Craig County, Oklahoma

Craig County is a county in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the population was 15,029.[1] Its county seat is Vinita.[2] The county was organized in 1907, shortly before statehood, and named for Granville Craig, a prominent Cherokee farmer who lived in the Bluejacket area.[3]

Craig County
U.S. county
Old Craig County Courthouse in Vinita (2010)
Location within the U.S. state of Oklahoma
Oklahoma's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°46′N 95°13′W
Country United States
State Oklahoma
Founded1907
SeatVinita
Largest cityVinita
Area
 • Total763 sq mi (1,980 km2)
 • Land761 sq mi (1,970 km2)
 • Water1.4 sq mi (4 km2)  0.2%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total15,029
 • Estimate 
(2019)
14,142
 • Density20/sq mi (8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd

History

In the early 1800s, this area was part of the hunting grounds of the Osage nation and other Plains tribes, some of whom had migrated west from other areas. Members of the Cherokee Nation began moving into the area during the 1830s, particularly after Indian Removal by the US government, which forced them on the "Trail of Tears" to west of the Mississippi River, when they were given land by the United States in exchange for their territory in the Southeast. The area was sparsely populated until after the Civil War. The Texas Road and the East Shawnee Cattle Trail, used for cattle drives from Texas, ran through the eastern part of the present-day Craig County.[3]

Between 1867 and 1870, the U. S. government moved the Shawnee and Delaware tribes into this area from Kansas, another section of Indian Territory. Then the area was assigned as part of the Delaware and Cooweescoowee districts of the Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory, after the US government had made new treaties with the tribes that had allied with the Confederacy during the Civil War.

In 1871, the federal government took Cherokee land for the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad to construct a north–south railroad through this area, while the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad (later acquired by the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway) was allowed to build an east–west line that ran through Vinita in the same year. This line was extended through Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1881–2.[3]

Coal mining began in this area after the Civil War. Mine companies used both tunnel and strip mines, but they did not begin major production until about 1900. Production has continued into the 21st century.

Other resource exploitation was based on oil, and the first oil refinery began operations by 1911; it was operated by Sinclair Oil until the 1920s. Otherwise, farming and ranching were the mainstays of the county economy.[3]

The county was organized in 1907, at the Oklahoma Statehood Convention. It was named for Granville Craig, a prominent Cherokee farmer of mixed race who had property near Bluejacket.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 763 square miles (1,980 km2), of which 761 square miles (1,970 km2) is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km2) (0.2%) is water.[4] The county lies in the Osage Plains, on the western edge of the Ozark Plateau, and drains into several tributaries of the Neosho River.[3]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
191017,404—
192019,16010.1%
193018,052−5.8%
194021,08316.8%
195018,263−13.4%
196016,303−10.7%
197014,722−9.7%
198015,0142.0%
199014,104−6.1%
200014,9506.0%
201015,0290.5%
2019 (est.)14,142[5]−5.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2019[1]
Age pyramid for Craig County, Oklahoma, based on census 2000 data.

As of the census[10] of 2006, there were 14,880 people, 5,620 households, and 3,945 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile (8/km2). There were 6,459 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 68.54% White, 16.31% Native American, 3.09% Black or African American, 0.18% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 11.37% from two or more races. 1.20% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,620 households, out of which 30.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.80% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.90% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 16.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,997, and the median income for a family was $36,499. Males had a median income of $26,704 versus $20,082 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,539. About 10.90% of families and 13.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.30% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.

Politics
Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of January 15, 2019[11]
Party Number of Voters Percentage
Democratic 4,009 50.73%
Republican 2,986 37.79%
Others 907 11.48%
Total 7,902 100%
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 74.0% 4,283 21.6% 1,252 4.3% 250
2012 67.1% 3,559 32.9% 1,747
2008 65.1% 3,858 35.0% 2,073
2004 60.9% 3,894 39.1% 2,504
2000 51.3% 2,815 46.8% 2,568 1.8% 101
1996 37.5% 2,058 48.3% 2,649 14.2% 779
1992 33.9% 2,106 44.7% 2,780 21.4% 1,333
1988 45.2% 2,463 54.0% 2,940 0.8% 43
1984 58.6% 3,629 40.6% 2,515 0.7% 46
1980 49.7% 2,956 47.1% 2,801 3.3% 195
1976 41.1% 2,540 57.9% 3,577 1.0% 61
1972 70.4% 4,163 27.8% 1,642 1.9% 112
1968 44.7% 2,686 34.9% 2,098 20.4% 1,229
1964 39.8% 2,541 60.2% 3,838
1960 57.5% 3,770 42.6% 2,792
1956 53.3% 3,543 46.7% 3,106
1952 55.0% 3,830 45.0% 3,135
1948 40.2% 2,807 59.8% 4,182
1944 48.0% 3,111 51.9% 3,363 0.2% 11
1940 45.2% 3,582 54.5% 4,316 0.2% 19
1936 40.3% 2,964 59.5% 4,377 0.2% 13
1932 30.4% 2,124 69.6% 4,861
1928 54.5% 3,511 45.0% 2,897 0.6% 36
1924 43.5% 2,519 53.5% 3,096 3.0% 171
1920 50.9% 3,094 47.7% 2,903 1.4% 84
1916 44.0% 1,647 50.8% 1,901 5.2% 196
1912 42.3% 1,391 53.9% 1,772 3.7% 122

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

NRHP sites
Main article: National Register of Historic Places listings in Craig County, Oklahoma

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

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 9, 2011. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Craig County Genealogical Society. "Craig County," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Retrieved October 28, 2011.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  5. "County Population Totals: 2010-2019". Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  8. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  11. "Oklahoma Registration Statistics by County" (PDF). OK.gov. January 15, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  12. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 28, 2018.

Further reading
  • "Craig County," Vertical File, Research Division, Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City.
  • The Heritage of Craig County and Cooweescoowee and Delaware Districts, Indian Territory, Vol. 3 (Vinita, Okla.: Craig County Genealogical Society, 2000).
  • The Story of Craig County: Its People and Places, 2 vols. (Vinita, Okla.: Craig County Heritage Association, 1984–1991).

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