Meeker, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Meeker is a town in Lincoln County
, Oklahoma
, United States
. The population was 978 at the 2000 census
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²), of which, 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.63%) is water.
of 2000, there were 978 people, 409 households, and 269 families residing in the town. The population density
was 309.1 people per square mile (119.5/km²). There were 478 housing units at an average density of 151.1 per square mile (58.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 84.56% White, 0.72% African American, 9.82% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.20% from other races
, and 4.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.33% of the population.
There were 409 households out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples
living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the town the population was spread out with 30.0% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 83.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,313, and the median income for a family was $34,659. Males had a median income of $31,146 versus $21,500 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $13,344. About 16.1% of families and 19.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.1% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.
, American baseball player and Hall of Famer
was raised in Meeker. Hubbell was born in Carthage, Missouri and moved to Meeker at a young age. Nicknamed "King Carl" by the fans and "The Meal Ticket" by his teammates, Hubbell's first major-league victory was a 4-0 shutout of the Philadelphia Phillies
. Making a late entry to the majors at age 25, Hubbell would go 10-6 in his first season, and would pitch his entire 16-year major league career for the New York Giants
.
With a slow delivery of his devastating screwball, Hubbell recorded five consecutive 20-win seasons for the Giants (1933–37), and helped his team to three NL pennants and the 1933 World Series
title. In the 1933 Series, he won two complete game victories, including an 11-inning 2-1 triumph in Game Four (the run was unearned). In six career Series starts, he was 4-2 with 32 strikeouts and a low 1.79 earned run average, and is still remembered for striking out Babe Ruth
, Lou Gehrig
, Jimmie Foxx
, Al Simmons
, and Joe Cronin
in their consecutive at-bats in the 1934 All-Star Game.
Hubbell was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York
, in 1947. Cubs second baseman Billy Herman
, a fellow Hall-of-Famer, once said of him that "He could throw strikes at midnight."
Meeker City Hall has a museum dedicated to Carl Hubbell, who is buried in the town's New Hope Cemetery in a grave with a simple headstone. As part of the town's 100th anniversary celebration in 2003, Main Street (aka U.S. Highway 62) was renamed Carl Hubbell Boulevard.
First Sergeant Lucas J. Cheatwood, U.S. Army
Lincoln County, Oklahoma
Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population as of 2010 was 34,273. It is part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Statistical Area.Its county seat is Chandler....
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 978 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
.
Geography
Meeker is located at 35°29′50"N 96°53′50"W (35.497295, -96.897114).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²), of which, 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.63%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 978 people, 409 households, and 269 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 309.1 people per square mile (119.5/km²). There were 478 housing units at an average density of 151.1 per square mile (58.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 84.56% White, 0.72% African American, 9.82% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.20% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 4.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.33% of the population.
There were 409 households out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the town the population was spread out with 30.0% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 83.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,313, and the median income for a family was $34,659. Males had a median income of $31,146 versus $21,500 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $13,344. About 16.1% of families and 19.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.1% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.
Home of Carl Hubbell
Carl HubbellCarl Hubbell
Carl Owen Hubbell was an American baseball player. He was a member of the New York Giants in the National League from 1928 to 1943, and remained on the Giants' payroll for the rest of his life, long after their move to San Francisco.Twice voted the National League's Most Valuable Player, Hubbell...
, American baseball player and Hall of Famer
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
was raised in Meeker. Hubbell was born in Carthage, Missouri and moved to Meeker at a young age. Nicknamed "King Carl" by the fans and "The Meal Ticket" by his teammates, Hubbell's first major-league victory was a 4-0 shutout of the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. Making a late entry to the majors at age 25, Hubbell would go 10-6 in his first season, and would pitch his entire 16-year major league career for the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
.
With a slow delivery of his devastating screwball, Hubbell recorded five consecutive 20-win seasons for the Giants (1933–37), and helped his team to three NL pennants and the 1933 World Series
1933 World Series
The 1933 World Series featured the New York Giants and the Washington Senators, with the Giants winning in five games for their first championship since , and their fourth overall....
title. In the 1933 Series, he won two complete game victories, including an 11-inning 2-1 triumph in Game Four (the run was unearned). In six career Series starts, he was 4-2 with 32 strikeouts and a low 1.79 earned run average, and is still remembered for striking out Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
, Lou Gehrig
Lou Gehrig
Henry Louis "Lou" Gehrig , nicknamed "The Iron Horse" for his durability, was an American Major League Baseball first baseman. He played his entire 17-year baseball career for the New York Yankees . Gehrig set several major league records. He holds the record for most career grand slams...
, Jimmie Foxx
Jimmie Foxx
James Emory "Jimmie" Foxx , nicknamed "Double X" and "The Beast", was a right-handed American Major League Baseball first baseman and noted power hitter....
, Al Simmons
Al Simmons
Aloysius Harry Simmons , born Aloisius Szymanski in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was an American baseball player. He played for two decades in the major leagues as an outfielder, and had his best years as a member of Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics during the 1930's...
, and Joe Cronin
Joe Cronin
Joseph Edward Cronin was a Major League Baseball shortstop and manager.During a 20-year playing career, he played from 1926–45 for three different teams, primarily for the Boston Red Sox. Cronin was a major league manager from 1933–47...
in their consecutive at-bats in the 1934 All-Star Game.
Hubbell was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York
Cooperstown, New York
Cooperstown is a village in Otsego County, New York, USA. It is located in the Town of Otsego. The population was estimated to be 1,852 at the 2010 census.The Village of Cooperstown is the county seat of Otsego County, New York...
, in 1947. Cubs second baseman Billy Herman
Billy Herman
William Jennings Bryan "Billy" Herman was an American second baseman in Major League Baseball during the 1930s and 1940s. He was known for his stellar defense and consistent batting...
, a fellow Hall-of-Famer, once said of him that "He could throw strikes at midnight."
Meeker City Hall has a museum dedicated to Carl Hubbell, who is buried in the town's New Hope Cemetery in a grave with a simple headstone. As part of the town's 100th anniversary celebration in 2003, Main Street (aka U.S. Highway 62) was renamed Carl Hubbell Boulevard.
Notable Residents
Carl Hubbell, Baseball Hall of FameFirst Sergeant Lucas J. Cheatwood, U.S. Army