Wakita, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Wakita is a town in Grant County
, Oklahoma
, United States
, founded in 1898. The population was 344 at the 2010 census
. It was featured in the 1996 blockbuster film Twister starring Helen Hunt
and Bill Paxton
in which Wakita was destroyed by an F4
tornado
that was part of a storm system later spawning an F5
tornado
. False fronts were built onto the existing store fronts for some shots and then were removed and replaced with rubble in the streets after the tornado hit and the rest of the building was removed using CGI
. Some buildings were demolished, but nothing was put in to replace them.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
Chief named Wakita . Some believe that Green wanted to name the town in the Chief's honor because of a protective spell supposedly cast to protect the area around the town from tornadoes for a time span of 100 years. This is why Wakita was used in the Hollywood blockbuster Twister
, because of the paradox created between the spell and the movie setting.
On May 10, 2010, numerous tornadoes touched down in Grant County, causing significant damage in and near the Wakita area. However, the town itself was not destroyed.
-Other Notables-
of 2010, there were 344 people, 165 households, and 102 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,275.4 people per square mile (491.4/km²). There were 205 housing units at an average density of 622.5 per square mile (239.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.67% White, 0.24% African American, 2.38% Native American, and 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.24% of the population.
There were 165 households out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples
living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.0% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 21.0% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 29.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 85.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,096, and the median income for a family was $34,792. Males had a median income of $22,361 versus $21,500 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,302. About 11.4% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.3% of those under age 18 and 22.2% of those age 65 or over.
Grant County, Oklahoma
Grant County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010 census, the population was 4,527. Its county seat is Medford.-History:...
, 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...
, founded in 1898. The population was 344 at the 2010 census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...
. It was featured in the 1996 blockbuster film Twister starring Helen Hunt
Helen Hunt
Helen Elizabeth Hunt is an American actress, film director, and screenwriter. She starred in the sitcom Mad About You for seven years, before being cast in the romantic comedy As Good as It Gets...
and Bill Paxton
Bill Paxton
William "Bill" Paxton is an American actor and film director. He gained popularity after starring roles in the films Apollo 13, Twister, Aliens, True Lies, and Titanic...
in which Wakita was destroyed by an F4
Fujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
tornado
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
that was part of a storm system later spawning an F5
Fujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
tornado
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
. False fronts were built onto the existing store fronts for some shots and then were removed and replaced with rubble in the streets after the tornado hit and the rest of the building was removed using CGI
Computer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
. Some buildings were demolished, but nothing was put in to replace them.
Geography
Wakita is located at 36°52′54"N 97°55′26"W (36.881781, -97.923757).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 town has a total area of 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
History
Before the town's founding in 1898, there was a dispute over the right to name the town. The owner of the First General Store, owned by the "White" family, pushed for the town to be named Whiteville. Shortly after his proposal, Deputy U.S. Marshall Arthur Green motioned the town be named after a CherokeeCherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
Chief named Wakita . Some believe that Green wanted to name the town in the Chief's honor because of a protective spell supposedly cast to protect the area around the town from tornadoes for a time span of 100 years. This is why Wakita was used in the Hollywood blockbuster Twister
Twister
-Entertainment:* Twister , a comedy film starring Suzy Amis and Crispin Glover* Twister , a disaster film starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton** Twister...Ride it Out, a ride in Universal Studios Florida based on the film...
, because of the paradox created between the spell and the movie setting.
On May 10, 2010, numerous tornadoes touched down in Grant County, causing significant damage in and near the Wakita area. However, the town itself was not destroyed.
-Other Notables-
- First road in town, 1958
- First traffic light, 1962 (Which was run over by the nightwatchman only 1 week later and was never reinstalled)
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 2010, there were 344 people, 165 households, and 102 families residing in the town. 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 1,275.4 people per square mile (491.4/km²). There were 205 housing units at an average density of 622.5 per square mile (239.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.67% White, 0.24% African American, 2.38% Native American, and 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.24% of the population.
There were 165 households out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% 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, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.0% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 21.0% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 29.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 85.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,096, and the median income for a family was $34,792. Males had a median income of $22,361 versus $21,500 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 town was $17,302. About 11.4% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.3% of those under age 18 and 22.2% of those age 65 or over.
Notable natives
- Virgil A. RichardVirgil A. RichardBrigadier General Virgil A. Richard is a retired Army General who served 32 years of active military service of which 30 were devoted to Financial Management. Richard has become an outspoken critic of the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy of the U.S...
, retired brigadier generalBrigadier GeneralBrigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
in the United States ArmyUnited States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and gay rights activist.