Waurika, Oklahoma

The name is the anglicized version of the Comanche compound woarɨhka ("worm eater") from woa ("worm") + tɨhka ("eat") and presumably refers to early European settlers whose plowing humorously resembled digging for worms.William Bright. 2013. Native American Placenames of the Southwest (Univ. of Oklahoma Press) Without indicating the source of their opinions, the City of Waurika and the Oklahoma Historical Society say the name means "clear (or pure) water" in some unidentified "American Indian language".{{cite web|url= https://www.waurika.gov/visitors/residents/index.php |title=History|publisher=City of Waurika|access-date=November 16, 2020}} This is an example of the widespread occurrence of fanciful false etymologies of Native American place names, especially when the original Native language meaning is simple, insulting, vulgar, or unknown.William Bright. 2004. Native American Placenames of the United States (Univ. of Oklahoma Press)

File:First Presbyterian Church Waurika.jpg.]]

Waurika was settled after the Comanche, Kiowa, and Apache Reservation was opened to non-Indians on August 6, 1901. The first white settler was James McGraw, who homesteaded on the present town site after moving from Burlington, Iowa.[http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=WA048 Sheridan B. Drowatzky, "Waurika," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture], 2009. Accessed March 27, 2015. The first sale of town lots was held on June 18, 1902. Nearly three thousand people attended the sale.

Waurika was incorporated in May 1903. On May 8 of that year, C.A. McBrian was sworn in as the town's first mayor. At the time of its founding, Waurika was located in Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation.Charles Goins, Historical Atlas of Oklahoma (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2006), plate 105.

The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway came to Waurika in January 1902 after the railroad superintendent "designated the town as a flag station." Waurika was formerly the northern terminus for the Wichita Falls and Oklahoma Railway, one of the 20th century properties of Frank Kell and Joseph A. Kemp of Wichita Falls, Texas,{{cite web|url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/eqwue|title=H. Allen Anderson, "Wichita Falls and Southern Railroad"|publisher=tshaonline.org|access-date=April 19, 2013}} where the Kell House Museum is located today.

{{US Census population

|1910= 2928

|1920= 3204

|1930= 2368

|1940= 2458

|1950= 2327

|1960= 1933

|1970= 1833

|1980= 2369

|1990= 2088

|2000= 2158

|2010= 2064

|2020= 1837

|footnote={{cite web|url=http://censusviewer.com/city/OK/Waurika|access-date=February 18, 2016|title=Census Viewer: Waurika, Oklahoma Population|publisher=Moonshadow Mobile, Inc.}}

}}

Waurika is located in northwestern Jefferson County. U.S. Route 70 passes through the southern side of the city, leading east {{convert|49|mi}} to Ardmore and west {{convert|27|mi}} to Randlett. U.S. Route 81 crosses US 70 in the southeastern corner of Waurika, leading north {{Convert|26|mi}} to Duncan and south {{convert|24|mi}} to Ringgold. Oklahoma State Highway 5 (Waurika's Main Street) leads northwest {{Convert|19|mi}} to Temple. Waurika is approximately {{convert|109|mi}} southwest of Oklahoma City.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Waurika has a total area of {{convert|32.4|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|0.03|sqkm|order=flip|2}}, or 0.08%, are water.{{Cite web| url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4079250| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Waurika city, Oklahoma| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American Factfinder| access-date=October 17, 2018| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213105153/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4079250| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}} The city center lies on the east side of the valley of Beaver Creek, a south-flowing tributary of the Red River.

Waurika Lake is {{convert|6|mi|0}} northwest of the city center.Google Maps

{{Weather box

| single line = Y

| location = Waurika, Oklahoma (1991–2020)

| Jan high F =55.1

| Feb high F =59.7

| Mar high F =69.1

| Apr high F =76.5

| May high F =83.4

| Jun high F =91.2

| Jul high F =97.0

| Aug high F =96.3

| Sep high F =88.1

| Oct high F =77.4

| Nov high F =64.8

| Dec high F =55.9

| Jan mean F =43.1

| Feb mean F =47.2

| Mar mean F =56.0

| Apr mean F =63.8

| May mean F =72.1

| Jun mean F =80.1

| Jul mean F =84.9

| Aug mean F =84.2

| Sep mean F =76.4

| Oct mean F =65.2

| Nov mean F =53.3

| Dec mean F =44.4

| Jan low F =31.1

| Feb low F =34.8

| Mar low F =42.9

| Apr low F =51.2

| May low F =60.7

| Jun low F =69.1

| Jul low F =72.8

| Aug low F =72.1

| Sep low F =64.7

| Oct low F =52.9

| Nov low F =41.8

| Dec low F =32.9

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch =1.56

| Feb precipitation inch =1.77

| Mar precipitation inch =2.50

| Apr precipitation inch =3.10

| May precipitation inch =4.32

| Jun precipitation inch =3.87

| Jul precipitation inch =2.34

| Aug precipitation inch =2.96

| Sep precipitation inch =3.11

| Oct precipitation inch =2.93

| Nov precipitation inch =2.09

| Dec precipitation inch =1.65

| Jan snow inch =0.7

| Feb snow inch =0.4

| Mar snow inch =0.1

| Apr snow inch =0.0

| May snow inch =0.0

| Jun snow inch =0.0

| Jul snow inch =0.0

| Aug snow inch =0.0

| Sep snow inch =0.0

| Oct snow inch =0.0

| Nov snow inch =0.5

| Dec snow inch =0.2

| source = NOAA{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/us-climate-normals/#dataset=normals-monthly&timeframe=30&station=USC00349395 |title=NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access |publisher=NOAA |access-date=2025-04-03 }}

}}

Waurika's economy has largely been based on cattle raising, agriculture and petroleum production since the founding of the city.

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,988 people, 741 households, and 500 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|168.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 929 housing units at an average density of {{convert|78.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 85.41% White, 1.81% African American, 4.28% Native American, 3.37% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 2.36% from other races, and 2.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.00% of the population.

There were 741 households, out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.3% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,800, and the median income for a family was $31,594. Males had a median income of $24,844 versus $16,286 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,496. About 6.4% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.4% of those under age 18 and 17.4% of those age 65 or over.

Waurika has a home rule charter form of government.

• Bennie G. Adkins, United States Army Medal of Honor recipient born in Waurika
• Irene Champlin, actress born in Waurika
• Gary Chapman, singer and songwriter born in Waurika
• Ed Davis, Depression-era criminal born in Waurika
• Chris Kidd, Oklahoma state senator (2016–2024){{cite web|url=https://www.duncanbanner.com/news/chris-kidd-wins-republican-nomination-for-state-senate-district-seat/article_a71301d2-69a2-11e6-ba67-bb2cc76b0ccc.html |title=Chris Kidd wins Republican nomination for State Senate District 31 seat |publisher=Duncanbanner.com |date=2016-08-23 |accessdate=2019-05-05}}{{cite web|url=http://www.oksenate.gov/Senators/biographies/kidd_bio.aspx |title=Senator Chris Kidd - District 31 |publisher=Oksenate.gov |date= |accessdate=2019-05-05}}
• James W. McCord Jr., CIA officer implicated in the Watergate scandal born in Waurika

The town's Rock Island Passenger Depot was rehabilitated starting in 1987, and in 2002 was added to the National Register of Historic Places listings in Jefferson County, Oklahoma. Also NHRP-listed are the First Presbyterian Church, the Jefferson County Courthouse,{{cite web|url= https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=JE001 |title=Jefferson County|publisher=Oklahoma Historical Society|access-date=November 16, 2020}} and the State Highway 79 Bridge at the Red River leading to Byers, Texas, which has since been demolished. There was a Chisholm Trail Historical Museum in Waurika, now closed.{{cite web|url=https://www.yelp.com/biz/chisholm-trail-historical-museum-waurika |title= Chisholm Trail Historical Museum|publisher=Yelp|access-date=November 16, 2020}}

Waurika Lake, completed in 1980, is 11 miles long, contains 192,000 acre feet of water at its normal elevation of 951 feet, has a surface area of 10,000 acres, and features 80 miles of shoreline.

{{main|Murder of Heather Rich}}

The 1996 murder of Heather Rich brought brief notoriety to Waurika. Rich, a 16-year-old sophomore at the local high school, was murdered by two classmates and an acquaintance in a case that attracted national media coverage.

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{{Jefferson County, Oklahoma}}

{{Oklahoma county seats}}

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Category:1902 establishments in Oklahoma Territory

Category:Cities in Jefferson County, Oklahoma

Category:County seats in Oklahoma

Category:Populated places established in 1902