Okmulgee County, Oklahoma

Okmulgee County is a county in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the population was 40,069.[1] The county seat is Okmulgee.[2] Formerly part of the Creek Nation, the county was created at statehood in 1907. The name Okmulgee is derived from the Hitichita (Lower Creek) word okimulgi, meaning "boiling waters".[3]

Okmulgee County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of Oklahoma
Oklahoma's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°38′N 95°58′W
Country United States
State Oklahoma
Founded1907
SeatOkmulgee
Largest cityOkmulgee
Area
 • Total702 sq mi (1,820 km2)
 • Land697 sq mi (1,810 km2)
 • Water5.0 sq mi (13 km2)  0.7%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
38,335
 • Density57/sq mi (22/km2)
Congressional district2nd

Okmulgee County is included in the Tulsa, OK Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The Creek Nation was removed into this part of Indian Territory along the Trail of Tears after signing treaties exchanging their land in Georgia and Alabama in 1826 and 1832. The actual move occurred over the period from 1827 to 1836. The Creek Nation government, led by chief Samuel Checote, revised its constitution in 1867 and designated Okmulgee as its capital in 1868. The U.S. Post Office opened in Okmulgee on April 29, 1869. The Creek Nation built its capitol, a log building, in 1869. The building was rebuilt of stone in 1878.[3]

Okmulgee County was formed on July 16, 1907, from Muskogee land, with a population of 14,362. County government offices were located in the Creek Council House until 1916, when the present Okmulgee County Courthouse was built. The former council building was then repurposed. The county's population was 21,115 in 1910 and increased to a high of 56,558 by 1930.[3]

Railroads came to the area in 1900, when the St. Louis, Oklahoma and Southern Railway (later the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway or Frisco) built a line from Sapulpa, Oklahoma via Okmulgee to a place near the Red River. The Shawnee, Oklahoma and Missouri Coal and Railway (later also acquired by the Frisco) built a line from Muskogee to Okmulgee in 1902–03. It was abandoned in 1973. The Missouri, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway (purchased by the Kansas, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway in 1919) ran through Dewar, Oklahoma beginning in 1909, and the Okmulgee Northern Railway operated between Okmulgee and Deep Fork from 1916 to 1964.[3]

In 1918, the boundary between Okmulgee County and McIntosh County was realigned, moving the towns of Grayson[4] and Hoffman[5] from McIntosh into Okmulgee County.

The Creek Council House still stands today. While ownership of the building changed over the years, the City of Okmulgee in November 2010 sold the building back to the tribe for $3.2 million.[6] The building currently houses the Creek Council House Museum, with artifacts and exhibits about the history of the Muscogee tribe and the arts and crafts of other Native American tribes.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 702 square miles (1,820 km2), of which 697 square miles (1,810 km2) is land and 5.0 square miles (13 km2) (0.7%) is water.[7] Lake Henryetta, Okmulgee Lake, Nichols Lake, most of Dripping Springs Lake, and the tip of Oklahoma's largest lake,[8] Lake Eufaula, lie within the county.[9] The Deep Fork of the North Canadian River is the principal waterway in the county.[3] The eastern part of the county is within the Eastern Lowlands physiographic region and the western part is in the Osage Plains. Okmulgee Park and Dripping Springs Park lie west and southwest of the city of Okmulgee. Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge lies within the southern part of the county.[9] The area known as the High Spring Mountains is in the eastern part of the county south of Eram, and extending further south into McIntosh County in the Hitchita vicinity.[10]

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
191021,115—
192055,072160.8%
193056,5582.7%
194050,101−11.4%
195044,561−11.1%
196036,945−17.1%
197035,358−4.3%
198039,16910.8%
199036,490−6.8%
200039,6858.8%
201040,0691.0%
Est. 201838,335[11]−4.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[16] of 2000, there were 39,685 people, 15,300 households, and 10,694 families residing in the county. The population density was 22/km² (57/mi²). There were 17,316 housing units at an average density of 10/km² (25/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 69.73% White, 10.20% Black or African American, 12.85% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.61% from other races, and 6.40% from two or more races. 1.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 15,300 households out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.80% were married couples living together, 13.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 27.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.90% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,652, and the median income for a family was $33,987. Males had a median income of $29,935 versus $20,861 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,065. About 14.90% of families and 18.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.90% of those under age 18 and 15.50% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Okmulgee County government has three commissioners, one for each of the three Districts.[17] County services, including the District Court, Assessor, County Clerk, Jail, and Sheriff's office, are all located between 6th and 8th St, and Alabama and Seminole Avenues, in the City of Okmulgee.[18]

Politics
Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of January 15, 2019[19]
Party Number of Voters Percentage
Democratic 9,872 49.26%
Republican 7,412 36.99%
Others 2,755 13.75%
Total 20,039 100%
Presidential election results
Presidential election results[20]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 64.1% 8,944 31.4% 4,385 4.4% 620
2012 58.7% 7,731 41.3% 5,432
2008 58.5% 8,727 41.5% 6,191
2004 53.2% 8,363 46.8% 7,367
2000 44.0% 5,797 54.5% 7,186 1.5% 195
1996 31.8% 4,246 56.7% 7,555 11.5% 1,536
1992 29.7% 4,586 50.4% 7,767 19.9% 3,068
1988 40.5% 5,674 59.0% 8,262 0.5% 68
1984 53.8% 8,704 45.6% 7,380 0.7% 105
1980 46.6% 6,652 50.7% 7,236 2.8% 397
1976 38.2% 5,333 60.9% 8,499 0.9% 131
1972 63.8% 8,706 32.9% 4,494 3.2% 442
1968 34.8% 4,709 45.0% 6,089 20.2% 2,728
1964 31.6% 4,704 68.4% 10,195
1960 49.5% 7,107 50.5% 7,262
1956 46.8% 6,703 53.2% 7,626
1952 39.9% 6,717 60.1% 10,115
1948 29.4% 4,368 70.6% 10,467
1944 35.7% 5,430 64.1% 9,737 0.2% 25
1940 37.6% 6,696 61.9% 11,016 0.5% 84
1936 29.1% 4,975 70.6% 12,061 0.3% 57
1932 29.7% 4,762 70.3% 11,287
1928 60.8% 9,149 38.8% 5,834 0.5% 73
1924 46.9% 6,015 46.2% 5,927 7.0% 896
1920 51.3% 5,367 43.0% 4,495 5.7% 593
1916 36.9% 1,860 47.8% 2,406 15.3% 773
1912 38.7% 1,140 42.2% 1,243 19.1% 564

Communities

NRHP Sites
Main article: National Register of Historic Places listings in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma

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

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References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Glynnis Coleman. "Okmulgee County" Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Accessed January 4, 2012.
  4. Lynn Marie Townsend, "Grayson." Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  5. Lynn Marie Townsend, "Hoffman." Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  6. Sara Plummer, "Tribe regains historic Council House", Tulsa World, November 15, 2010.
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  8. "Lake Eufaula". TravelOK.com. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  9. "Okmulgee County, Oklahoma". Google Maps. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  10. "High Spring Mountains, Oklahoma". Google Maps. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  11. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  12. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  13. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  14. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  15. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  16. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  17. "Okmulgee County, OK". Local Technical Assistance Program of Oklahoma State University. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  18. "Okmulgee County". OkmulgeeOnline.com. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  19. "Oklahoma Registration Statistics by County" (PDF). OK.gov. January 15, 2019. Retrieved 2019-02-27.
  20. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-29.

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