Enid, Oklahoma

Located in Northwestern Oklahoma, Enid sits at the eastern edge of the Great Plains. It is located at 36°24′2″N 97°52′51″W / 36.40056, -97.88083 (36.400583, -97.880784)^[4], 70 miles North of Oklahoma City. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 74.1 square miles (191.8 km²), of which, 74.0 square miles (191.6 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.12%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 47,045 people, 18,955 households, and 12,567 families residing in the city. The population density was 636.0 people per square mile (245.6/km²). There were 21,255 housing units at an average density of 287.3/sq mi (110.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.18% White, 3.91% African American, 2.12% Native American, 1.00% Asian, 0.58% Pacific Islander, 2.36% from other races, and 2.84% from two or more races. 4.74% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 18,955 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,227, and the median income for a family was $39,113. Males had a median income of $29,841 versus $20,865 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,471. 14.8% of the population and 11.1% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 21.1% of those under the age of 18 and 10.8% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

History

Enid was founded during the opening of the Cherokee Outlet by land run in 1893. Today, the history of this era is preserved at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, located in Enid. Vance Air Force Base was founded in 1941 on land leased by the city of Enid to the United States Army Air Forces, now the United States Air Force. Enid was once home to Champlin Petroleum; the H. H. Champlin mansion is on the National Register of Historic Places. The town's early history was captured in The Cherokee Strip by Pulitzer-winning author Marquis James, who recounts his boyhood in Enid.

The origin of the name Enid is something of a mystery, although it is considered likely to be a reference to a character in Alfred Lord Tennyson's Idylls of the King. However, a more fanciful story is much more popular. According to that tale, in the days following the land run, some enterprising settlers decided to set up a chuckwagon and cook for their fellow pioneers, hanging a sign that read "DINE". Some other, more free-spirited settlers, turned that sign upside down, to read, of course, "ENID". The name, as they say, stuck.

Photos

A panorama of Enid shot from the top of the Court House in 1908

Looking west down Broadway	Looking east down Broadway	Continental Towers	Convention Hall
First National Bank of Enid Building	Grain Storage in Enid, OK	View of a Grain elevator	Government Springs Park in Enid was originally a watering hole on the Old Chisholm Cattle Trail. Enid has over 30 parks and recreation areas within the city limits.

Education

Enid has several institutions of education. Chisholm High School, Enid High School, and Oklahoma Bible Academy are the city's largest secondary education schools. Autry Technology Center serves as the city's only vocational education institution, while Northern Oklahoma College is the city's two-year public college and there is also NW OSU which is a four year college.

Notable Residents

Kayla Smith - Photographer
Sam Boyd - Casino Owner
Lydell Carr - NFL
Clyde Cessna - Aviation Pioneer / Aircraft Manufacturer
Eileen Marie Collins - Astronaut
Karen Dalton - Singer, Musician
Glenda Farrell - Actress
Owen K. Garriott - Astronaut
Bo Gritz - Political Activist
Don Haskins - Hall Of Fame Coach
Glenn Hauser - DXer
Michael Hedges - Guitarist
Marquis James - Author
Stephen Jones - Attorney
Harold Kiner - Medal Of Honor Recipient
Lou Kretlow - Major League Baseball pitcher
Thad Luckinbill - Actor, Star of The Young and the Restless
Ken Mendenhall - NFL
Leona Mitchell - Opera Singer
Stacy Prammanasudh - LPGA
Mark Price - NBA
Brent Price - NBA
Kenneth M. Taylor - USAF General, Pearl Harbor hero
Leon Vance - Medal Of Honor Recipient
Yahweh Ben Yahweh - Founder Nation of Yahweh

Sports

Baseball

Enid Majors won the American Legion World Series 2005.

Phillips University baseball teams, coached by Enid native Joe Record, went to the NAIA World Series three times during his tenure as head coach (1952-1981). Record was the NAIA Coach of the Year in 1973 and was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1975.^[5]

Basketball

The Oklahoma Storm USBL franchise called Enid home. Through their many years in Enid, they were very successful, winning their division numerous times, as well as a USBL Championship. The Storm played their games at Mark Price Arena and the Chisholm Trail Expo Center.

Football

The Enid High School Plainsmen have won 6 state football championships (1919, 1942, 1964, 1965, 1966, and 1983). They went to the Oklahoma State Championship football game in 2006 and lost to the Jenks Trojans.

The Phillips University football teams, coached by John Maulbetsch, beat the University of Oklahoma and Texas University football teams and lost only one game in the 1918 and 1919 seasons.^[6] ^[7] When Phillips defeated Texas 10-0 in Austin, Texas in October 1919, the Longhorns had not lost a game since 1917.^[8]

Industry

Enid, Oklahoma has the most grain storage capacity in the United States.
The Geronimo automobile was manufactured in Enid, Oklahoma.

In Popular Culture

Various references to Enid, Oklahoma are made in Jurassic Park III. (ex. "I dare 'em to nest in Enid, Oklahoma!" was the final line of the movie)
Some scenes from the movie, Dillinger, were filmed in front of the Mark Price Arena and the Grand Saloon
Enid was featured on A Current Affair for a story on religious exorcisms which were being performed for large amounts of money.
Comedian Bill Hicks use to make-fun of this town in his act most notable is his bit on a man named Elmer Dinkley most likely fictional.
Ranked the 28th best place in the nation to raise a family in a Reader's Digest poll.
Enid was listed in the March 2004 issue of Inc. as one of the top 25 small cities in the midwest for doing business[1].

References

^ ^a ^b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ Enid News & Eagle, July 31, 2001, page 27
^ "A New Force in Football: Texas University Will Meet Phillips University in Austin", Corsicana Daily (1919-10-10). Retrieved on 19 December 2007.
^ "Longhorns to Play Phillips Uni. October 11th", San Antonio Evening News (1919-09-13). Retrieved on 19 December 2007.
^ "Texas, Unable to Score, Bows to Haymakers, Phillips University Blanks Longhorns on Muddy Field 10 to 0", San Antonio Light (1919-10-12). Retrieved on 19 December 2007.

External links

Enid, Oklahoma is at coordinates 36°24′02″N 97°52′51″W / 36.400583, -97.880784 (Enid, Oklahoma)Coordinates: 36°24′02″N 97°52′51″W / 36.400583, -97.880784 (Enid, Oklahoma)

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Garfield County, Oklahoma

County seat: Enid

Cities	Enid \| Garber

Towns	Breckenridge \| Carrier \| Covington \| Douglas \| Drummond \| Fairmont \| Hillsdale \| Hunter \| Kremlin \| Lahoma \| North Enid \| Waukomis