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'Ada' is a city and the county seat of Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 16,008 at the 2000 census.
History
In April 1889, Shelbie (a native Texan) was appointed to carry the mail from Stonewall to Center, two small communities in the Indian Territory. With his family and his stock he sought a place for a home on a prairie midway between the two points. He found that place in a pleasant setting where he constructed a log house and started Reed's Store. Other settlers soon came along and built homes nearby. In 1891, a post office was established and named after Reed's oldest daughter - Ada [1]. Ada was incorporated as a city in 1901 [2].
Ada Today
Ada, located in the rolling hills of southeastern Oklahoma is home to a four-year university, a world-class EPA water laboratory, the State's law-enforcement training center, and the headquarters of the Chickasaw Nation Indian tribe. Ada is an Oklahoma Main Street City, a Certified City, a Tree City USA member, and a National Weather Service StormReady Community [2].
National Register of Historic Places
Pontotoc County Court House
The following sites in Ada are listed on the National Register of Historic Places [4]:
★ Ada Public Library
★ Bebee Field Round House
★ East Central State Normal School
★ Mijo Camp Industrial District
★ Pontotoc County Courthouse
★ Sugg Clinic
★ Wintersmith Park Historic District
Geography
Jct. Main ST and Rennie ST.
Ada is located at (34.763661, -96.668214). Ada is 88 miles (142 km) from Oklahoma City, 122 miles (196 km) from Tulsa, and 133 miles (214 km) from Dallas, Texas [2].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 40.8 km² (15.8 mi²). 40.7 km² (15.7 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.44%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2006, there were 16,008 people, 6,697 households, and 3,803 families residing in the city. The population density was 385.9/km² (999.3/mi²). There were 7,472 housing units at an average density of 183.8/km² (475.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 73.81% White, 3.54% African American, 15.10% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.89% from other races, and 5.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.89% of the population.
There were 6,697 households out of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.6% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.2% were non-families. 37.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 17.5% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,977, and the median income for a family was $31,805. Males had a median income of $25,223 versus $17,688 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,666. About 14.8% of families and 21.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.8% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.
Major Employers
Major employers in Ada, who employ 100 or more people, include [6]:
★ Carl Albert Indian Hospital
★ Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma / Chickasaw Enterprises
★ City of Ada
★ DJK Enterprises, Inc.
★ East Central University
★ Flex-N-Gate Technologies
★ Holcim Cement
★ IRT
★ McCalls Communties
★ People's Electric Cooperative
★ Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc.
★ Robert S. Kerr EPA Water Research Laboratory
★ Solo Cup
★ Valley View Regional Hospital
★ Wal-Mart Supercenter
Education
Higher Education
East Central University, located in Ada, is a four-year institution. Also nearby are Seminole State College in Seminole and Murray State College in Tishomingo, both located within 40 miles (60 km). The University of Oklahoma in Norman is 65 miles (105 km) away, while Oklahoma State University in Stillwater is a little over 100 miles away. The Oklahoma City metropolitan area, just over 80 miles distance, also contains numerous post-secondary educational institutions.
Primary and Secondary
Ada Public Schools has six primary and secondary schools.
★ Glenwood Early Childhood Center houses six educational programs geared toward early childhood (4-5 years old).
★ Hayes Grade Center is a first and second grade center.
★ Washington Grade Center bridges the gap between Glenwood and Willard.
★ Willard Grade Center serves fifth and sixth grade students.
★ Ada Junior High School enrolls seventh through ninth grade students.
★ Ada High School serves sophomores, juniors and seniors [7]. The high school is home to the Ada High School Cougars, who have won nineteen state football championships (1951-2, 1955-7, 1959, 1962, 1964-5, 1970, 1974, 1980, 1986, 1988, 1991, and 1993-6) - the most in Oklahoma. Ada High School is also the home of Cougar News Network, a high school news program, which appears on local cable TV.
There are also two public school systems just outside of the Ada City Limits, Byng and Latta.
Alcohol and Minors
A May 2006 survey of Ada High School students indicated that alcohol was easily obtained by minors. The survey concluded that about four out of five Ada High School students drink once per month. Though widespread alcoholism in minors is very rare in Ada, two students reported drinking heavily more than four times per week. The survey also reported that three out of five students polled have been stopped by police and had their vehicles searched for no apparent reason other than for alcohol at least once in the past month. (The survey polled 148 students.)[8]
A September 2006 survey showed that 59% of likely voters in Ada supported non-enforcement of minimum-age-purchasing laws for those 18 years and older. However only 18% supported allowing 16-year-olds to drink. (The poll had a 3.2%+/- of error)[9]
Technical Schools
Pontotoc Technology Center (formerly Pontotoc Area Vo-Tech) is located in Ada. Other area technical centers include the Sulphur Skills Center (30 miles away), the Mid-America Area Vo-Tech at Wayne (38 miles away) and The Gordon Cooper Vo-Tech School at Shawnee (55 miles away).
Libraries
Ada's public library, the Hugh Warren Memorial Library, offers visitors a wide variety of materials for all ages and interests including books, video cassettes, filmstrips, magazines, newspapers, books-on-tape, and CD-ROM computer software. Also available to the public is a copy machine, fax machine, and a typewriter [10]. Also on the campus of East Central University is the Linscheid Library, which is open to the general public at no cost (with the exception of some services) [11].
Notable Persons
★ Don B. Billingsley - Billingsley, who graduated from East Central University in 1993 [12], previously played high school football in Odessa, Texas for the Permian Panthers. He is portrayed by Garrett Hedlund in the 2004 film ''Friday Night Lights'' as tortured tailback who has to try and live up to the expectations of his father [13].
★ Jeremy Castle, a country music star, was born in Blanchard, OK, and attended East Central University [14].
★ Charles "Chuckie" Caufield - Professional baseball player and former outfielder for Oklahoma Sooners, Charles was born in Ada and graduated from Ada High School. He earned All-State honors in basketball as a senior [15].
★ Dan Cody, a linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens was born in Ada [16].
★ Lowell Fulson - guitarist, moved to Ada in 1938.
★ Mark Gastineau - National Football League all-star, ECU graduate.
★ David Jimenez - Professional comedian ECU graduate
★ M.G. Kelly - Nationally syndicated disc jockey.
★ Kristian Bergsnes - Professional songwriter.
★ Robert S. Kerr - Former Oklahoma Governor and long-time US Senator, born in Ada.
★ Jane Lawton - Delegate, Maryland General Assembly.
★ Zac Maloy - Singer and founding member of post-grunge band The Nixons.
★ Jody Newberry - Professional Bull Rider, 2003 PBR Rookie of the Year and 2003 PBR Finals Event Winner.
★ Dwayne O'Brien - Singer and founding member of country band Little Texas.
★ William Peterson - Pontotoc County district attorney [17].
★ Oral Roberts - Evangelist, born in Ada.
★ Blake Shelton – Rising country music star. Has had several top 10 hits.
★ Jeremy Shockey – National Football League tight end, born in Ada.
★ Leon Polk Smith - Abstract artist known for his work with geometric painting, graduate of East Central University.
★ Harland Stonecipher - Founder and CEO of Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc.
★ Ron Williamson - Former Minor League Baseball player who was wrongfully convicted of murder and was the subject of John Grisham's The Innocent Man.
External links
★ Ada official website
★ Ada unofficial website
References
1. History of Ada
2. About Ada
3. About Ada
4. Pontotoc County, OK
5. About Ada
6. Major Employers
7. Welcome to Ada Public Schools
8. Silent, Paul. Drug Survey of Ada High Students. Oklahoma: student survey, 2006.
9. Day, Harry. Citizens of Ada. Oklahoma: in-house poll, 2006.
10. City Services
11. Linscheid Library
12. Dan Cody - Member Search Results
13. Friday Night Lights
14. Jeremy Castle
15. Chuckie Caufield Bio
16. Dan Cody - Baltimore Ravens...
17. District Attorneys Council - District 22
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