Jay, Oklahoma

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Jay, Oklahoma
Location of Jay, Oklahoma
Location of Jay, Oklahoma
Coordinates: 36°25′26″N 94°47′52″W / 36.42389, -94.79778
Country United States
State Oklahoma
County Delaware
Area
 - Total 3.2 sq mi (8.4 km²)
 - Land 3.2 sq mi (8.4 km²)
 - Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²)
Elevation 1,043 ft (318 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 2,482
 - Density 767.2/sq mi (296.2/km²)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 - Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 74346
Area code(s) 918
FIPS code 40-37650[1]
GNIS feature ID 1094183[2]

Jay is a city in Delaware County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,482 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Delaware County[3]. Jay's most famous son is Tommy Morrison, former world heavyweight boxing champion and grandnephew of actor John Wayne. The city hosts the annual Huckleberry festival each July.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Jay is located at 36°25′26″N, 94°47′52″W (36.423906, -94.797831)[4].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.4 km²), all of it land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 2,482 people, 954 households, and 609 families residing in the city. The population density was 767.2 people per square mile (296.7/km²). There were 1,051 housing units at an average density of 324.9/sq mi (125.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 54.43% White, 0.56% African American, 36.50% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 1.89% from other races, and 6.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.55% of the population.

There were 955 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.9% were married couples living together, 17.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $21,875, and the median income for a family was $25,592. Males had a median income of $20,212 versus $17,039 for females. The per capita income for the city was $10,700. About 21.4% of families and 25.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.1% of those under age 18 and 22.3% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

Jay was named for Jay Washburn, a nephew of Stand Watie. The town is the county seat of Delaware County, having won that distinction from Grove, Oklahoma in a special county seat election on December 8, 1908. The 1910-1911 Legislature made Grove, Oklahoma a County Court Town, and provided for two court terms each year. On June 27, 1911 the Supreme Court of Oklahoma ruled in favor of Jay and on January 5, 1912 the County Commissioners ordered the records to be moved to Jay. On May 10, 1913 the courthouse in Jay was burned, destroying most of the county records.

[edit] Trivia

  • Jay is home to a very small Wal-Mart store, known as a Wal-Mart Express. While it does not have a grocery section, it does sell some major household appliances in addition to the general merchandise typically found in non-Supercenter Wal-Marts. The store once had a McDonald's restaurant inside, but it closed shortly before a free-standing McDonald's location opened on the north side of town along U.S. 59/SH-10.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  4. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links