| Wewoka, Oklahoma | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Location of Wewoka, Oklahoma | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Seminole |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.8 sq mi (12.5 km2) |
| • Land | 4.8 sq mi (12.5 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 804 ft (245 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 3,562 |
| • Density | 736.1/sq mi (284.2/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 74884 |
| Area code(s) | 405 |
| FIPS code | 40-80550[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1099657[2] |
Wewoka is a city in Seminole County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 3,562 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Seminole County[3].
Wewoka is the capital of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma.
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Wewoka is located at .[4]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12.5 km2).None of the area is covered with water.
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 3,562 people, 1,390 households, and 884 families residing in the city. The population density was 736.1 people per square mile (284.2/km2). There were 1,762 housing units at an average density of 364.1 per square mile (140.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 51.04% White, 19.88% African American, 21.45% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.04% from other races, and 6.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.39% of the population.
There were 1,390 households out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.0% were married couples living together, 19.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.8% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $19,490, and the median income for a family was $27,130. Males had a median income of $22,467 versus $17,670 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,039. About 26.6% of families and 29.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.0% of those under age 18 and 20.0% of those age 65 or over.
The city of Wewoka has a history in which it takes great pride. Wewoka is named for the Seminole word which means "barking waters" referring to the small rapids found in the creek that runs on the north side of the city. The city was founded when Elijah J. Brown, an employee of the government, led the Seminole Nation in 1866 from LeRoy, Kansas to Indian Territory. During the Civil War the Seminole Nation sided with the Conferederacy. When the Confederacy lost they were considered a conquered nation and had to renegotiate their treaties with the government. After the Civil War, the Seminole Nation made Wewoka their capital city. Along with the Seminole Indians, their freedmen also settled in Wewoka, giving Wewoka an ethnically diverse citizenry. Elijah Brown remained the only legal white settler in the county until the Land Run in 1889. In 1907 Wewoka became part of the state of Oklahoma and in 1908 became the county seat of Seminole County after winning a strong fought battle with the city of Seminole.
Perhaps nothing has changed the city of Wewoka as much as what happened in the early 1920s. In March 1923, oil was discovered a mile and a half southeast of Wewoka. R.H. Smith drilled the first commercial well in 1923 on St. Patrick's Day. The great wealth around Wewoka was realized in 1925 with the exploration of the Magnolia Petroleum Company. In the 1920s and 30's the great Seminole Oil Fields, with its millions upon millions of flowing wealth, were the largest supply of oil anywhere in the world. In 1925 the population of Wewoka was 1,520. By 1927 the population increased to over 20,000 making it the third largest city in Oklahoma.
From 1927 to the present, the city of Wewoka has found itself the victim of a mining philosophy of taking all you can and packing up and going somewhere else. By 1950 the population of Wewoka was 6,753 and in 1960 it was 6,300. The population continued a steady decline, however, the city remained the commercial center of the area until around 1980. The 1980s and 1990s were difficult for the city. Many businesses left town and poverty greatly increased. The city leaders tried to protect themselves by refusing to allow competition, like Wal-Mart, to enter the city. The crime rate in Wewoka during the 1980s got so bad that Paul Harvey called Wewoka "Little Chicago," because it had a higher crime rate per capita than the city of Chicago. The violence in the city caused many people to avoid coming to Wewoka and gave the city a reputation that continues to linger.
By the mid 1990's new leadership arose that began the difficult task of trying to turn commerce around in the city. The police force was increased and began to get the crime rate under control. The crime rate by 2001 was below average for the state of Oklahoma. The historic downtown received a face lift by receiving new sidewalks, streets, lights and flowers. Perhaps nothing proves the success of Wewoka's resurgence as much as the city being honored as one of Channel 5's Top Five Cities in 2004.
The city of Wewoka continues the fight to attract businesses and maintain population. The current population of Wewoka is just over 3,500. The projections show that the city will continue to decrease in the coming years. The ethnic diversity is still evident with 52% white, 22% American Indian and 18% African American. The average household income is approximately $37,000 a year which is a substantial increase from where Wewoka was in 2002. According to the demographic comparison, the number of households is decreasing, but the income of those living in Wewoka is increasing.[6]
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