Granite, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Granite is a town in Greer County
, Oklahoma
, United States
. The population was 1,065 at the 2010 census
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,844 people, 443 households, and 283 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,166.3 people per square mile (450.6/km²). There were 533 housing units at an average density of 337.1 per square mile (130.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 69.47% White, 16.97% African American, 4.93% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 3.85% from other races
, and 4.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.16% of the population.
There were 443 households out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples
living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the town the population was spread out with 13.7% under the age of 18, 12.6% from 18 to 24, 43.2% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 259.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 304.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,438, and the median income for a family was $30,703. Males had a median income of $23,125 versus $20,368 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $12,599. About 13.1% of families and 17.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.0% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.
, Granite, Oklahoma is home to significant mining operations. Quarries such as Willis Granite Products extract native red granite for use in headstones, memorials, and signs throughout the United States.
Granite is also home to Oklahoma State Reformatory
, a medium-security corrections facility also boasting some maximum and minimum-security housing for adult male inmates. Located off of U.S. Highway 9, the 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) facility has a maximum capacity of 999 inmates.
. Bobbi Parker was reunited with her husband and two daughters, and Randolph Dial was returned to custody.
There has been widespread speculation since the original escape and abduction that Bobbi Parker actually fled willingly with Dial, acting more as an accomplice than a hostage. As of January 2006, Greer County District Attorney John Wampler and other Oklahoma authorities had heavily considered pursuing charges against Bobbi Parker for aiding a known fugitive. On September 21, 2011, Bobbi Parker was found guilty and District Judge Richard Darby set sentencing for Oct. 6. Parker faces 10 years in prison but the jury recommended just one. Oklahoma judges typically give significant weight to juror recommendations.
Randolph Franklin Dial died in custody on June 13, 2007 due to terminal health problems.
The charge of ASSISTING A PRISONER TO ESCAPE was filed against Bobbi Parker on 4-4-08. The trial started on 7-5-11 in Greer County District Court. It is expected to last into mid September.
Greer County, Oklahoma
Greer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 6,061. Its county seat is Mangum. From 1860 to 1896, the state of Texas claimed an area known as Greer County, Texas, which included present-day Greer County along with neighboring...
, 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...
. The population was 1,065 at the 2010 census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...
.
Geography
Granite is located at 34°57′45"N 99°22′53"W (34.962367, -99.381356).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 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), all of it 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 1,844 people, 443 households, and 283 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 1,166.3 people per square mile (450.6/km²). There were 533 housing units at an average density of 337.1 per square mile (130.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 69.47% White, 16.97% African American, 4.93% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 3.85% 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 4.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.16% of the population.
There were 443 households out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% 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, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the town the population was spread out with 13.7% under the age of 18, 12.6% from 18 to 24, 43.2% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 259.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 304.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,438, and the median income for a family was $30,703. Males had a median income of $23,125 versus $20,368 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 $12,599. About 13.1% of families and 17.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.0% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.
Local Business
Situated at the foot of the Wichita MountainsWichita Mountains
The Wichita Mountains are located in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The mountains are a northwest-southeast trending series of rocky promontories, many capped by 540 million-year old granite. These were exposed and rounded by weathering during the Permian Period...
, Granite, Oklahoma is home to significant mining operations. Quarries such as Willis Granite Products extract native red granite for use in headstones, memorials, and signs throughout the United States.
Granite is also home to Oklahoma State Reformatory
Oklahoma State Reformatory
The Oklahoma State Reformatory is a medium-security facility with some maximum and minimum-security housing for adult male inmates. Located off of U.S. Highway 9 in Granite, Oklahoma, the facility has a maximum capacity of 999 inmates. The medium-security area accommodates 799 prisoners,...
, a medium-security corrections facility also boasting some maximum and minimum-security housing for adult male inmates. Located off of U.S. Highway 9, the 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) facility has a maximum capacity of 999 inmates.
Bobbi Parker
Granite made national headlines in 1994 when convicted organized crime hitman Randolph Franklin Dial escaped from Oklahoma State Reformatory and abducted deputy warden Randy Parker's wife, Bobbi Parker. Dial eluded local, state, and federal authorities before finally being captured – with Parker – April 5, 2005 on a chicken farm in Center, TexasCenter, Texas
Center is a city in Shelby County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,678 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Shelby County...
. Bobbi Parker was reunited with her husband and two daughters, and Randolph Dial was returned to custody.
There has been widespread speculation since the original escape and abduction that Bobbi Parker actually fled willingly with Dial, acting more as an accomplice than a hostage. As of January 2006, Greer County District Attorney John Wampler and other Oklahoma authorities had heavily considered pursuing charges against Bobbi Parker for aiding a known fugitive. On September 21, 2011, Bobbi Parker was found guilty and District Judge Richard Darby set sentencing for Oct. 6. Parker faces 10 years in prison but the jury recommended just one. Oklahoma judges typically give significant weight to juror recommendations.
Randolph Franklin Dial died in custody on June 13, 2007 due to terminal health problems.
References
The charge of ASSISTING A PRISONER TO ESCAPE was filed against Bobbi Parker on 4-4-08. The trial started on 7-5-11 in Greer County District Court. It is expected to last into mid September.