Harrah, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Harrah is a city in Oklahoma County
, Oklahoma
, United States
, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area
. Located 25 miles (40.2 km) east of downtown Oklahoma City, Harrah had a population of 5,148 people as of 2009.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 11.9 square miles (30.8 km²), all land. The city's elevation is 925 feet (281.9 m) above sea level.
Originally named Sweeney, the town was renamed Harrah on December 22, 1898 and was incorporated in 1908. The town was to be named Clubb, but an early dispute among settlers resulted in the name of Harrah.
In the 1940s Harrah was a center of cotton
ginning. Its population was 741 in 1950. By 1990 4,206 people lived in Harrah.
of 2000, there were 4,719 people, 1,736 households, and 1,331 families residing in the city. The population density
was 397.9 people per square mile (153.6/km²). There were 1,859 housing units at an average density of 156.7/sq mi (60.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.92% White, 0.68% African American, 6.27% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races
, and 4.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.48% of the population.
There were 1,736 households out of which 38.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.1% were married couples
living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.3% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,330, and the median income for a family was $47,712. Males had a median income of $35,625 versus $24,487 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,708. About 5.4% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.
2006 Population estimates placed Harrah's population at 4,970.
As of 2009, Harrah's population was 5,148.
Earl Burson has served as city manager since October 2005 and formerly served as the city manager for Stroud, Oklahoma. As of April 2009, the city council consists of Mayor Larry Fryar and council members Duane Patterson, Carolyn Allen, Gordon Jeney, and Cass Smith.
The City of Harrah includes several departments, including a small fire department consisting of several paid firefighters and many volunteer firefighters. The police department includes full-time detectives, patrol officers, part-time officers, and voluntary reserve officers. The city also offers a comprehensive set of public utilities managed by the utility department and a public works department.
Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
Oklahoma County is a county located in the central partof the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 718,633 at the 2010 census. The county seat and principal city is Oklahoma City...
, 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...
, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area
Oklahoma City metropolitan area
-Metro-area suburbs and exurbs:The following communities are suburbs and exurbs of Oklahoma City with populations of at least 1,000 found within the bounds of State Highway 33 to the north, State Highway 18 and US-177 to the east, State Highway 39 and State Highway 9 to the south, and US-81 to the...
. Located 25 miles (40.2 km) east of downtown Oklahoma City, Harrah had a population of 5,148 people as of 2009.
Geography
Harrah is located at 35°28′34"N 97°11′2"W (35.476163, -97.183803).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 11.9 square miles (30.8 km²), all land. The city's elevation is 925 feet (281.9 m) above sea level.
History
The land that would become the town of Harrah had its first settler, Louis Navarre, in the 1870s. Two decades later, E.W. Sweeney began the operation of a ferry in 1891. Frank Harrah, for whom the town is named, purchased 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) from Louis Navarre's allotement in April 1898 and early settlers included a large number of Poles.Originally named Sweeney, the town was renamed Harrah on December 22, 1898 and was incorporated in 1908. The town was to be named Clubb, but an early dispute among settlers resulted in the name of Harrah.
In the 1940s Harrah was a center of cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
ginning. Its population was 741 in 1950. By 1990 4,206 people lived in Harrah.
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 4,719 people, 1,736 households, and 1,331 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 397.9 people per square mile (153.6/km²). There were 1,859 housing units at an average density of 156.7/sq mi (60.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.92% White, 0.68% African American, 6.27% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.34% 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 4.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.48% of the population.
There were 1,736 households out of which 38.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.1% 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, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.3% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,330, and the median income for a family was $47,712. Males had a median income of $35,625 versus $24,487 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 $17,708. About 5.4% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.
2006 Population estimates placed Harrah's population at 4,970.
As of 2009, Harrah's population was 5,148.
City government
The City of Harrah has a city council made up of five council members and a mayor, all elected officials. A council-appointed city manager runs the day-to-day administration of the city and oversees city staff. The city also holds a municipal court twice a month.Earl Burson has served as city manager since October 2005 and formerly served as the city manager for Stroud, Oklahoma. As of April 2009, the city council consists of Mayor Larry Fryar and council members Duane Patterson, Carolyn Allen, Gordon Jeney, and Cass Smith.
The City of Harrah includes several departments, including a small fire department consisting of several paid firefighters and many volunteer firefighters. The police department includes full-time detectives, patrol officers, part-time officers, and voluntary reserve officers. The city also offers a comprehensive set of public utilities managed by the utility department and a public works department.