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Okfuskee County, Oklahoma

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Okfuskee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, its population was 11,310.[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.

Okfuskee County
County
Okfuskee County Courthouse
Okfuskee County Courthouse
Map of Oklahoma highlighting Okfuskee County
Location within the U.S. state of Oklahoma
Map of the United States highlighting Oklahoma
Oklahoma's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°28′N 96°20′W / 35.47°N 96.33°W / 35.47; -96.33
Country United States
State Oklahoma
Founded1907
SeatOkemah
Largest cityOkemah
Area
 • Total
629 sq mi (1,630 km2)
 • Land619 sq mi (1,600 km2)
 • Water10 sq mi (30 km2)  1.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
11,310
 • Density18/sq mi (6.9/km2)
Congressional district2nd

History

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West Broadway Street in Okemah

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 where Chief Opothleyahola camped while he tried to retain unity among the Creeks, before leading over 5000 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

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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) are land and 10 square miles (26 km2) (1.6%) are covered by water.[4] The county lies within the Sandstone Hills physiographic region. The northeastern 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

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
191019,995—
192025,05125.3%
193029,01615.8%
194026,279−9.4%
195016,948−35.5%
196011,706−30.9%
197010,683−8.7%
198011,1254.1%
199011,5513.8%
200011,8142.3%
201012,1913.2%
202011,310−7.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010[9]
 
Age pyramid for Okfuskee County, Oklahoma, based on census 2000 data.

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 12,191 people living 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 living in the county. The population density was 7/km2 (18/sq mi). There were 5,114 housing units at an average density of 3/km2 (7.8/sq mi). 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.

Life expectancy and health

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Of 3,142 counties in the United States in 2014, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation ranked Okfuskee County 2,986 in the life expectancy at birth of male residents and 3,091 in the life expectancy of female residents. Males in Okfuskee County lived an average of 70.8 years and females lived an average of 75.7 years compared to the national life expectancy of 76.7 for males and 81.5 for females.[11] In the 1980-2014 period, the average life expectancy in Okfuskee County for females decreased by 1.3 years while male longevity increased by 1.9 years compared to the national average for the same period of an increased life expectancy of 4.0 years for women and 6.7 years for men. Okfuskee was one of only a few counties in the United States to suffer a decline in life expectancy for women between 1980 and 2014.[12]

In 2020, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ranked Okfuskee country as number 73 of 77 counties in Oklahoma in "health outcomes," as measured by length and quality of life.[13]

Politics

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Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of June 30, 2023[14]
Party Number of Voters Percentage
Democratic 2,093 35.29%
Republican 2,957 49.86%
Unaffiliated 881 14.85%
Total 5,931 100%
United States presidential election results for Okfuskee County, Oklahoma[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 3,080 77.23% 854 21.41% 54 1.35%
2020 3,058 75.73% 896 22.19% 84 2.08%
2016 2,800 71.01% 943 23.92% 200 5.07%
2012 2,335 65.02% 1,256 34.98% 0 0.00%
2008 2,643 64.10% 1,480 35.90% 0 0.00%
2004 2,542 59.32% 1,743 40.68% 0 0.00%
2000 1,910 50.42% 1,814 47.89% 64 1.69%
1996 1,380 34.41% 2,074 51.72% 556 13.87%
1992 1,580 34.13% 2,141 46.24% 909 19.63%
1988 1,851 45.17% 2,209 53.90% 38 0.93%
1984 2,443 58.94% 1,684 40.63% 18 0.43%
1980 2,126 48.31% 2,177 49.47% 98 2.23%
1976 1,630 37.69% 2,663 61.57% 32 0.74%
1972 2,862 66.73% 1,328 30.96% 99 2.31%
1968 1,686 37.94% 1,777 39.99% 981 22.07%
1964 1,629 35.93% 2,905 64.07% 0 0.00%
1960 2,510 56.05% 1,968 43.95% 0 0.00%
1956 2,299 49.65% 2,331 50.35% 0 0.00%
1952 2,469 47.08% 2,775 52.92% 0 0.00%
1948 1,624 32.75% 3,335 67.25% 0 0.00%
1944 2,177 39.75% 3,291 60.09% 9 0.16%
1940 3,001 39.49% 4,574 60.19% 24 0.32%
1936 2,162 30.66% 4,843 68.68% 47 0.67%
1932 1,415 21.63% 5,126 78.37% 0 0.00%
1928 3,612 58.25% 2,513 40.53% 76 1.23%
1924 1,431 32.90% 2,654 61.03% 264 6.07%
1920 1,760 48.19% 1,650 45.18% 242 6.63%
1916 670 26.46% 1,337 52.80% 525 20.73%
1912 651 27.78% 952 40.63% 740 31.58%

Communities

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City

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Towns

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Census-designated place

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Unincorporated 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:

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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

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References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Okfuskee County, Oklahoma.
  1. ^ "Okfushkee County, Oklahoma". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e Linda D. Wilson, "Okfuskee County." Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  7. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  8. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  9. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  10. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  11. ^ "County Profiles: Alfalfa County, Oklahoma" (PDF). Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. University of Washington. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  12. ^ "US Health Map". Institute of Health Metrics and Evaulation. University of Washington. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  13. ^ "2020 Oklahoma Report". Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  14. ^ "Oklahoma Registration Statistics by County" (PDF). OK.gov. January 15, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  15. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 29, 2018.

35°28′N 96°20′W / 35.47°N 96.33°W / 35.47; -96.33

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