Garvin County is a county in south-centralOklahoma, United States. As of the2020 census, the population was 25,656.[2] Itscounty seat isPauls Valley.[3] In 1906, delegates to the Constitution Convention formed Garvin County from part of theChickasaw Nation,Indian Territory. The county was named after Samuel J. Garvin, a local Chickasaw rancher, merchant, and banker. Its economy is largely based on farming, ranching and oil production.[1]
Garvin County came into existence on November 16, 1907, the day Oklahoma became a state. The territory within the present-day county had been a part ofPickens County, Chickasaw Nation in theIndian Territory.[4]
An election held June 20, 1908, resulted in county citizens choosing Pauls Valley as the county seat over the towns of Wynnewood and Elmore City.[1]
Oil was discovered in the southwestern part of the county known as Robberson Field in the 1920s. The Golden Trend pool, which ran from the northwest to the southern parts of the county developed later.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 814 square miles (2,110 km2), of which 802 square miles (2,080 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (1.4%) is water.[5] The county lies between the Red Bed plains and the Sandstone Hills physiographic regions. The main waterways are theWashita River, Rush Creek and Wildhorse Creek.[1]
As of the2020 United States census, the county had a population of 25,656. Of the residents, 24.2% were under the age of 18 and 19.5% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 40.7 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.8 males.[11][12]
There were 10,164 households in the county, of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[11]
There were 12,054 housing units, of which 15.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 69.8% were owner-occupied and 30.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 15.6%.[11]
As of the2000 census[13], there were 27,210 people, 10,865 households, and 7,605 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 34 people per square mile (13 people/km2). There were 12,641 housing units at an average density of 16 units per square mile (6.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 84.93%White, 2.55%Black orAfrican American, 7.36%Native American, 0.23%Asian, 0.04%Pacific Islander, 1.54% fromother races, and 3.34% from two or more races. 3.40% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 10,865 households, out of which 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.40% weremarried couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.00% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.80% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 17.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,070, and the median income for a family was $34,774. Males had a median income of $28,033 versus $18,940 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $14,856. About 11.40% of families and 15.90% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 18.60% of those under age 18 and 14.30% of those age 65 or over.
While oil and gas production are important to the county economy, agriculture has been the major industry for employment since statehood. In 1907 crops of alfalfa, broomcorn, cotton, onions, potatoes, and hay produced in the county were valued at $2.5 million. By the 1930s over 1,000 acres (400 ha) had been planted with paper shelledpecan trees. By 1961 the Lindsay area harvested morebroomcorn than any other region in the world, and the county slogan became "We sweep the world."[1]