Waurika is the
county seat
A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...
of
Jefferson County,
Oklahoma
Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...
, United States.
The population was 2,064 at the 2010 census, a 4.36 percent decrease from 2,158 at the 2000 census.
An article from 1985 in ''
The Oklahoman
''The Oklahoman'' is the largest daily newspaper in Oklahoma, United States, and is the only regional daily that covers the Greater Oklahoma City area. The Alliance for Audited Media (formerly Audit Bureau Circulation) lists it as the 59th larges ...
'' claimed that Waurika promoted itself as "The Parakeet Capital of the World". It gave no explanation for using this slogan. The Waurika Chamber of Commerce website in 2020 echoes that the town was "once a parakeet paradise," but currently seems to be promoting the motto ''On The
Trail
A trail, also known as a path or track, is an unpaved lane or small road usually passing through a natural area. In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, a path or footpath is the preferred term for a pedestrian or hiking trail. Th ...
, By The Lake'', complete with a logo of a cowboy
bronc-riding a fish.
City name
The name is the anglicized version of the
Comanche
The Comanche or Nʉmʉnʉʉ ( com, Nʉmʉnʉʉ, "the people") are a Native American tribe from the Southern Plains of the present-day United States. Comanche people today belong to the federally recognized Comanche Nation, headquartered in La ...
compound ''woarɨhka'' ("worm eater") from ''woa'' ("worm") + ''tɨhka'' ("eat") and presumably refers to early European settlers whose plowing humorously resembled digging for worms. Without indicating the source of their opinions, the City of Waurika and the Oklahoma Historical Society say the name means "clear (or pure) water" in some unidentified "American Indian language".
(See
the etymology of "Idaho" for another example of an inspiring, but fictitious, meaning of Native American origin.)
History
![First Presbyterian Church Waurika](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/First_Presbyterian_Church_Waurika.jpg)
Waurika was settled after the Comanche, Kiowa, and Apache Reservation was opened to non-Indians on August 6, 1901. The first white settler was James McGraw, who
homesteaded on the present town site after moving from
Burlington, Iowa
Burlington is a city in, and the county seat of, Des Moines County, Iowa, United States. The population was 23,982 in the 2020 census, a decline from the 26,839 population in 2000. Burlington is the center of a micropolitan area, which includes ...
.
[Sheridan B. Drowatzky, "Waurika," ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture''](_blank)
2009. Accessed March 27, 2015. The first sale of town lots was held on June 18, 1902. Nearly three thousand people attended the sale.
Waurika was incorporated in May 1903. On May 8 of that year, C.A. McBrian was sworn in as the town's first mayor.
At the time of its founding, Waurika was located in
Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation Pickens County was a political subdivision of the Chickasaw Nation in the Indian Territory from 1855, prior to Oklahoma being admitted as a state in 1907. The county was one of four that comprised the Chickasaw Nation. Following statehood, its terr ...
.
The
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway came to Waurika on January 1902 after the railroad superintendent "designated the town as a flag station."
Waurika was formerly the northern terminus for the
Wichita Falls and Southern Railroad
Wichita ( ) may refer to:
People
*Wichita people, a Native American tribe
*Wichita language, the language of the tribe
Places in the United States
* Wichita, Kansas, a city
* Wichita County, Kansas, a county in western Kansas (city of Wichita i ...
, one of the 20th century properties of
Frank Kell
Frank or Franks may refer to:
People
* Frank (given name)
* Frank (surname)
* Franks (surname)
* Franks, a medieval Germanic people
* Frank, a term in the Muslim world for all western Europeans, particularly during the Crusades - see Farang
Curre ...
and
Joseph A. Kemp
Joseph is a common male given name, derived from the Hebrew Yosef (יוֹסֵף). "Joseph" is used, along with "Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the mo ...
of
Wichita Falls, Texas
Wichita Falls ( ) is a city in and the seat of government of Wichita County, Texas, United States. It is the principal city of the Wichita Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Archer, Clay, and Wichita counties. Accordin ...
, where the
Kell House Museum
Kell House Museum, also known as The Kell House, is a historic house museum in Wichita Falls, Texas. The house was occupied from 1909 until 1980 by members of the family of Frank Kell, who made a fortune in railroads, flour milling and oil. Kel ...
is located today.
Geography
Waurika is located in northwestern Jefferson County at (34.170130, -98.001268).
U.S. Route 70
U.S. Route 70 or U.S. Highway 70 (US 70) is an east–west United States highway that runs for from eastern North Carolina to east-central Arizona. It is a major east–west highway of the Southeastern United States, Southeastern, Southern Unite ...
passes through the southern side of the city, leading east to
Ardmore and west to
Randlett.
U.S. Route 81
U.S. Route 81 or U.S. Highway 81 (US 81) is a major north–south U.S. highway that extends for in the central United States and is one of the original United States Numbered Highways established in 1926 by the American Association of Stat ...
crosses US 70 in the southeastern corner of Waurika, leading north to
Duncan
Duncan may refer to:
People
* Duncan (given name), various people
* Duncan (surname), various people
* Clan Duncan
* Justice Duncan (disambiguation)
Places
* Duncan Creek (disambiguation)
* Duncan River (disambiguation)
* Duncan Lake (d ...
and south to
Ringgold.
Oklahoma State Highway 5
State Highway 5 (SH-5 or OK-5) is the name assigned to two distinct state highways in the U.S state of Oklahoma. One runs for through extreme southwestern Oklahoma, passing through Harmon and Jackson Counties. The other is long and runs thro ...
(Waurika's Main Street) leads northwest to
Temple
A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Hinduism (whose temples ...
. Waurika is approximately southwest of
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City (), officially the City of Oklahoma City, and often shortened to OKC, is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, it ranks 20th among United States cities in population, a ...
.
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, Waurika has a total area of , of which , or 0.08%, are water.
The city center lies on the east side of the valley of Beaver Creek, a south-flowing tributary of the
Red River.
Waurika Lake
Waurika is the county seat of Jefferson County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,064 at the 2010 census, a 4.36 percent decrease from 2,158 at the 2000 census.
An article from 1985 in ''The Oklahoman'' claimed that Waurika promoted ...
is northwest of the city center.
Economy
Waurika's economy has largely been based on cattle raising, agriculture and petroleum production since the founding of the city.
Demographics
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...
of 2000, there were 1,988 people, 741 households, and 500 families residing in the city. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...
was 168.0 people per square mile (64.9/km). There were 929 housing units at an average density of 78.5 per square mile (30.3/km). The racial makeup of the city was 85.41%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...
, 1.81%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 4.28%
Native American, 3.37%
Asian
Asian may refer to:
* Items from or related to the continent of Asia:
** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia
** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia
** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.10%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe the original p ...
, 2.36% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 2.67% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...
or
Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
of any race were 8.00% of the population.
There were 741 households, out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.3% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,800, and the median income for a family was $31,594. Males had a median income of $24,844 versus $16,286 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the city was $13,496. About 6.4% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 14.4% of those under age 18 and 17.4% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Waurika has a home rule charter form of government.
Notable people
*
Bennie G. Adkins, United States Army
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. ...
recipient born in Waurika
*
Irene Champlin
Irene Champlin (born Irene Parsons; March 16, 1931 – July 10, 1990) was an American actress.
Biography
She was born in Waurika, Oklahoma. Her most prominent role was as Dale Arden in the 1954–1955 syndicated television series ''Flash Gordon' ...
, actress born in Waurika
*
Gary Chapman, singer and songwriter born in Waurika
*
Ed Davis,
Depression-era criminal born in Waurika
*
Chris Kidd
Chris Kidd (born November 23, 1979) is an American politician who has served in the Oklahoma Senate from the 31st district since 2016. He was re-elected by default in 2020. He was one of twenty early Oklahoma lawmakers who endorsed Ron DeSantis f ...
, Oklahoma State Senator (2016–present)
*
James W. McCord Jr., CIA officer implicated in the
Watergate scandal
The Watergate scandal was a major political scandal in the United States involving the administration of President Richard Nixon from 1972 to 1974 that led to Nixon's resignation. The scandal stemmed from the Nixon administration's continual ...
born in Waurika
Places
The town's Rock Island Passenger Depot was rehabilitated starting in 1987, and in 2002 was added to the
.
Also NHRP-listed are the
First Presbyterian Church,
[ the Jefferson County Courthouse,] and the State Highway 79 Bridge at the Red River
The State Highway 79 Bridge at the Red River was a bridge carrying Texas State Highway 79 and Oklahoma State Highway 79 over the Red River at the Texas-Oklahoma state line. The camelback pony truss bridge was long and had 21 truss spans. The Tex ...
leading to Byers, Texas
Byers is a city in Clay County, Texas, United States. It is part of the Wichita Falls, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 496 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Byers is located in northern Clay County along Texas State Highway ...
, which has since been demolished.[ There was a ]Chisholm Trail Historical Museum The Chisholm Trail Historical Museum was a museum in Waurika, Oklahoma which celebrated the historic Chisolm Trail. It covered the history of the Chisholm Trail and the people associated with it. Operation of the museum at one point was given to ...
in Waurika, now closed.
Waurika Lake, completed in 1980, is 11 miles long, contains 192,000 acre feet of water at its normal elevation of 951 feet, has a surface area of 10,000 acres, and features 80 miles of shoreline.[
]
Notable events
The 1996 murder of Heather Rich
The murder of Heather Rich was the 1996 child murder of a Waurika, Oklahoma 16-year-old by three local teenagers. After Rich's body was found, an investigation led to the trials and convictions of the three perpetrators. The murder and trials ...
brought brief notoriety to Waurika. Rich, a 16-year-old sophomore
In the United States, a sophomore ( or ) is a person in the second year at an educational institution; usually at a secondary school or at the college and university level, but also in other forms of post-secondary educational institutions. In ...
at the local high school, was murdered by two classmates and an acquaintance in a case that attracted national media coverage.
References
{{authority control
Cities in Jefferson County, Oklahoma
Cities in Oklahoma
County seats in Oklahoma
Populated places established in 1902
1902 establishments in Oklahoma Territory