Wilson, Oklahoma

Wilson, Oklahoma
Town
Location of Wilson, Oklahoma
Coordinates: 34°10′06″N97°25′33″W / 34.16833°N 97.42583°W / 34.16833; -97.42583
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
County	Carter
Area [1]
• Total	5.66 sq mi (14.65 km2)
• Land	5.64 sq mi (14.62 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation [2]	909 ft (277 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,399
• Density	247.87/sq mi (95.71/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	73463
Area code	580
FIPS code	40-81500 [3]
GNIS feature ID	2412275 [2]

Wilson is a town in Carter County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,724 at the 2010 census. ^[4] It is part of the Ardmore, Oklahoma Micropolitan Statistical Area. It is home to one of the oldest Assemblies of God churches in Oklahoma, the Wilson Assembly of God Church.

History

John Ringling (of Ringling Brothers fame) in 1913 built his Oklahoma, New Mexico and Pacific Railway west from Ardmore to the spot that would become Wilson. ^[5] Ringling himself chose the name—originally “New Wilson”--- as a tribute to Charles Wilson, manager of the Ringling Brothers Circus. ^[6] A post office was established on January 17, 1914; the town voted to incorporate the same year; and, the name changed to Wilson in 1918. ^[6]

The murder of Jared Lakey in 2019 achieved national attention. ^[7]

Geography

Wilson is located in southwestern Carter County. U.S. Highway 70 passes through the city north of the populated center; it leads east 16 miles (26 km) to Ardmore, the Carter County seat, and west 35 miles (56 km) to Waurika.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Wilson has a total area of 5.7 square miles (14.7 km²), of which 0.01 square miles (0.03 km²), or 0.23%, is water. ^[4]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1920	2,286		—
1930	2,517		10.1%
1940	1,700		−32.5%
1950	1,832		7.8%
1960	1,647		−10.1%
1970	1,569		−4.7%
1980	1,585		1.0%
1990	1,639		3.4%
2000	1,584		−3.4%
2010	1,724		8.8%
2020	1,399		−18.9%
U.S. Decennial Census [8]

As of the census ^[3] of 2000, there were 1,584 people, 625 households, and 426 families residing in the city. The population density was 278.3 inhabitants per square mile (107.5/km²). There were 785 housing units at an average density of 137.9 per square mile (53.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.71% White, 0.25% African American, 6.57% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.44% from other races, and 2.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.83% of the population.

There were 625 households, out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.9% 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 3.03.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.5% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,667, and the median income for a family was $28,199. Males had a median income of $29,063 versus $17,619 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,258. About 15.4% of families and 20.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.0% of those under age 18 and 18.3% of those age 65 or over.

^{[9] [10]}

Historic Landmark

Main article: National Register of Historic Places listings in Carter County, Oklahoma

The Healdton Oil Field Bunkhouse, just north of Wilson, is NRHP-listed.

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Wilson, Oklahoma
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Wilson city, Oklahoma". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 11, 2015. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
5. "Oklahoma, New Mexico and Pacific Railway Company". Railroads of Oklahoma, June 6, 1870-April 1, 1978, pp. 36-38 (accessed on Oklahoma Digital Prairie). Retrieved August 20, 2022.
6. "Wilson". Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
7. Jay Croft and Kay Jones. "2 Oklahoma officers are charged with second-degree murder in man's 2019 death". CNN. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
8. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
9. Saldana "Water Tower Prank Gets Town Talking," 10KETN (Texoma), May 4, 2011. Accessed May 4, 2015.
10. De Semlyen, Nick. "Chuck Norris: In His Own Words: It’s Chuck’s world – we just live in it," Empire, Originally published in May 2007 issue of Empire magazine. Accessed May 4, 2015.

External links

• Wilson Public Schools