Calvin

History

The present community of Calvin was established in 1895, when the Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad ("CO&G") laid a line through the Choctaw Nation between McAlester (then in Indian Territory) and Oklahoma City (then in Oklahoma Territory). The community was initially called "Riverview", for its location on the south bank of the Canadian River. The Riverview post office was established on March 21, 1895, with John Wilbur as postmaster. The town and post office names were changed to Calvin in June of 1895, to honor the Choctaw landowner Calvin Perry. The Choctaw Nation Town Site Commission surveyed Calvin's site and divided it into 350 lots, which were then put up for sale. About 1904, a fire destroyed several business buildings and the Masonic Lodge on Canadian Street (the main street in downtown Calvin). These losses were soon replaced with new all-brick buildings. In 1905, the population was reportedly about 300. From then until the Great Depression, Calvin served as a busy trade center for the area's produce. In 1906 J. W. Hundley established a store and in 1907 erected a building, the largest mercantile establishment in Hughes County. A ferry operating across the Canadian River gave access to Calvin's cotton market and railroad connections. The Missouri, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway ("MO&G") constructed a line through the area, reaching Calvin in 1909. By that time the growing town offered the surrounding agricultural community a choice of four cotton gins, eight general stores, two hotels, and numerous other businesses typical of the era.

Geography

Calvin is located in south-central Hughes County on the south side of the Canadian River. U.S. Route 75 passes just east of the town limits, leading north to Wetumka and south to Coalgate. U.S. Route 270 comes in with US 75 from the north but turns east at Calvin and leads to McAlester. Oklahoma State Highway 1 runs through the center of Calvin, leading east with US 270 to McAlester and west to Ada. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Calvin has a total area of , all land.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• MOSS ES
  Elementary · Holdenville · 179 students · 12.8:1 ratio
• CALVIN ES
  Elementary · Calvin · 143 students · 11.9:1 ratio
• STUART ES
  Elementary · Stuart · 130 students · 10.8:1 ratio
• MOSS HS
  High · Holdenville · 77 students · 15.4:1 ratio
• STUART HS
  High · Stuart · 75 students · 12.5:1 ratio
• CALVIN HS
  High · Calvin · 48 students · 16:1 ratio