Choctaw County, Oklahoma

Choctaw County, Oklahoma
The Choctaw County Courthouse in Hugo.
Map of Oklahoma highlighting Choctaw 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 Hugo
Largest city Hugo
Area
 • Total 800 sq mi (2,072 km2)
 • Land 770 sq mi (1,994 km2)
 • Water 29 sq mi (75 km2), 3.7%
Population (est.)
 • (2013) 15,045
 • Density 20/sq mi (8/km2)
Congressional district 2nd
Time zone Central: UTC−6/−5

Choctaw County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the population was 15,205.[1] Its county seat is Hugo.[2] The county was created in 1907, at the time of Oklahoma statehood. According to the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, the name is derived from Chahta, the mythical founder of the Choctaw people.[3]

History

The Choctaw Nation moved into the area now occupied by Choctaw County in 1831-1832, as a result of their forcible expulsion from the Southeastern United States. The U.S. Army had already established Fort Towson in the area in 1824, and took on the mission of protecting the newcomers from other tribes. In 1837, the Chickasaws settled the area around Doaksville, which was adjacent to the fort. Both the town of Fort Towson and Doaksville served as the capital of the Choctaw Nation. Doaksville became a ghost town after the Civil War. In 1848, the Presbyterian church established a mission, which still exists and is now known as Goodland Academy.[3]

The St. Louis and San Francisco Railway built a line through the town of Hugo in 1902, causing the town to become a commercial center for the region. Before statehood, the area of Choctaw County was part of Jackson, Kiamichi, Cedar, and Towson counties, Choctaw Nation. When Oklahoma became a state in 1907, Choctaw County was created and Hugo was named the county seat.[3]

Recent events

In October 2011 the U.S. Navy announced plans to honor Choctaw County with the naming of a ship. The upcoming vessel—a Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV)--will simultaneously honor the three American counties named Choctaw County, in Alabama, Mississippi, and Oklahoma. "I grew up in Choctaw County, Miss., where people work hard to raise their families and provide for their children," Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus said in announcing the plan. "I chose to name JHSV after Choctaw County to honor those men and women who represent rural America." USNS Choctaw County will bear hull number JHSV-2.[4]

Geography

Hugo Lake

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 800 square miles (2,100 km2), of which 770 square miles (2,000 km2) is land and 29 square miles (75 km2) (3.7%) is water.[5] The major streams in the county are the Kiamichi River, the Muddy Boggy River and the Clear Boggy River, which all drain into the Red River. Lakes include Hugo Lake, on the Kiamichi River, and Raymond Gary Lake.[3]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
191021,862—
192032,14447.0%
193024,142−24.9%
194028,35817.5%
195020,405−28.0%
196015,637−23.4%
197015,141−3.2%
198017,20313.6%
199015,302−11.1%
200015,3420.3%
201015,205−0.9%
Est. 201614,885[6]−2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[1]
Map of Choctaw County, 1909

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 15,342 people, 6,220 households, and 4,285 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile (8/km²). There were 7,539 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 68.55% White, 10.94% Black or African American, 14.96% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 4.90% from two or more races. 1.60% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 97.1% spoke English, 1.6% Spanish and 1.3% Choctaw as their first language.

There were 6,220 households out of which 30.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.30% were married couples living together, 14.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.10% were non-families. 28.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.00% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 24.70% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 17.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 90.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.00 males. The median income for a household in the county was $22,743, and the median income for a family was $28,331. Males had a median income of $25,777 versus $18,805 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,296. About 20.40% of families and 24.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.50% of those under age 18 and 21.70% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of January 15, 2018[12]
Party Number of Voters Percentage
Democratic 5,134 62.90%
Republican 2,051 25.13%
Others 977 11.97%
Total 8,162 100%
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 77.5% 4,206 19.7% 1,067 2.8% 153
2012 70.5% 3,572 29.5% 1,494
2008 66.7% 3,730 33.3% 1,860
2004 54.6% 3,168 45.5% 2,639
2000 46.3% 2,461 52.7% 2,799 1.0% 55
1996 29.4% 1,580 59.5% 3,198 11.2% 601
1992 25.7% 1,641 53.5% 3,413 20.7% 1,323
1988 39.6% 2,217 60.1% 3,362 0.4% 20
1984 52.7% 3,155 46.8% 2,801 0.5% 31
1980 39.8% 2,394 58.4% 3,507 1.8% 108
1976 29.7% 1,821 69.5% 4,269 0.8% 50
1972 64.4% 3,399 34.1% 1,798 1.5% 81
1968 26.0% 1,414 41.7% 2,268 32.2% 1,751
1964 30.2% 1,718 69.8% 3,969
1960 46.3% 2,531 53.8% 2,941
1956 38.9% 2,206 61.1% 3,469
1952 34.6% 2,251 65.4% 4,260
1948 17.9% 1,036 82.1% 4,750
1944 24.3% 1,404 75.5% 4,358 0.2% 13
1940 31.3% 2,365 68.5% 5,177 0.3% 19
1936 21.5% 1,269 78.2% 4,624 0.3% 17
1932 17.5% 1,040 82.5% 4,908
1928 49.3% 2,541 50.1% 2,581 0.6% 30
1924 38.1% 2,013 47.9% 2,528 14.0% 737
1920 42.7% 2,094 51.6% 2,531 5.8% 283
1916 27.1% 957 55.1% 1,945 17.8% 627
1912 24.6% 692 49.6% 1,392 25.8% 725

Economy

Agriculture, ranching and lumber have been the mainstays of the county economy since statehood. In 1910, cotton was the main crop. By 1930, the local agriculture industry had diversified to include corn, oats, prairie hay, and peanuts. At the start of the 21st century, soybeans, vegetables, and corn were the main crops. Retail businesses and health care were the largest employers.[3]

Communities

City

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated places

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2015-05-10. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Milligan, James C. "Choctaw County," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, 2009. Accessed March 28, 2015.
  4. ↑ Ronald O'Rourke, "Navy Ship Names: Background for Congress," pp. 5-6. October 7, 2011. Congressional Research Service. This report is quoting U.S. Department of Defense news release 859-11, "Navy Names New Joint High Speed Vessel," dated October 6, 2011, accessed on October 6, 2011 at http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=14846.
  5. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  9. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  11. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  12. ↑ https://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/20180115%20-%20Registration%20By%20County%20%28vr2420%29.pdf
  13. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-28.

Coordinates: 34°02′N 95°33′W / 34.03°N 95.55°W / 34.03; -95.55

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