Waurika, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Waurika is a city in Jefferson County
, Oklahoma
, United States
. The population was 1,988 at the 2000 census
. It is the county seat
of Jefferson County
. The name is the Comanche
compound 'worm eater' from woa 'worm' + 'eat' and presumably refers to a group of Comanche living in the area or to some early European settlers. Such humorous insulting names were common in Comanche culture.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 11.8 square miles (30.6 km²), of which, 11.8 square miles (30.6 km²) of it is land and 0.08% is water.
of 2000, there were 1,988 people, 741 households, and 500 families residing in the city. The population density
was 168.0 people per square mile (64.9/km²). There were 929 housing units at an average density of 78.5 per square mile (30.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.41% White, 1.81% African American, 4.28% Native American, 3.37% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 2.36% from other races
, and 2.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.00% of the population.
There were 741 households out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples
living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 107.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,800, and the median income for a family was $31,594. Males had a median income of $24,844 versus $16,286 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,496. About 6.4% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.4% of those under age 18 and 17.4% of those age 65 or over.
brought brief notoriety to Waurika. Rich, a 16-year-old sophomore
at the local high school, was murdered by two classmates and an acquaintance in a case that attracted national media coverage.
Jefferson County, Oklahoma
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 6,818. Its county seat is Waurika.-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 1,988 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 Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Oklahoma
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 6,818. Its county seat is Waurika.-Geography:...
. The name is the Comanche
Comanche language
Comanche is a Uto-Aztecan language spoken by the Comanche people, who split off from the Shoshone soon after they acquired horses in around 1705...
compound 'worm eater' from woa 'worm' + 'eat' and presumably refers to a group of Comanche living in the area or to some early European settlers. Such humorous insulting names were common in Comanche culture.
Geography
Waurika is located at 34°10′12"N 98°0′5"W (34.170130, -98.001268).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 11.8 square miles (30.6 km²), of which, 11.8 square miles (30.6 km²) of it is land and 0.08% 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 1,988 people, 741 households, and 500 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 168.0 people per square mile (64.9/km²). There were 929 housing units at an average density of 78.5 per square mile (30.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.41% White, 1.81% African American, 4.28% Native American, 3.37% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 2.36% 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 2.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.00% of the population.
There were 741 households out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% 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, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 107.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,800, and the median income for a family was $31,594. Males had a median income of $24,844 versus $16,286 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 $13,496. About 6.4% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.4% of those under age 18 and 17.4% of those age 65 or over.
Notable events
The 1996 murder of Heather RichMurder of Heather Rich
The murder of Heather Rose Rich took place on the night of October 2, 1996 on a remote bridge over a creek in Texas. Rich, a 16-year-old sophomore high school student from Waurika, Oklahoma, had been driven to the location by three young men, two of them her schoolmates...
brought brief notoriety to Waurika. Rich, a 16-year-old sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
at the local high school, was murdered by two classmates and an acquaintance in a case that attracted national media coverage.