Hominy ( – night-walker) is a city in Osage County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2020 census, the community had 3,329 residents.

The town was the home of an all-Native American football team in the 1920s. Parts of a docudrama on the Hominy Indians were shot in the area in 2013.

History

thumb|left|Drummond HomeThe town was incorporated in 1908, though the initial settlement developed in the late 1880s.

From the early 1920s to 1932, Hominy was home to a professional football team composed of Native American players.

The Hominy Indians defeated the New York Giants in 1927, just after the Giants were named champions of the National Football League. The team had a 28-game winning streak at one point during its existence, but was disbanded due to the onset of the Great Depression. A screening of the movie "Playground of the Native Son," based on the events of the team was screened on October 10, 2014, at Circle Cinema, Tulsa's non-profit independent theater.

A medium security prison was constructed in Hominy at the price of $12.8 million and received its first inmates in August 1979. It was originally named the Jess Dunn Correctional Center, in honor of Warden Jess Dunn who had been shot and killed in 1941 by prisoners during an escape attempt. A 1977 joint resolution renamed the facility the Dick Conner Correctional Center. The facility reached its original design capacity of 400 during the spring of 1980.

The prison was severely damaged by a riot that took place on August 29 and 30, 1983. A riot proclamation was issued by then Governor George Nigh on August 30. The inmates torched the buildings adjacent to the kitchen and completely destroyed the library, school, and church area. All of this resulted in the death of an inmate and damages of $3 million. The first special session of the 39th Legislature re-appropriated nearly $2.5 million to fund reconstruction of the facility.

Geography

Hominy is south of Pawhuska, the county seat.

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2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Hominy had a population of 3,329. The median age was 38.2 years, 16.8% of residents were under the age of 18, and 11.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 194.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 226.5 males age 18 and over.

There were 871 households in Hominy, of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 36.5% were married-couple households, 19.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 36.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 1,043 housing units, of which 16.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 62.6% were owner-occupied and 37.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.9%.

{| class="wikitable"

|+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census

! Race !! Percent

|-

| White || 52.1%

|-

| Black or African American || 14.3%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 19.9%

|-

| Asian || 0.2%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 0%

|-

| Some other race || 3.2%

|-

| Two or more races || 10.2%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 5.4%

|}

2000 census

As of the census

Major job providers in the area are the Osage Casino-Hominy, Cleveland Walmart, and the Dick Conner Correctional Center. Opened as a medium security facility for men in 1979, the prison is named for former Oklahoma State Penitentiary warden and Osage County sheriff R.B. "Dick" Conner.

Government

Hominy has a council-manager form of government. as well as his metal sculpture "New Territory" atop a hill west of downtown.

Parks and recreation

The has a boat ramps, a fishing dock, and other amenities.

Trains no longer run through Hominy, but the route has been converted to the Katy Trail.

Sports and other activities

The Hominy Bucks, whose colors are purple and white and whose mascot is a Buck (a Native American warrior), have produced several boys and girls championship teams.

Hominy's high school football team is recognized as one of the top high school programs in the state of Oklahoma. The Bucks currently hold five state football championship titles which were won in 1973, 1982, 1983, 2001 and 2016. The team narrowly lost state championship games in 1959, 1968 and 1972. The team has won 25 district championships and have only missed the state playoffs twice since 1977. The football team competes in the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activity Association (OSSAA), within the class A division.

The Arkansas River Rivalry is played every year between Hominy and Cleveland High Schools and is one of the oldest rivalries in the state, dating back to 1922. The Battle of the Osage is the rivalry game between Hominy and Pawhuska and has also been played nearly annually since 1922.

Hominy's football teams have produced several notable athletes in its history of athletics. Zaven Collins who played Quarterback for Hominy High School, led the team to a State Championship in 2016. Collins later received a scholarship to attend the University of Tulsa, where he was awarded the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Lombardi Award, and the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nations best defensive player. Collins was later selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round (16th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft. Les Graham went on to play for the Detroit Lions in their 1938 season. Reuben Deroin played for Oklahoma State University in the 1950s. Kenny Rader was Hominy's first All-State football player as well as earning Prep All-American honors in 1960. Rader went on to play football for the University of Tulsa. Running back Harry Roy Red Eagle, who signed with the University of Kansas, was selected to the Oklahoma All-State football team and the high school Prep All-American Team in 1961. Unlike today, in the early 1960s there was only one high school All-American team in the United States. Red Eagle is also the only player from Hominy High School to have his jersey number (#30) retired in 1961; running back Bob Hudson was another stellar player whose family produced a number of great athletes that have played for the Bucks. Hudson played for the Green Bay Packers in 1972 and the Oakland Raiders 1973-1974; defensive back Jesse Hudson played for the New York Giants in 1977; former University of Oklahoma defensive back Scott Garl; defensive back Mike Hudson played collegiately for the Oklahoma State Cowboys and for the San Diego Chargers in 1987. Hominy's former head football coach Scott Harmon played defensive back at Oklahoma State University as well.

Hominy's Boys Basketball Teams have also had success on the court and have won two state championship titles in 1945 and 1982.

Along with producing numerous individual state champions the Hominy Boys Track and Field teams have produced four state team titles which were won in 1976, 1981, 1983 and 2000.

The athletic programs have seen many Bucks and Lady Bucks garner All-State recognition in football, basketball, and track.

The Hominy High School Band was the Class 1A champion and came in 9th overall at 1A - 3A OBA in 2000.

The high school cheerleading squad has won five state championships, in 1990, 1992, 1993, 2007 and 2011.

Education

It is within the Hominy Public Schools school district.

The Osage Nation Education Department is headquartered near Hominy.

Transportation

Hominy, northwest of Tulsa, is at the intersection of SH-20 and SH-99.

Hominy Municipal Airport (FAA ID: H92), two miles north of town, features a 3210' x 60' paved runway.

Commercial air service is available out of Tulsa International Airport, about 42 miles southeast.

Notable people

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  • Mildred Andrews Boggess (1915-1987), Pipe organ Professor at the University of Oklahoma
  • Zaven Collins (b. 1999), Linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals.
  • Mavis Doering (1929–2007), award-winning Cherokee basketweaver and educator
  • Gentner Drummond (b. 1963), Lawyer, businessman and Attorney General of Oklahoma
  • Floyd Gass (1927-2006), football coach at Oklahoma State University
  • Bob Hudson (b. 1948), NFL player
  • Kenneth M. Taylor (1919–2006), brigadier general during World War II

Notes

References

  • City of Hominy
  • Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Hominy