Watts

Watts is a town in northern Adair County, Oklahoma, United States. It was named for John Watts, also known as Young Tassel, a Chickamauga Cherokee chief, who died in 1802. The population was 324 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.5 percent over the figure of 316 recorded in 2000. The Kansas City Southern Railway built a line through the area in 1895-96, and in 1912, relocated its division point from Stillwell to Watts Switch, one mile north of a community called Ballard. KCS, like many American railroads, fell on hard times between World War I and World War II. During this period, KCS began dismantling its operations in Watts, as they were no longer needed. The depot, razed in the 1980s, was the last thing to go. By 2000, Watts had only two feed mill businesses. Most of the employed residents commuted to work in other towns, especially Siloam Springs, Arkansas, which was only 6 miles (9.7 km) north. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²), all land.Nearby Ballard Creek is a tributary of the Illinois River. The town is located on U.S. Highway 59 9 miles (14km) north of Westville. It is located at 36°628N 94°3417W (36.107896, -94.571389).

History

Watts is near the site of Old Fort Wayne, which was founded in 1838. The Kansas City Southern Railway (KCS) built a line through the area in 1895-96. In 1912, KCS relocated its division point from Stillwell to Watts Switch, one mile north of a community called Ballard. Most of Ballard's merchants moved to the new community of Watts, along with gamblers, land speculators, construction workers and KCS employees. KCS, like many American railroads, fell on hard times between World War I and World War II. By 2000, Watts had only two feed mill businesses, and most of the employed residents commuted to work in other towns, especially Siloam Springs, Arkansas, which is only 6 miles (9.7 km) north. The town began to decline even before the Great Depression took hold. The depot, razed in the 1980s, was the last thing to go. The first official count was 396 at the 1920 census. This declined to 353 in 1930, then reached its bottom of 267 in 1950, before rising to 326 in 1970, and going back to 303 in 1990. No census data were reported at either the time of statehood or the 1910 U.S. Census. An unofficial estimate of 300 residents was made in 1913, with an official count of 396 in 1920. The post office was established inside a store March 30, 1912. The local newspaper, the Watts Watchman, began publication sometime in the 1910s. A lumberyard moved from Ballard, a hardware store and two livery stables were not far behind.

Geography

Watts is located at 36°628N 94°3417W (36.107896, -94.571389).According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) It is located on U.S. Highway 59 9 miles (14 km) north of Westville.Nearby Ballard Creek is a tributary of the Illinois River. The town is located in the Ozark Mountains, which are part of the Sangamon Valley region of the Rocky Mountains. The Ozarks are home to the Ozarks National Park, which overlooks the town of Watts. It is also the site of the Ozana National Forest, which stretches for more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) to the north and south of the town. The Illinois River, which runs through the town, is just a short distance to the east. It flows into the Mississippi River at the mouth of Ballard Creek, which is just to the west of the city of Woonsocket. It was named after Ballard Creek's namesake, who was a pioneer in the area in the 19th century. It's also known as the "Watts River" because of its name of a nearby creek. The community's name is derived from the name of an early settler, William Watts, who arrived in the region in the early 1800s. He is believed to have been the first person to arrive in the town in 1805.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 316 people, 103 households, and 73 families residing in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 66.14% White, 0.32% African American, 24.68% Native American, 1.58% from other races, and 6.65% from two or more races. 3.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The town's population was 27.2% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 21.5 percent from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.35. The median income for a household in theTown was $26,417, and the median income was $27,250 for a family. The per capita income for the Town was $9,356. Out of the total population, 21.6% of those under the Age of 18 and none of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. the town's average household income was. $25,543 versus $18,393 for females. The city's median age is 35 years. For every 100 females, there are 93.9 males. For each 100 females age 18 and over,there are 94.9 Males. The population density was 861.0 inhabitants per square mile (332.4/km²).

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Watts, Adair County, Oklahoma = 72.2. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 30. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 99. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Watts = 4.9 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 8,857 individuals with a median age of 36 age the population grows by 6.33% in Watts, Adair County, Oklahoma population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 426.69 residents per square mile of area (164.71/km²). There are average 2.7 people per household in the 112 households with an average household income of $36,603 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 8.20% of the available work force and has dropped -2.66% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 26.48%. The number of physicians in Watts per 100,000 population = 62.1.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Watts = 44.4 inches and the annual snowfall = 9.8 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 98. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 216. 91 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 23.8 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 27, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Watts, Adair County, Oklahoma which are owned by the occupant = 57.36%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 43 years with median home cost = $38,210 and home appreciation of 0.97%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $5.48 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $5,720 per student. There are 14.4 students for each teacher in the school, 408 students for each Librarian and 445 students for each Counselor. 0.92% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 4.61% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).