Roger Mills County, Oklahoma

Roger Mills County is a county located in the western part of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the population was 3,647,[1] making it the third-least populous county in Oklahoma. Its county seat is Cheyenne.[2] The county was created in 1891.[3]

Roger Mills County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of Oklahoma
Oklahoma's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°41′N 99°42′W
Country United States
State Oklahoma
Founded1891
Named forRoger Q. Mills
SeatCheyenne
Largest townCheyenne
Area
 • Total1,146 sq mi (2,970 km2)
 • Land1,141 sq mi (2,960 km2)
 • Water5.3 sq mi (14 km2)  0.40%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total3,647
 • Estimate 
(2019)
3,583
 • Density3.2/sq mi (1.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.rogermills.org

Roger Mills county is located above the petroleum-rich Panhandle-Hugoton Field, making it one of the leading sources of oil, natural gas and helium. The county also overlies part of the Ogallala Aquifer.[4]

History

Roger Mills County takes its name from Roger Q. Mills, a senator from Texas.[4][5] The town of Cheyenne in Roger Mills County is the location of the Battle of Washita River (also called Battle of the Washita; Washita Battlefield and the Washita Massacre), where George Armstrong Custer’s 7th U.S. Cavalry attacked Chief Black Kettle’s Cheyenne village on the Washita River on November 26, 1868.[6]

The area covered by Roger Mills County had been part of the Cheyenne Arapaho reservation until after Oklahoma Territory was created and County E was formed. County E was renamed Day County. Day County was abolished. and Roger Mills County was created at statehood on November 16, 1907. The county's western boundary with Texas was moved eastward 3,800 feet (1,200 m) when the Supreme Court ruled that the 100th Meridian was farther east than originally supposed.[4]

During the 1970s Roger Mills County and the surrounding area was the site of natural gas and oil development in the Panhandle-Hugoton field, the largest-volume gas field in the United States, and the world's largest known source of helium. Between 1973 and 1993 the field produced over 8-trillion cubic feet (230,000,000 m³) of gas.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,146 square miles (2,970 km2), of which 1,141 square miles (2,960 km2) is land and 5.3 square miles (14 km2) (0.5%) is water.[7] The Canadian River forms the northern border of the county.[4] The Washita River passes by Cheyenne and Strong City as it crosses the county from west to east. The historically-significant Antelope Hills lie in the northeastern part of the county.

Major highways
  • U.S. Highway 283
  • State Highway 6
  • State Highway 30
  • State Highway 33
  • State Highway 34
  • State Highway 47
  • State Highway 47A
  • State Highway 152

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
19006,190—
191012,861107.8%
192010,638−17.3%
193014,74438.6%
194010,736−27.2%
19507,395−31.1%
19605,090−31.2%
19704,452−12.5%
19804,7997.8%
19904,147−13.6%
20003,436−17.1%
20103,6476.1%
2019 (est.)3,583[8]−1.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2019[1]

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 3,436 people, 1,428 households, and 988 families residing in the county. The population density was 1/km2 (3/mi2). There were 1,749 housing units at an average density of 1/km2 (2/mi2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.76% White, 0.29% Black or African American, 5.47% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.52% from other races, and 1.86% from two or more races. 2.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,428 households, out of which 29.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.80% were married couples living together, 6.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 28.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.80% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 24.70% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 18.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 100.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,078, and the median income for a family was $35,921. Males had a median income of $22,224 versus $19,821 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,821. About 11.50% of families and 16.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.40% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The county economy has depended on agriculture, which has benefitted from the fact that it lies above the Ogallala Aquifer. Principal crops have included Kaffir corn, broomcorn, wheat, cotton, corn, and alfalfa. Farms have been consolidating throughout the period since the Great Depression. In 1930, there were 2,353 farms, averaging 278.3 acres each. By 2000, there were 680 farms, averaging 1,015.54 acres each.[4]

Petroleum and natural gas production has become an important contributor since discovery of the Panhandle-Hugoton Field.[4]

In 2010, Roger Mills County had a per capita income of 28,427 dollars per resident compared to the United States per capita income of 27,334 dollars. The county had the highest per capita income of any in Oklahoma and was the only Oklahoma county in which the per capita income exceeded the national per capita income.[14][15]

Politics

Roger Mills County is heavily Republican, like most of rural western Oklahoma. It has voted for the Republican candidate in every presidential election since 1980, and in all but three elections since 1952.

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of January 15, 2019[16]
Party Number of Voters Percentage
Democratic 1,072 46.05%
Republican 1,073 46.09%
Others 183 7.86%
Total 2,328 100%
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 88.0% 1,547 8.6% 151 3.5% 61
2012 83.8% 1,402 16.3% 272
2008 84.0% 1,502 16.0% 287
2004 78.4% 1,388 21.6% 382
2000 73.2% 1,234 26.1% 441 0.7% 12
1996 49.6% 959 37.9% 733 12.5% 241
1992 41.0% 890 35.3% 767 23.8% 516
1988 56.3% 1,132 43.0% 866 0.7% 14
1984 69.1% 1,550 30.3% 680 0.6% 13
1980 56.2% 1,221 40.4% 877 3.4% 73
1976 38.9% 873 60.0% 1,346 1.1% 24
1972 78.2% 1,696 19.4% 420 2.5% 54
1968 45.3% 1,102 29.6% 720 25.1% 610
1964 40.8% 926 59.2% 1,345
1960 64.4% 1,463 35.6% 809
1956 44.0% 1,072 56.1% 1,367
1952 53.0% 1,667 47.0% 1,479
1948 19.0% 509 81.0% 2,176
1944 36.2% 1,148 63.4% 2,015 0.4% 13
1940 36.6% 1,504 62.8% 2,580 0.5% 22
1936 22.3% 989 76.4% 3,383 1.3% 57
1932 12.3% 511 87.7% 3,648
1928 63.5% 1,948 32.2% 986 4.3% 133
1924 34.0% 946 47.4% 1,318 18.7% 519
1920 46.8% 1,193 36.5% 931 16.8% 428
1916 23.8% 538 50.8% 1,148 25.4% 575
1912 32.8% 716 41.3% 902 25.9% 565

Communities

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Oklahoma: Individual County Chronologies". Oklahoma Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  4. Wilson, Linda D. "Roger Mills County,' Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Oklahoma Historical Society, 2009. Accessed April 5, 2015.
  5. "Origin of County Names in Oklahoma." Chronicles of Oklahoma. Volume 2, Number 1. March, 1924.
  6. Washita Battlefield National Historic Site. — National Park Service.
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  8. "County Population Totals: 2010-2019". Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  11. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  14. "SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  15. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  16. "Oklahoma Registration Statistics by County" (PDF). OK.gov. January 15, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  17. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 30, 2018.

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