Grant County, Oklahoma | |
|---|---|
 Grant County Courthouse inMedford (2017) | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofOklahoma | |
 Oklahoma's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:36°48′N97°47′W / 36.8°N 97.79°W /36.8; -97.79 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Oklahoma |
| Founded | 1893 |
| Named after | Ulysses S. Grant |
| Seat | Medford |
| Largest city | Medford |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,004 sq mi (2,600 km2) |
| • Land | 1,001 sq mi (2,590 km2) |
| • Water | 2.7 sq mi (7.0 km2) 0.3% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 4,169 |
| • Density | 4.2/sq mi (1.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
| Website | www |
Grant County is acounty located on the northern border of theU.S. state ofOklahoma. As of the2020 census, the population was 4,169.[1] Itscounty seat isMedford.[2] Originally designated as part of theCherokee Outlet, it was named County L in Oklahoma Territory at the time of its opening to non-Indian settlement. A county election renamed it for U.S. PresidentUlysses S. Grant.
Grant County was part of theCherokee Nation'sCherokee Outlet until it was opened to non-Indian settlers in response to public demand on September 16, 1893. Settlers named the county after PresidentUlysses S. Grant[3] in a general election held November 6, 1894. Congress originally designated this area as County L inOklahoma Territory, with the county seat atPond Creek. Medford became the county seat through an election held on May 27, 1908.[4]
The Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway (later theChicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway) built a railroad from northernKansas through Grant County in 1889 and 1890. In 1897, the Gulf Railroad (later theAtchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, AT&SF) linked Manchester, Wakita, Medford, and Deer Creek. At the start of the 20th century, the Blackwell, Enid and Southwestern Railroad (later theSt. Louis and San Francisco Railway) passed through Lamont. Still later, the Denver, Enid and Gulf Railroad (later the AT&SF) reached Nash (Nashville).[4]
The railroads gave the county access to markets in the northern and eastern U.S., helping turn the county into a major agriculture and cattle producer. At statehood, the principal crops were wheat, corn, oats, alfalfa, and forage sorghum. The county also had more than fourteen thousand each of hogs and cattle as well as almost thirteen thousand horses.[4]
Bethel was the site of a post office in Grant County that existed from March 12, 1895, until November 2, 1895.[5]
Florence was the site of a post office in Grant Co. that existed prior to 1908 but ceased to existcirca 1920, after the post office closed, per information acquired in researching an ancestor, Isaac Arnold, who was postmaster in Florence from August 1908 to 1920.[citation needed]
In October 2024, four of the sheriff's department deputies resigned at the same time. This left the sheriff's office with one deputy.[6]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,004 square miles (2,600 km2), of which 1,001 square miles (2,590 km2) is land and 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2) (0.3%) is water.[7] Most of the county is drained by theSalt Fork of the Arkansas River and its tributaries (Pond, Deer, Osage, and Crooked creeks). TheChikaskia River flows southeast from Kansas into the county's northeastern corner, then crosses east into Kay County.[4]
The county is by theU.S. state ofKansas on the north, specificallySumner andHarper counties. Adjacent counties inOklahoma areKay County to the east,Garfield County to the south, andAlfalfa County to the west.
U.S. Route 60
U.S. Route 64
U.S. Route 81
State Highway 11
State Highway 11A
State Highway 74
State Highway 132| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 17,373 | — | |
| 1910 | 18,760 | 8.0% | |
| 1920 | 16,072 | −14.3% | |
| 1930 | 14,150 | −12.0% | |
| 1940 | 13,128 | −7.2% | |
| 1950 | 10,461 | −20.3% | |
| 1960 | 8,140 | −22.2% | |
| 1970 | 7,117 | −12.6% | |
| 1980 | 6,518 | −8.4% | |
| 1990 | 5,684 | −12.8% | |
| 2000 | 5,144 | −9.5% | |
| 2010 | 4,527 | −12.0% | |
| 2020 | 4,169 | −7.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10] 1990-2000[11] 2010[12] | |||
As of the2020 United States census, the county had a population of 4,169. Of the residents, 23.5% were under the age of 18 and 22.6% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 44.4 years. For every 100 females there were 100.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.8 males.[13][14]
The racial makeup of the county was 88.8% White, 1.1%Black or African American, 1.9%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Asian, 1.8% from some other race, and 6.0% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.4% of the population.[14]
There were 1,762 households in the county, of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[13]
There were 2,160 housing units, of which 18.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.6% were owner-occupied and 23.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.8%.[13]
As of the 2010census, the county's population was 4,527, a 12 percent decline from 5,144 at the 2000 census. Thepopulation density was 4.5 people per square mile (1.7 people/km2). There were 2,622 housing units at an average density of 3 units per square mile (1.2/km2). More than 90 percent of residents self-identified aswhite. Less than 3 percent of residents self-identified asNative American and less than 2 percent self-identified asHispanic orLatino of any race. Less than 1 percent of the population self-identified asBlack orAfrican American,Asian, orPacific Islander. Less than 2 percent of the population self-identified as ofa race not listed or as from two or more races.
There were 2,089 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.4% weremarried couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.30% were non-families. 28.40% of households were made up of individuals, and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 24.10% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 21.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,977, and the median income for a family was $35,833. Males had a median income of $26,837 versus $19,036 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $15,709. About 10.50% of families and 13.70% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 19.60% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.
| Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of June 30, 2023[15] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Number of Voters | Percentage | |||
| Democratic | 416 | 14.59% | |||
| Republican | 2,120 | 74.36% | |||
| Others | 315 | 11.05% | |||
| Total | 2,851 | 100% | |||
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1908 | 1,796 | 47.50% | 1,866 | 49.35% | 119 | 3.15% |
| 1912 | 1,729 | 47.23% | 1,559 | 42.58% | 373 | 10.19% |
| 1916 | 1,517 | 42.32% | 1,700 | 47.42% | 368 | 10.26% |
| 1920 | 3,210 | 60.58% | 1,883 | 35.54% | 206 | 3.89% |
| 1924 | 2,800 | 51.74% | 1,990 | 36.77% | 622 | 11.49% |
| 1928 | 4,371 | 74.30% | 1,449 | 24.63% | 63 | 1.07% |
| 1932 | 1,902 | 30.03% | 4,432 | 69.97% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 2,307 | 36.65% | 3,955 | 62.84% | 32 | 0.51% |
| 1940 | 3,394 | 53.01% | 2,970 | 46.39% | 38 | 0.59% |
| 1944 | 3,021 | 59.48% | 2,045 | 40.26% | 13 | 0.26% |
| 1948 | 2,471 | 53.75% | 2,126 | 46.25% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 3,996 | 72.43% | 1,521 | 27.57% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 2,788 | 58.81% | 1,953 | 41.19% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 2,810 | 61.99% | 1,723 | 38.01% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 1,992 | 48.44% | 2,120 | 51.56% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 2,403 | 61.82% | 1,047 | 26.94% | 437 | 11.24% |
| 1972 | 2,829 | 75.34% | 805 | 21.44% | 121 | 3.22% |
| 1976 | 1,685 | 46.96% | 1,853 | 51.64% | 50 | 1.39% |
| 1980 | 2,411 | 69.44% | 927 | 26.70% | 134 | 3.86% |
| 1984 | 2,470 | 74.31% | 825 | 24.82% | 29 | 0.87% |
| 1988 | 1,690 | 56.71% | 1,249 | 41.91% | 41 | 1.38% |
| 1992 | 1,311 | 42.90% | 864 | 28.27% | 881 | 28.83% |
| 1996 | 1,382 | 52.09% | 867 | 32.68% | 404 | 15.23% |
| 2000 | 1,762 | 70.40% | 709 | 28.33% | 32 | 1.28% |
| 2004 | 1,950 | 77.35% | 571 | 22.65% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 2008 | 1,836 | 78.13% | 514 | 21.87% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 2012 | 1,675 | 81.00% | 393 | 19.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 2016 | 1,827 | 83.01% | 288 | 13.08% | 86 | 3.91% |
| 2020 | 1,916 | 86.07% | 280 | 12.58% | 30 | 1.35% |
| 2024 | 1,794 | 84.42% | 295 | 13.88% | 36 | 1.69% |
The county economy has largely been based on agriculture since before statehood. At statehood the principal crops included wheat, corn, oats, alfalfa, and forage sorghum with estimated value of $3.5 million. Farmers and ranchers had more than fourteen thousand each of hogs and cattle as well as almost thirteen thousand horses.[4]
Oil and gas were discovered In the early 1920s in the eastern part of the county near the Blackwell Field. On April 24, 1921, the first oil well in Grant County, was drilled near Deer Creek.[4]
Circa early October 2024, the Grant County Sheriff's Department had four deputies.[6]
| Rank | City/Town/ | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | †Medford | City | 936 |
| 2 | Pond Creek | City | 852 |
| 3 | Lamont | Town | 392 |
| 4 | Wakita | Town | 329 |
| 5 | Nash | Town | 197 |
| 6 | Deer Creek | Town | 125 |
| 7 | Manchester | Town | 99 |
| 8 | Renfrow | Town | 12 |
| 9 | Jefferson | Town | 8 |
School districts include:[17]
Former school districts:
The following sites in Grant County are listed on theNational Register of Historic Places:
Places adjacent to Grant County, Oklahoma | |
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Municipalities and communities ofGrant County, Oklahoma,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
36°48′N97°47′W / 36.80°N 97.79°W /36.80; -97.79
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