Wakita, Oklahoma

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Wakita watertower that was featured in the 1996 film, Twister

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 tornado. In fact, part of the town was deliberately demolished for scenes that show the tornado damaged town, and later rebuilt at the expense of the studio.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Attractions
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Wakita is located at 36°52′54″N, 97°55′26″W (36.881781, -97.923757)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.9 km² (0.3 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 420 people, 165 households, and 102 families residing in the town. The population density was 491.4/km² (1,275.4/mi²). There were 205 housing units at an average density of 239.9/km² (622.5/mi²). 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.