Greer County, Oklahoma

Greer County, Oklahoma

Greer County Courthouse in Mangum
Map of Oklahoma highlighting Greer County
Location in the U.S. state of Oklahoma
Map of the United States highlighting Oklahoma
Oklahoma's location in the U.S.
Founded 1896
Seat Mangum
Largest city Mangum
Area
 • Total 644 sq mi (1,668 km2)
 • Land 639 sq mi (1,655 km2)
 • Water 4.3 sq mi (11 km2), 0.7%
Population (est.)
 • (2013) 6,171
 • Density 9.8/sq mi (4/km²)
Congressional district 3rd
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website greer.okcounties.org

Greer County is a county located along the southwest border of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the population was 6,239.[1] Its county seat is Mangum.[2] From 1860 to 1896, the state of Texas claimed an area known as Greer County, Texas, which included present-day Greer County along with neighboring areas. In 1896 it was designated as a county in Oklahoma Territory under a ruling by the US Supreme Court.[3]

The rural Greer County is home to Quartz Mountain Nature Park, near the community of Lone Wolf, Oklahoma (known until 2002 as Quartz Mountain State Park). It is also home to the Oklahoma State Reformatory, located in Granite.[4] Its population has declined since 1930 due to changes in agriculture and migration to cities for work.

History

After a dispute over the 1819 Adams-Onís Treaty and the related 1828 Treaty of Limits, the governments of both the United States and the state of Texas claimed ownership of some 1.5 million acres (6,000 km²) in what was then operated as Greer County, Texas. The county was named for former Texas lieutenant governor, John A. Greer.[4] Litigation followed, and in the case of United States v. State of Texas 162 U.S. 1 (1896), with a ruling issued on March 16, the Supreme Court, having original jurisdiction over the case, decided in favor of the United States.

The county was assigned to the Oklahoma Territory on May 4, 1896. When Oklahoma was admitted as a state, Greer County was established according to its current boundaries; the remaining former county area was organized as Harmon, Jackson, and part of Beckham counties. The town of Mangum, designated as the county seat in 1886 when this was part of Texas, continued as the seat of Greer County, Oklahoma.[4]

Originally developed for agriculture, the rural county had its peak of population in 1930. Mechanization of agriculture reduced the need for farm labor, and the population has declined as people migrated to cities for work.

Among the county attractions is Quartz Mountain Nature Park (known until 2002 as Quartz Mountain State Park), near the community of Lone Wolf.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 644 square miles (1,670 km2), of which 639 square miles (1,660 km2) is land and 4.3 square miles (11 km2) (0.7%) is water.[5]

Western Greer County lies in the Gypsum Hills, while the eastern one-third is in the Red Bed Plains physiographic region. The county is drained by the North Fork Red River, Elm Fork Red River, and Salt Fork Red River.[4]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
191016,449—
192015,836−3.7%
193020,28228.1%
194014,550−28.3%
195011,749−19.3%
19608,877−24.4%
19707,979−10.1%
19807,028−11.9%
19906,559−6.7%
20006,061−7.6%
20106,2392.9%
Est. 20156,070[6]−2.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 6,061 people, 2,237 households, and 1,442 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile (4/km²). There were 2,788 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 81.46% White, 8.78% Black or African American, 2.47% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.99% from other races, and 3.02% from two or more races. 7.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,237 households out of which 25.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.00% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.50% were non-families. 33.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the county, the population was spread out with 20.00% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 28.40% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 20.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 123.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 129.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,793, and the median income for a family was $30,702. Males had a median income of $24,318 versus $18,641 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,053. About 15.00% of families and 19.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.40% of those under age 18 and 14.80% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of January 15, 2016[12]
Party Number of Voters Percentage
Democratic 1,905 68.06%
Republican 647 23.12%
Unaffiliated 247 8.82%
Total 2,799 100%
Presidential election results[13]
Year Republican Democrat
2012 73.36% 1,344 26.64% 488
2008 73.23% 1,548 26.77% 566
2004 68.02% 1,529 31.98% 719
2000 59.80% 1,287 38.99% 839

Economy

The county's economy has been based on farming and raising livestock. In 1907, the main crops were cotton, corn, oats, wheat and alfalfa. Livestock raised includes cattle, horses, mules, swine, sheep and goats.[4]

The Oklahoma State Reformatory is located in Granite in the county and provides some jobs.[4]

Communities

Notable people

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. ↑ "Oklahoma: Individual County Chronologies". Oklahoma Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Wilson, Linda D. Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. "Greer County. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  5. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  6. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  9. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  11. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  12. ↑ https://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/20160115%20-%20Registration%20By%20County%20%28vr2420%29.pdf
  13. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved 2016-03-11.
Wikisource has the text of the 1879 American Cyclopædia article Greer.
 Beckham County
Harmon County Kiowa County
   Greer County  
Jackson County

Coordinates: 34°56′N 99°34′W / 34.93°N 99.56°W / 34.93; -99.56

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