Ramona, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Ramona is a town in Washington County
, Oklahoma
, United States
. The population was 564 at the 2000 census
. The town began as Bon-Ton, but changed its name to Ramona in 1899 in honor of the Helen Hunt Jackson novel of the same name. The town is one of four communities that makes up the consolidated Caney Valley School District.
Ramona was an oil town and was also a stop for the Santa Fe railroad. When the oil dried up, there was no other industry to support Ramona, so the town began to die out. Very little business remains in the town, aside from a garage, a bank, a medical clinic, a small grocery, and sundry other small businesses. For 30 years the town was under the jurisdiction of the Washington County Sheriff's Office after the police department disbanded and the Chief of Police was sentenced to prison. Under the leadership of the former mayor, the late Robert Fiddler, the police department was reinstated, the water lines were repaired/replaced, and a grant was accepted from the Cherokee Nation to repave the streets. The town also supplies natural gas service to the Wal-Mart distribution center 5 miles north of town.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 564 people, 245 households, and 161 families residing in the town. The population density
was 735.6 people per square mile (282.8/km²). There were 265 housing units at an average density of 345.6 per square mile (132.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 72.70% White, 0.18% African American, 14.72% Native American, 0.18% from other races
, and 12.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.24% of the population.
There were 245 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples
living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,667, and the median income for a family was $36,667. Males had a median income of $27,361 versus $24,375 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,393. About 10.2% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 25.9% of those age 65 or over.
Washington County, Oklahoma
Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It is, in total area, the smallest county in Oklahoma, adjacent to the largest county in Oklahoma, Osage County. It is the second smallest county, by land only size, i.e., not including water. As of 2000, the population was...
, 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 564 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...
. The town began as Bon-Ton, but changed its name to Ramona in 1899 in honor of the Helen Hunt Jackson novel of the same name. The town is one of four communities that makes up the consolidated Caney Valley School District.
Ramona was an oil town and was also a stop for the Santa Fe railroad. When the oil dried up, there was no other industry to support Ramona, so the town began to die out. Very little business remains in the town, aside from a garage, a bank, a medical clinic, a small grocery, and sundry other small businesses. For 30 years the town was under the jurisdiction of the Washington County Sheriff's Office after the police department disbanded and the Chief of Police was sentenced to prison. Under the leadership of the former mayor, the late Robert Fiddler, the police department was reinstated, the water lines were repaired/replaced, and a grant was accepted from the Cherokee Nation to repave the streets. The town also supplies natural gas service to the Wal-Mart distribution center 5 miles north of town.
Geography
Ramona is located at 36°31′52"N 95°55′25"W (36.531102, -95.923632).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 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land.
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 564 people, 245 households, and 161 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 735.6 people per square mile (282.8/km²). There were 265 housing units at an average density of 345.6 per square mile (132.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 72.70% White, 0.18% African American, 14.72% Native American, 0.18% 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 12.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.24% of the population.
There were 245 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% 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, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,667, and the median income for a family was $36,667. Males had a median income of $27,361 versus $24,375 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 $14,393. About 10.2% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 25.9% of those age 65 or over.