Kingfisher County, Oklahoma

Kingfisher County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the population was 15,034.[1] Its county seat is Kingfisher.[2] The county was formed in 1890 and named Kingfisher by a vote of residents.

Kingfisher County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of Oklahoma
Oklahoma's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°56′N 97°56′W
Country United States
State Oklahoma
FoundedMay 2, 1890
SeatKingfisher
Largest cityKingfisher
Area
 • Total906 sq mi (2,350 km2)
 • Land898 sq mi (2,330 km2)
 • Water7.9 sq mi (20 km2)  0.9%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
15,816
 • Density17/sq mi (7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd

The land was given to the Creek Nation by the federal government, but was taken back after the American Civil War.

History

Limited archaeological surveys may have discovered evidence of pre-contact peoples, including Paleo-Indian and Archaic (6000 BC - 1 AD) groups that used the area for hunting and foraging. The historic Osage, Cheyenne, and Comanche tribes traversed the prairie grasslands of this area.

Before the county's creation, The Chisholm Trail's many routes crossed the area. A stage road which paralleled the trail had important stops at Dover Station, King Fisher Station and Baker Station.

The area was given to the Creek Nation by the federal government after their forced removal from Georgia. At the end of the American Civil War, the Creeks were forced to cede the land back to the federal government for siding with the Confederacy. It became part of the Unassigned Lands, and the area was opened to non-Indian settlement in the land run on April 22, 1889.[3] Several towns, including Kingfisher, Oklahoma developed soon after the land run.[3]

Originally this area was called County 5, when the Organic Act of May 2, 1890 created Oklahoma Territory.[4] At an August 5, 1890 election, the voters of County 5 overwhelmingly voted for the name "Kingfisher" over "Hennessey" and "Harrison". The origin of the name is unclear. The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture mentions three different possibilities. The first is that the name memorialized a local rancher, David King Fisher. The second version is that King and Fisher were two different settlers, whose names were combined for the county and town. The third explanation was that the name was for a rancher named John Fisher and for whom Uncle Johns Creek was named.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 906 square miles (2,350 km2), of which 898 square miles (2,330 km2) is land and 7.9 square miles (20 km2) (0.9%) is water.[5] The principal waterway is the Cimarron River, which runs from northwest to east through the county.[4]

Major highways
  • U.S. Highway 81
  • State Highway 3
  • State Highway 33
  • State Highway 51
  • State Highway 132

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
191018,825—
192015,671−16.8%
193015,9601.8%
194015,617−2.1%
195012,860−17.7%
196010,635−17.3%
197012,85720.9%
198014,18710.3%
199013,212−6.9%
200013,9265.4%
201015,0348.0%
Est. 201815,816[6]5.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2014[1]
Age pyramid for Kingfisher County, Oklahoma, based on census 2000 data.

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 13,926 people, 5,247 households, and 3,893 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile (6/km²). There were 5,879 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.09% White, 1.59% Black or African American, 3.02% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 4.34% from other races, and 2.74% from two or more races. 6.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,247 households out of which 35.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.20% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.80% were non-families. 23.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county, the population was spread out with 27.20% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,676, and the median income for a family was $43,242. Males had a median income of $30,918 versus $19,819 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,167. About 8.50% of families and 10.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.30% of those under age 18 and 6.50% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Politics
Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of January 15, 2019[12]
Party Number of Voters Percentage
Democratic 1,693 20.67%
Republican 5,778 70.53%
Others 721 8.80%
Total 8,192 100%
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 84.1% 5,156 12.8% 786 3.1% 189
2012 84.4% 4,870 15.6% 898
2008 84.2% 5,372 15.8% 1,009
2004 84.6% 5,630 15.4% 1,022
2000 77.5% 4,693 21.5% 1,304 1.0% 59
1996 60.3% 3,423 28.6% 1,626 11.1% 630
1992 54.3% 3,479 21.5% 1,379 24.2% 1,553
1988 68.5% 4,011 30.4% 1,777 1.1% 64
1984 82.7% 5,528 16.8% 1,125 0.5% 33
1980 77.3% 4,962 20.0% 1,282 2.7% 174
1976 58.4% 3,443 40.2% 2,372 1.4% 82
1972 81.9% 4,861 15.4% 912 2.7% 162
1968 64.6% 3,558 22.3% 1,226 13.1% 720
1964 55.4% 3,117 44.6% 2,512
1960 65.8% 3,501 34.2% 1,821
1956 70.2% 3,935 29.8% 1,668
1952 77.0% 4,873 23.0% 1,459
1948 54.1% 2,931 45.9% 2,488
1944 60.9% 3,417 38.8% 2,175 0.3% 17
1940 56.3% 3,718 43.4% 2,865 0.4% 25
1936 38.2% 2,539 61.4% 4,081 0.5% 32
1932 34.5% 2,103 65.5% 3,986
1928 69.1% 4,063 30.3% 1,780 0.7% 39
1924 55.6% 2,834 32.3% 1,644 12.1% 617
1920 61.8% 3,220 33.5% 1,744 4.8% 249
1916 48.9% 1,728 38.6% 1,364 12.5% 442
1912 48.9% 1,527 39.6% 1,235 11.6% 361

Economy

Agriculture has been the mainstay of the county since the area was opened for settlement in 1899. Wheat and rye have been the most important crops. Oil and gas exploration became important to the county economy during the 1920s, especially in that part of the county around Hennessey, Cashion and Dover. Roxana was a boomtown during that period, but quickly declined its population peaked at one thousand people. It is now considered a ghost town.

Education

Kingfisher Academy, affiliated with the Congregational Church, was established in Kingfisher well before statehood. It remained open between 1890 and 1894. In 1895, the Association of Congregational Churches of Oklahoma Territory chartered Kingfisher College, and opened it for instruction on September 2, 1895.[14]

NRHP sites
Main article: National Register of Historic Places listings in Kingfisher County, Oklahoma

The following sites in Kingfisher County are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:

  • Burrus Mills Elevator C, Kingfisher
  • Dow Grain Company Elevator, Okarche
  • Farmers and Merchants National Bank, Hennessey
  • Farmers Co-op Elevator, Hennessey
  • Kiel-Dover Farmers Elevator, Dover
  • Kingfisher Armory, Kingfisher
  • Kingfisher College, Kingfisher
  • Kingfisher Post Office, Kingfisher
  • Seay Mansion, Kingfisher
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References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Oklahoma Territory's First Land Run (accessed May 15, 2013)
  4. Everett, Dianna. "Kingfisher County," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Oklahoma Historical Society, 2009. Accessed April 4, 2015.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  6. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2010-2018". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  9. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  12. "Oklahoma Registration Statistics by County" (PDF). OK.gov. January 15, 2019. Retrieved 2019-02-27.
  13. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2017-09-19.
  14. Carolyn G. Hanneman, "Kingfisher College." Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Retrieved March 7, 2015.

Further reading
See also: List of books about Chisholm Trail

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