Watonga, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Watonga is a city in Blaine County
, Oklahoma
, United States
. The population was 4,658 at the 2000 census
. It is the county seat
of Blaine County
.
. Watonga is named after Arapaho Chief Watonga whose name means "Black Coyote".
(1904 – 1985) whom Walt Disney
hired to be the voice of Donald Duck
in the 1930s. Nash provided Donald's voice exclusively for over 50 years. Robert J. Helberg
, who was born in Watonga, was awarded the Public Service Medal by NASA
for his contributions to the Lunar Orbiter program
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 4,658 people, 1,273 households, and 858 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,703.1 people per square mile (656.4/km²). There were 1,507 housing units at an average density of 551.0 per square mile (212.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 61.19% White, 15.33% African American, 8.24% Native American, 1.55% Asian, 2.02% Pacific Islander, 4.89% from other races
, and 6.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.91% of the population.
There were 1,273 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples
living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.5% under the age of 18, 12.5% from 18 to 24, 36.7% from 25 to 44, 17.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 169.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 191.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,208, and the median income for a family was $31,391. Males had a median income of $23,056 versus $16,146 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $10,567. About 12.4% of families and 17.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.1% of those under age 18 and 16.8% of those age 65 or over.
Blaine County, Oklahoma
Blaine County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population is 11,976. Its county seat is Watonga. Blaine County is the birthplace of voice actor Clarence Nash, the voice of Donald Duck....
, 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 4,658 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 is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Blaine County
Blaine County, Oklahoma
Blaine County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population is 11,976. Its county seat is Watonga. Blaine County is the birthplace of voice actor Clarence Nash, the voice of Donald Duck....
.
Early History
Watonga is located on former Cheyenne-Arapaho Reservation lands that were allotted to individual tribal members and the excess opened to white settlers in the Land Run of 1892Land Run of 1892
The Land Run of 1892 was the opening of the Cheyenne-Arapaho reservation to settlement in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. One of seven in Oklahoma, it occurred on April 19, 1892, and opened up land that would become Blaine, Custer, Dewey, Washita, and Rogers Mills counties...
. Watonga is named after Arapaho Chief Watonga whose name means "Black Coyote".
Notable residents and natives
One of Watonga's most notable citizens was Clarence NashClarence Nash
Clarence Charles "Ducky" Nash was an American voice actor, best known for providing the voice of Donald Duck for the Walt Disney Studios...
(1904 – 1985) whom Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
hired to be the voice of Donald Duck
Donald Duck
Donald Fauntleroy Duck is a cartoon character created in 1934 at Walt Disney Productions and licensed by The Walt Disney Company. Donald is an anthropomorphic white duck with a yellow-orange bill, legs, and feet. He typically wears a sailor suit with a cap and a black or red bow tie. Donald is most...
in the 1930s. Nash provided Donald's voice exclusively for over 50 years. Robert J. Helberg
Robert J. Helberg
Robert J. Helberg was an American aeronautical engineer.He was born in Watonga, Oklahoma. In 1932 he earned a degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Washington. After graduation he went to work at the Goss Humidity Control Company in Seattle...
, who was born in Watonga, was awarded the Public Service Medal by NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
for his contributions to the Lunar Orbiter program
Lunar Orbiter program
The Lunar Orbiter program was a series of five unmanned lunar orbiter missions launched by the United States from 1966 through 1967. Intended to help select Apollo landing sites by mapping the Moon's surface, they provided the first photographs from lunar orbit.All five missions were successful,...
.
Geography
Watonga is located at 35°50′57"N 98°24′42"W (35.849249, -98.411591).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 city has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7 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 4,658 people, 1,273 households, and 858 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 1,703.1 people per square mile (656.4/km²). There were 1,507 housing units at an average density of 551.0 per square mile (212.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 61.19% White, 15.33% African American, 8.24% Native American, 1.55% Asian, 2.02% Pacific Islander, 4.89% 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 6.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.91% of the population.
There were 1,273 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% 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, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.5% under the age of 18, 12.5% from 18 to 24, 36.7% from 25 to 44, 17.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 169.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 191.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,208, and the median income for a family was $31,391. Males had a median income of $23,056 versus $16,146 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 $10,567. About 12.4% of families and 17.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.1% of those under age 18 and 16.8% of those age 65 or over.