Shawnee, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Shawnee is a city in Pottawatomie County
Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma
Pottawatomie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 65,521 as of the 2000 census. Its county seat is Shawnee...

, 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 29,857 at the 2010 census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...

. The city is part of the Oklahoma City-Shawnee Combined Statistical Area
Combined Statistical Area
The United States Office of Management and Budget defines micropolitan and metropolitan statistical areas. Metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas consist of one or more counties...

; it is also the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....

 of Pottawatomie County
Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma
Pottawatomie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 65,521 as of the 2000 census. Its county seat is Shawnee...

and the principal city of the Shawnee Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Located on Interstate 40, Shawnee is just 30 minutes east of the attractions in downtown Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...

. To the east and northeast, the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System offers barge access to the Gulf of Mexico.

Geography

Shawnee is located at 35°20′33"N 96°56′2"W (35.342474, -96.933775).

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 city has a total area of 44.7 square miles (115.8 km²).About 42.3 square miles (109.6 km²) of it is land and 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²) of it (5.37%) is water.

History

After the Land Run of 1891
Land Run of 1891
The Land Run of 1891 was a set of horse races to settle land acquired by the federal government through the opening of several small Indian reservations in Oklahoma Territory. The race involved approximately 20,000 homesteaders, who gathered to stake their claims on 6097 plots of former...

, four settlers (Etta B. Ray, Henry G. Beard, James T. Farrall, and Elijah A. Alley) each staked a quarter section in the proposed city of Brockway. Following an all-night discussion among early settlers who had their own ideas for the town's name, a compromise was reached, and the town was named Shawnee after the American Indian Tribe.

In 1892, the estimated population was 250. In 1895, the Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad
Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad
The Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad , known informally as the "Choctaw Route," was an American railroad located in located in Arkansas, and Oklahoma. The company, originally known as the Choctaw Coal and Railway Company, completed its main line between West Memphis, Arkansas and western...

 built a line to Shawnee, which fostered rapid growth. The population grew to 2,500 in 1896. In 1903-1904 the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...

 and Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway extended service to town, after given land inducements from Henry Beard and James Farrall.

Oklahoma Baptist University
Oklahoma Baptist University
Oklahoma Baptist University is a co-educational Christian liberal arts university located in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and owned by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. Established in 1910, OBU is ranked No.2 among baccalaureate colleges in the western region in the 2010 U.S...

 located to Shawnee in 1911. Its first building, Shawnee Hall, was a gift from the citizens. St. Gregory's College (now St. Gregory's University
St. Gregory's University
St. Gregory's University is a private, co-educational Catholic liberal arts university. It is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It has its main campus in Shawnee, and an additional campus in Tulsa.-History:St...

) relocated to Shawnee from Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart, Oklahoma
Sacred Heart is a small unincorporated community in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, United States. Established in 1879 by Father Isidore Robot as a Catholic mission on the old Pottawatomie reserve, it was originally named Sacred Heart Mission. The name was changed to Sacred Heart in 1888 shortly...

 in 1915.

In 1930, voters elected to move the county seat of Pottawatomie County
Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma
Pottawatomie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 65,521 as of the 2000 census. Its county seat is Shawnee...

 from Tecumseh
Tecumseh, Oklahoma
Tecumseh is a city in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 6,457 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Tecumseh is located at ....

 to Shawnee. The courthouse was built with New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...

 funding, and opened in 1935.

Demographics

As of the census
Census
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 28,692 people, 11,311 households, and 7,306 families residing in the city. 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 678.9 people per square mile (262.1/km²). There were 12,651 housing units at an average density of 299.3 per square mile (115.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.03% White, 4.06% African American, 12.82% Native American, 0.95% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.72% 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 4.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.72% of the population.

There were 11,311 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% 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, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. About 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 15.2% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,659, and the median income for a family was $35,690. Males had a median income of $29,792 versus $20,768 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 city was $15,676. About 13.8% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.1% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.

Culture

Shawnee is the home of St. Gregory's University
St. Gregory's University
St. Gregory's University is a private, co-educational Catholic liberal arts university. It is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It has its main campus in Shawnee, and an additional campus in Tulsa.-History:St...

, a Benedictine Catholic institution founded in 1875, and Oklahoma Baptist University
Oklahoma Baptist University
Oklahoma Baptist University is a co-educational Christian liberal arts university located in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and owned by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. Established in 1910, OBU is ranked No.2 among baccalaureate colleges in the western region in the 2010 U.S...

, founded in 1906. The city was chosen by the founders of OBU in part because two Baptist Conventions (one in Indian Territory and one in Oklahoma Territory) had earlier merged. So, the city of Shawnee was neutral territory (Shawnee had been neither in Indian Territory nor Oklahoma Territory, but the Potawatomi Nation).

The Heart of Oklahoma Exhibition Center, opened in 1981, now boasts 152400 square feet (14,158.4 m²) of exhibit space, a 19200 square feet (1,783.7 m²) indoor arena that seats 1,000, an outdoor arena seating 7,500, and an RV park, all on 72 acres (291,373.9 m²). Since 1993, the O.E. Center has been the host of the International Finals Youth Rodeo (IFYR), the "richest youth rodeo in the world," with a total prize payout of over $2.6 million; over 1,100 young riders register for the event each year.

The Citizen Potawatomi Nation, the ninth largest Native American tribe in the United States with 26,000 members, is headquartered between Shawnee and Tecumseh. Their Firelake Casino features over 125000 square feet (11,612.9 m²) of gaming space and employs 1,800 people.

Shawnee Regional Airport has a 6,000' asphalt lighted runway with services available seven days a week.

Museums and Theatre

The Citizen Potawatomi Nation
Citizen Potawatomi Nation
Citizen Potawatomi Nation are a federally recognized tribe of Potawatomi people located in Oklahoma. The Potawatomi are traditionally an Algonquian-speaking Eastern Woodlands tribe.-History:...

 operate a Cultural Heritage Center which houses their tribal rolls, archives, and giftshop. The institution also interprets and presents exhibits of Potawatomi culture.

The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art
Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art
The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art is an independent, non-profit art museum located in Shawnee, OK. It is affiliated with St. Gregory's Abbey. It is on the campus of St. Gregory's University. The museum works under the belief that art enriches individual lives and enhances the entire community....

, located on the campus of St. Gregory's University
St. Gregory's University
St. Gregory's University is a private, co-educational Catholic liberal arts university. It is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It has its main campus in Shawnee, and an additional campus in Tulsa.-History:St...

, is one of the oldest museums in Oklahoma. Its collections include Egyptian, Medieval, Renaissance, Contemporary, and Native American.

The Potawatomie County Historical Society run a historical museum in the Santa Fe Depot downtown.
There are three theatre programs in Shawnee, which each organize a season worth of performance.
  • Shawnee Little Theatre
  • St. Gregory's University Theatre Program
  • Oklahoma Baptist University Theatre Program

Recreation

The City of Shawnee maintains Shawnee Twin Lakes, which are located the west of the city. There is also a walking trail which encircles the airport.

Shawnee is home to four wellness facilities.
  • Troy & Dollie Smith Family YMCA
  • Mabee Aerobic Center, on the campus of St. Gregory's University
    St. Gregory's University
    St. Gregory's University is a private, co-educational Catholic liberal arts university. It is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It has its main campus in Shawnee, and an additional campus in Tulsa.-History:St...

  • Recreation and Wellness Center, on the Campus of Oklahoma Baptist University
    Oklahoma Baptist University
    Oklahoma Baptist University is a co-educational Christian liberal arts university located in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and owned by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. Established in 1910, OBU is ranked No.2 among baccalaureate colleges in the western region in the 2010 U.S...

  • Firelake Fitness Center, operated by the Citizen Potawatomi Nation
    Citizen Potawatomi Nation
    Citizen Potawatomi Nation are a federally recognized tribe of Potawatomi people located in Oklahoma. The Potawatomi are traditionally an Algonquian-speaking Eastern Woodlands tribe.-History:...


Sports

Shawnee is also home of the Shawnee Warriors, a local semi-professional
Semi-professional
A semi-professional athlete is one who is paid to play and thus is not an amateur, but for whom sport is not a full-time occupation, generally because the level of pay is too low to make a reasonable living based solely upon that source, thus making the athlete not a full professional...

 football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...

 team. Shawnee competes in the Oklahoma Metro Football League. Their first season was in 2008, when they competed as the Shawnee Millers. The franchise went 3-5 and was an OMFL State semi-finalist. They were affiliated with the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz
Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz
The Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz was a member of the new Arena Football League. The team began play as a 2004 expansion team of the original Arena Football League's now-defunct minor league af2...

, a minor league professional arena team of the af2
Af2
AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...

 for the 2008 season. The team was coached by Jack Dingus.

Sister cities

Nikaho, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...


This is most likely due to the presence of a TDK
TDK
, formerly , is a Japanese company which manufactures electronic materials, electronic components, and recording and data-storage media, and markets them globally. Their motto is "Contribute to culture and industry through creativity"...

 plant in Shawnee. Every year, junior high school students from Shawnee visit Nikaho during the month of July, and Japanese junior high school students visit Shawnee, in September.

Notable residents

  • Dan Boren
    Dan Boren
    Daniel David "Dan" Boren is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. The district includes most of the eastern part of the state outside of Tulsa...

    , United States representative from Oklahoma
  • Samantha Crain
    Samantha Crain
    Samantha Crain is an American songwriter, musician, and singer, from Shawnee, Oklahoma. She often played as part of the Ramseur Records band, Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers. Also in the band are Jacob Edwards, Andrew Tanz, and Stephen Sebastian...

    , songwriter, musician
  • Patrick Cobbs
    Patrick Cobbs
    Patrick Cobbs is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He most recently was a member of the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2006...

    , running back & special teams player for the Miami Dolphins
  • Leroy Gordon Cooper, astronaut
  • Melodie Crittenden
    Melodie Crittenden
    Melodie Crittenden is an American country and Christian music artist. She initially recorded a self-titled debut album for Asylum/Elektra Records in 1998, the same year that she charted with her rendition of "Bless the Broken Road" ; she would later record the song a second time as a member of the...

    , singer
  • Jeremy Dawson
    Jeremy Dawson
    Jeremy Dawson is best known as the keyboardist of the American new wave/indie/rock band Shiny Toy Guns.-Bands:Jeremy was the driving force behind the acts Cloud2Ground, Slyder, and Spyder...

    , keyboardist for Shiny Toy Guns
    Shiny Toy Guns
    Shiny Toy Guns is an American indie rock band that formed in 2002 in Los Angeles, California. They released their first studio album We Are Pilots in 2006, after recording it two previous times. It featured three singles that peaked inside the top 30 in the Alternative Songs Chart. We Are Pilots...

  • Rev. Gregory Gerrer, OSB
    Gregory Gerrer
    Rev. Gregory Gerrer, OSB was a Benedictine Priest at Sacred Heart Abbey , artist, art historian and museum founder.-Art Career:...

    , monk, artist, founder of Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art
    Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art
    The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art is an independent, non-profit art museum located in Shawnee, OK. It is affiliated with St. Gregory's Abbey. It is on the campus of St. Gregory's University. The museum works under the belief that art enriches individual lives and enhances the entire community....

  • Darrien Gordon
    Darrien Gordon
    Darrien Jamal Gordon was born November 14, 1970 in Shawnee, Oklahoma) to James and Goldia Gordon. He graduated from Shawnee High School in 1989 where he was an All-State football player and two-time state champion wrestler as well as an honor student....

    , football player
  • Brad Henry
    Brad Henry
    Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002...

    , Former Governor of Oklahoma
  • Robert H. Henry, Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals judge
  • Wade Hayes
    Wade Hayes
    Tony Wade Hayes is an American country music artist. Signed to Columbia Records in 1994, he made his debut that year with his gold-certified album Old Enough to Know Better...

    , country singer
  • Gregori Chad Petree
    Gregori Chad Petree
    Gregori Chad Petree is a musician who is also best known as guitarist and co-lead vocalist of the American, new wave/indie/rock band Shiny Toy Guns.-Bands:...

    , singer for Shiny Toy Guns
    Shiny Toy Guns
    Shiny Toy Guns is an American indie rock band that formed in 2002 in Los Angeles, California. They released their first studio album We Are Pilots in 2006, after recording it two previous times. It featured three singles that peaked inside the top 30 in the Alternative Songs Chart. We Are Pilots...

  • Brad Pitt
    Brad Pitt
    William Bradley "Brad" Pitt is an American actor and film producer. Pitt has received two Academy Award nominations and four Golden Globe Award nominations, winning one...

    , actor
  • Kris Steele
    Kris Steele
    Kris Steele is a United States politician from the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Steele currently serves in the Oklahoma House of Representatives as the Speaker of the House, a position he took over after the 2010 elections....

    , Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
  • Krista Tippett
    Krista Tippett
    Krista Tippett is a broadcaster, journalist, and author. She is best known for creating and hosting the public radio program Being , distributed and produced by American Public Media...

    , journalist, author, broadcaster; currently host of public radio program, Speaking of Faith
    Speaking of Faith
    On Being is a weekly public radio program about "religion, meaning, ethics, and ideas", produced by American Public Media...

  • William O. Wooldridge
    William O. Wooldridge
    William O. Wooldridge , a much decorated career enlisted man in the United States Army, was the first Sergeant Major of the Army....

    , first Sergeant Major of the Army
    Sergeant Major of the Army
    The Sergeant Major of the Army is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Army. The holder of this rank is the most senior enlisted member of the Army, unless an Army NCO is serving as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman, when in that case that NCO will be the most senior...


External links

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