% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 2,411 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 1,992 |
| Married couples with children | 583 |
| Single-parent households | 186 |
| Average household size | 2.70 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 18.3% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 298 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 49 |
| Family households | 2,010 households (vs Oklahoma 16,590) |
| Households that are families | 61.2% (at Oklahoma median) |
| Total households | 3,286 households (vs Oklahoma 23,671) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 14.3% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 743 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 14.3% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 40,268 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 39,525 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 743 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 961 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 11.2% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 472 residents live in group quarters (5.3% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 472 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 2 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 40079 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 40 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 079 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Le Flore |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 36.7% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 32.40 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 41.50 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 40079 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Le Flore County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Medium metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,565 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 40079 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Le Flore County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 48.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 41.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 41.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 49,853 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 5.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 5 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 5 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 27.3% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 8,959, stable, family-oriented, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 8,959 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
| Town Summary · County | Le Flore County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade