Outdoor Advertising Billboards for Rent in Durant, OK

Durant is a city in Bryan County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 13,549 at the 2000 census, but in the 2007 estimate, it had risen to 16,161. Durant is the principal city of the Durant Micropolitan Area, which had a population of 39,563 in 2007. The city is also a part of the I-35 Megalopolis. Durant is the county seat of Bryan County.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,549 people, 5,488 households, and 3,309 families residing in the city. The population density was 712.1 people per square mile (274.9/km²). There were 6,082 housing units at an average density of 319.7/sq mi (123.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 78.99% White, 1.54% African American, 12.27% Native American, 0.90% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.57% from other races, and 4.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.56% of the population.

Durant's first census was recorded in 1900, and the population was 2,969. The 2000 census reported Durant's population to be 13,549. In 2005, Durant's population grew to 14,795. The city's population in 2006 was 15,050 and in 2007, it was 16,161.

There were 5,488 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 18.1% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 17.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,328, and the median income for a family was $32,988. Males had a median income of $26,574 versus $19,676 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,849. About 17.2% of families and 22.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.8% of those under age 18 and 17.6% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Roads and Highways

• US 69/US 75 - A north-south four-lane divided highway and freeway. US 69/75 enters Oklahoma as an interstate grade highway from the Dallas area. It then downgrades to a divided four-lane highway just north of Colbert. The highway then enters Durant from the south. After its at-grade intersection with Choctaw Road, it again upgrades to an interstate. US 69/75 goes through western and northern Durant as an interstate highway, and again downgrades at the Bryan-Atoka County line.
• US 70 - An east-west route. Highway 70 enters Durant from the east as a two-lane highway as Mulberry Street, crossing a Union Pacific railroad via a bridge. It then heads southward toward Downtown on First Avenue as a 3-lane, concurrent with SH 78 and Business Routes 69/75. In Downtown it has an intersection with Main Street, then continuing its route westward on West Main Street concurrent with Business Routes 69/75. Just west of Downtown it turns into a three-lane street, and after its intersection with 9th Avenue it converts into a 5-lane street. At Washington Avenue it downgrades to a two-lane again while it travels through West End Heights, a historic and upscale neighborhood. At 21st Avenue it turns into a divided four-lane highway in the Retail District, intersecting with 69/75 via ramps. Highway 70 continues westward toward Mead and Lake Texoma as a 5-lane highway.
• SH 78 - A north-south route. SH 78 enters Durant from the south as Southeast 3rd Avenue and as a two-lane. It comes to and intersection with East Main Street and turns westward toward Downtown continuing its route. At the intersection of Main and First Avenue, the highway turns northward onto First Avenue as a 3-lane street, concurrent with Highway 70 and Business Routes 69/75. It continues northward to University Boulevard and turns into a two-lane highway. Just before its intersection with 69/75 (via ramps), SH 78 turns into a divided four-lane highway for a short time and then turns into a two-lane highway again, exiting the city.

In a 2006 study by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, an average of about 19,100 vehicles pass Durant's Main Street on U.S. 69/75 everyday. Also, approximately 19,000 vehicles pass under 69/75 on Main Street daily.

The major streets are: First Avenue, Southeast 3rd Avenue, South 9th Avenue, Washington Avenue, Radio Road, University Place, 49th Avenue, Choctaw Road, Rodeo Road, West Main Street, East Main Street, University Boulevard, Chuckwa Street, Gail Farrell Drive, and Mockingbird Lane.

There are four exits in Durant from U.S. 69/75 which are at First Avenue, Washington Avenue, University/Chuckwa (the exit off of northbound 69/75 is the only one complete), and Main Street. There are also traffic lights at the intersection of U.S. 69/75 and Choctaw Road south of Durant, where the Choctaw Casino Bingo and Resort is located.

Air

Eaker Field, the city's airport, and home to Southeastern Oklahoma State University's Aviation Sciences Institute, was a U.S. Navy auxiliary airfield during World War II. It is named after U.S. Army Air Force General Ira C. Eaker, early commander of the legendary Eighth Air Force in wartime England, who graduated from the university (then known as Southeastern State Teacher's College) in 1917.

The closest international airports to Durant are Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, and Tulsa International Airport.

Rail

Durant is also a major railroad center. Union Pacific Railroad and Kiamichi Railroad intersect in Downtown, with Union Pacific being the busier railway.