Cherokee County | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofOklahoma | |
 Oklahoma's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:35°55′N95°00′W / 35.91°N 95°W /35.91; -95 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Oklahoma |
| Founded | 1907 |
| Named after | Cherokee Nation |
| Seat | Tahlequah |
| Largest city | Tahlequah |
| Area | |
• Total | 776 sq mi (2,010 km2) |
| • Land | 749 sq mi (1,940 km2) |
| • Water | 27 sq mi (70 km2) 3.5% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 47,078 |
| • Density | 61/sq mi (23/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | https://cherokee.okcounties.org/about |
Cherokee County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofOklahoma. As of the2020 census, the population was 47,078.[1] Itscounty seat isTahlequah,[2] which is also the capital of theCherokee Nation.[3]
Cherokee County comprises the Tahlequah, OKmicropolitan statistical area.
According to a historian, Cherokee County was established in 1907.[4] However, theEncyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, states that it was created from the Tahlequah District of the Cherokee Nation in 1906.[3][a]
The Cherokee moved to this area as a result of the forced relocation brought about by theIndian Removal Act of 1830, also known asTrail Of Tears. The first significant settlements were at the site ofPark Hill, where there was already a mission community, and Tahlequah, which became the seat of Cherokee government. However, the Civil War divided the tribe and caused many of the early structures to be destroyed. Non-Indians began moving into the area illegally starting in the mid-1870s, and became the majority by the 1890s.[3]
In 1851, the Cherokee Male Seminary opened in Tahlequah and the Cherokee Female Seminary opened in Park Hill. The latter burned down in 1887 and was rebuilt in Tahlequah. A 1910 fire destroyed the Male Seminary. The Female Seminary became Northeastern State Normal School after statehood in 1907 and is now part ofNortheastern State University.[3]
During 1901 – 1903, The Ozark and Cherokee Central Railway, which later became part of theSt. Louis and San Francisco Railway was the first to build a track in the county. It boosted the shipment of farm products through the 1920s, but declined during the Great Depression. All rail service ceased in 1942.[3]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 776 square miles (2,010 km2), of which 749 square miles (1,940 km2) is land and 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2) (3.5%) is water.[5]
The county lies in the foothills of theOzark Mountains. It includes most ofTenkiller Lake and part ofFort Gibson Lake. The principal river running through it is theIllinois River.Grand River (Oklahoma) forms part of its western boundary.[3]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 16,778 | — | |
| 1920 | 19,872 | 18.4% | |
| 1930 | 17,470 | −12.1% | |
| 1940 | 21,030 | 20.4% | |
| 1950 | 18,989 | −9.7% | |
| 1960 | 17,762 | −6.5% | |
| 1970 | 23,174 | 30.5% | |
| 1980 | 30,684 | 32.4% | |
| 1990 | 34,049 | 11.0% | |
| 2000 | 42,521 | 24.9% | |
| 2010 | 46,987 | 10.5% | |
| 2020 | 48,078 | 2.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8] 1990-2000[9] 2010[10] | |||
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 42,521 people, 16,175 households, and 11,079 families residing in the county.[11] Thepopulation density was 57 people per square mile (22 people/km2). There were 19,499 housing units at an average density of 26 units per square mile (10/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 56.41%White, 1.20%Black orAfrican American, 32.42%Native American, 0.27%Asian, 0.04%Pacific Islander, 2.10% fromother races, and 7.56% from two or more races. 4.14% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 92.7% spokeEnglish, 3.8%Spanish and 2.7%Cherokee as their first language. At the publication of the 2020 census, its population grew to 48,078.[1]
In 2000, there were 16,175 households, out of which 32.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.50% weremarried couples living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.50% were non-families. 25.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.04. In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.30% under the age of 18, 14.60% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 96.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.
As of 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $26,536, and the median income for a family was $32,369. Males had a median income of $25,993 versus $21,048 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $13,436. About 17.00% of families and 22.90% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 28.40% of those under age 18 and 13.80% of those age 65 or over. In 2021, the median household income was an estimated $47,421.[12]
Public K-12 school districts in the county include:[13]
K-12 school districts:
Elementary school districts:
Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)-affiliated tribal school:
Northeastern State University is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of Oklahoma as well as one of the oldest institutions of higher learning west of theMississippi River.[14] Tahlequah is home to the capital of theCherokee Nation ofOklahoma and about 25 percent of the students at NSU identify themselves as American Indian.[15] The university has many courses focused on Native American linguistics, and offersCherokee language Education as a major.[16] Cherokee can be studied as asecond language, and some classes are taught in Cherokee forfirst language speakers as well.[17]
Despite the county being home to a significantNative American population and a historically wide Democratic registration advantage, the county has voted Republican in every presidential elections in the 21st century.Donald Trump beatJoe Biden 63%-34% in2020. However, the county still will on occasion support local Democrats, as it narrowly voted for DemocratDrew Edmondson over RepublicanKevin Stitt in the2018 gubernatorial race.[18]
| Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of May 31, 2023[19] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Number of voters | Percentage | |||
| Democratic | 10,590 | 40.15% | |||
| Republican | 10,845 | 41.12% | |||
| Others | 4,938 | 18.72% | |||
| Total | 26,373 | 100% | |||
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 11,637 | 65.29% | 5,826 | 32.69% | 360 | 2.02% |
| 2020 | 11,223 | 63.36% | 6,027 | 34.02% | 464 | 2.62% |
| 2016 | 9,994 | 60.61% | 5,456 | 33.09% | 1,040 | 6.31% |
| 2012 | 8,162 | 57.05% | 6,144 | 42.95% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 2008 | 9,186 | 56.08% | 7,194 | 43.92% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 2004 | 9,569 | 52.60% | 8,623 | 47.40% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 2000 | 6,918 | 47.82% | 7,256 | 50.15% | 294 | 2.03% |
| 1996 | 5,046 | 36.84% | 6,817 | 49.77% | 1,833 | 13.38% |
| 1992 | 4,977 | 32.94% | 6,794 | 44.96% | 3,340 | 22.10% |
| 1988 | 5,838 | 46.99% | 6,483 | 52.18% | 103 | 0.83% |
| 1984 | 7,614 | 58.50% | 5,307 | 40.78% | 94 | 0.72% |
| 1980 | 5,594 | 49.47% | 5,215 | 46.12% | 499 | 4.41% |
| 1976 | 4,443 | 42.06% | 6,006 | 56.85% | 115 | 1.09% |
| 1972 | 7,080 | 69.37% | 2,899 | 28.40% | 227 | 2.22% |
| 1968 | 3,971 | 47.32% | 2,554 | 30.44% | 1,866 | 22.24% |
| 1964 | 3,467 | 43.80% | 4,449 | 56.20% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 3,571 | 57.06% | 2,687 | 42.94% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 3,277 | 52.28% | 2,991 | 47.72% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 3,326 | 50.70% | 3,234 | 49.30% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 2,785 | 39.59% | 4,249 | 60.41% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 3,336 | 49.33% | 3,415 | 50.50% | 12 | 0.18% |
| 1940 | 4,128 | 50.98% | 3,952 | 48.80% | 18 | 0.22% |
| 1936 | 2,917 | 42.25% | 3,966 | 57.44% | 21 | 0.30% |
| 1932 | 2,275 | 32.93% | 4,633 | 67.07% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1928 | 2,963 | 54.49% | 2,446 | 44.98% | 29 | 0.53% |
| 1924 | 2,622 | 49.84% | 2,454 | 46.65% | 185 | 3.52% |
| 1920 | 2,524 | 56.48% | 1,859 | 41.60% | 86 | 1.92% |
| 1916 | 1,379 | 42.37% | 1,594 | 48.97% | 282 | 8.66% |
| 1912 | 962 | 43.67% | 1,094 | 49.66% | 147 | 6.67% |
| 1908 | 1,039 | 51.95% | 913 | 45.65% | 48 | 2.40% |
Since statehood, the economy of Cherokee County has been based on agriculture, especially production of corn, wheat and vegetables. However, the percentage of the population engaged in farming has declined from 62 percent in 1940 to 4.4 percent in 1990. This is largely due to increased urbanization around Tahlequah since World War II. Agriculture remains very important. In 2002, this county ranked first in Oklahoma for the value of nursery and greenhouse crops and seventh in the state for poultry and eggs.[3] Illinois River and Lake Tenkiller tourism are perhaps of greater economic impact than agriculture, and both have lodging, water sports and recreation outfitters, fishing equipment and guides, eating and drinking establishments, campgrounds, festival events, and organizations for the conservation of resources.
Major non-agricultural employers in the county now include theCherokee Nation government andNortheastern State University,[3]
The following sites in Cherokee County are listed on theNational Register of Historic Places:
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Places adjacent to Cherokee County, Oklahoma | |
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Municipalities and communities ofCherokee County, Oklahoma,United States | ||
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| City |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other community | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
35°55′N95°00′W / 35.91°N 95.00°W /35.91; -95.00
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
