Hominy, Oklahoma

Hominy, Oklahoma
Hą́mąðį, Káwataakuʾ
City

Location of Hominy, Oklahoma
Coordinates: 36°25′2″N 96°23′36″W / 36.41722°N 96.39333°WCoordinates: 36°25′2″N 96°23′36″W / 36.41722°N 96.39333°W
Country United States
State Oklahoma
County Osage
Area
 • Total 2.0 sq mi (5.1 km2)
 • Land 2.0 sq mi (5.1 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation 787 ft (240 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 3,565
 • Density 1,305.0/sq mi (503.8/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 74035
Area code(s) 539/918
FIPS code 40-35850[1]
GNIS feature ID 1093874[2]

Hominy (Osage: Hą́mąðį "night-walker") (Pawnee: Káwataakuʾ [3]) is a city in Osage County, Oklahoma. The population was 3,565 at the 2010 census, a 38 percent increase from 2,584 in 2000.[4]

The town was the home of an all-Native American football team in the 1920s. Parts of an upcoming docudrama on the Hominy Indians were shot in the area in 2013.[5]

The town's economy is largely based in agriculture. Major job providers in the area are the Dick Conner Correctional Center and Osage Casino-Hominy.[6]

History

Drummond Home

The town was incorporated in 1908, though the initial settlement developed in the late 1880s.[7]

From the early 1920s to 1932, Hominy was home to a professional football team composed of Native American players.[8]

The Hominy Indians defeated the New York Giants in 1927, just after the Giants were named champions of the National Football League. The team had a 28-game winning streak at one point during its existence, but was disbanded due to the onset of the Great Depression. A screening of the movie "Playground of the Native Son," based on the events of the team was screened Oct. 10, 2014, at Circle Cinema, Tulsa's non-profit and independent theater. [9]

A medium security prison was constructed in Hominy at the price of $12.8 million and received its first inmates in August 1979. It was originally named the Jess Dunn Correctional Center in honor of a warden killed in an escape attempt. A 1977 joint resolution renamed the facility the Dick Conner Correctional Center. The facility reached its original design capacity of 400 during the spring of 1980.

The prison was badly damaged by a riot that took place on August 29 and 30, 1983. A riot proclamation was issued by then Governor George Nigh on August 30. The inmates torched the buildings adjacent to the kitchen and completely destroyed the library, school, and church area. All of this resulted in the death of an inmate and damages of $3 million. The first special session of the 39th Legislature re-appropriated nearly $2.5 million to fund reconstruction of the facility.

Geography

Hominy is located at 36°25′2″N 96°23′36″W / 36.41722°N 96.39333°W (36.417141, -96.393423).[10]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2), all land.

Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 2,584 people, 1,021 households, and 671 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,305.0 people per square mile (503.9/km²). There were 1,208 housing units at an average density of 610.1 per square mile (235.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 64.28% White, 1.90% African American, 25.31% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.31% from other races, and 8.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.25% of the population.

There were 1,021 households out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,211, and the median income for a family was $27,578. Males had a median income of $25,476 versus $22,073 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,073. About 19.0% of families and 22.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.8% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

Dick Conner Correctional Center

Hominy is home to a medium security facility for men that was opened in 1979. The Dick Conner Correctional Center is named for former Oklahoma State Penitentiary warden and Osage County sheriff R.B. "Dick" Conner.[11]

Sports

Hominy's high school football team is recognized as one of the top high school programs in the state of Oklahoma. The Hominy Bucks currently hold four state football championships, in 1973, 1982, 1983 and 2001. The team narrowly lost state championship games in 1959, 1968 and 1972. More recently, the Bucks lost to the Woodland Cougars in a 31-7 decision in the state semi-finals. The team has won 25 district championships and have only missed the state playoffs twice since 1977. The current football team competes in OSSAA Class 1A. The Arkansas River Rivalry is played every year between Hominy and Cleveland and is one of the oldest rivalries in the state, dating back to 1922. The Battle of the Osage is the rivalry game between Hominy and Pawhuska and has also been played nearly annually since 1922.

Hominy has produced several notable athletes, including running back Charles Crawford, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1986-1987; former University of Oklahoma defensive back Scott Garl; defensive back Mike Hudson who played for the San Diego Chargers in 1987; Oklahoma State University defensive back Jesse Hudson who played for the New York Giants in 1977; and running back Bob Hudson who played for the Green Bay Packers in 1972 and the Oakland Raiders 1973-1974.

The high school cheerleading squad has won five state championships, in 1990, 1992, 1993, 2007 and 2011.

The high school boys basketball team has won two state championships, in 1945 and 1982.

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ↑ "AISRI Dictionary Database Search--prototype version. "River", Southband Pawnee". American Indian Studies Research Institute. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
  4. ↑ MuniNet Guide: Hominy, Oklahoma
  5. ↑ Erwin, Mike. Local filming wraps up for Hominy football movie Pawhuska Journal-Capital March 30, 2013 (accessed March 30, 2013).
  6. ↑ http://www.visittheosage.com/directory_specific.asp?ID=109&PID=10
  7. ↑ May, Jon D. Hominy Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture (access online March 30, 2013)
  8. ↑ Hominy Indians. Oklahoma Today, Autumn 1967 (accessed online at http://digital.library.okstate.edu/oktoday/1960s/1967/oktdv17n4.pdf on March 30, 2013)
  9. ↑ http://www.circlecinema.com/archive/playground-of-the-native-son
  10. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  11. ↑ Dick Conner Correctional Center Page, Oklahoma Department of Corrections Website (accessed March 31, 2013).

External links