Battle of Caving Banks

Creek County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, the population was 71,754.[1] Its county seat is Sapulpa.[2]

Creek County is part of the Tulsa, OK metropolitan statistical area.

History

European explorers traveled through this area early in the 19th century, after the Louisiana Purchase. In 1825, the Osage Nation ceded the territory where the Federal Government planned to resettle the Creek Nation and other tribes after their expulsion from the Southeastern part of the United States. The Creeks began migrating into this area, where they and their black slaves settled to begin farming and raising cattle. In 1835, Federal soldiers under Captain J. L. Dawson built the Dawson Road, following an old Osage hunting trail.[3]

Railroads gave an important boost to the local economy. In 1886, the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad built a line from Red Fork to Sapulpa. In 1898, the St. Louis and Oklahoma City Railway Company (later the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway),[4] connected Sapulpa and Oklahoma City.[3]

The present Creek County was established at the time of statehood, with a population of 18,365. The town of Sapulpa was initially designated as the county seat. This decision was challenged by supporters of the town of Bristow. An election held August 12, 1908 to choose a permanent seat was won by Sapulpa, but the dispute did not end there. After a series of court cases, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled in favor of Sapulpa on August 1, 1913.[3]

After oil was discovered at Glenn Pool in adjacent Tulsa County in 1905, other strikes occurred in Creek County. The Cushing-Drumright Oil Field opened in 1912, creating boom towns Drumright, Kiefer and Oilton. By 1920, the county population had increased to 62,480.[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 970 square miles (2,500 km2), of which 950 square miles (2,500 km2) is land and 20 square miles (52 km2) (2.0%) is water.[5] It is drained by the Cimarron River, and the Deep Fork and Little Deep Fork of the North Canadian River. Heyburn Lake is contained within the county. Keystone Lake is partially within Creek County.[3]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
191026,223
192062,480138.3%
193064,1152.6%
194055,503−13.4%
195043,143−22.3%
196040,495−6.1%
197045,53212.4%
198059,01629.6%
199060,9153.2%
200067,31710.5%
201069,9673.9%
202071,7542.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010[10]
Age pyramid for Creek County, Oklahoma, based on census 2000 data.

As of the census of 2000,[11] there were 67,367 people, 25,289 households, and 19,017 families residing in the county. The population density was 70 inhabitants per square mile (27/km2). There were 27,986 housing units at an average density of 29 units per square mile (11 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 82.27% White, 2.56% Black or African American, 9.08% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races, and 5.16% from two or more races; 1.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. As of the 2020 census, its population increased to 71,754.[1]

As of 2000, there were 25,289 households, out of which 34.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.10% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.80% were non-families. 21.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.06. In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.40% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

As of 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $33,168, and the median income for a family was $38,470. Males had a median income of $31,190 versus $21,690 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,191. About 8% of families and 13.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.20% of those under age 18 and 14.10% of those age 65 or over. By 2021 census estimates, its median household income was $56,384.[1]

Politics

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of June 30, 2023[12]
Party Number of Voters Percentage
Democratic 9,080 21.43%
Republican 28,106 66.35%
Others 7,176 16.94%
Total 42,362 100%

Political culture

United States presidential election results for Creek County, Oklahoma[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 23,294 76.36% 6,577 21.56% 634 2.08%
2016 21,575 74.84% 5,841 20.26% 1,414 4.90%
2012 18,986 72.70% 7,128 27.30% 0 0.00%
2008 20,187 70.82% 8,318 29.18% 0 0.00%
2004 18,848 65.50% 9,929 34.50% 0 0.00%
2000 13,580 57.20% 9,753 41.08% 408 1.72%
1996 9,861 43.91% 9,674 43.08% 2,922 13.01%
1992 10,055 39.84% 9,118 36.13% 6,065 24.03%
1988 11,308 53.89% 9,512 45.33% 162 0.77%
1984 15,011 66.34% 7,465 32.99% 152 0.67%
1980 11,749 59.55% 7,339 37.20% 641 3.25%
1976 8,458 48.08% 8,964 50.96% 169 0.96%
1972 12,396 75.11% 3,705 22.45% 402 2.44%
1968 6,934 43.34% 5,151 32.20% 3,913 24.46%
1964 6,355 39.25% 9,836 60.75% 0 0.00%
1960 8,785 58.61% 6,205 41.39% 0 0.00%
1956 8,295 53.87% 7,102 46.13% 0 0.00%
1952 9,257 51.21% 8,818 48.79% 0 0.00%
1948 6,532 41.53% 9,198 58.47% 0 0.00%
1944 7,549 47.38% 8,342 52.36% 41 0.26%
1940 9,468 46.20% 10,976 53.55% 51 0.25%
1936 7,257 36.46% 12,540 63.01% 106 0.53%
1932 6,786 34.36% 12,963 65.64% 0 0.00%
1928 12,254 67.92% 5,693 31.55% 95 0.53%
1924 8,894 50.21% 7,969 44.99% 851 4.80%
1920 7,948 56.88% 5,408 38.70% 618 4.42%
1916 2,820 36.92% 3,496 45.77% 1,323 17.32%
1912 1,902 41.54% 1,681 36.71% 996 21.75%

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated communities

NRHP sites

References

  1. ^ a b c "Creek County, Oklahoma". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e Linda D. Wilson, "Creek County." Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.
  4. ^ "St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Company, Originally St. Louis and Oklahoma City Railway Company, Kellyville, Creek Nation, I.T." U.S. National Archives. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. 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. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  10. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  12. ^ "Oklahoma Registration Statistics by County" (PDF). OK.gov. January 15, 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 17, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 28, 2018.

External links

35°54′N 96°22′W / 35.90°N 96.37°W / 35.90; -96.37