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Waynoka, Oklahoma

9 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1955 and the latest in 1990. It stands in the South Woods census division. It lies in ZIP code area 73860. The Survey maps it on the Waynoka West quadrangle. 708 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 1,476 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Waynoka within Woods County

On record in Waynoka

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 3 records

Population over time

2 figures

Waynoka fell from 927 to 708 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
2010927
2020708-219 (-24%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

5 surveys from 9 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Photographs

8 of 19 photographs shown, 1943

Taken for the Office of War Information and the Farm Security Administration, who photographed the country between 1935 and 1944. Works of United States government photographers, with no known restriction on use. Each opens its catalogue record.

Capron, Oklahoma. A grain elevator along the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad between Wellington, Kansas and Waynoka, Oklahoma
Capron, Oklahoma. A grain elevator along the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad between Wellington, Kansas and Waynoka, Oklahoma
Delano, Jack, 1943. Library of Congress
Alva (vicinity), Oklahoma. Farm landscape along the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad between Wellington, Kansas and Waynoka, Oklahoma
Alva (vicinity), Oklahoma. Farm landscape along the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad between Wellington, Kansas and Waynoka, Oklahoma
Delano, Jack, 1943. Library of Congress
Waynoka, Oklahoma. Oil and water derricks at the roundhouse between Kansas City, Missouri and Clovis, New Mexico. The Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad engines use oil for fuel
Waynoka, Oklahoma. Oil and water derricks at the roundhouse between Kansas City, Missouri and Clovis, New Mexico. The Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad engines use oil for fuel
Delano, Jack, 1943. Library of Congress
Capron, Oklahoma. An Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe train stopping for water, enroute to Waynoka, Oklahoma
Capron, Oklahoma. An Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe train stopping for water, enroute to Waynoka, Oklahoma
Delano, Jack, 1943. Library of Congress
Capron, Oklahoma. An Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe train enroute to Waynoka, Oklahoma passing through the town of Capron, Oklahoma
Capron, Oklahoma. An Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe train enroute to Waynoka, Oklahoma passing through the town of Capron, Oklahoma
Delano, Jack, 1943. Library of Congress
Alva, Oklahoma. Engineer picking up a message along the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad between Wellington, Kansas and Waynoka, Oklahoma
Alva, Oklahoma. Engineer picking up a message along the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad between Wellington, Kansas and Waynoka, Oklahoma
Delano, Jack, 1943. Library of Congress
Waynoka, Oklahoma. Eroded land along the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad between Wellington, Kansas and Waynoka, Oklahoma
Waynoka, Oklahoma. Eroded land along the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad between Wellington, Kansas and Waynoka, Oklahoma
Delano, Jack, 1943. Library of Congress
Capron, Oklahoma. Cattle grazing in the fields along the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad between Wellington, Kansas and Waynoka, Oklahoma
Capron, Oklahoma. Cattle grazing in the fields along the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad between Wellington, Kansas and Waynoka, Oklahoma
Delano, Jack, 1943. Library of Congress

Every photograph of Woods County

Mines and quarries near this place

3 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 3 workings within 5 miles of Waynoka: 3 past producers. None of them still produces. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Two Unnamed Sand PitsSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unknown Sand PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unknown Sand PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer

Every working recorded in Woods County

Storms near this place

60 of 107 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Waynoka in 107 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 67 hail, 25 thunderstorm wind, 9 tornado, 4 flash flood. The reports record 1 injury. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
April 2002Tornado (F2)Waynoka1 hurt, $35,000This tornado is a continuation of the tornado that moved out of Major County at 0032 CST. The tornado curved to the right as it crossed the Cimarron River and moved northeastward for 15 miles before entering Alfalfa County at 0005 CST on April 18th. In Woods County, about 2 miles southwest of the intersection of State Highway 45 and the Woods County line, the roof of a trailer house was completely removed, and an exterior wall on the northeast side of the house was badly damaged and partially removed from the structure. The owner of the house received minor abrasions to his arm. Across the road from the house, a barn was unroofed, and most of the walls were destroyed. Otherwise, only tree damage was observed across Woods County.
June 2004LightningWaynoka$75,000Lightning struck an empty fiberglass saltwater storage tank causing an explosion at the newly opened Green Valley Saltwater Disposal Plant east of Waynoka on Highway 281. The explosion caused nearly full reclaimed oil storage tanks to catch on fire and burn for much of the night. Some nearby equipment was also destroyed by the fire.
June 1995Thunderstorm WindWaynoka$50,000no account filed
July 1995Thunderstorm WindWaynoka$50,000no account filed
June 2005HailWaynoka$20,000The golf ball size hail along with strong winds caused damage to 5 campers and 5 trucks at the Little Sahara State Park. Siding on the campers was cut. Holes were found in the doors. A roof vent was also shattered.
May 2024Tornado (EF1)Waynoka$10,000This was the first of two tornadoes that developed in western Woods County to the northwest of Waynoka. A number of trees were snapped along the path and damage to at least two oil field sites.
May 2024Tornado (EF1)Waynoka$10,000A second tornado developed in western Woods County to the northwest of Waynoka. A number of trees were snapped or uprooted, a oil tank was blown or rolled about 300 yards and a barn was damaged.
May 2018Tornado (EF1)Waynoka$10,000A weak tornado caused intermittent damage from the north side of Waynoka to an area about 2.5 miles south-southeast of Waynoka. A historic (but unoccupied) hotel, The Eastman Building, on the north side of Waynoka was unroofed as the tornado developed. Damage in Waynoka was mainly tree damage with a few downed trees and lot of small limbs. The tornado dissipated about 2.5 miles south-southeast of Waynoka.
June 2005Thunderstorm WindWaynoka$10,000Strong winds caused some damage at a campground at Little Sahara State Park. A 30 foot travel trailer was moved twelve inches sideways off all four jacks. An 18 foot travel trailer was also spun around hitting a pick-up. A propane tank cover near the trailers ended up a quarter of a mile away. Approximately 200 yards from the campers, the roof was taken off the Little Sahara Power Sports building. Golf ball hail also caused damage.
June 2005Thunderstorm WindWaynoka$5,000Shop doors were ripped off.
July 1995Thunderstorm WindWaynoka$5,000no account filed
May 1998Thunderstorm WindWaynoka$2,500no account filed
March 2007Thunderstorm WindWaynoka$2,000Power lines were downed.
August 2004Thunderstorm WindWaynoka$1,000Minor tree damage was reported.
May 2000Flash FloodWaynoka$200A west-facing basement window was broken by fast moving water on Waynoka Street. Four to five inches of rain was reported in the area.
April 2025HailWaynoka-The report was relayed through mPING.
April 2025HailWaynoka-The report was relayed through mPING.
June 2023Thunderstorm WindWaynoka-Tree down across the road at the intersection of Santa Fe Street and High Street. Time is radar estimated.
May 2019HailWaynoka-Spotter network report.
May 2017Tornado (EFU)Waynoka-This tornado initially developed west-northwest of Bouse Junction in Major County and moved into Woods County southwest of Waynoka. The tornado moved to the north-northwest about 4 miles before dissipating. No damage was reported in Woods County from this tornado as it remained in rural areas.
July 2015Flash FloodWaynoka-Several streets in downtown were flooded.
June 2014Thunderstorm WindWaynoka-Estimated 60 mph wind gusts. No damage information was provided.
June 2014Thunderstorm WindWaynoka-Observer reported 60 mph winds. No damage information was provided.
June 2014Thunderstorm WindWaynoka-Severe wind gusts caused a BNSF train to topple off its tracks. This resulted in significant damage to many of the train cars and lost goods that the train was hauling.
August 2014Thunderstorm WindWaynoka-Winds estimated on the south side of Waynoka.
April 2012Tornado (EF1)Waynoka-The tornado moved from Major County into Woods County south and southeast of Waynoka. As the tornado was in the process of dissipating, it damaged equipment at an oil field southeast of Waynoka starting a fire.
April 2012Tornado (EF0)Waynoka-The tornado developed just northwest and west of the tornado that moved into Woods County from Major County. It produced no known damage and the location is estimated.
April 2012Tornado (EF0)Waynoka-Numerous chasers observed this tornado that moved from approximately 10 miles east of Waynoka to approximately 2 miles northeast of Hopeton. Despite the 9-mile long path, no damage was reported.
June 2011HailWaynoka-A wind gust to 50 mph was also reported.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindWaynoka-No damage was reported with the wind gust.
April 2009HailWaynoka-The hail was reported at the Waynoka Airport.
September 2008Heavy RainWaynoka-The measured rainfall was 4.30 inches, much of it falling in a six to eight hour period.
June 2005Flash FloodWaynoka-At 3:45 pm CST, city officials at Waynoka, OK in Woods County reported significant street flooding in Waynoka. In addition, media sources reported a local road washed out by flash floodwaters near Little Sahara State Park, 3 miles south of Waynoka, at 3:57 pm CST.
June 2004HailWaynoka-Hail was observed on Highway 281.
October 2000Flash FloodWaynoka-A county road was closed due to high water.
May 1995HailWaynoka-Midday thunderstorms across northwest Oklahoma dropped hail as large as golf balls six miles northeast of Waynoka in Woods County.
May 2018HailWaynoka-no account filed
May 2018HailWaynoka-no account filed
May 2018HailWaynoka-no account filed
May 2018HailWaynoka-no account filed
May 2018HailWaynoka-no account filed
July 2017HailWaynoka-no account filed
April 2015HailWaynoka-no account filed
June 2014HailWaynoka-no account filed
May 2013HailWaynoka-no account filed
August 2013HailWaynoka-no account filed
April 2012HailWaynoka-no account filed
April 2012HailWaynoka-no account filed
June 2011HailWaynoka-no account filed
April 2009HailWaynoka-no account filed
June 2007HailWaynoka-no account filed
May 2006HailWaynoka-no account filed
June 2006HailWaynoka-no account filed
July 2006Thunderstorm WindWaynoka-no account filed
August 2006HailWaynoka-no account filed
August 2006Thunderstorm WindWaynoka-no account filed
June 2005Thunderstorm WindWaynoka-no account filed
June 2005HailWaynoka-no account filed
June 2005HailWaynoka-no account filed
October 2005HailWaynoka-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Woods County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Heman4.7 miles9
Avard9.4 miles8
Fairvalley13.1 miles8
Hopeton13.5 miles8
Cora15.0 miles8
Tegarden15.6 miles8
Noel16.1 miles8
Dacoma17.6 miles9

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on WaynokaAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q2694836The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 1099446. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.