Wilson

• Official Name — Wilson, Oklahoma • Type — Town • Image Map — OKMap-doton-Wilson.PNG • Map Size — 250px • Map Caption — Location of Wilson, Oklahoma • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Name — United States • Subdivision Type1 — State • Subdivision Name1 — Oklahoma • Subdivision Type2 — County • Subdivision Name2 — Carter • Unit Pref — Imperial • Area Total Km2 — 14.65 • Area Land Km2 — 14.62 • Area Water Km2 — 0.03 • Area Total Sq Mi — 5.66 • Area Land Sq Mi — 5.64 • Area Water Sq Mi — 0.01 • Population As Of — 2020 • Population Total — 1399 • Population Density Km2 — 95.71 • Population Density Sq Mi — 247.87 • Time Zone — Central (CST) • Utc Offset — -6 • Time Zone Dst — CDT • Utc Offset Dst — -5 • Elevation Ft — 909 • Postal Code Type — ZIP code • Postal Code — 73463 • Area Code — 580 • Custom Label Sec1 — FIPS code • Custom Data Sec1 — 40-81500 • Custom Label1 Sec1 — GNIS feature ID • Custom Data1 Sec1 — 2412275 Wilson is a town in Carter County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2020 census, the community had 1,399 residents. It is about 17 miles west of Ardmore off US Route 70, and is part of the Ardmore, Oklahoma Micropolitan Statistical Area. It is home to one of the oldest Assemblies of God churches in Oklahoma, the Wilson Assembly of God Church.

John Ringling (of Ringling Brothers fame) in 1913 built his Oklahoma, New Mexico and Pacific Railway west from Ardmore to the spot that would become Wilson. Ringling himself chose the name—originally “New Wilson”--- as a tribute to Charles Wilson, manager of the Ringling Brothers Circus. A post office was established on January 17, 1914; the town voted to incorporate the same year; and, the name changed to Wilson in 1918. The murder of Jared Lakey in 2019 achieved national attention.

Wilson is located in southwestern Carter County. U.S. Highway 70 passes through the city north of the populated center; it leads east 16 mi to Ardmore, the Carter County seat, and west 35 mi to Waurika. According to the United States Census Bureau, Wilson has a total area of 14.7 km2, of which 0.03 km2, or 0.23%, is water.

As of the 2020 census, Wilson had a population of 1,399. The median age was 43.0 years. 23.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 86.4 males age 18 and over. 0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas. There were 581 households in Wilson, of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 41.1% were married-couple households, 18.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 653 housing units, of which 11.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 70.1% were owner-occupied and 29.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.3%. Racial composition as of the 2020 census • Race — Percent • White — 80.5% • Black or African American — 0.3% • American Indian and Alaska Native — 8.6% • Asian — 0% • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander — 0% • Some other race — 0.5% • Two or more races — 10.1% • Hispanic or Latino (of any race) — 2.7%

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,584 people, 625 households, and 426 families residing in the city. The population density was 278.3 PD/sqmi. There were 785 housing units at an average density of 137.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 89.71% White, 0.25% African American, 6.57% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.44% from other races, and 2.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.83% of the population. There were 625 households, out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.03. In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.5% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.5 males. The median income for a household in the city was $22,667, and the median income for a family was $28,199. Males had a median income of $29,063 versus $17,619 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,258. About 15.4% of families and 20.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.0% of those under age 18 and 18.3% of those age 65 or over.

The Healdton Oil Field Bunkhouse, just north of Wilson, is NRHP-listed.