Woods County, Oklahoma

Woods County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the population was 8,878.[1] Its county seat is Alva.[2] The county is named after Samuel Newitt Wood, a renowned Kansas populist.[3]

Woods County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of Oklahoma
Oklahoma's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°46′N 98°52′W
Country United States
State Oklahoma
Founded1893
Named forSamuel Newitt Wood
SeatAlva
Largest cityAlva
Area
 • Total1,290 sq mi (3,300 km2)
 • Land1,286 sq mi (3,330 km2)
 • Water3.5 sq mi (9 km2)  0.3%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total8,878
 • Estimate 
(2019)
8,793
 • Density6.9/sq mi (2.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd

History

The known explorer of the area now contained within Woods County was George C. Sibley, who traveled through in 1811. He visited a salt formation near the present town of Freedom, Oklahoma, then followed the Mountain Fork of the Arkansas River southeastward to the Great Salt Plains. In 1843, Nathan Boone traveled along the Cimarron River.[3]

The area was part of the so-called Cherokee Outlet, acquired by the Cherokee Nation under the Treaty of New Echota. It later became important for cattle ranching. The Dodge City and Red Fork Trail, a branch of the Chisholm Trail followed the north bank of the Cimarron River en route to Kansas. The U. S. Government acquired the Cherokee Outlet under Congressional Acts in 1889, 1891 and 1893, and divided the area into counties. One of these was designated M County, prior to opening the area for settlement. The Secretary of the Interior designated Alva as the county seat. M County was renamed Woods County by a ballot measure on November 6, 1894. The name was one of 3 put forth on the ballot, and was the Populists party's submission to honor Samuel Newitt Wood, a Kansas Populist. Despite the name being misspelled on the ballot, the election committee "decided to keep the s for euphony sake".[3] Woods County became part of Oklahoma Territory.

The Constitutional Convention of 1906 created Major County and Alfalfa County from southern and eastern parts of Woods County and added a part of Woodward County to Woods County.[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,290 square miles (3,300 km2), of which 1,286 square miles (3,330 km2) is land and 3.5 square miles (9.1 km2) (0.3%) is water.[4] It is located along the Kansas border.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
191017,567—
192015,939−9.3%
193017,0056.7%
194014,915−12.3%
195014,526−2.6%
196011,932−17.9%
197011,920−0.1%
198010,923−8.4%
19909,103−16.7%
20009,089−0.2%
20108,878−2.3%
2019 (est.)8,793[5]−1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2019[1]
Age pyramid for Woods County, Oklahoma, based on census 2000 data.

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 8,878 people, 3,533 households, and 2,133 families residing in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (3/km2). There were 4,478 housing units at an average density of 3.5 per square mile (1.3/km2).[10] The racial makeup of the county was 88.4% white, 3.3% black or African American, 2.4% Native American, 0.9% Asian, less than 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.3% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. 4.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,533 households, out of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% were non-families. 32.3% of households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. 8.2% of the population was institutionalized The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 18.8% under the age of 18, 18.6% from 18 to 24, 22.3% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.7 years. For every 100 females there were 114.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.9 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,255, and the median income for a family was $60,500. Males had a median income of $39,754 versus $23,897 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,935. About 8% of families and 16% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10% of those age 65 or over.

Politics
Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of January 15, 2019[11]
Party Number of Voters Percentage
Democratic 1,083 22.67%
Republican 3,146 65.86%
Others 548 11.47%
Total 4,777 100%
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 80.3% 2,947 14.2% 522 5.4% 199
2012 80.3% 2,727 19.8% 671
2008 77.7% 3,043 22.3% 873
2004 77.3% 3,166 22.7% 932
2000 68.6% 2,774 30.5% 1,235 0.9% 37
1996 52.4% 2,151 34.9% 1,431 12.7% 520
1992 46.6% 2,225 28.5% 1,361 24.9% 1,191
1988 61.0% 2,835 37.3% 1,735 1.7% 81
1984 74.6% 3,741 24.5% 1,231 0.9% 46
1980 69.0% 3,592 26.2% 1,364 4.8% 252
1976 51.4% 2,788 46.7% 2,530 1.9% 103
1972 76.2% 4,413 21.3% 1,234 2.5% 142
1968 63.8% 3,449 26.6% 1,439 9.6% 517
1964 51.2% 2,886 48.8% 2,750
1960 68.1% 4,064 31.9% 1,902
1956 64.1% 3,787 35.9% 2,123
1952 71.0% 4,892 29.0% 1,999
1948 49.9% 2,871 50.1% 2,882
1944 56.9% 3,226 42.8% 2,426 0.4% 23
1940 49.1% 3,440 50.0% 3,506 0.9% 61
1936 35.7% 2,346 63.6% 4,179 0.7% 44
1932 31.9% 2,008 68.1% 4,279
1928 70.4% 3,941 27.7% 1,550 2.0% 109
1924 52.4% 2,615 30.7% 1,533 16.8% 840
1920 60.3% 2,827 32.6% 1,530 7.0% 330
1916 41.1% 1,358 42.9% 1,417 15.9% 526
1912 48.4% 1,679 36.0% 1,247 15.6% 541

Communities

NRHP Sites
Main article: National Register of Historic Places listings in Woods County, Oklahoma

There are multiple NRHP sites in the county, mostly in Alva but with some in Waynoka.

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Reichenberger, Donovan. "Woods County," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Oklahoma Historical Society, 2009. Accessed April 5, 2015.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  5. "County Population Totals: 2010-2019". Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  8. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  10. "General Housing Characteristics: 2010 - United States -- County by State; and for Puerto Rico". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  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 30, 2018.

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