Battle of Backbone Mountain

Pawnee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,553.[1] Its county seat is Pawnee.[2] The county is named after the Pawnee Nation,[3] whose reservation used to encompass the county prior to allotment in 1893.

Pawnee County is included in the Tulsa, OK metropolitan statistical area.

History

The Osage Nation used the area that contains present-day Pawnee County as buffalo hunting grounds. In 1825, The Osage ceded parts of present-day Missouri, Arkansas, and most of the future state of Oklahoma to the US federal government.

After their forced removal from the Southeastern United States, Cherokee people received land in Eastern Oklahoma as well as the Cherokee Outlet in 1828, which included present-day Pawnee County. After the Civil War, the Cherokee agreed to allow other American Indians to settle in the eastern portion of the outlet. According to the Tribal Historic Preservation Office of the Pawnee Nation, the Pawnee people sold their Nebraska reservation in 1874 and used those funds to purchase land from the Cherokee Nation and the Muscogee Nation to establish a home in the Indian Territory.

From the Pawnee Nation Historic Preservation Office, the Pawnee people were forced to sign an agreement in 1891 to take land allotments from the reservation or have their lands taken from them by eminent domain. The remaining lands were opened to non-Indian settlers in 1893. Pawnee County was organized as County Q, and the future town of Pawnee, Townsite Number 13, was designated the county seat.[3] In 1894, the voters chose the name Pawnee County over the name Platte County.[3]

The female bandit, Little Britches, companion in crime with Cattle Annie, lived for a time at Sinnett, site of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation in Pawnee County.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 595 square miles (1,540 km2), of which 568 square miles (1,470 km2) is land and 27 square miles (70 km2) (4.5%) is water.[5]

The western third of the county is part of the Red Bed plains, while the remainder is in the Sandstone Hills region. The Cimarron and Arkansas Rivers drain the county.[3] Black Bear Creek also extends through the county. Lone Chimney Lake dam is also in Pawnee County, while the lake extends into Payne County.[6]

Adjacent counties

Earthquake

A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck near the city of Pawnee, just after 7 a.m. (CST) on September 3, 2016. This was Oklahoma's strongest quake in history, exceeding the 5.7-magnitude quake near Prague on November 5, 2011.[7][8] Buildings in Pawnee were damaged, but there were no reports of deaths.[9] A Pawnee resident was injured while shielding his child from debris falling from a chimney.[10] State regulators in Oklahoma ordered 37 petroleum production wastewater disposal wells in the vicinity of the earthquake (see map in citation) to be rapidly closed while assessments were made.[11]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
190012,366
191017,33240.2%
192019,12610.4%
193019,8824.0%
194017,395−12.5%
195013,616−21.7%
196010,884−20.1%
197011,3384.2%
198015,31035.0%
199015,5751.7%
200016,6126.7%
201016,577−0.2%
202015,553−6.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010[16]

As of the census[17] of 2000, there were 16,612 people, 6,383 households, and 4,748 families residing in the county. The population density was 11/km2 (28/sq mi). There were 7,464 housing units at an average density of 5/km2 (13/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 82.27% White, 0.69% Black or African American, 12.13% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 4.42% from two or more races. 1.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In 2020, its population was 15,553.[16]

In 2000, there were 6,383 households, out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.60% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.60% were non-families. 22.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.50% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 26.20% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,661, and the median income for a family was $37,274. Males had a median income of $29,946 versus $21,069 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,261. About 9.60% of families and 13.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.60% of those under age 18 and 13.80% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of June 30, 2023[18]
Party Number of Voters Percentage
Democratic 2,244 23.76%
Republican 5,660 59.93%
Others 1,541 16.32%
Total 9,445 100%
United States presidential election results for Pawnee County, Oklahoma[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 5,267 77.62% 1,363 20.09% 156 2.30%
2016 4,729 74.31% 1,344 21.12% 291 4.57%
2012 4,232 70.01% 1,813 29.99% 0 0.00%
2008 4,533 68.72% 2,063 31.28% 0 0.00%
2004 4,412 63.25% 2,564 36.75% 0 0.00%
2000 3,386 57.15% 2,435 41.10% 104 1.76%
1996 2,560 42.62% 2,663 44.34% 783 13.04%
1992 2,675 38.36% 2,612 37.46% 1,686 24.18%
1988 3,324 53.94% 2,781 45.13% 57 0.93%
1984 4,699 67.83% 2,165 31.25% 64 0.92%
1980 3,902 63.44% 2,020 32.84% 229 3.72%
1976 3,111 50.17% 3,031 48.88% 59 0.95%
1972 4,280 77.30% 1,135 20.50% 122 2.20%
1968 2,437 51.09% 1,343 28.16% 990 20.75%
1964 2,278 48.81% 2,389 51.19% 0 0.00%
1960 3,153 65.80% 1,639 34.20% 0 0.00%
1956 3,390 59.96% 2,264 40.04% 0 0.00%
1952 3,975 63.61% 2,274 36.39% 0 0.00%
1948 2,651 49.35% 2,721 50.65% 0 0.00%
1944 3,310 57.21% 2,460 42.52% 16 0.28%
1940 3,991 53.47% 3,435 46.02% 38 0.51%
1936 2,961 41.92% 4,031 57.06% 72 1.02%
1932 2,280 31.32% 5,000 68.68% 0 0.00%
1928 4,489 68.82% 1,949 29.88% 85 1.30%
1924 3,093 51.37% 2,376 39.46% 552 9.17%
1920 2,976 56.12% 1,955 36.87% 372 7.01%
1916 1,396 40.44% 1,491 43.19% 565 16.37%
1912 1,332 42.69% 1,316 42.18% 472 15.13%

Communities

NRHP sites

The following sites in Pawnee County are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:

References

  1. ^ "Pawnee County, Oklahoma". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 20, 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 Wilson, Linda D. "Pawnee County," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Oklahoma Historical Society, 2009. Accessed April 4, 2015.
  4. ^ "Cattle Annie & Little Britches, taken from Lee Paul [http://www.theoutlaws.com]". ranchdivaoutfitters.com. Archived from the original on March 25, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2012. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  6. ^ "Lone Chimney Lake, Oklahoma." OutdoorsOK. Accessed September 5, 2015.
  7. ^ "M5.8 - 15km NW of Pawnee, Oklahoma". United States Geological Survey. September 7, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  8. ^ "Magnitudes for Oklahoma Earthquakes Shift Upward". United States Geological Survey. September 7, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  9. ^ Campbell, Andy. "5.6 Magnitude Earthquake Rattles Oklahoma." Huffington Post. September 3, 2016. Accessed September 3, 2016.
  10. ^ Duren, Dee. "Pawnee Man Injured Protecting Child In Earthquake". Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  11. ^ "USGS: 5.6 magnitude earthquake shakes Oklahoma". KFOR-TV. September 3, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  12. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  13. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  14. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  15. ^ "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 October 9, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  16. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  17. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  18. ^ "Oklahoma Registration Statistics by County" (PDF). OK.gov. January 15, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  19. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 29, 2018.

36°19′N 96°42′W / 36.31°N 96.70°W / 36.31; -96.70