Wewoka, Oklahoma

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Wewoka, Oklahoma
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Wewoka, Oklahoma


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Oklahoma
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Seminole

government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 12.5
area_land_km2 = 12.5
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 4.8
area_land_sq_mi = 4.8
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 3562
population_density_km2 = 284.2
population_density_sq_mi = 736.1

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 245
elevation_ft = 804
latd = 35 |latm = 8 |lats = 58 |latNS = N
longd = 96 |longm = 29 |longs = 40 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 74884
area_code = 405
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 40-80550GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1099657GR|3
website =
footnotes =

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 CountyGR|6.

Wewoka is the major settlement of the modern Seminole Nation.

Geography

Wewoka is located at coor dms|35|8|58|N|96|29|40|W|city (35.149473, -96.494361)GR|1.

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.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 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/sq mi (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.

Citizens of Historical Prominence

James Coody Johnson was a prominent African American lawyer practicing in or near Wewoka during the period of the Dawes Enrollment and land allotments. A brief biography of Mr. Johnson is on the web at [http://www.african-nativeamerican.com/coody_johnson.htm] . Highlights of his career include testifying in front of the U.S. Supreme court and also acting as a native American interpreter for the famous Judge Isaac Parker. [http://faculty.washington.edu/qtaylor/aa_Vignettes/johnson_james_coody.htm] For a period of time, Mr. Johnson made his residence approximately 5 miles north of Wewoka, near the intersections of Highways 9 and 56. His residence is no longer standing. However, the exact location is believed to have been 35°13'36.37"N, 96°27'48.68"W [http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLJ,GGLJ:2006-30,GGLJ:en&q=35%C2%B013'36.37%22N%2C%2096%C2%B027'48.68%22W&sa=N&tab=wl] . Mr. Johnson sponsored a yearly circus at a location a few hundred yards southeast of this residence in a flat section of land. Many residents of the area had their first airplane flight courtesy of planes flying from an adjoining airstrip to the circus. The J. Coody Johnson building in Wewoka is on the National Register of Historic Places. [http://www.ocgi.okstate.edu/shpo/shpopic.asp?id=85001744]

Juanita Kidd Stout, the first African-American woman elected to any judgeship in the United States, was born in Wewoka. She reportedly graduated from a segregated high school in Wewoka at the age of 16. She spent a significant part of her career being a judge in Philadelphia, creating a significant impact on the community. She regularly returned to Oklahoma, spending a large amount of time in Tulsa for summer breaks. In addition, she was the first black woman to serve on any state's supreme court. She is buried at the Westwood cemetery in Wewoka.

Lee P. Brown, the first African-American mayor of Houston, Texas, was born in Wewoka in 1937 to sharecropper parents. He also served as public safety commissioner of Atlanta, Georgia and police chief in Houston.

Gil Morgan, Professional golfer and current member of the Champions Tour was born in Wewoka, OK September 25, 1946. A graduate of East Central State College in Ada, Oklahoma and doctor of Optometry from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee. He joined the professional tour in 1972 and won seven events between 1977 and 1990. His more prominent success has been in the Champions Tour where he has won 24 events, including the Tradition title in 1997 and 1998, and the Senior Players Championship in 1998. In the 1992 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, he was the first man to reach -10 strokes in the National open. He is currently the second highest career money earner on the Senior Tour.

In 1992, Sgt. Steven M Bryant at the age of 21 was the youngest living holder of two Purple Heart medals at the time. The Purple Heart is a medal awarded to US service members wounded in combat. Sgt. Bryant was born in Wewoka to Lester and Janice Bryant.

References

External links

* [http://www.wewoka.net Wewoka Oklahoma Travel Information]