Greer County, Oklahoma | |
|---|---|
 Greer County Courthouse in Mangum | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofOklahoma | |
 Oklahoma's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:34°56′N99°34′W / 34.93°N 99.56°W /34.93; -99.56 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Oklahoma |
| Founded | 1896 |
| Named after | John Alexander Greer |
| Seat | Mangum |
| Largest city | Mangum |
| Area | |
• Total | 644 sq mi (1,670 km2) |
| • Land | 639 sq mi (1,660 km2) |
| • Water | 4.3 sq mi (11 km2) 0.7% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 5,491 |
| • Density | 8.59/sq mi (3.32/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
| Website | greer |
Greer County is acounty located along the southwest border of theU.S. state ofOklahoma. As of the2020 census, the population was 5,491.[1] Itscounty seat isMangum.[2] From 1860 to 1896, the state ofTexas claimed an area known asGreer County, Texas, which included present-day Greer County along with neighboring areas. In 1896 it was designated as a county inOklahoma Territory under a ruling by the US Supreme Court.[3] The rural Greer County is home toQuartz Mountain State Park, near the community ofLone Wolf, Oklahoma. It is also home to theOklahoma State Reformatory, located inGranite.[4] Its population has declined since 1930 due to changes in agriculture and migration to cities for work.
After a dispute over the 1819Adams-Onís Treaty and the related 1828Treaty of Limits, the governments of both the United States and the state of Texas claimed ownership of some 1.5 million acres (6,100 km2) in what was then operated asGreer County, Texas. The county was named for former Texas lieutenant governor,John A. Greer.[4] Litigation followed, and in the case ofUnited States v. State of Texas162 U.S.1 (1896), with a ruling issued on March 16, theSupreme Court, having original jurisdiction over the case, decided in favor of the United States.
The county was assigned to the Oklahoma Territory on May 4, 1896. When Oklahoma was admitted as a state, Greer County was established according to its current boundaries; the remaining former county area was organized asHarmon,Jackson, and part ofBeckham counties. The town of Mangum, designated as the county seat in 1886 when it was part of Texas, continued as the seat of Greer County, Oklahoma.[4] From its establishment until at least 1903, Greer County was asundown county, prohibiting African Americans from living in the county.[5]
Originally developed for agriculture, the rural county had its peak of population in 1930. Mechanization of agriculture reduced the need for farm labor, and the population has declined as people migrated to cities for work.
Among the county attractions isQuartz Mountain State Park (known from 2002 to 2020 as Quartz Mountain Nature Park), near the community ofLone Wolf.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 644 square miles (1,670 km2), of which 639 square miles (1,660 km2) is land and 4.3 square miles (11 km2) (0.7%) is water.[6]
Western Greer County lies in the Gypsum Hills, while the eastern one-third is in the Red Bed Plains physiographic region. The county is drained by theNorth Fork Red River,Elm Fork Red River, andSalt Fork Red River.[4]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 16,449 | — | |
| 1920 | 15,836 | −3.7% | |
| 1930 | 20,282 | 28.1% | |
| 1940 | 14,550 | −28.3% | |
| 1950 | 11,749 | −19.3% | |
| 1960 | 8,877 | −24.4% | |
| 1970 | 7,979 | −10.1% | |
| 1980 | 7,028 | −11.9% | |
| 1990 | 6,559 | −6.7% | |
| 2000 | 6,061 | −7.6% | |
| 2010 | 6,239 | 2.9% | |
| 2020 | 5,491 | −12.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9] 1990–2000[10] 2010[11] | |||
As of the2020 United States census, the county had a population of 5,491. Of the residents, 20.9% were under the age of 18 and 18.4% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 40.8 years. For every 100 females there were 124.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 134.3 males.[12][13]
The racial makeup of the county was 77.9% White, 6.6%Black or African American, 3.4%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Asian, 3.6% from some other race, and 8.4% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 12.1% of the population.[13]
There were 1,940 households in the county, of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 30.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[12]
There were 2,615 housing units, of which 25.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.1% were owner-occupied and 27.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 17.5%.[12]
As of thecensus[14] of 2000, there were 6,061 people, 2,237 households, and 1,442 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 10 people per square mile (3.9 people/km2). There were 2,788 housing units at an average density of 4 units per square mile (1.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 81.46%White, 8.78%Black orAfrican American, 2.47%Native American, 0.26%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 3.99% fromother races, and 3.02% from two or more races. 7.44% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 2,237 households, out of which 25.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.00% weremarried couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.50% were non-families. 33.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.00% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 28.40% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 20.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 123.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 129.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $25,793, and the median income for a family was $30,702. Males had a median income of $24,318 versus $18,641 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $14,053. About 15.00% of families and 19.60% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 28.40% of those under age 18 and 14.80% of those age 65 or over.
| Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of June 30, 2023[15] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Number of Voters | Percentage | |||
| Democratic | 916 | 32.28% | |||
| Republican | 1,501 | 52.89% | |||
| Others | 421 | 14.83% | |||
| Total | 2,838 | 100% | |||
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1908 | 708 | 21.08% | 2,149 | 63.98% | 502 | 14.94% |
| 1912 | 351 | 16.80% | 1,334 | 63.86% | 404 | 19.34% |
| 1916 | 369 | 14.60% | 1,675 | 66.28% | 483 | 19.11% |
| 1920 | 1,013 | 32.75% | 1,854 | 59.94% | 226 | 7.31% |
| 1924 | 551 | 19.50% | 1,982 | 70.13% | 293 | 10.37% |
| 1928 | 2,262 | 57.48% | 1,645 | 41.80% | 28 | 0.71% |
| 1932 | 418 | 8.97% | 4,240 | 91.03% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 766 | 16.94% | 3,745 | 82.82% | 11 | 0.24% |
| 1940 | 1,195 | 25.21% | 3,524 | 74.35% | 21 | 0.44% |
| 1944 | 1,075 | 26.45% | 2,984 | 73.43% | 5 | 0.12% |
| 1948 | 713 | 18.98% | 3,044 | 81.02% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 2,147 | 48.05% | 2,321 | 51.95% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 1,499 | 44.01% | 1,907 | 55.99% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 2,158 | 55.96% | 1,698 | 44.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 1,247 | 31.83% | 2,671 | 68.17% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 1,225 | 35.26% | 1,419 | 40.85% | 830 | 23.89% |
| 1972 | 2,154 | 66.40% | 1,004 | 30.95% | 86 | 2.65% |
| 1976 | 1,164 | 35.19% | 2,113 | 63.88% | 31 | 0.94% |
| 1980 | 1,535 | 49.53% | 1,492 | 48.14% | 72 | 2.32% |
| 1984 | 1,664 | 57.36% | 1,220 | 42.05% | 17 | 0.59% |
| 1988 | 1,225 | 48.94% | 1,256 | 50.18% | 22 | 0.88% |
| 1992 | 964 | 34.69% | 1,162 | 41.81% | 653 | 23.50% |
| 1996 | 905 | 35.96% | 1,240 | 49.26% | 372 | 14.78% |
| 2000 | 1,287 | 59.80% | 839 | 38.99% | 26 | 1.21% |
| 2004 | 1,529 | 68.02% | 719 | 31.98% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 2008 | 1,548 | 73.23% | 566 | 26.77% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 2012 | 1,344 | 73.36% | 488 | 26.64% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 2016 | 1,482 | 78.16% | 323 | 17.04% | 91 | 4.80% |
| 2020 | 1,605 | 81.35% | 328 | 16.62% | 40 | 2.03% |
| 2024 | 1,511 | 82.30% | 304 | 16.56% | 21 | 1.14% |
The county's economy has been based on farming and raising livestock. In 1907, the main crops were cotton, corn, oats, wheat and alfalfa. Livestock raised includes cattle, horses, mules, swine, sheep and goats.[4]
TheOklahoma State Reformatory is located inGranite in the county and provides some jobs.[4]
School districts include:[17]
Because the ban has been placed on the negroes by the citizens of Greer county, Okla., there will be an estimated loss of 5,000 bales of this year's cotton crop. Greer county, which, until a few years ago, was a part of Texas, is one of the big cotton producers of the territory. This year the farmers raised 20 per cent. increased acreage and a 15-per-cent. increase yield, but there is a labor famine. The growers have been threatened by the citizens in general upon every attempt to import negroes, but unless the necessary laborers are secured in the immediate future the financial loss will be great. The growers now have a movement on foot to bring 100 Mexican families to pick the cotton crop. Since the organization of Greer county no negroes have been allowed to live within its boundaries.
Places adjacent to Greer County, Oklahoma | |
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Municipalities and communities ofGreer County, Oklahoma,United States | ||
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| City |  | |
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated community | ||
| Ghost town | ||
34°56′N99°34′W / 34.93°N 99.56°W /34.93; -99.56
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| National | |
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