Adair, Oklahoma

Dalton Gang train robbery

In the most daring deed of the Dalton Gang up to that date, eight members held up the Missouri-Kansas-Texas train at Adair on July 14, 1892.

As the train neared, four men approached the night operator at the station and ordered him to "flag down" the train. As the train pulled to a stand-still, two members of the gang boarded the engine, while the others covered the conductor and train men. The station operator was taken to the express car, where he ordered the messenger inside to open up. When the messenger refused, the train's fireman was ordered to break open the door with his pick. Once inside, the bandits were quick to rifle the safe of its contents.

The gang did not know that a special detachment of eight railroad guards was on the train, in an effort to prevent such robberies. In command was J. J. Kinney, chief of railroad detectives, and Capt. J. H. LaFlore, chief of the Cherokee Nation police. Realizing the robbery was underway, the guards got off the train opposite the depot, and had a brief gun battle with some of the bandits on that side.

Finished on the train, the bandits made their get-away through the town. Doctors W. L. Goff and Youngblood were sitting on the porch of the drug store near the depot. Both men were hit several times by stray shots; Dr Goff was fatally wounded. Also wounded were captains Kinney and LaFlore, but they recovered.

The railroad and express company offered rewards of $5,000 "for the capture and conviction" for each bandit in the robbery.^[7]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Adair had a population of 732. The median age was 36.0 years; 27.6% of residents were under 18 and 18.4% were 65 or older. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males, and for every 100 females 18 and over, there were 94.9 males 18 and over.^[12][13]

None of the residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.^[14]

Of the 268 households in Adair, 39.9% had children under 18 living in them, 52.2% were married-couple households, 19.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 or older.^[12]

The city had 298 housing units, of which 10.1% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.0%.^[12]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, Adair had a population of 790.^[16] The population density was 180 people per square mile (68/km²). The town's 315 housing units had an average density of 70 per square mile (27/km²).^[16] The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 72.4% white, 0.1% black or African American, 18.9% Native American, 0.6% from some other race, and 8.0% from two or more races; 3.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.^[17]

Of the 272 households, 36.8% had children under 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.8% were not families. About 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.59, and the average family size was 3.06.

In the town, the age distribution was 27.6% under 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

The median income in the town for a household was $35,250 and for a family was $38,500. Males had a median income of $31,313 versus $17,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,388. About 10.5% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.2% of those under 18 and 2.8% of those 65 or over.