Bessie: Demographics & People
About 262 people live in Bessie, in 100 households. Population shrank 4.7% from 275 (2022) to 262 (2024). Median age 32.8 years. (7.8y younger than Washita County; 2.4y younger than Oklahoma). Children under 18 are 29% of the population. Population is 72% White (non-Hispanic) and 19% Hispanic or Latino. 45% of households are family-led. County is losing 251 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 41% adult obesity, 20% smoke.
- 2.6 people per household (vs Oklahoma avg 2.6).
- 55% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Oklahoma 39%).
- 79 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Oklahoma 67).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 4.7% from 275 (2022) to 262 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~249 (extrapolated at -2.4%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 233.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 10,924 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -4.7% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 275 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 262 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | declining |
| Population | 262 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
| Population Estimate | 233 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 32.8y is 6.1 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 29% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 32.8 years (vs Oklahoma 35.2y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 29.0% |
| Age Summary · Character | young professional |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 262 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 76 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 62.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 84.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 40 |
| Population under 18 | 76 |
| Median age | 32.8 years (vs Oklahoma 35.2y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 262 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups).
| White residents | 231 |
|---|---|
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 44 |
| Diversity Index · Simpson Index | 19.4% |
| Diversity Index · Interpretation | less diverse |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 19.1% (vs Oklahoma 12.3%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 71.8% (vs Oklahoma 57.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (7)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).
| Residents born in this state | 209 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 49 |
| Share born in this state | 79.8% |
| Share born in another state | 20.2% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 18.7% |
| Naturalized citizens | 1.5% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 203 |
Households & Family Composition
100 households. Averaging 2.4 people each — matches the U.S. average of 2.5. 45% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 51 families, 39% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 79 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 51 |
| Married couples with children | 20 |
| Single-parent households | 4 |
| Average household size | 2.41 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 4.9% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 128 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 38 |
| Family households | 45 households (vs Oklahoma 16,590) |
| Households that are families | 45.0% (vs Oklahoma 61.1%) |
| Total households | 100 households (vs Oklahoma 23,671) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 10.0% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 251 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 10.0% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 9,821 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 10,072 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -251 |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 51 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 20.6% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 3 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | OK-03 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 40149 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 40 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 149 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Washita |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 33.2% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 25.50 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 42.30 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 40149 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Washita County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 382 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 40149 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Washita County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 48.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 40.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 43.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 10,916 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 4.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 6 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 29.0% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 262, declining, young professional, working-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 262 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
| Town Summary · County | Washita County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade