Okfuskee County, Oklahoma

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Okfuskee County, Oklahoma
Map of Oklahoma highlighting Okfuskee County
Location in the U.S. state of Oklahoma
Map of the United States highlighting Oklahoma
Oklahoma's location in the U.S.
Founded 1907
Seat Okemah
Largest city Okemah
Area
 • Total 629 sq mi (1,629 km2)
 • Land 619 sq mi (1,603 km2)
 • Water 10 sq mi (26 km2), 1.6%
Population (est.)
 • (2013) 12,377
 • Density 20/sq mi (8/km²)
Congressional district 2nd

Okfuskee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the population was 12,191.[1] Its county seat is Okemah.[2] The county is named for a former Muscogee town in present Cleburne County, Alabama, that in turn was named for the Okfuskee, a Muscogee tribe.

History

The area now covered by Okfuskee County was occupied by the Quapaw and Osage tribes until 1825, when they ceded the land to the United States government. The Creeks moved here in the early 1830s and built two towns, Greenleaf and Thlopthlocco. During the Civil War, Thlopthlocco served as headquarters for Confederate Col. Douglas H. Cooper. Greenleaf was the place where Chief Opothleyahola camped while he tried to retain unity among the Creeks, before leading over five thousand Creeks to Kansas to avoid the war.[3]

After the war, the Creeks were required to free their African American slaves. Many of these people remained in the same area and founded all-black communities. These towns included Boley, Bookertee, Clearview, Chilesville, and Rusk. Okfuskee, a Creek town, grew up around Samuel Checote's trading post after the Civil War.[3]

The St. Louis and San Francisco Railway built a north-south line through this area during 1901-03. The Fort Smith and Western Railroad constructed an east-west line in 1903.[3]

Okfuskee County was created at statehood from the former Creek Nation, and Okemah was designated as the county seat. Oil and gas production began in the county in 1914, when the Prairie Oil and Gas Company completed a well near Paden. Other wells followed elsewhere in the county, creating a population boom that peaked in 1930.[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 629 square miles (1,630 km2), of which 619 square miles (1,600 km2) is land and 10 square miles (26 km2) (1.6%) is water.[4] The county lies within the Sandstone Hills physiographic region. The northerneastern part is drained by the Deep Fork of the Canadian River, while the southern part is drained by the North Canadian River.[3]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1910 19,995 —
1920 25,051 25.3%
1930 29,016 15.8%
1940 26,279 −9.4%
1950 16,948 −35.5%
1960 11,706 −30.9%
1970 10,683 −8.7%
1980 11,125 4.1%
1990 11,551 3.8%
2000 11,814 2.3%
2010 12,191 3.2%
Est. 2014 12,186 [5] 0.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[1]
File:USA Okfuskee County, Oklahoma age pyramid.svg
Age pyramid for Okfuskee County, Oklahoma, based on census 2000 data.

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 12,191 people residing in the county. 64.4% were White, 19.7% Native American, 8.3% Black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.8% of some other race and 6.5% of two or more races. 2.9% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 11,814 people, 4,270 households, and 2,971 families residing in the county. The population density was 7/km² (19/mi²). There were 5,114 housing units at an average density of 3/km² (8/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 65.46% White, 10.41% Black or African American, 18.20% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.57% from other races, and 5.27% from two or more races. 1.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 92.5% spoke English, 3.5% Muskogee, 2.1% Spanish and 1.3% German as their first language.

There were 4,270 households out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.10% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.40% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county, the population was spread out with 24.60% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 16.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 106.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,324, and the median income for a family was $30,325. Males had a median income of $24,129 versus $17,819 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,746. About 17.30% of families and 23.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.60% of those under age 18 and 17.50% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of January 15, 2012[11]
Party Number of Voters Percentage
  Democratic 4,330 71.65%
  Republican 1,258 20.82%
  Unaffiliated 455 7.53%
Total 6,043 100%
Presidential election results[12]
Year Republican Democrat
2008 64.10% 2,643 35.90% 1,480
2004 59.32% 2,542 40.68% 1,743
2000 50.42% 1,910 47.89% 1,814

Communities

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NRHP sites

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Main article: National Register of Historic Places listings in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma

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

In popular culture

Okfuskee was the home county of American folk icon Woody Guthrie, who was born in Okemah. Guthrie refers to Okfuskee in one of his lost lyrics, "Way Over Yonder In the Minor Key." The lyrics were set to music by Billy Bragg and Wilco for their 1998 collaboration, Mermaid Avenue.

See also

References

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  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Linda D. Wilson, "Okfuskee County." Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
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  11. ↑ http://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/reg_0112.pdf
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
 Creek County
Lincoln County Okmulgee County
  Okfuskee County  
Seminole County
Pottawatomie County		 Hughes County McIntosh County

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