Waurika, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Waurika, Oklahoma
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Jefferson County Courthouse in Waurika c. 2014
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| Motto(s):
"On The Trail, By The Lake"
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 Waurika, Oklahoma
Location in Oklahoma
Waurika, Oklahoma
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Jefferson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 11.93 sq mi (30.90 km2) |
| • Land | 11.92 sq mi (30.87 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) |
| Elevation | 879 ft (268 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,837 |
| • Density | 154.11/sq mi (59.50/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
73573
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| Area code(s) | 580 |
| FIPS code | 40-79250 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2412195 |
Waurika is a city in Oklahoma, United States. It is the main town, or county seat, of Jefferson County. In 2020, about 1,837 people lived there.
Years ago, Waurika was known as "The Parakeet Capital of the World." No one is quite sure why. Today, the city's motto is On The Trail, By The Lake. This motto shows off its history and its beautiful lake.
Contents
What Does the Name Waurika Mean?
The name Waurika comes from the Comanche language. It is an English version of the Comanche word woarɨhka. This word means "worm eater." It comes from woa (worm) and tɨhka (eat). People think it might have been a funny way to describe early settlers. Their plowing looked like they were digging for worms.
However, the City of Waurika and the Oklahoma Historical Society have a different idea. They say the name means "clear water" or "pure water." They believe it comes from another American Indian language, but they don't say which one.
A Look at Waurika's History
Waurika began to be settled after August 6, 1901. This was when the Comanche, Kiowa, and Apache Reservation was opened up. The first non-Native American settler was James McGraw. He claimed land in the area, moving from Burlington, Iowa.
The first time land lots were sold in Waurika was on June 18, 1902. Almost 3,000 people came to buy land. Waurika officially became a town in May 1903. On May 8, 1903, C.A. McBrian became the town's first mayor. When it was founded, Waurika was part of Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation.
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway arrived in Waurika in January 1902. The railroad decided Waurika would be a stop for trains. Waurika was also the end point for the Wichita Falls and Oklahoma Railway. This railway was owned by Frank Kell and Joseph A. Kemp.
How Waurika's Population Has Changed
The number of people living in Waurika has changed over the years:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 2,928 | — | |
| 1920 | 3,204 | 9.4% | |
| 1930 | 2,368 | −26.1% | |
| 1940 | 2,458 | 3.8% | |
| 1950 | 2,327 | −5.3% | |
| 1960 | 1,933 | −16.9% | |
| 1970 | 1,833 | −5.2% | |
| 1980 | 2,369 | 29.2% | |
| 1990 | 2,088 | −11.9% | |
| 2000 | 2,158 | 3.4% | |
| 2010 | 2,064 | −4.4% | |
| 2020 | 1,837 | −11.0% | |
Where is Waurika Located?
Waurika is in the northwestern part of Jefferson County. U.S. Route 70 goes through the southern part of the city. This road leads east about 49 miles to Ardmore. It goes west about 27 miles to Randlett.
U.S. Route 81 crosses US 70 in the southeast part of Waurika. This road goes north about 26 miles to Duncan. It goes south about 24 miles to Ringgold. Oklahoma State Highway 5 is Waurika's Main Street. It goes northwest about 19 miles to Temple. Waurika is about 109 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.
The city is on the east side of the Beaver Creek valley. Beaver Creek flows south and is a branch of the Red River.
Waurika Lake
Waurika Lake is a large lake located about 6 miles northwest of the city center. It was finished in 1980. The lake is 11 miles long and holds a lot of water. It has a surface area of 10,000 acres and about 80 miles of shoreline.
Waurika's Economy
For a long time, Waurika's economy has been based on a few main things:
- Cattle raising: Raising cows for meat and other products.
- Agriculture: Farming and growing crops.
- Petroleum production: Getting oil and gas from the ground.
These activities have been important to the city since it was founded.
Who Lives in Waurika?
In 2000, there were 1,988 people living in Waurika. There were 741 households, and 500 families. The city had about 168 people per square mile.
- Racial Makeup:
* 85.41% White * 1.81% African American * 4.28% Native American * 3.37% Asian * 0.10% Pacific Islander * 2.36% from other races * 2.67% from two or more races * 8.00% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
- Households:
* 28.5% of households had children under 18. * 54.1% were married couples living together. * 9.9% had a female head of household with no husband. * 32.4% were not families. * 30.5% of households were single people. * 17.3% had someone 65 or older living alone. * The average household had 2.35 people. * The average family had 2.89 people.
- Age Distribution:
* 22.3% were under 18. * 7.5% were 18 to 24. * 29.1% were 25 to 44. * 20.6% were 45 to 64. * 20.5% were 65 or older. * The average age was 39 years. * For every 100 females, there were about 107.3 males.
- Income:
* The average income for a household was $23,800. * The average income for a family was $31,594. * Males earned about $24,844, while females earned about $16,286. * The income per person in the city was $13,496. * About 6.4% of families and 12.2% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 14.4% of those under 18 and 17.4% of those 65 or older.
Famous People From Waurika
Some well-known people were born in or have connections to Waurika:
- Bennie G. Adkins: A United States Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor.
- Irene Champlin: An actress.
- Gary Chapman: A singer and songwriter.
- Ed Davis: A criminal from the Depression era.
- Chris Kidd: An Oklahoma State Senator.
- James W. McCord Jr.: A CIA officer involved in the Watergate scandal.
Important Places in Waurika
Waurika has several important and historic places:
- Rock Island Passenger Depot: This old train station was fixed up starting in 1987. In 2002, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places listings in Jefferson County, Oklahoma.
- First Presbyterian Church: This church is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Jefferson County Courthouse: The courthouse is another historic building in Waurika.
- State Highway 79 Bridge at the Red River: This bridge, which led to Byers, Texas, was also on the National Register of Historic Places, but it has since been taken down.
- Chisholm Trail Historical Museum: There used to be a museum about the Chisholm Trail in Waurika, but it is now closed.
See also
In Spanish: Waurika (Oklahoma) para niños
