Wewoka, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Wewoka is a city in Seminole County
, Oklahoma
, United States
. The population was 3,562 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Seminole County
.
Wewoka is the capital of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12.5 km2).None of the area is covered with water.
of 2000, there were 3,562 people, 1,390 households, and 884 families residing in the city. The population density
was 736.1 people per square mile (284.2/km2). There were 1,762 housing units at an average density of 364.1 per square mile (140.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 51.04% White, 19.88% African American, 21.45% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.04% from other races
, and 6.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.39% of the population.
There were 1,390 households out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.0% were married couples
living together, 19.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.8% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $19,490, and the median income for a family was $27,130. Males had a median income of $22,467 versus $17,670 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $12,039. About 26.6% of families and 29.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.0% of those under age 18 and 20.0% of those age 65 or over.
Perhaps nothing has changed the city of Wewoka as much as what happened in the early 1920s. In March 1923, oil was discovered a mile and a half southeast of Wewoka. R.H. Smith drilled the first commercial well in 1923 on St. Patrick's Day. The great wealth around Wewoka was realized in 1925 with the exploration of the Magnolia Petroleum Company. In the 1920s and 30's the great Seminole Oil Fields, with its millions upon millions of flowing wealth, were the largest supply of oil anywhere in the world. In 1925 the population of Wewoka was 1,520. By 1927 the population increased to over 20,000 making it the third largest city in Oklahoma.
From 1927 to the present, the city of Wewoka has found itself the victim of a mining philosophy of taking all you can and packing up and going somewhere else. By 1950 the population of Wewoka was 6,753 and in 1960 it was 6,300. The population continued a steady decline, however, the city remained the commercial center of the area until around 1980. The 1980s and 1990s were difficult for the city. Many businesses left town and poverty greatly increased. The city leaders tried to protect themselves by refusing to allow competition, like Wal-Mart, to enter the city. The crime rate in Wewoka during the 1980s got so bad that Paul Harvey called Wewoka "Little Chicago," because it had a higher crime rate per capita than the city of Chicago. The violence in the city caused many people to avoid coming to Wewoka and gave the city a reputation that continues to linger.
By the mid 1990's new leadership arose that began the difficult task of trying to turn commerce around in the city. The police force was increased and began to get the crime rate under control. The crime rate by 2001 was below average for the state of Oklahoma. The historic downtown received a face lift by receiving new sidewalks, streets, lights and flowers. Perhaps nothing proves the success of Wewoka's resurgence as much as the city being honored as one of Channel 5's Top Five Cities in 2004.
The city of Wewoka continues the fight to attract businesses and maintain population. The current population of Wewoka is just over 3,500. The projections show that the city will continue to decrease in the coming years. The ethnic diversity is still evident with 52% white, 22% American Indian and 18% African American. The average household income is approximately $37,000 a year which is a substantial increase from where Wewoka was in 2002. According to the demographic comparison, the number of households is decreasing, but the income of those living in Wewoka is increasing.
Seminole County, Oklahoma
Seminole County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 24,894 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Wewoka. Before Oklahoma's admission as a state, the county was the entire small portion of Indian Territory allocated to the Seminoles. Seminole County has been an...
, 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 3,562 at the 2000 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 Seminole County
Seminole County, Oklahoma
Seminole County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 24,894 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Wewoka. Before Oklahoma's admission as a state, the county was the entire small portion of Indian Territory allocated to the Seminoles. Seminole County has been an...
.
Wewoka is the capital of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma
Seminole Nation of Oklahoma
The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma is a federally recognized Seminole tribe based in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It is the largest of the three federally recognized Seminole organizations, which include the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida...
.
Geography
Wewoka is located at 35.149473°N 96.494361°W.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 4.8 square miles (12.5 km2).None of the area is covered with 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 3,562 people, 1,390 households, and 884 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 736.1 people per square mile (284.2/km2). There were 1,762 housing units at an average density of 364.1 per square mile (140.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 51.04% White, 19.88% African American, 21.45% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.04% 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 6.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.39% of the population.
There were 1,390 households out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.0% 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, 19.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.8% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $19,490, and the median income for a family was $27,130. Males had a median income of $22,467 versus $17,670 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 $12,039. About 26.6% of families and 29.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.0% of those under age 18 and 20.0% of those age 65 or over.
Citizens of historical prominence
- James Coody Johnson was a prominent African-American lawyer practicing in or near Wewoka during the period of the Dawes Enrollment and land allotments. A brief biography of Mr. Johnson is on the web at http://www.african-nativeamerican.com/coody_johnson.htm . Highlights of his career included testifying in front of the U.S. Supreme court and also acting as a native American interpreter for the famous Judge Isaac ParkerIsaac ParkerIsaac Charles Parker served as a U.S. District Judge presiding over the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas for 21 years and also one-time politician. He served in that capacity during the most dangerous time for law enforcement during the western expansion...
. http://faculty.washington.edu/qtaylor/aa_Vignettes/johnson_james_coody.htm For a time, Mr. Johnson made his residence approximately 5 miles north of Wewoka, near the intersections of Highways 9 and 56. His residence is no longer standing. However, the exact location is believed to have been 35°13'36.37"N, 96°27'48.68"W http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLJ,GGLJ:2006-30,GGLJ:en&q=35%C2%B013'36.37%22N%2C%2096%C2%B027'48.68%22W&sa=N&tab=wl. Mr. Johnson sponsored a yearly circus at a location a few hundred yards southeast of this residence in a flat section of land. Many residents of the area had their first airplane flight courtesy of planes flying from an adjoining airstrip to the circus. The J. Coody Johnson office building in Wewoka is listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. http://www.ocgi.okstate.edu/shpo/shpopic.asp?id=85001744
- Juanita Kidd StoutJuanita Kidd StoutJuanita Kidd Stout was a Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania from 1988–1989, and the first African-American woman elected to any judgeship in the United States and the first to serve on the Supreme Court of any state.Stout studied at the University of Iowa...
, the first African-American woman elected to any judgeship in the United States, was born in Wewoka. She reportedly graduated from a segregated high school in Wewoka at the age of 16. She spent a significant part of her career being a judge in Philadelphia, creating a significant impact on the community. She regularly returned to OklahomaOklahomaOklahoma 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...
, spending a large amount of time in Tulsa for summer breaks. In addition, she was the first black woman to serve on any state's supreme court. She is buried at the Westwood cemetery in Wewoka.
- Lee P. BrownLee P. BrownLee Patrick Brown had a long-time career in law enforcement, leading police departments in Atlanta, Houston and New York over the course of nearly four decades. During this time he helped to implement a number of techniques in community policing that appeared to result in substantial decreases in...
, the first African-American mayor of Houston, TexasHouston, TexasHouston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, was born in Wewoka in 1937 to sharecropper parents. He also served as public safety commissioner of Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
and police chief in Houston.
- Gil MorganGil MorganGilmer Bryan Morgan II, OD is an American professional golfer.Morgan was born in Wewoka, Oklahoma. He graduated from East Central State College in Ada, Oklahoma in 1968. In 1972, Morgan earned a Doctor of Optometry degree from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee before turning...
, Professional golfer and current member of the Champions TourChampions TourThe Champions Tour, a golf tour run by the PGA Tour, hosts a series of events annually in the United States and the United Kingdom for golfers 50 years of age and older. Many of the PGA Tour's most successful golfers have gone on to play on the Champions Tour.The Senior PGA Championship, founded in...
was born in Wewoka, OK September 25, 1946. A graduate of East Central State College in Ada, OklahomaAda, OklahomaAda is a city in and the county seat of Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 16,008 at the 2000 census. As of 2009, the city population was estimated at 17,019....
and doctor of Optometry from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee. He joined the professional tour in 1972 and won seven events between 1977 and 1990. His more prominent success has been in the Champions Tour where he has won 24 events, including the Tradition title in 1997 and 1998, and the Senior Players Championship in 1998. In the 1992 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, he was the first man to reach -10 strokes in the National open. He is currently the second highest career money earner on the Senior Tour.
- Dale DouglassDale DouglassDale Dwight Douglass is an American professional golfer who has won tournaments at both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour level....
, Professional golfer and current member of the Champions TourChampions TourThe Champions Tour, a golf tour run by the PGA Tour, hosts a series of events annually in the United States and the United Kingdom for golfers 50 years of age and older. Many of the PGA Tour's most successful golfers have gone on to play on the Champions Tour.The Senior PGA Championship, founded in...
was born in Wewoka, OK March 5, 1936. a graduate of the University of Colorado, he joined the professional tour in 1960.
Brief History
The city of Wewoka has a history in which it takes great pride. Wewoka is named for the Seminole word which means "barking waters" referring to the small rapids found in the creek that runs on the north side of the city. The city was founded when Elijah J. Brown, an employee of the government, led the Seminole Nation in 1866 from LeRoy, Kansas to Indian Territory. During the Civil War the Seminole Nation sided with the Conferederacy. When the Confederacy lost they were considered a conquered nation and had to renegotiate their treaties with the government. After the Civil War, the Seminole Nation made Wewoka their capital city. Along with the Seminole Indians, their freedmen also settled in Wewoka, giving Wewoka an ethnically diverse citizenry. Elijah Brown remained the only legal white settler in the county until the Land Run in 1889. In 1907 Wewoka became part of the state of Oklahoma and in 1908 became the county seat of Seminole County after winning a strong fought battle with the city of Seminole.Perhaps nothing has changed the city of Wewoka as much as what happened in the early 1920s. In March 1923, oil was discovered a mile and a half southeast of Wewoka. R.H. Smith drilled the first commercial well in 1923 on St. Patrick's Day. The great wealth around Wewoka was realized in 1925 with the exploration of the Magnolia Petroleum Company. In the 1920s and 30's the great Seminole Oil Fields, with its millions upon millions of flowing wealth, were the largest supply of oil anywhere in the world. In 1925 the population of Wewoka was 1,520. By 1927 the population increased to over 20,000 making it the third largest city in Oklahoma.
From 1927 to the present, the city of Wewoka has found itself the victim of a mining philosophy of taking all you can and packing up and going somewhere else. By 1950 the population of Wewoka was 6,753 and in 1960 it was 6,300. The population continued a steady decline, however, the city remained the commercial center of the area until around 1980. The 1980s and 1990s were difficult for the city. Many businesses left town and poverty greatly increased. The city leaders tried to protect themselves by refusing to allow competition, like Wal-Mart, to enter the city. The crime rate in Wewoka during the 1980s got so bad that Paul Harvey called Wewoka "Little Chicago," because it had a higher crime rate per capita than the city of Chicago. The violence in the city caused many people to avoid coming to Wewoka and gave the city a reputation that continues to linger.
By the mid 1990's new leadership arose that began the difficult task of trying to turn commerce around in the city. The police force was increased and began to get the crime rate under control. The crime rate by 2001 was below average for the state of Oklahoma. The historic downtown received a face lift by receiving new sidewalks, streets, lights and flowers. Perhaps nothing proves the success of Wewoka's resurgence as much as the city being honored as one of Channel 5's Top Five Cities in 2004.
The city of Wewoka continues the fight to attract businesses and maintain population. The current population of Wewoka is just over 3,500. The projections show that the city will continue to decrease in the coming years. The ethnic diversity is still evident with 52% white, 22% American Indian and 18% African American. The average household income is approximately $37,000 a year which is a substantial increase from where Wewoka was in 2002. According to the demographic comparison, the number of households is decreasing, but the income of those living in Wewoka is increasing.
External links
- Wewoka Oklahoma Travel Information
- First Baptist ChurchFirst Baptist Church, WewokaFirst Baptist Church HistoryFirst Baptist Church has been an important part of Wewoka, Oklahoma since 1900 and has experienced, with the city, its highs and lows. The church was organized on April 1, 1900 with thirteen charter members who met in the Court House. Soon the church hired its first...