Love County, Oklahoma

Love County is a county on the southern border of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the population was 9,423.[1] Its county seat is Marietta.[2] The county was created at statehood in 1907 and named for Overton Love, a prominent Chickasaw farmer, entrepreneur and politician.[3]

Love County
U.S. county
Love County Courthouse in October 2014
Location within the U.S. state of Oklahoma
Oklahoma's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°57′N 97°15′W
Country United States
State Oklahoma
Founded1907
Named forOverton Love, a judge of the Chickasaw Nation
SeatMarietta
Largest cityMarietta
Area
 • Total532 sq mi (1,380 km2)
 • Land514 sq mi (1,330 km2)
 • Water18 sq mi (50 km2)  3.5%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total9,423
 • Estimate 
(2019)
10,253
 • Density18/sq mi (7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitelove.okcounties.org

For tourism purposes, the Oklahoma Department of Tourism includes Love County in 'Chickasaw Country'. Love County is also part of the Texoma region.

History

The Louisiana Purchase, effected in 1803, included all of the present state of Oklahoma except the Panhandle. Explorers and traders began travelling extensively through the area, intending to find trade routes to Santa Fe. The Quapaw were the principal Native Americans living south of the Canadian River. The Quapaws ceded their land to the American government in 1818, and were replaced by the Choctaws in the early 1830s. The Chickasaws were assigned land in the middle of Choctaw territory during 1837–8.[3]

Overton Love was one of the earliest Chickasaws who settled in present-day Love County. He was twenty years old when he arrived in Indian Territory from Mississippi in 1843. His settlement became known as Love's Valley (about 6 miles (9.7 km) east of the present town of Marietta). He later became one of the largest Chickasaw landowners and cattle raisers in the area, working 8,000 acres (3,200 ha) of Red River Bottomland.. Eventually, he became a member of both houses of the Chickasaw National Council, a county and district judge, and a member of the Dawes Commission.[3]

Prior to statehood, the area now known as Love County was part of Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory. It had three incorporated towns: Marietta (the county seat, founded in 1887), Leon (established 1883) and Thackerville (established 1882). It also contained two unincorporated postal areas: Burneyville (post office established 1879) and Overbrook (post office established 1887).[3] The settlement of Courtney at the mouth of Mud Creek was settled ca. 1872 by Henry D. Courtney.

Geography
Water tower in Love County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 532 square miles (1,380 km2), of which 514 square miles (1,330 km2) is land and 18 square miles (47 km2) (3.5%) is water.[4] It is the fifth-smallest county in Oklahoma by land area.

Love County is within the Red River Plains physiographic region, with a rolling to hilly topography. The Red River and its tributaries Simon Creek, Walnut Bayou, Hickory Creek and Mud Creek drain the county. Lake Murray is on the northeastern border and Lake Texoma is on the southern border.[3]

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
191010,236—
192012,43321.5%
19309,639−22.5%
194011,43318.6%
19507,721−32.5%
19605,862−24.1%
19705,637−3.8%
19807,46932.5%
19908,1579.2%
20008,8318.3%
20109,4236.7%
2019 (est.)10,253[5]8.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2019[1]
Age pyramid for Love County, Oklahoma, based on census 2000 data.

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 8,831 people, 3,442 households, and 2,557 families residing in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile (7/km2). There were 4,066 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 84.15% White, 2.19% Black or African American, 6.41% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 3.58% from other races, and 3.41% from two or more races. 7.01% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,442 households, out of which 31.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.70% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.70% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 25.70% 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 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.

The county's median household income was $32,558, and the median family income was $38,212. Males had a median income of $30,024 versus $20,578 for females. The county's per capita income was $16,648. About 8.80% of families and 11.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.40% of those under age 18 and 13.80% of those age 65 or over.

Politics
Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of January 15, 2019[11]
Party Number of Voters Percentage
Democratic 3,118 50.52%
Republican 2,005 32.49%
Others 1,049 16.99%
Total 6,172 100%
Presidential election results
Presidential election results[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 77.1% 2,922 19.4% 735 3.5% 132
2012 70.2% 2,436 29.8% 1,034
2008 67.3% 2,589 32.7% 1,257
2004 59.9% 2,295 40.1% 1,538
2000 53.6% 1,807 45.4% 1,530 1.0% 35
1996 37.1% 1,224 50.7% 1,675 12.3% 405
1992 25.1% 922 46.4% 1,708 28.5% 1,049
1988 41.7% 1,361 57.8% 1,889 0.5% 17
1984 57.1% 1,833 42.4% 1,359 0.5% 17
1980 47.1% 1,449 51.3% 1,578 1.6% 48
1976 30.5% 846 69.2% 1,923 0.3% 9
1972 66.8% 1,407 31.8% 671 1.4% 30
1968 28.5% 677 39.2% 931 32.3% 766
1964 26.3% 663 73.8% 1,863
1960 39.2% 932 60.8% 1,443
1956 29.4% 731 70.6% 1,756
1952 29.0% 806 71.0% 1,972
1948 10.2% 249 89.8% 2,191
1944 18.5% 446 81.3% 1,955 0.2% 4
1940 21.6% 687 78.1% 2,485 0.4% 11
1936 16.4% 440 82.9% 2,227 0.7% 20
1932 7.2% 187 92.8% 2,426
1928 39.9% 843 60.1% 1,268
1924 17.6% 479 62.8% 1,713 19.7% 536
1920 28.2% 711 65.8% 1,662 6.0% 152
1916 15.2% 266 64.1% 1,125 20.8% 365
1912 14.7% 199 55.2% 750 30.1% 409

Economy

Love County is home to Winstar World Casino, across the Red River from the Texas-Oklahoma border. The casino is operated by the Chickasaw Nation, and is the county's largest private employer. Agriculture and ranching have been important to the county economy since its inception. Leading non-agricultural employers include the Marietta Bakery, Murray Biscuit Company, Marietta Sportswear, Robertson Hams, Rapistan Systems, Earth Energy Systems, and the Joe Brown Company. The county also produces natural gas and its co-products propane and butanes.[3]

Education

The following school districts are in Love County:

  • Turner Public Schools
  • Marietta Public Schools
  • Thackerville Public Schools
  • Greenville Public Schools

Transportation

Major highways

Airports

Public-use airports in Love County:

Communities

City

Towns

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated places

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Susan L. Webb, and Sandra L. Thomas. "Love County," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. 2009. Accessed April 4, 2015.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  5. "County Population Totals: 2010-2019". Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  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. "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 29, 2018.

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