Cotton County, Oklahoma

History

The eastern part of what is now Cotton County was opened to settlement by non-Native Americans by the 1901 Kiowa-Comanche-Apache Opening, which distributed land by a lottery system. In 1906, the remainder of the present county, then known as the Big Pasture was opened through a sealed bid process. Most of this territory became part of Comanche County at statehood in 1907.

In 1910, residents of the present Cotton County area tried to form a new county, named "Swanson County," but this effort failed in 1911. Another effort in 1912 succeeded. This time, residents elected to split from Comanche County and name the new county "Cotton County," for the primary crop in the region at the time. Randlett, Oklahoma was assigned as a temporary county seat, until a November 4, 1912, election made Walters, Oklahoma the permanent location.

Wheat became more prevalent than, and corn just as prevalent as, cotton as early as 1915. In 1934, corn had dwindled and winter wheat, cotton and oats had become the primary crops.

The county population has generally declined since 1920. In 1920, the population was 16,679. In 1930, it was 15,542. There was a brief increase in the late 1900s, but decline resumed in the 21st century.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 642 sqmi, of which 633 sqmi is land and 9.3 sqmi (1.4%) is water.

The eastern portion of the county is in the Cross Timbers region. Its creeks and streams drain to the southeast into the Red River, which borders the county on the south.

Major highways

• [[Image:I-44 (OK).svg|20px]] Interstate 44
• [[Image:H.E. Bailey Turnpike.svg|20px]] H.E. Bailey Turnpike
• [[Image:US 70.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 70
• [[Image:US 277.svg|23px]] U.S. Highway 277
• [[Image:US 281.svg|23px]] U.S. Highway 281
• [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 5.svg|20px]] State Highway 5
• [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 36.svg|20px]] State Highway 36
• [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 53.svg|20px]] State Highway 53
• [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 65.svg|20px]] State Highway 65

Adjacent counties

• Comanche County (north)
• Stephens County (northeast)
• Jefferson County (southeast)
• Clay County, Texas (south)
• Wichita County, Texas (southwest)
• Tillman County (west)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010

The county's population has generally declined since it stood at 16,679 in 1920.

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, the county had a population of 5,527. Of the residents, 23.7% were under the age of 18 and 20.8% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 43.0 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.7 males.

The racial makeup of the county was 76.2% White, 1.4% Black or African American, 9.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 1.7% from some other race, and 10.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 6.5% of the population.

There were 2,207 households in the county, of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 2,689 housing units, of which 17.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.1% were owner-occupied and 24.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.3%.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,614 people, 2,614 households, and 1,840 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 /mi2. There were 3,085 housing units at an average density of 5 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 84.70% White, 2.86% Black or African American, 7.42% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.81% from other races, and 3.05% from two or more races. 4.85% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,614 households, out of which 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.60% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 27.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.40% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 17.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,210, and the median income for a family was $35,129. Males had a median income of $28,443 versus $19,101 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,626. About 13.70% of families and 18.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.40% of those under age 18 and 16.90% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Economy

The county's economy has long revolved around agriculture, specifically crops such as cotton and wheat and livestock such as cattle and poultry. Beginning in the late 1910s, oil and gas grew as a strong industry, the county had 290 producing wells in 1920, 32 of which were gas. The southern portion of the county had Devol refineries, pumping stations, and pipelines. A large retail outlet, Temple's B & O Cash Store, shipped merchandise nationwide, before being bought by Sears and Roebuck in 1929 and later closed in 1954.

In 1997 the county held 69,988 cattle and ranked eleventh in the state for poultry sold.

Communities

City

• Walters (county seat)

Towns

• Devol
• Randlett
• Temple

Unincorporated communities

• Ahpeatone
• Cookietown
• Emerson Center
• Fivemile Corner
• Hooper
• Hulen
• Taylor

In popular culture

Cotton County is the main setting for the Animal Planet documentary series Hillbilly Handfishin'.

References

References

1. "Cotton County, Oklahoma". [[United States Census Bureau]].
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. "State of Oklahoma". Department of the Interior, General Land Office.
4. O'Dell, Larry, "[http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CO067 Cotton County]," ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'', 2009, Accessed March 28, 2015.
5. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
8. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
9. (April 2, 2001). "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
10. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
11. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
12. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
13. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
14. (January 15, 2019). "Oklahoma Registration Statistics by County".
15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".