The city of Oakes has recently built an updated outdoor pool, a new hospital, a new water treatment plant, a new discount store named ALCO, and a new Dialysis Center that was just completed recently and is open. Oakes is also adding on to its current gym that will include a stage and a new lobby with 2 women, 2 men, and a family bathroom. The new gym will be used for Phy Ed and sporting events like basketball and volleyball. The Stage will be used for plays and musical events. The Gym should be completed sometime in the first week of March, but the new lobby is already completed and opened.
Oakes constructed a water treatment plant in order to be in compliance with drinking water standards for arsenic. In addition to flocculation to remove iron and arsenic, the plant uses nanofiltration to soften the water. According to information published in the Oakes Times, a local newspaper, water with a hardness of nine to grains will eventually be delivered. After the treatment plant started operating in 2008 there were complaints of ornamental and vegetable plants watered with municipal water dying. Investigation by the North Dakota Department of Health discovered the new municipal well constructed to serve the new water treatment plant was contaminated with Tordon. Details can be found in several articles published by the Aberdeen American News and at a website created to disseminate information and allow discussion of Oakes issues.
Oakes high school has earned several state championships in North Dakota Class B athletics. Mostly recently they earned the 2009 State Class B Wrestling Championship.
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,979 people, 828 households, and 495 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,203.0 people per square mile (463.1/km²). There were 908 housing units at an average density of 552.0/sq mi (212.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.27% White, 0.20% Native American, 1.01% Asian, 1.01% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.58% of the population.
There were 828 households out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% were non-families. 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 24.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,263, and the median income for a family was $39,625. Males had a median income of $29,135 versus $15,611 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,138. About 6.3% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.4% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Oakes has two schools, including Oakes Public School and Oakes High School. Oakes Public School provides pre-school and grades K-6. Oakes High School provides grades 7-12. The athletic teams of Oakes High School are called the Tornadoes, replacing the old name the Golden Tornadoes. The current school colors are orange, black, and white.
