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Enid is a city in Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 47,045 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Garfield County.
Geography
Enid is located at (36.400583, -97.880784), 70 miles North of Oklahoma City.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 191.8 km² (74.1 mi²). 191.6 km² (74.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.12%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,045 people, 18,955 households, and 12,567 families residing in the city. The population density was 245.6/km² (636.0/mi²). There were 21,255 housing units at an average density of 110.9/km² (287.3/mi²). 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. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.74% of the population.
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 was 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 were 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. About 11.1% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.
Most students attend Enid High School and others go to Chisholm High School and Oklahoma Bible Academy.
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 Museum of the Cherokee Strip, 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.
Other well-known natives include astronaut Owen K. Garriott, movie actress Glenda Farrell, opera singer Leona Mitchell, and her brother Hulon W. Mitchell (also known as Yahweh ben Yahweh), contemporary messianic figure and leader of the Nation of Yahweh. Hall of Fame basketball coach Don Haskins was born and raised in Enid. Former NBA players Mark and Brent Price also grew up in Enid, as did New-Age guitarist Michael Hedges.
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.
Professional Sports
The Oklahoma Storm USBL franchise calls Enid home. Through their many years in Enid, they have been very successful, winning their division numerous times, as well as a USBL Championship. The Storm play their games at Mark Price Arena and the Chisholm Trail Expo Center.
External links
Enid was listed in the March 2004 issue of Inc Magazine as one of the top 25 small cities in the midwest for doing business. See the following link for details.
- http://www.inc.com/magazine/20040301/top25.html
The Enid News & Eagle
- http://www.enidnews.com
Garfield County, Oklahoma | Cities in Oklahoma | County seats in Oklahoma
"Enid, Oklahoma"