Harper County, Oklahoma

Harper County, Oklahoma

Harper County Courthouse
Map of Oklahoma highlighting Harper County
Location in the U.S. state of Oklahoma
Map of the United States highlighting Oklahoma
Oklahoma's location in the U.S.
Founded 1907
Seat Buffalo
Largest town Laverne
Area
 • Total 1,041 sq mi (2,696 km2)
 • Land 1,039 sq mi (2,691 km2)
 • Water 2.0 sq mi (5 km2), 0.2%
Population (est.)
 • (2015) 3,754
 • Density 3.5/sq mi (1/km²)
Congressional district 3rd
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5

Harper County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the population was 3,685,[1] making it the fifth-least populous county in Oklahoma. The county seat is Buffalo.[2] It was created in 1907 from the northwestern part of Woodward County, and named for Oscar Green Harper, who was clerk of the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention.[3]

History

During the late 19th Century, the area now known as Harper County was part of the Cherokee Outlet, reserved for use by the Cherokee Nation by treaties in 1828 and 1835, The U.S. government opened the outlet for settlement by non-Indians in 1893. The area was divided into counties after the formation of what is now the state of Oklahoma. Harper County was created in 1907. It was named for Oscar Green Harper, who was a local resident, school teacher, and served as clerk of the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention.[3]

The present county lay on several trails that were blazed during the 19th Century. One of the most significant was the Fort Dodge to Camp Supply Military Trail. It was used followed in 1868 by the U.S. Army's Seventh Cavalry, to move men and supplies to build Camp Supply (forerunner of the present town of Fort Supply, Oklahoma). The Great Western Trail (also known as the Dodge City Trail) was first used between South Texas and Fort Robinson, Nebraska, in 1874.The Cimarron Valley Turnpike Company built a bridge over the Cimarron River in 1908 to facilitate travel between Englewood, Kansas and Oklahoma.[3]

A 1908 election was held to determine whether Buffalo or Doby Springs would become the county seat. Buffalo won the election. Doby Springs later ceased to be a town and is now a park in Buffalo.[3] Other ghost towns in the county are Paruna, Flat, Avis, Readout, Cross, Alto, Cupid, and Stockholm.[3]

Railroads first came to Harper County in 1912, when the Wichita Falls and Northwestern Railway, a subsidiary of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway (MK&T), built a line through Dunlap, May, Laverne, and Rosston. The locally owned Buffalo and Northwestern Railroad (B&NW), connected Buffalo with Waynoka in 1919-20. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway acquired the B&NW in 1920. The MK&T line was abandoned in 1970.[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,041 square miles (2,700 km2), of which 1,039 square miles (2,690 km2) is land and 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2) (0.2%) is water.[4] The county is drained by the Cimarron River and the North Canadian River.[3]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
19108,189—
19207,623−6.9%
19307,7611.8%
19406,454−16.8%
19505,777−10.5%
19605,9563.1%
19705,151−13.5%
19804,715−8.5%
19904,063−13.8%
20003,562−12.3%
20103,6853.5%
Est. 20163,717[5]0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[1]
Age pyramid for Harper County, Oklahoma, based on census 2000 data.

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 3,562 people, 1,509 households, and 1,030 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 1,863 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.87% White, 0.03% Black or African American, 0.93% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.36% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. 5.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,509 households out of which 28.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.60% were married couples living together, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.70% were non-families. 29.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.30% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 23.40% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 21.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,705, and the median income for a family was $40,907. Males had a median income of $27,896 versus $20,784 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,011. About 7.10% of families and 10.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.90% of those under age 18 and 4.00% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of January 15, 2016[11]
Party Number of Voters Percentage
Democratic 556 27.33%
Republican 1,300 63.45%
Unaffiliated 193 9.42%
Total 2,049 100%
Presidential Elections Results[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 87.9% 1,318 8.9% 134 3.1% 47
2012 87.9% 1,261 12.1% 173
2008 85.9% 1,342 14.1% 221
2004 83.9% 1,397 16.1% 268
2000 77.0% 1,296 22.2% 374 0.8% 13
1996 58.3% 1,036 28.7% 511 13.0% 231
1992 51.0% 1,038 23.9% 486 25.1% 511
1988 67.4% 1,281 31.2% 593 1.4% 26
1984 81.5% 1,748 17.4% 373 1.2% 25
1980 74.1% 1,652 23.2% 517 2.7% 61
1976 56.2% 1,303 42.2% 978 1.7% 39
1972 79.8% 1,976 15.6% 385 4.6% 114
1968 63.0% 1,483 22.0% 518 15.0% 353
1964 52.7% 1,379 47.4% 1,240
1960 73.4% 2,057 26.6% 744
1956 68.4% 1,596 31.6% 736
1952 73.7% 2,057 26.4% 736
1948 48.8% 1,221 51.2% 1,281
1944 56.4% 1,394 42.7% 1,056 0.9% 23
1940 52.6% 1,616 46.2% 1,419 1.2% 38
1936 36.7% 1,068 63.1% 1,836 0.2% 7
1932 26.8% 783 73.2% 2,139
1928 66.5% 1,844 31.4% 872 2.1% 59
1924 50.8% 1,226 34.1% 824 15.1% 365
1920 60.0% 1,404 32.2% 753 7.8% 182
1916 35.1% 662 42.3% 798 22.6% 427
1912 45.3% 679 34.9% 523 19.9% 298

Communities

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Richter, Sara Jane and Tom Lewis. "Harper County," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Oklahoma Historical Society, 2009. Accessed April 4, 2015.
  4. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  6. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  8. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  10. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  11. ↑ https://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/20170115%20-%20Registration%20By%20County%20%28vr2420%29.pdf
  12. ↑ http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS

Coordinates: 36°47′N 99°39′W / 36.78°N 99.65°W / 36.78; -99.65

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