Vinita, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Vinita is a city in south-central Craig County
, Oklahoma
. As of 2009, the population estimate was 6,057. It is the county seat
of Craig County.
and forest
. It is located at 36°38′28"N 95°9′24"W (36.641193, -95.156676). According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.3 square miles (11.1 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 6,472 people, 2,381 households, and 1,454 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,486.9 people per square mile (574.4/km²). There were 2,694 housing units at an average density of 618.9 per square mile (239.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 67.32% White, 6.12% African American, 14.86% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races
, and 10.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.48% of the population.
There were 2,381 households out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples
living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 35.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 105.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,511, and the median income for a family was $33,461. Males had a median income of $26,263 versus $18,182 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,980. About 14.3% of families and 17.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.0% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.
Vinita was established in 1871. In 1889, gunman and lawman
Tom Threepersons
was born there. It was the first city in the state with electricity. The city was first named Downingville, and was a primarily Native American community. It was later renamed Vinita after Vinnie Ream
. The city was incorporated in 1898.
A McDonald's restaurant built over the top of Interstate 44
, called the Glasshouse McDonald's, is the world's largest McDonald's restaurant in terms of area, occupying 29,135 ft².
Craig County, Oklahoma
Craig County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010, the population was 15,029, a gain of 0.5 percent from 14,950 in 2000. Its county seat is Vinita.Craig County was organized in 1907.-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...
. As of 2009, the population estimate was 6,057. It is 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 Craig County.
Geography
Vinita is located in Northeastern Oklahoma, a region of the state known as Green Country. It sits at the base of the Ozark Highlands topographical region in a mix of prairiePrairie
Prairies are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type...
and forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
. It is located at 36°38′28"N 95°9′24"W (36.641193, -95.156676). 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 4.3 square miles (11.1 km²), all 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 6,472 people, 2,381 households, and 1,454 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 1,486.9 people per square mile (574.4/km²). There were 2,694 housing units at an average density of 618.9 per square mile (239.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 67.32% White, 6.12% African American, 14.86% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.62% 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 10.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.48% of the population.
There were 2,381 households out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% 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, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 35.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 105.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,511, and the median income for a family was $33,461. Males had a median income of $26,263 versus $18,182 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 $13,980. About 14.3% of families and 17.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.0% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.
History
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
Tom Threepersons
Tom Threepersons
Tom Threepersons was a Cherokee lawman, who is considered to have been one of the last of what were considered to be gunfighters. Although often described as being a "gunfighter," he better fit into the category of a lawman and soldier. Although at times said to be a gunfighter of the Old West,...
was born there. It was the first city in the state with electricity. The city was first named Downingville, and was a primarily Native American community. It was later renamed Vinita after Vinnie Ream
Vinnie Ream
Lavinia Ellen Ream Hoxie was an American sculptor. Her most famous work was the statue of Abraham Lincoln in the U.S. Capitol rotunda.-Early life:...
. The city was incorporated in 1898.
A McDonald's restaurant built over the top of Interstate 44
Interstate 44
Interstate 44 is a major highway in the central United States. Its western terminus is in Wichita Falls, Texas at a concurrency with US 277, US 281 and US 287; its eastern terminus is at the Illinois state line on the Poplar Street Bridge over the Mississippi River in St...
, called the Glasshouse McDonald's, is the world's largest McDonald's restaurant in terms of area, occupying 29,135 ft².
Notable residents
- Gene AutryGene AutryOrvon Grover Autry , better known as Gene Autry, was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television for more than three decades beginning in the 1930s...
, actor - Yvonne ChouteauYvonne ChouteauMyra Yvonne Chouteau is one of the "Five Moons" or Native prima ballerinas of Oklahoma. In 1962 she and her husband founded the first fully accredited university dance program in the United States, at the University of Oklahoma. A member of the Shawnee Tribe, she is also of ethnic French...
, ballerina - Jim EdgarJim EdgarJames Edgar is an American politician who was the 38th Governor of Illinois from 1991 to 1999 and Illinois Secretary of State from 1981 to 1991. As a moderate Republican in a largely blue-leaning state, Edgar was a popular and successful governor, leaving office with high approval ratings...
, former IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
governor - Phil McGrawPhil McGrawPhillip Calvin McGraw best known as Dr. Phil, is an American television personality, author, former psychologist, and the host of the television show Dr. Phil, which debuted in 2002...
, TV personality "Doctor Phil" - Jay Red EagleJay Red EagleJay Red Eagle is a Native American flautist and Native American artist whose businesses include lines of music clothing called Nashville Threads and M.T. Medicine Bottle. His clothing and shoe designs include country music and Native American clothing, Hip hop clothing, and the first ever Cherokee...
, Cherokee flute player - Tom ThreepersonsTom ThreepersonsTom Threepersons was a Cherokee lawman, who is considered to have been one of the last of what were considered to be gunfighters. Although often described as being a "gunfighter," he better fit into the category of a lawman and soldier. Although at times said to be a gunfighter of the Old West,...
(1889—1969) lawman, gunfighter, and inventor of the Threepersons holster
National Register of Historic Places
- Craig County Courthouse
- Eastern State Mental Hospital
- First Methodist Episcopal Church, South
- Hotel Vinita
- Randall Tire Company
- Spraker Service Station
- McDougal Filling Station