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Roger Mills County, Oklahoma

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Roger Mills County is a county located in the western part of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,442,[1] making it the fourth-least populous county in Oklahoma. Its county seat is Cheyenne.[2] The county was created in 1891.[3]

Roger Mills County
County
Washita Battlefield National Historic Site
Washita Battlefield National Historic Site
Map of Oklahoma highlighting Roger Mills 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°41′N 99°42′W / 35.69°N 99.7°W / 35.69; -99.7
Country United States
State Oklahoma
Founded1891
Named forRoger Q. Mills
SeatCheyenne
Largest townCheyenne
Area
 • Total
1,146 sq mi (2,970 km2)
 • Land1,141 sq mi (2,960 km2)
 • Water5.3 sq mi (14 km2)  0.40%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
3,442
 • Density3.0/sq mi (1.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.rogermills.org

Roger Mills county is located above the petroleum-rich Panhandle-Hugoton Field, making it one of the leading sources of oil, natural gas and helium. The county also overlies part of the Ogallala Aquifer.[4]

History

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Roger Mills County takes its name from Roger Q. Mills, an officer in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War and later senator from Texas.[4][5] The town of Cheyenne in Roger Mills County is the location of the Battle of Washita River (also called Battle of the Washita; Washita Battlefield and the Washita Massacre), where George Armstrong Custer’s 7th U.S. Cavalry attacked Chief Black Kettle’s Cheyenne village on the Washita River on November 26, 1868.[6]

The area covered by Roger Mills County had been part of the Cheyenne Arapaho reservation until after Oklahoma Territory was created and County E was formed. County E was renamed Day County. Day County was abolished and Roger Mills County was created at statehood on November 16, 1907. The county's western boundary with Texas was moved eastward 3,800 feet (1,200 m) when the Supreme Court ruled that the 100th Meridian was farther east than originally supposed.[4]

During the 1970s Roger Mills County and the surrounding area was the site of natural gas and oil development in the Panhandle-Hugoton Gas Field, the largest-volume gas field in the United States, and the world's largest known source of helium. Between 1973 and 1993 the field produced over 8-trillion cubic feet (230,000,000 m3) of gas.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,146 square miles (2,970 km2), of which 1,141 square miles (2,960 km2) is land and 5.3 square miles (14 km2) (0.5%) is water.[7] The Canadian River forms the northern border of the county.[4] The Washita River passes by Cheyenne and Strong City as it crosses the county from west to east. The historically significant Antelope Hills lie in the northeastern part of the county.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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National protected areas

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19006,190—
191012,861107.8%
192010,638−17.3%
193014,74438.6%
194010,736−27.2%
19507,395−31.1%
19605,090−31.2%
19704,452−12.5%
19804,7997.8%
19904,147−13.6%
20003,436−17.1%
20103,6476.1%
20203,442−5.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010[12]

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 3,436 people, 1,428 households, and 988 families residing in the county. The population density was 1/km2 (2.6/sq mi). There were 1,749 housing units at an average density of 1/km2 (2.6/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 91.76% White, 0.29% Black or African American, 5.47% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.52% from other races, and 1.86% from two or more races. 2.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,428 households, out of which 29.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.80% were married couples living together, 6.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 28.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.80% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 24.70% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 18.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 100.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,078, and the median income for a family was $35,921. Males had a median income of $22,224 versus $19,821 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,821. About 11.50% of families and 16.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.40% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

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The county economy has depended on agriculture, which has benefitted from the fact that it lies above the Ogallala Aquifer. Principal crops have included Kaffir corn, broomcorn, wheat, cotton, corn, and alfalfa. Farms have been consolidating throughout the period since the Great Depression. In 1930, there were 2,353 farms, averaging 278.3 acres each. By 2000, there were 680 farms, averaging 1,015.54 acres each.[4]

Petroleum and natural gas production has become an important contributor since discovery of the Panhandle-Hugoton Field.[4]

In 2010, Roger Mills County had a per capita income of 28,427 dollars per resident compared to the United States per capita income of 27,334 dollars. The county had the highest per capita income of any in Oklahoma and was the only Oklahoma county in which the per capita income exceeded the national per capita income.[14][15]

Politics

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Roger Mills County is heavily Republican, like most of rural western Oklahoma. It has voted for the Republican candidate in every presidential election since 1980, and in all but three elections since 1952.

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of June 30, 2023[16]
Party Number of Voters Percentage
Democratic 564 24.32%
Republican 1,549 66.80%
Others 206 8.88%
Total 2,319 100%
United States presidential election results for Roger Mills County, Oklahoma[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 1,548 89.32% 160 9.23% 25 1.44%
2020 1,629 88.82% 168 9.16% 37 2.02%
2016 1,547 87.95% 151 8.58% 61 3.47%
2012 1,402 83.75% 272 16.25% 0 0.00%
2008 1,502 83.96% 287 16.04% 0 0.00%
2004 1,388 78.42% 382 21.58% 0 0.00%
2000 1,234 73.15% 441 26.14% 12 0.71%
1996 959 49.61% 733 37.92% 241 12.47%
1992 890 40.96% 767 35.30% 516 23.75%
1988 1,132 56.26% 866 43.04% 14 0.70%
1984 1,550 69.10% 680 30.32% 13 0.58%
1980 1,221 56.24% 877 40.40% 73 3.36%
1976 873 38.92% 1,346 60.01% 24 1.07%
1972 1,696 78.16% 420 19.35% 54 2.49%
1968 1,102 45.31% 720 29.61% 610 25.08%
1964 926 40.77% 1,345 59.23% 0 0.00%
1960 1,463 64.39% 809 35.61% 0 0.00%
1956 1,072 43.95% 1,367 56.05% 0 0.00%
1952 1,667 52.99% 1,479 47.01% 0 0.00%
1948 509 18.96% 2,176 81.04% 0 0.00%
1944 1,148 36.15% 2,015 63.44% 13 0.41%
1940 1,504 36.63% 2,580 62.83% 22 0.54%
1936 989 22.33% 3,383 76.38% 57 1.29%
1932 511 12.29% 3,648 87.71% 0 0.00%
1928 1,948 63.51% 986 32.15% 133 4.34%
1924 946 33.99% 1,318 47.36% 519 18.65%
1920 1,193 46.75% 931 36.48% 428 16.77%
1916 538 23.79% 1,148 50.77% 575 25.43%
1912 716 32.80% 902 41.32% 565 25.88%

Communities

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Towns

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Unincorporated communities

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Education

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School districts include:[18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Roger Mills County, Oklahoma". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Oklahoma: Individual County Chronologies". Oklahoma Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Wilson, Linda D. "Roger Mills County,' Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Oklahoma Historical Society, 2009. Accessed April 5, 2015.
  5. ^ "Origin of County Names in Oklahoma." Chronicles of Oklahoma. Volume 2, Number 1. March 1924.
  6. ^ Washita Battlefield National Historic Site. — National Park Service.
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  10. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  11. ^ "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 22, 2015.
  12. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  14. ^ "SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  15. ^ "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  16. ^ "Oklahoma Registration Statistics by County" (PDF). OK.gov. January 15, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  17. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  18. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Roger Mills County, OK" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved October 13, 2024. - Text list
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