Wright City, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wright City, Oklahoma
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Location of Wright City, Oklahoma
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | McCurtain |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.89 sq mi (2.30 km2) |
| • Land | 0.89 sq mi (2.29 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 404 ft (123 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 616 |
| • Density | 696.05/sq mi (268.59/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
74766
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| Area code(s) | 580 |
| FIPS code | 40-82200 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2413514 |
Wright City is a small town in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, United States. It is located along the Little River. In 2020, about 616 people lived there.
One special thing about Wright City is its rodeo, called Little Cheyenne. It's one of the oldest rodeos in Oklahoma that has happened every year without stopping. It takes place from July 1st to 4th. Local cowboys started it in 1933 with a rodeo, barbecue, and dance. Since 1935, the American Legion has helped put on the event.
Wright City used to have a big lumber plant owned by Weyerhaeuser. This plant was very important for the town's jobs and economy. However, it closed in March 2009 because the demand for lumber slowed down. This closure affected 165 employees in the town.
Contents
History of Wright City
How Wright City Started
Wright City is located about 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Valliant. It's also 2 miles (3.2 km) north of the Little River. The town began around 1909. A company called Choctaw Lumber Company started it. They built a large plant here because there were many trees in the area. They used these trees to make lumber.
When the town was founded, it was part of Towson County in the Choctaw Nation. This was an important area for the Choctaw people.
Why the Name Changed
The town's first name was Bismark. This name was chosen by the Dierks brothers, who owned the lumber company. They had another lumber business in a town called Bismark in Nebraska.
However, during World War I, people started to connect the name Bismark with Otto von Bismarck. He was a famous German leader. Even though the spelling was a little different, people thought of Germany. So, the town's name was changed to Wright. This new name honored William Wiley Wright. He was the first person from McCurtain County to die in that war. On May 18, 1920, the name was changed again to Wright City.
A Town Built by a Company
Wright City was once a "company town." This means the lumber company owned most of the town. They built a sawmill and a planer (which smooths wood). They also built shops, a bank, a hotel, and a movie theater called The Choctaw. The town had a high school with sports teams called the LumberJax. There was even an ice factory, and the company provided fire and police protection.
The company also gave land for schools and churches to be built. In 1965, the company sold off the houses and other parts of the town that weren't directly related to making lumber. In 1966, Wright City officially became its own town. People elected their first leaders. It was no longer just a "mill town." The citizens worked to make it an independent place. They built a business area, improved utilities, and built new schools, a community center, and a medical center.
In 1969, the Weyerhaeuser Company bought the lumber operations in Wright City. They continued to run the mill, which was the main source of jobs. But in March 2009, the mill closed down for good. This was because there wasn't much demand for lumber, and the economy was struggling.
The town's population has changed over the years. In 1950, 1,121 people lived there. By 2010, the number had gone down to 766.
The Funny Pig Story
In 1956, something funny happened in Wright City that made news across the country. There was a drought, which meant not enough rain. This caused many wild pigs, called razorbacks, to leave the hills nearby. About 700 or 800 hungry pigs came into the city looking for food.
These thin pigs ate flower gardens and even had to be kicked out of the drugstore! One time, a church service had to stop because nine pigs were fighting loudly in the basement!
Geography
Wright City covers a total area of about 0.8 square miles (2.1 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Population Details
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1950 | 1,121 | — | |
| 1960 | 1,161 | 3.6% | |
| 1970 | 1,068 | −8.0% | |
| 1980 | 1,168 | 9.4% | |
| 1990 | 836 | −28.4% | |
| 2000 | 848 | 1.4% | |
| 2010 | 762 | −10.1% | |
| 2020 | 616 | −19.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The population of Wright City has changed over time. In 2000, there were 848 people living in the town. By 2010, the population had decreased to 762. The most recent count in 2020 showed 616 people living in Wright City.
See also
In Spanish: Wright City (Oklahoma) para niños
