Roger Mills County, Oklahoma | |
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 Location within the U.S. state ofOklahoma | |
| Coordinates:35°41′N99°42′W / 35.69°N 99.7°W /35.69; -99.7 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Oklahoma |
| Founded | 1891 |
| Named after | Roger Q. Mills |
| Seat | Cheyenne |
| Largest town | Cheyenne |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,146 sq mi (2,970 km2) |
| • Land | 1,141 sq mi (2,960 km2) |
| • Water | 5.3 sq mi (14 km2) 0.40% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 3,442 |
| • Density | 3.017/sq mi (1.165/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
| Website | www |
Roger Mills County is acounty located in the western part of theU.S. state ofOklahoma. As of the2020 census, its population was 3,442,[1] making it the fourth-least populous county in Oklahoma. Itscounty seat isCheyenne.[2] The county was created in 1891.[3]
Roger Mills county is located above the petroleum-richPanhandle-Hugoton Field, making it one of the leading sources of oil, natural gas, and helium. The county also overlies part of theOgallala Aquifer.[4]
Roger Mills County takes its name fromRoger Q. Mills, an officer in the Confederate States Army during theAmerican Civil War and later senator fromTexas.[4][5] The town ofCheyenne in Roger Mills County is the location of theBattle of Washita River (also called Battle of the Washita; Washita Battlefield and the Washita Massacre), whereGeorge Armstrong Custer’s7th U.S. Cavalry attacked ChiefBlack Kettle’sCheyenne village on theWashita River on November 26, 1868.[6]
The area covered by Roger Mills County had been part of theCheyenne Arapaho reservation until afterOklahoma Territory was created and County E was formed. County E was renamedDay 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 were the site ofnatural gas andoil development in the Panhandle-Hugoton Gas Field, the largest-volume gas field in the United States, and the world's largest known source ofhelium. Between 1973 and 1993, the field produced over 8 trillion cubic feet (230,000,000 m3) of natural gas.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,146 square miles (2,970 km2), of which 5.3 sq mi (14 km2) (0.5%) are covered by water.[7] TheCanadian River forms the northern border of the county.[4] The Washita River passes by Cheyenne andStrong City as it crosses the county from west to east. The historically significantAntelope Hills lie in the northeastern part of the county.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 6,190 | — | |
| 1910 | 12,861 | 107.8% | |
| 1920 | 10,638 | −17.3% | |
| 1930 | 14,744 | 38.6% | |
| 1940 | 10,736 | −27.2% | |
| 1950 | 7,395 | −31.1% | |
| 1960 | 5,090 | −31.2% | |
| 1970 | 4,452 | −12.5% | |
| 1980 | 4,799 | 7.8% | |
| 1990 | 4,147 | −13.6% | |
| 2000 | 3,436 | −17.1% | |
| 2010 | 3,647 | 6.1% | |
| 2020 | 3,442 | −5.6% | |
| 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 3,442. Of the residents, 24.9% were under the age of 18 and 20.2% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 43.1 years. For every 100 females there were 98.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.5 males.[13][14]
The racial makeup of the county was 85.6% White, 0.2%Black or African American, 3.5%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Asian, 1.8% from some other race, and 8.7% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 7.4% of the population.[14]
There were 1,397 households in the county, of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 21.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[13]
There were 1,852 housing units, of which 24.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 80.2% were owner-occupied and 19.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 17.2%.[13]
As of the2000 census, 3,436 people, 1,428 households, and 988 families resided in the county.[15] Thepopulation density was 1/km2 (2.6/mi2). The 1,749 housing units had an average density of 1/km2 (2.6/mi2).[15]
Theracial makeup of the county was 91.76% White, 0.29% African American, 5.47% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.52% from other races, and 1.86% from two or more races. About 2.65% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.[15]
Of the 1,428 households, 29.4% had children under 18 living with them, 58.8% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were not families. About 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.91.[15]
In the county, the age distribution was 23.8% under 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 100.5 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.[15]
The median income for a household in the county was $30,078, and for a family was $35,921. Males had a median income of $22,224 versus $19,821 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $16,821. About 11.50% of families and 16.30% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 20.40% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those 65 or over.[15]
The county economy has depended on agriculture, which has benefitted because it lies above theOgallala Aquifer. Principal crops have included kaffir corn, broomcorn, wheat, cotton, corn, andalfalfa. Farms have been consolidating throughout the period since the Great Depression. In 1930, the 2,353 farms averaged 278.3 acres each. By 2000, the remaining 680 farms averaged 1,015.54 acres each.[4]
Petroleum and natural gas production has become an important contributor since discovery of thePanhandle-Hugoton Field.[4]
In 2010, Roger Mills County had a per capita income of $28,427 per resident compared to the United States per capita income of $27,334. 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.[16][17]
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. The county last voted for a Democrat in1976 when it voted forJimmy Carter. Roger Mills County, prior to the 1980s, had leaned Democratic, voting Democratic in 12 of 18 elections between 1908 and 1976. Since 1976, it has rapidly trended Republican.
| Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of June 30, 2023[18] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Number of Voters | Percentage | |||
| Democratic | 564 | 24.32% | |||
| Republican | 1,549 | 66.80% | |||
| Others | 206 | 8.88% | |||
| Total | 2,319 | 100% | |||
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1908 | 839 | 34.71% | 1,168 | 48.32% | 410 | 16.96% |
| 1912 | 716 | 32.80% | 902 | 41.32% | 565 | 25.88% |
| 1916 | 538 | 23.79% | 1,148 | 50.77% | 575 | 25.43% |
| 1920 | 1,193 | 46.75% | 931 | 36.48% | 428 | 16.77% |
| 1924 | 946 | 33.99% | 1,318 | 47.36% | 519 | 18.65% |
| 1928 | 1,948 | 63.51% | 986 | 32.15% | 133 | 4.34% |
| 1932 | 511 | 12.29% | 3,648 | 87.71% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 989 | 22.33% | 3,383 | 76.38% | 57 | 1.29% |
| 1940 | 1,504 | 36.63% | 2,580 | 62.83% | 22 | 0.54% |
| 1944 | 1,148 | 36.15% | 2,015 | 63.44% | 13 | 0.41% |
| 1948 | 509 | 18.96% | 2,176 | 81.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 1,667 | 52.99% | 1,479 | 47.01% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 1,072 | 43.95% | 1,367 | 56.05% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 1,463 | 64.39% | 809 | 35.61% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 926 | 40.77% | 1,345 | 59.23% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 1,102 | 45.31% | 720 | 29.61% | 610 | 25.08% |
| 1972 | 1,696 | 78.16% | 420 | 19.35% | 54 | 2.49% |
| 1976 | 873 | 38.92% | 1,346 | 60.01% | 24 | 1.07% |
| 1980 | 1,221 | 56.24% | 877 | 40.40% | 73 | 3.36% |
| 1984 | 1,550 | 69.10% | 680 | 30.32% | 13 | 0.58% |
| 1988 | 1,132 | 56.26% | 866 | 43.04% | 14 | 0.70% |
| 1992 | 890 | 40.96% | 767 | 35.30% | 516 | 23.75% |
| 1996 | 959 | 49.61% | 733 | 37.92% | 241 | 12.47% |
| 2000 | 1,234 | 73.15% | 441 | 26.14% | 12 | 0.71% |
| 2004 | 1,388 | 78.42% | 382 | 21.58% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 2008 | 1,502 | 83.96% | 287 | 16.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 2012 | 1,402 | 83.75% | 272 | 16.25% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 2016 | 1,547 | 87.95% | 151 | 8.58% | 61 | 3.47% |
| 2020 | 1,629 | 88.82% | 168 | 9.16% | 37 | 2.02% |
| 2024 | 1,548 | 89.32% | 160 | 9.23% | 25 | 1.44% |
School districts include:[20]
Places adjacent to Roger Mills County, Oklahoma | |
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Municipalities and communities ofRoger Mills County, Oklahoma,United States | ||
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| Towns |  | |
| CDP | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
35°41′N99°42′W / 35.69°N 99.70°W /35.69; -99.70
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