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.
History
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.
Geography
Wilson is located in southwestern Carter County. U.S. Highway 70 passes through the city north of the populated center; it leads east to Ardmore, the Carter County seat, and west to Waurika.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Wilson has a total area of , of which , or 0.23%, is water.
Demographics
2020 census
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.
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.
! 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%
|}
2000 census
As of the census
Historic Landmark
The Healdton Oil Field Bunkhouse, just north of Wilson, is NRHP-listed.