Granite, Oklahoma

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

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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Granite, Oklahoma


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

government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 4.1
area_land_km2 = 4.1
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 1.6
area_land_sq_mi = 1.6
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 1844
population_density_km2 = 450.3
population_density_sq_mi = 1166.3

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 492
elevation_ft = 1614
latd = 34 |latm = 57 |lats = 45 |latNS = N
longd = 99 |longm = 22 |longs = 53 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 73547
area_code = 580
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 40-30950GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1093311GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Granite is a town in Greer County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,844 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Granite is located at coor dms|34|57|45|N|99|22|53|W|city (34.962367, -99.381356)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,844 people, 443 households, and 283 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,166.3 people per square mile (450.6/km²). There were 533 housing units at an average density of 337.1/sq mi (130.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 69.47% White, 16.97% African American, 4.93% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 3.85% from other races, and 4.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.16% of the population.

There were 443 households out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the town the population was spread out with 13.7% under the age of 18, 12.6% from 18 to 24, 43.2% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 259.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 304.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $25,438, and the median income for a family was $30,703. Males had a median income of $23,125 versus $20,368 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,599. About 13.1% of families and 17.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.0% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.

Local Business

Situated at the foot of the Wichita Mountains, Granite, Oklahoma is home to significant mining operations. Quarries such as Willis Granite Products extract native red granite for use in headstones, memorials, and signs throughout the United States.

Granite is also home to Oklahoma State Reformatory, a medium-security corrections facility also boasting some maximum and minimum-security housing for adult male inmates. Located off of U.S. Highway 9, the ten-acre facility has a maximum capacity of 999 inmates.

Bobbi Parker

Granite made national headlines in 1994 when convicted organized crime hitman Randolph Franklin Dial escaped from Oklahoma State Reformatory and abducted deputy warden Randy Parker's wife, Bobbi Parker. Dial eluded local, state, and federal authorities before finally being captured – with Parker – April 5, 2005 on a chicken farm in Center, Texas. Bobbi Parker was reunited with her husband and two daughters, and Randolph Dial was returned to custody.

There has been widespread speculation since the original escape and abduction that Bobbi Parker actually fled willingly with Dial, acting more as an accomplice than a hostage. As of January 2006, Greer County District Attorney John Wampler and other Oklahoma authorities had heavily considered pursuing charges against Bobbi Parker for aiding a known fugitive. To date, no charges have been filed against Parker and no authoritative determination has been made as to whether Parker was truly a hostage, or an accomplice to the escape and decade-long flight from justice.

Randolph Franklin Dial died in custody on June 13, 2007 due to terminal health problems.

References

External links

* [http://www.doc.state.ok.us/facilities/institutions/osr.htm Oklahoma Department of Corrections – Oklahoma State Reformatory]
* [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/04/18/national/main688790.shtml CBS News: New Twist In Case Of Warden's Wife]
* [http://marriage.about.com/od/celebritymarriages/p/bobbiparker.htm About.com: Marriage – Randy and Bobbi Parker Marriage Profile]