Slaughterville, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Slaughterville is a town in Cleveland County
, Oklahoma
, United States
, located in and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area
. The population of Slaughterville was 3,609 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 38.3 square miles (99.1 km²), of which, 38.1 square miles (98.7 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (0.39%) is water.
of 2000, there were 3,609 people, 1,279 households, and 1,002 families residing in the town. The population density
was 94.7 people per square mile (36.6/km²). There were 1,419 housing units at an average density of 37.2 per square mile (14.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 84.90% White, 0.69% African American, 5.60% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.55% from other races
, and 7.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.05% of the population.
There were 1,279 households out of which 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.2% were married couples
living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.6% were non-families. 17.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 100.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,815, and the median income for a family was $39,458. Males had a median income of $32,359 versus $19,583 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,511. About 11.1% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.0% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.
Approximately 6% of Slaughterville's residents live in the Noble Estates mobile home park, the single largest housing development in the Town.
(PETA) asked Slaughterville administrator Marsha Blair to rename the town.
"I am writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, our 800,000 members and supporters, and other compassionate Americans to ask Slaughterville to change its name — which conjures up images of the violent and bloody deaths of terrified chickens, pigs and cows — to Veggieville, a friendly name honoring a heart-healthy and compassionate alternative to animal corpses," the letter said. PETA promised to donate $20,000 in veggie burgers to the town school district. However, the town does not have a school district all its own.
Members of Slaughterville's town council amicably heard presentations by members of PETA before voting against the suggestion. More than a dozen people at the standing room only meeting offered opinions on why the town should keep its name. Even with negotiations of stray animal shelters, or a spay/neuter program for low-income Slaughterville residents, the town still rejected the request. PETA, in effort to win the town over, gave away free veggie burgers and information about the vegan
lifestyle before the town council meeting. The citizens of Slaughterville voiced their opinion by serving free hot dogs and brandishing signs that read, "Beef: it's what's for dinner."
Cleveland County, Oklahoma
Cleveland County is a county in the central part of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 255,755 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is Norman. Cleveland County is part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, 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...
, located in and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area
Oklahoma City metropolitan area
-Metro-area suburbs and exurbs:The following communities are suburbs and exurbs of Oklahoma City with populations of at least 1,000 found within the bounds of State Highway 33 to the north, State Highway 18 and US-177 to the east, State Highway 39 and State Highway 9 to the south, and US-81 to the...
. The population of Slaughterville was 3,609 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Slaughterville is located at 35°5′1"N 97°17′13"W (35.083584, -97.286945).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 38.3 square miles (99.1 km²), of which, 38.1 square miles (98.7 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (0.39%) 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 3,609 people, 1,279 households, and 1,002 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 94.7 people per square mile (36.6/km²). There were 1,419 housing units at an average density of 37.2 per square mile (14.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 84.90% White, 0.69% African American, 5.60% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.55% 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 7.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.05% of the population.
There were 1,279 households out of which 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.2% 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, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.6% were non-families. 17.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 100.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,815, and the median income for a family was $39,458. Males had a median income of $32,359 versus $19,583 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 $14,511. About 11.1% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.0% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.
Approximately 6% of Slaughterville's residents live in the Noble Estates mobile home park, the single largest housing development in the Town.
PETA takes issue with "Slaughterville"
Slaughterville, OK was named after a grocery store run by James Slaughter in the early 20th century. That name was the subject of controversy in 2004 when People for the Ethical Treatment of AnimalsPeople for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is an American animal rights organization based in Norfolk, Virginia, and led by Ingrid Newkirk, its international president. A non-profit corporation with 300 employees and two million members and supporters, it claims to be the largest animal rights...
(PETA) asked Slaughterville administrator Marsha Blair to rename the town.
"I am writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, our 800,000 members and supporters, and other compassionate Americans to ask Slaughterville to change its name — which conjures up images of the violent and bloody deaths of terrified chickens, pigs and cows — to Veggieville, a friendly name honoring a heart-healthy and compassionate alternative to animal corpses," the letter said. PETA promised to donate $20,000 in veggie burgers to the town school district. However, the town does not have a school district all its own.
Members of Slaughterville's town council amicably heard presentations by members of PETA before voting against the suggestion. More than a dozen people at the standing room only meeting offered opinions on why the town should keep its name. Even with negotiations of stray animal shelters, or a spay/neuter program for low-income Slaughterville residents, the town still rejected the request. PETA, in effort to win the town over, gave away free veggie burgers and information about the vegan
Veganism
Veganism is the practice of eliminating the use of animal products. Ethical vegans reject the commodity status of animals and the use of animal products for any purpose, while dietary vegans or strict vegetarians eliminate them from their diet only...
lifestyle before the town council meeting. The citizens of Slaughterville voiced their opinion by serving free hot dogs and brandishing signs that read, "Beef: it's what's for dinner."
Slaughterville & PETA in the news
- FOX NEWS: PETA Has a Beef With Slaughterville
- USA TODAY: Sorry PETA, the name sticks
- USAG: PETA at it Again, This Time in Slaughterville
- BOSTON GLOBE: PETA tries to persuade Slaughterville to change its name
- CNN: Slaughterville rejects vegetarian name change
- Post Gazette: When life runs amok in PETA-ville