Cherokee County, Oklahoma

Not to be confused with Cherokee, Oklahoma.
Cherokee County, Oklahoma
Map of Oklahoma highlighting Cherokee County
Location in the state of Oklahoma
Map of the United States highlighting Oklahoma
Oklahoma's location in the U.S.
Founded 1907
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 (est.)
 • (2013) 48,017
 • Density 63/sq mi (24/km²)
Congressional district 2nd
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5

Cherokee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the population was 46,987.[1] Its county seat is Tahlequah,[2] which is also the capital of the Cherokee Nation.[3]

Cherokee County comprises the Tahlequah, OK Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Tulsa-Muskogee-Bartlesville, OK Combined Statistical Area.

History

Cherokee stop sign with Cherokee language transliteration and the Cherokee syllabary in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, with "alehwisdiha" (also spelled "halehwisda") meaning "stop"
Cherokee traffic sign in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, reading "tla adi yigi", meaning "no parking" from "tla" meaning "no"

According to a historian, Cherokee County was established in 1907.[4] However, the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, states that it was created from the Tahlequah District of the Cherokee Nation in 1906.[3]

The Cherokee moved to this area as a result of the forced relocation brought about by the Indian Removal Act of 1830, also known as Trail Of Tears. The first significant settlements were at the site of Park 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 of Northeastern State University.[3]

During 1901 – 1903, The Ozark and Cherokee Central Railway, which later became part of the St. 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]

Geography

According to the U.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 the Ozark Mountains. It includes most of Tenkiller Lake and part of Fort Gibson Lake. The principal river running through it is the Illinois River. Grand River (Oklahoma) forms part of its western boundary.[3]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
191016,778—
192019,87218.4%
193017,470−12.1%
194021,03020.4%
195018,989−9.7%
196017,762−6.5%
197023,17430.5%
198030,68432.4%
199034,04911.0%
200042,52124.9%
201046,98710.5%
Est. 201448,341[6]2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[1]
Age pyramid for Cherokee County, Oklahoma, based on census 2000 data.

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 42,521 people, 16,175 households, and 11,079 families residing in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile (22/km²). There were 19,499 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 56.41% White, 1.20% Black or African American, 32.42% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.10% from other races, and 7.56% from two or more races. 4.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 92.7% spoke English, 3.8% Spanish and 2.7% Cherokee as their first language.

There were 16,175 households out of which 32.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.50% were married 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.

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. The per capita income for the county was $13,436. About 17.00% of families and 22.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.40% of those under age 18 and 13.80% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Oklahoma Cherokee language immersion school student writing in the Cherokee syllabary.
Adams Corner Cherokee language chalk board in schoolhouse.

Primary & secondary education

The Cherokee language immersion school in Tahlequah, Oklahoma educates students from pre-school through eighth grade.[12] Because Oklahoma's official language is English, Cherokee immersion students are hindered when taking state-mandated tests because they have little competence in English.[13] The Department of Education of Oklahoma said that in 2012 state tests: 11% of the school’s sixth-graders showed proficiency in math, and 25% showed proficiency in reading; 31% of the seventh-graders showed proficiency in math, and 87% showed proficiency in reading; 50% of the eighth-graders showed proficiency in math, and 78% showed proficiency in reading.[13] The Oklahoma Department of Education listed the charter school as a Targeted Intervention school, meaning the school was identified as a low-performing school but has not so that it was a Priority School.[13] Ultimately, the school made a C, or a 2.33 grade point average on the state’s A-F report card system.[13] The report card shows the school getting an F in mathematics achievement and mathematics growth, a C in social studies achievement, a D in reading achievement, and an A in reading growth and student attendance.[13] “The C we made is tremendous,” said school principal Holly Davis, “[t]here is no English instruction in our school’s younger grades, and we gave them this test in English.”[13] She said she had anticipated the low grade because it was the school’s first year as a state-funded charter school, and many students had difficulty with English.[13] Eighth graders who graduate from the Tahlequah immersion school are fluent speakers of the language, and they usually go on to attend Sequoyah High School where classes are taught in both English and Cherokee.

Colleges

Tahlequah is home to Northeastern State University.

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 the Mississippi River.[14] Tahlequah is home to the capital of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma 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 offers Cherokee language Education as a major.[16] Cherokee can be studied as a second language, and some classes are taught in Cherokee for first language speakers as well.[17]

Politics

With more than 32% Native Americans in the county, it is worth noting that most Native American precincts vote Democratic in margins exceeded only by African Americans.[18]

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of January 15, 2016[19]
Party Number of voters Percentage
  Democratic 13,369 59.27%
  Republican 6,484 28.75%
  Unaffiliated 2,703 11.98%
Total 22,556 100%
Presidential election results[20]
Year Republican Democrat
2012 57.05% 8,162 42.95% 6,144
2008 56.08% 9,186 43.92% 7,194
2004 52.60% 9,569 47.40% 8,623
2000 47.82% 6,918 50.15% 7,256

Economy

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 Talequah 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]

Major non-agricultural employers in the county now include the Cherokee Nation government and Northeastern State University,[3]

Communities

City

Towns

Unincorporated Communities

Census-Designated Places

NRHP sites

The following sites in Cherokee County are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:

  • Cherokee Female Seminary, Tahlequah
  • Cherokee National Capitol, Tahlequah
  • Cherokee National Jail, Tahlequah
  • Cherokee Supreme Court Building, Tahlequah
  • First Cherokee Female Seminary Site, Tahlequah
  • French-Parks House, Tahlequah
  • Illinois Campground, Tahlequah
  • Indian University of Tahlequah, Tahlequah
  • Dr. Irwin D. Leoser Log Cabin, Tahlequah
  • Murrell Home, Park Hill
  • Ross Cemetery, Park Hill
  • Tahlequah Armory, Tahlequah
  • Tahlequah Carnegie Library, Tahlequah
  • Joseph M. Thompson House, Tahlequah

Notable citizens

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Burnett, Amanda. "Cherokee County," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, 2009. Accessed March 28, 2015.
  4. ↑ Columbia-Lippincott Gazeteer. p. 386
  5. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  9. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  11. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  12. ↑ Chavez, Will (April 5, 2012). "Immersion students win trophies at language fair". Cherokeephoenix.org. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Cherokee Immersion School Strives to Save Tribal Language". Youth on Race. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  14. ↑ "General Information". NSU. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
  15. ↑ Agnew, Brad. Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. "Northeastern State University."
  16. ↑ ' + auElement.html() + '. "NSU, Cherokee Nation Partner to Train and Hire Language Instructors - ICTMN.com". Indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  17. ↑ "Cherokee". Ethnologue.
  18. ↑ Dems woo Native American vote. Politico. Published 5/29/08.
  19. ↑ https://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/20160115%20-%20Registration%20By%20County%20%28vr2420%29.pdf
  20. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved 2011-06-11.

External links

 Mayes County Delaware County
Wagoner County Adair County
   Cherokee County  
Muskogee County Sequoyah County

Coordinates: 35°55′N 95°00′W / 35.91°N 95.00°W / 35.91; -95.00

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