Lost City, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Lost City is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Cherokee County
, Oklahoma
, United States
. The population was 809 at the 2000 census
. It was the site of the first meteorite fall in the US to be recorded by a camera network.
in northeast Oklahoma
. The city is part of "Green Country", a region of the state characterized by green vegetation and numerous lakes, including Lake Gibson
, which lies just southeast of Lost City.
Lost City's geographic coordinates are 35°59′9"N 95°7′26"W (35.985954, -95.123886). According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 23.3 square miles (60.3 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 809 people, 279 households, and 234 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 34.7 people per square mile (13.4/km²). There were 308 housing units at an average density of 13.2/sq mi (5.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 55.13% White, 38.07% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 1.11% from other races
, and 5.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.11% of the population.
There were 279 households out of which 41.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.4% were married couples
living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.1% were non-families. 13.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 30.4% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.5 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $29,118, and the median income for a family was $31,932. Males had a median income of $27,566 versus $20,357 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $11,629. About 16.7% of families and 15.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 25.6% of those age 65 or over.
simultaneously photographed the track of a meteoroid fireball. Analysis of the photographs indicated that a meteorite might have landed within an area east of Lost City. This was the first time in the US that simultaneous photography of a fireball from multiple observation points was achieved, making it possible to calculate a trajectory and delimit a search area on the ground. Six days later, Gunther Schwartz, field manager of the Lincoln NE camera station of the Prairie Network, spotted a 9.83 kg (21.6 pound) meteorite sitting in a snow-covered dirt road within one-half mile of Lost City. Three additional smaller meteorite fragments were recovered later (January 17, 272 g; February 2, 6.6 kg; May 4, 640 g). The Lost City meteorite proved to be an H5 chondrite
.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Cherokee County
Cherokee County, Oklahoma
Cherokee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 42,521. Its county seat is Tahlequah.Cherokee County was established in 1907.-Geography:...
, 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 809 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...
. It was the site of the first meteorite fall in the US to be recorded by a camera network.
Geography
Lost City is located north of State Highway 51 and northwest of the city of TahlequahTahlequah, Oklahoma
Tahlequah is a city in Cherokee County, Oklahoma, United States located at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. It was founded as a capital of the original Cherokee Nation in 1838 to welcome those Cherokee forced west on the Trail of Tears. The city's population was 15,753 at the 2010 census. It...
in northeast 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...
. The city is part of "Green Country", a region of the state characterized by green vegetation and numerous lakes, including Lake Gibson
Lake Gibson
Lake Gibson is a lake near Thorold, Ontario, Canada. The lake is not natural, but rather was created as a reservoir for hydroelectric power generation at the Ontario Power Generation Decew Falls 1 and Decew Falls 2 generating stations. The lake was created by flooding the shallow valley of...
, which lies just southeast of Lost City.
Lost City's geographic coordinates are 35°59′9"N 95°7′26"W (35.985954, -95.123886). According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 CDP has a total area of 23.3 square miles (60.3 km²), all of it land.
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 809 people, 279 households, and 234 families residing in the CDP. 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 34.7 people per square mile (13.4/km²). There were 308 housing units at an average density of 13.2/sq mi (5.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 55.13% White, 38.07% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 1.11% 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 5.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.11% of the population.
There were 279 households out of which 41.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.4% 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, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.1% were non-families. 13.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 30.4% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.5 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $29,118, and the median income for a family was $31,932. Males had a median income of $27,566 versus $20,357 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 CDP was $11,629. About 16.7% of families and 15.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 25.6% of those age 65 or over.
Meteorite fall of 3 January 1970
On January 3, 1970, four stations (Hominy OK, Woodward OK, Pleasanton KS, and Garden City KS) of the Prairie Meteorite NetworkPrairie Meteorite Network
The Prairie Meteorite Network was a system of sixteen camera stations in Midwestern United States, run by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in 1970s-1980s. The network used surplus aerocameras with 6.3-12 inch focal length wide angle metrogon lenses that covered a format of 9 x 18 inches on...
simultaneously photographed the track of a meteoroid fireball. Analysis of the photographs indicated that a meteorite might have landed within an area east of Lost City. This was the first time in the US that simultaneous photography of a fireball from multiple observation points was achieved, making it possible to calculate a trajectory and delimit a search area on the ground. Six days later, Gunther Schwartz, field manager of the Lincoln NE camera station of the Prairie Network, spotted a 9.83 kg (21.6 pound) meteorite sitting in a snow-covered dirt road within one-half mile of Lost City. Three additional smaller meteorite fragments were recovered later (January 17, 272 g; February 2, 6.6 kg; May 4, 640 g). The Lost City meteorite proved to be an H5 chondrite
Chondrite
Chondrites are stony meteorites that have not been modified due to melting or differentiation of the parent body. They formed when various types of dust and small grains that were present in the early solar system accreted to form primitive asteroids...
.