Erick, Oklahoma

Erick was home to two of country music's more idiosyncratic performers. Sheb Wooley[?], the actor, songwriter, and singer who recorded the saga of the "one-eyed one-horned flying purple people eater" was born there in 1921. Roger Miller[?], country superstar and author of "King of the Road", "Dang Me", "You Can't Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd", and many others, was born in Fort Worth, Texas, but raised in Erick from the age of 3.

Geography Erick is located at 35°12'49" North, 99°52'11" West (35.213549, -99.869821)¹.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.5 km² (1.0 mi²). 2.5 km² (1.0 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.

Demographics As of the census of 2000, there are 1,023 people, 429 households, and 272 families residing in the city. The population density is 403.0/km² (1,040.3/mi²). There are 556 housing units at an average density of 219.1/km² (565.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 93.45% White, 0.10% African American, 0.88% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 2.05% from other races, and 3.32% from two or more races. 4.69% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 429 households out of which 28.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% are married couples living together, 10.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% are non-families. 34.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 19.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.34 and the average family size is 3.01.

In the city the population is spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 22.3% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 22.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 41 years. For every 100 females there are 83.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 82.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $21,346, and the median income for a family is $28,977. Males have a median income of $23,482 versus $16,375 for females. The per capita income for the city is $13,855. 25.7% of the population and 22.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 39.4% are under the age of 18 and 15.8% are 65 or older.