Kaw City, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Kaw City is a city in Kay County
, Oklahoma
, United States
. The population was 372 at the 2000 census
. Kaw City was named for the Kanza Indians
, called the Kaw by locals.
. Though the original townsite is now inundated by the waters of Kaw Lake
, the old town was quite a busy place.
After its founding, it became a booming oil town when 'black gold' was discovered in nearby Kay County and the present Osage Nation
reservation. It even had a very popular four-story hotel filled with one of the world's rarest art collections.
The majority of the town was overcome by a (weather related) flood in 1923, and then devastated again by the Great Depression
.
In the late 1960s, the Army Corps of Engineers constructed Kaw Dam
on the Arkansas River
just south of the original Kaw City site. It then went underwater permanently in 1976, when the gates of the Kaw Dam closed and turned that particular area of the Arkansas River into Kaw Lake.
The Kaw City Cemetery (all headstones and the majority of the caskets) were also moved and given a separate section within Ponca City's IOOF cemetery, west of Conoco just south of Highway 60. The Kaw Indian cemetery located across the Arkansas river in Washunga
was moved to Newkirk, Oklahoma
.
The museum's contents are now housed in the old Santa Fe Railroad Depot.
Kaw City remains near Kaw Lake
and tourism is the major industry. There are several restaurants, a hotel and a marina.
The town has many retirees and part time residents who take advantage of the recreational opportunities and the appealing natural landscape
.
, the city has a total area of 5.5 square miles (14.2 km²), of which, 2.7 square miles (7 km²) of it is land and 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²) of it (51.26%) is water.
of 2000, there were 372 people, 159 households, and 109 families residing in the city. The population density
was 137.9 people per square mile (53.2/km²). There were 210 housing units at an average density of 77.8 per square mile (30.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.96% White, 0.27% African American, 20.16% Native American, 0.54% from other races
, and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.23% of the population.
There were 159 households out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples
living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 74.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,146, and the median income for a family was $31,042. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $17,917 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,091. About 9.3% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 21.9% of those age 65 or over.
is located in Kaw City.
Kay County, Oklahoma
Kay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 48,080. Its county seat is Newkirk. The largest city in Kay County is Ponca City.-19th century:...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 372 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. Kaw City was named for the Kanza Indians
Kaw (tribe)
The Kaw Nation are an American Indian people of the central Midwestern United States. The tribe known as Kaw have also been known as the "People of the South wind", "People of water", Kansa, Kaza, Kosa, and Kasa. Their tribal language is Kansa, classified as a Siouan language.The toponym "Kansas"...
, called the Kaw by locals.
History
In 1902, the original Kaw City was founded, prior to Oklahoma statehood, as a farming community in the fertile oxbow bend of the Arkansas RiverArkansas River
The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's initial basin starts in the Western United States in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas...
. Though the original townsite is now inundated by the waters of Kaw Lake
Kaw Lake
Kaw Lake is a reservoir completed in 1976 in the northern reaches of the U.S. state of Oklahoma, near Kaw City.Kaw Dam is long and above the stream bed. the dam lies above the mouth of the Arkansas River. The top of the flood control pool is , while the normal operating level is 1,010 feet.The...
, the old town was quite a busy place.
After its founding, it became a booming oil town when 'black gold' was discovered in nearby Kay County and the present Osage Nation
Osage Nation
The Osage Nation is a Native American Siouan-language tribe in the United States that originated in the Ohio River valley in present-day Kentucky. After years of war with invading Iroquois, the Osage migrated west of the Mississippi River to their historic lands in present-day Arkansas, Missouri,...
reservation. It even had a very popular four-story hotel filled with one of the world's rarest art collections.
The majority of the town was overcome by a (weather related) flood in 1923, and then devastated again by the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
.
In the late 1960s, the Army Corps of Engineers constructed Kaw Dam
Kaw Lake
Kaw Lake is a reservoir completed in 1976 in the northern reaches of the U.S. state of Oklahoma, near Kaw City.Kaw Dam is long and above the stream bed. the dam lies above the mouth of the Arkansas River. The top of the flood control pool is , while the normal operating level is 1,010 feet.The...
on the Arkansas River
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's initial basin starts in the Western United States in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas...
just south of the original Kaw City site. It then went underwater permanently in 1976, when the gates of the Kaw Dam closed and turned that particular area of the Arkansas River into Kaw Lake.
Present day
Many buildings in Kaw City, including the original Kaw City Museum, were moved to the town's present location, on high ground near the lake. When the water in the lake is exceptionally low, some of the roofs of the old structures can still be seen just above the water.The Kaw City Cemetery (all headstones and the majority of the caskets) were also moved and given a separate section within Ponca City's IOOF cemetery, west of Conoco just south of Highway 60. The Kaw Indian cemetery located across the Arkansas river in Washunga
Washunga, Oklahoma
Washunga is a small community in Kay County, Oklahoma, USA. The post office was established November 15, 1902 and discontinued November 25, 1906. The town was established at the former Kaw Agency....
was moved to Newkirk, Oklahoma
Newkirk, Oklahoma
Newkirk is a city in Kay County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,243 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Kay County.-Geography:...
.
The museum's contents are now housed in the old Santa Fe Railroad Depot.
Kaw City remains near Kaw Lake
Kaw Lake
Kaw Lake is a reservoir completed in 1976 in the northern reaches of the U.S. state of Oklahoma, near Kaw City.Kaw Dam is long and above the stream bed. the dam lies above the mouth of the Arkansas River. The top of the flood control pool is , while the normal operating level is 1,010 feet.The...
and tourism is the major industry. There are several restaurants, a hotel and a marina.
The town has many retirees and part time residents who take advantage of the recreational opportunities and the appealing natural landscape
Natural landscape
A natural landscape is a landscape that is unaffected by human activity. A natural landscape is intact when all living and nonliving elements are free to move and change. The nonliving elements distinguish a natural landscape from a wilderness. A wilderness includes areas within which natural...
.
Geography
Kaw City is located at 36°45′57"N 96°51′29"W (36.765842, -96.858035). According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 5.5 square miles (14.2 km²), of which, 2.7 square miles (7 km²) of it is land and 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²) of it (51.26%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 372 people, 159 households, and 109 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 137.9 people per square mile (53.2/km²). There were 210 housing units at an average density of 77.8 per square mile (30.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.96% White, 0.27% African American, 20.16% Native American, 0.54% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.23% of the population.
There were 159 households out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 74.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,146, and the median income for a family was $31,042. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $17,917 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $15,091. About 9.3% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 21.9% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The headquarters of the Kaw Nation of OklahomaKaw (tribe)
The Kaw Nation are an American Indian people of the central Midwestern United States. The tribe known as Kaw have also been known as the "People of the South wind", "People of water", Kansa, Kaza, Kosa, and Kasa. Their tribal language is Kansa, classified as a Siouan language.The toponym "Kansas"...
is located in Kaw City.