Based partly on Ghan and Pivec’s observations, the National Center for Health Statistics has revised its estimates on life expectancy and will publish the results “in the next month or so,” a spokesman told the Tulsa World.

Instead of 56.3 years, Stilwell’s life expectancy will jump to approximately 74 years, according to Cherokee Nation officials who have seen the new estimates. That hardly makes the town a “death capital,” but it still ranks lower than the state average of 75.7 years and well behind the national average of 78.8.

“We’re not saying that we don’t see health challenges in Adair County. We do,” Pivec said. “But we see health challenges all across Oklahoma. The focus should be on the whole state and not just one county.”

Life expectancy tracks closely with poverty. And with 1 out of 3 residents classified as “low income,” Stilwell has one of the highest poverty rates in all of rural Oklahoma. But the town never really believed the reports about the extremely low life expectancy, said City Clerk Larry Nettles, who lived there for 38 years and appears to be in good health at age 71.