Wakita, Oklahoma

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Wakita, Oklahoma
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
motto =

imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Wakita's water tower


image_

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Wakita, Oklahoma


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Oklahoma
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Grant

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 0.9
area_land_km2 = 0.9
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 0.3
area_land_sq_mi = 0.3
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 420
population_density_km2 = 492.4
population_density_sq_mi = 1275.4

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 359
elevation_ft = 1178
latd = 36 |latm = 52 |lats = 54 |latNS = N
longd = 97 |longm = 55 |longs = 26 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 73771
area_code = 580
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 40-77950GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1099292GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Wakita is a town in Grant County, Oklahoma, United States, founded in 1898. The population was 420 at the 2000 census. It was featured in the 1996 blockbuster movie "Twister" starring Helen Hunt in which Wakita was destroyed by an F4 (later F5) tornado. False fronts where built onto the existing store fronts for some shots and then were removed and replaced it with rubble in the streets after the tornado hit and the rest of the building was removed using CGI. Some buildings where demolished, but nothing was put in to replace them.

Geography

Wakita is located at coor dms|36|52|54|N|97|55|26|W|city (36.881781, -97.923757)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.3 square miles (0.9 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 420 people, 165 households, and 102 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,275.4 people per square mile (491.4/km²). There were 205 housing units at an average density of 622.5/sq mi (239.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.67% White, 0.24% African American, 2.38% Native American, and 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.24% of the population.

There were 165 households out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the town the population was spread out with 20.0% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 21.0% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 29.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 85.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,096, and the median income for a family was $34,792. Males had a median income of $22,361 versus $21,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,302. About 11.4% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.3% of those under age 18 and 22.2% of those age 65 or over.

Notable natives

*Virgil A. Richard, retired brigadier general in the United States Army and gay rights activist.

References

External links