Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma

Pottawatomie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the population was 69,442.[1] Its county seat is Shawnee.[2]

Pottawatomie County
U.S. county
Pottawatomie County Courthouse in Shawnee
Location within the U.S. state of Oklahoma
Oklahoma's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°12′N 96°56′W
Country United States
State Oklahoma
Founded1891
Named forPotawatomi people
SeatShawnee
Largest cityShawnee
Area
 • Total793 sq mi (2,050 km2)
 • Land788 sq mi (2,040 km2)
 • Water5.7 sq mi (15 km2)  0.7%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
72,679
 • Density88/sq mi (34/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district5th
Websitepottawatomiecountyok.com

Pottawatomie County is part of the Shawnee, OK Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Oklahoma City–Shawnee, OK Combined Statistical Area.

History

Pottawatomie County was carved out of land originally given to the Creek and Seminole after their forced removal from Georgia and Florida. After the Civil War, the Creek and Seminole were forced to cede their lands back to the federal government, and the area of Pottawatomie County was used to resettle the Iowa, Sac and Fox, Absentee Shawnee, Potawatomi and Kickapoo tribes.[3]

Non-Indian settlement began on September 22, 1891 when all the tribes except the Kickapoo agreed to land allotment, where communal reservation land was divided and allotted to individual members of the tribes. The remaining land was opened to settlement.[3]

During the land run, Pottawatomie County was organized as County "B" with Tecumseh as the county seat. In 1892, the voters of the county elected to rename County "B" as Pottawatomie County after the Potawatomi Indians.

In 1895, the Kickapoo gave up their land rights and their land was given away to white settlers in the last land run in Oklahoma.

In 1930, Shawnee, now bigger in size than Tecumseh, was approved by the voters to become the new county seat. The Pottawatomie County Court House was built in 1934 by the Public Works Administration. The court house project cost $250,000.00 to complete.[3]

On May 19, 2013, during an outbreak of tornadoes, a mobile home park was nearly destroyed killing a 79-year-old man and injuring at least 6 others as well as damaging at least 35 structures. Frame and brick homes west of Shawnee were also affected.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 793 square miles (2,050 km2), of which 788 square miles (2,040 km2) is land and 5.7 square miles (15 km2) (0.7%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
190026,412—
191043,59565.1%
192046,0285.6%
193066,57244.6%
194054,377−18.3%
195043,517−20.0%
196041,486−4.7%
197043,1344.0%
198055,23928.1%
199058,7606.4%
200065,52111.5%
201069,4426.0%
Est. 201872,679[6]4.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[1]
Age pyramid for Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, based on census 2000 data.

As of the census of 2010,[11] there were 69,442 people, 25,911 households, and 18,227 families residing in the county. The population density was 34/km² (88/mi²). There were 29,139 housing units at an average density of 14/km² (37/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 76.3% white, 2.9% black or African American, 12.9% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from other races, and 6.3% from two or more races. About 4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race, while 9% were of American, 17% German, 14% Irish and 10% English ancestry according to 2010 census. About 90.6% spoke English and 4.2% Spanish as their first language.

There were 25,911 households, out of which 34.5% included children under the age of 18, 51.9% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.7% were non-families. About a quarter of households consisted of a single individual and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out with 25% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,332, and the median income for a family was $50,399. Males had a median income of $39,580 versus $27,495 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,700. About 14% of families and 18% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.4% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

The Pioneer Library System operates branch libraries in nine cities in Pottawatomie, Cleveland, and McClain counties.[12]

The Oklahoma Department of Corrections operates the Mabel Bassett Correctional Center in an unincorporated area in the county, near McLoud.[13]

Politics
Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of January 15, 2019[14]
Party Number of Voters Percentage
Democratic 13,438 34.97%
Republican 18,628 48.47%
Others 6,363 16.56%
Total 38,429 100%
Presidential election results
Presidential election results[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 70.1% 17,848 23.6% 6,015 6.2% 1,589
2012 69.3% 16,250 30.7% 7,188
2008 69.2% 17,753 30.8% 7,910
2004 66.6% 17,215 33.4% 8,638
2000 59.3% 13,235 39.3% 8,763 1.4% 318
1996 45.1% 9,802 42.0% 9,141 12.9% 2,810
1992 40.5% 10,350 33.7% 8,616 25.8% 6,606
1988 57.2% 12,099 41.9% 8,873 0.9% 197
1984 69.4% 16,143 30.0% 6,966 0.7% 152
1980 57.1% 12,466 39.0% 8,526 3.9% 858
1976 44.2% 9,090 54.7% 11,255 1.1% 226
1972 71.3% 13,308 25.8% 4,822 2.9% 534
1968 39.4% 6,899 38.4% 6,721 22.1% 3,873
1964 38.6% 6,841 61.4% 10,884
1960 53.9% 9,421 46.1% 8,067
1956 48.9% 8,496 51.2% 8,895
1952 51.7% 10,099 48.4% 9,455
1948 31.8% 4,760 68.2% 10,220
1944 41.4% 6,486 58.3% 9,130 0.3% 43
1940 35.8% 6,776 63.8% 12,058 0.4% 78
1936 27.7% 4,703 71.8% 12,187 0.5% 78
1932 25.3% 4,063 74.7% 12,013
1928 68.6% 8,478 30.7% 3,797 0.7% 89
1924 38.8% 4,040 48.7% 5,072 12.5% 1,297
1920 47.6% 5,355 47.2% 5,310 5.3% 595
1916 31.6% 2,042 50.6% 3,276 17.8% 1,155
1912 33.8% 2,107 49.4% 3,082 16.9% 1,054

Transportation

Major highways

Airport

The Shawnee Regional Airport is located 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) northwest from the central business district of Shawnee. It is classified as a general aviation airport.

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated communities

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

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

  • Aldridge Hotel, Shawnee
  • Barnard Elementary School, Tecumseh
  • Beard Cabin, Shawnee
  • Bell Street Historic District, Shawnee
  • Billington Building, Shawnee
  • H. T. Douglas Mansion and Garage, Shawnee
  • Governors Mansion, Shawnee
  • Kerfoot House, Shawnee
  • Nuckolls House, Shawnee
  • Pottawatomie County Courthouse, Shawnee
  • Rose—Fast Site (34PT28), Harjo
  • Sacred Heart Mission Site, Asher
  • Santa Fe Depot, Shawnee
  • Shawnee Friends Mission, Shawnee
  • St. Gregory's Abbey and College, Shawnee
  • Walker House, Shawnee

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 12, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Willam H. Mullins, "Pottawatomie County," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Accessed April 4, 2015.
  4. Lackey, Katharine; Welch, William M. (May 19, 2013). "Tornadoes hit Plains, Midwest; 1 dead in Okla". USA Today. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  9. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  12. "Pioneer Library System to buy Borders bookstore building in Norman". NewsOK. The Oklahoman. September 27, 2011. Retrieved October 25, 2011.
  13. "Mabel Bassett Correctional Center Archived December 21, 2010, at the Wayback Machine." Oklahoma Department of Corrections. Retrieved on November 22, 2010.
  14. "Oklahoma Registration Statistics by County" (PDF). OK.gov. January 15, 2019. Retrieved 2019-02-27.
  15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 30, 2018.

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