Sentinel, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Sentinel is a town in Washita County
, Oklahoma
, United States
. The population was 901 at the 2010 census
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all of it land.
Sentinel is located in western Oklahoma's Washita County
at the intersection of Highway 44 and Highway 55.
of 2000, there were 859 people, 346 households, and 256 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,399.0 people per square mile (543.7/km²). There were 411 housing units at an average density of 669.4 per square mile (260.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 88.01% White, 0.12% African American, 3.03% Native American, 5.47% from other races
, and 3.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.29% of the population.
There were 346 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% were married couples
living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $29,265, and the median income for a family was $34,531. Males had a median income of $23,846 versus $19,250 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,122. About 15.4% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.6% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.
In 1901 the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway, later bought by the Atchison, Topeka, and Sante Fe Railway, began purchasing rights-of-way and designating new townsites for a proposed railroad. The newly formed Orient Townsite Company chose the site of present Sentinel and received a donation of eighty acres from L. N. Whitmer. They named the new town Barton and filed a plat on September 23, 1901. The new residents asked Gore to relocate his store and post office to the new location. This caused confusion, as the town and post office had different names. In 1904 Will Hornbeck established the Sentinel News-Boy. Determined to correct the name problem, he started a petition to incorporate the town as Sentinel. In 1906 the voters approved this measure in an election. In August 1907 the town officially became Sentinel. At 1907 statehood it had 351 residents.
By 1908 the Orient had built their tracks through the village. In 1910 the population stood at 857, climbing to 1,269 by 1930. In 1911 residents supported two banks, a newspaper, electricity and telephone service, four grocers, two hotels, four general stores, among many other businesses and professionals. In 1935 a Civilian Conservation Corps camp was located just west of Sentinel. The population held above one thousand until 1970 when it registered 984. In 1967 the Rocky school consolidated into Sentinel School District. In 1961 the chamber of commerce began hosting an annual, large July Fourth celebration. In 2000 the population stood at 859.
Sentinel public School is a member of the Western Technology Center
District. WTC provides the opportunity for adults and high school students to get occupationally-specific training. As a member of the WTC district, high school juniors and seniors living in the Sentinel School District have the opportunity to attend classes at the WTC campus in Burns Flat. High school students who are residents of the WTC District can enroll in WTC full-time training on a tuition-free basis. Adult students are allowed to attend classes on a tuition basis. Tuition for adult students is $2.00 per training hour. Adult students can apply for financial assistance to attend WTC.
Washita County, Oklahoma
Washita County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 11,508. Its county seat is New Cordell. It was formerly located in Cloud Chief, Oklahoma....
, 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 901 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
Sentinel is located at 35°9′24"N 99°10′26"W (35.156659, -99.173829).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 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all of it land.
Sentinel is located in western Oklahoma's Washita County
Washita County, Oklahoma
Washita County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 11,508. Its county seat is New Cordell. It was formerly located in Cloud Chief, Oklahoma....
at the intersection of Highway 44 and Highway 55.
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 859 people, 346 households, and 256 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 1,399.0 people per square mile (543.7/km²). There were 411 housing units at an average density of 669.4 per square mile (260.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 88.01% White, 0.12% African American, 3.03% Native American, 5.47% 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 3.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.29% of the population.
There were 346 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% 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 26.0% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $29,265, and the median income for a family was $34,531. Males had a median income of $23,846 versus $19,250 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 $14,122. About 15.4% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.6% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.
History
Located in southwestern Washita County, Sentinel lies at the intersection of State Highways 44 and 55. The town is primarily an agriculture-based community. The 1892 Cheyenne and Arapaho Opening brought non-Indians into the region. In 1898 R. B. Gore, a pioneer of Old Greer County, established a small general merchandise store in the area and applied for a post office. On March 6, 1899, the Post Office Department approved the application and designated the locale as Sentinel, Oklahoma Territory. The name originated from Cloud Chief's Herald-Sentinel newspaper. This store was approximately one mile east of the present town.In 1901 the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway, later bought by the Atchison, Topeka, and Sante Fe Railway, began purchasing rights-of-way and designating new townsites for a proposed railroad. The newly formed Orient Townsite Company chose the site of present Sentinel and received a donation of eighty acres from L. N. Whitmer. They named the new town Barton and filed a plat on September 23, 1901. The new residents asked Gore to relocate his store and post office to the new location. This caused confusion, as the town and post office had different names. In 1904 Will Hornbeck established the Sentinel News-Boy. Determined to correct the name problem, he started a petition to incorporate the town as Sentinel. In 1906 the voters approved this measure in an election. In August 1907 the town officially became Sentinel. At 1907 statehood it had 351 residents.
By 1908 the Orient had built their tracks through the village. In 1910 the population stood at 857, climbing to 1,269 by 1930. In 1911 residents supported two banks, a newspaper, electricity and telephone service, four grocers, two hotels, four general stores, among many other businesses and professionals. In 1935 a Civilian Conservation Corps camp was located just west of Sentinel. The population held above one thousand until 1970 when it registered 984. In 1967 the Rocky school consolidated into Sentinel School District. In 1961 the chamber of commerce began hosting an annual, large July Fourth celebration. In 2000 the population stood at 859.
Schools
The Sentinel School District has a large geographic area consisting of over 200 square miles (518 km²). The present school plant was constructed in the 1960s. Sentinel is a class 'A' school. Students from the communities of Sentinel, Port, Rocky, and Carter attend Sentinel Public Schools.Sentinel public School is a member of the Western Technology Center
Western Technology Center
Western Technology Center is a public career and technology education center founded in 1970 with its main campus located in Burns Flat, Oklahoma. Branch campuses are located in Hobart, Sayre and Weatherford...
District. WTC provides the opportunity for adults and high school students to get occupationally-specific training. As a member of the WTC district, high school juniors and seniors living in the Sentinel School District have the opportunity to attend classes at the WTC campus in Burns Flat. High school students who are residents of the WTC District can enroll in WTC full-time training on a tuition-free basis. Adult students are allowed to attend classes on a tuition basis. Tuition for adult students is $2.00 per training hour. Adult students can apply for financial assistance to attend WTC.