Jackson County, Oklahoma

Jackson County is a county located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, the population was 24,785.[1] Its county seat is Altus.[2] According to the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, the county was named for two historical figures: President Andrew Jackson and Confederate General Stonewall Jackson.[3] One source states that the county was named only for the former president,[4] while an earlier source states it was named only for General Stonewall Jackson.[5]

Jackson County
County
Jackson County Courthouse in Altus
Jackson County Courthouse in Altus
Map of Oklahoma highlighting Jackson County
Location within the U.S. state of Oklahoma
Map of the United States highlighting Oklahoma
Oklahoma's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°35′N 99°25′W
Country United States
State Oklahoma
Founded1907
Named forStonewall Jackson
SeatAltus
Largest cityAltus
Area
 • Total804 sq mi (2,080 km2)
 • Land803 sq mi (2,080 km2)
 • Water1.6 sq mi (4 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total24,785
 • Density31/sq mi (12/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitejackson.okcounties.org

Jackson County comprises the Altus, OK micropolitan statistical area.

History

After a dispute over the Adams-Onís Treaty of 1819, both the governments of the United States and the state of Texas claimed ownership of some 1,500,000 acres (6,100 km2) in what was then operated as Greer County, Texas. Litigation followed, and in the case of United States v. State of Texas 162 U.S. 1 (1896), issued on March 16, the Supreme Court, having original jurisdiction over the case, decided in favor of the United States. Greer County was then assigned to the Oklahoma Territory on May 4, 1896. When Oklahoma became the 46th U.S. state (November 16, 1907), old "Greer County" was divided into Greer, Jackson, and part of Beckham counties.

Altus was originally designated as the seat of Jackson County. Olustee vied in an unsuccessful bid to replace Altus as the seat in an election on July 18, 1908.[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 804 square miles (2,080 km2), of which 803 square miles (2,080 km2) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2) (0.2%) is water.[6]

Most of the county is within the Red Bed Plains physiographic region. The western part lies in the Gypsum Hills and the northeastern part is in the Wichita Mountains. The county is drained by the Red River and its tributaries, the North Fork of the Red River and the Salt Fork of the Red River.[3]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
191023,737—
192022,141−6.7%
193028,91030.6%
194022,708−21.5%
195020,082−11.6%
196029,73648.1%
197030,9023.9%
198030,356−1.8%
199028,764−5.2%
200028,439−1.1%
201026,446−7.0%
202024,785−6.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010[11]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 28,439 people, 10,590 households, and 7,667 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 people per square mile (14 people/km2). There were 12,377 housing units at an average density of 15 units per square mile (5.8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 76.14% White, 8.03% Black or African American, 1.74% Native American, 1.16% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 9.34% from other races, and 3.42% from two or more races. 15.63% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. By 2020, its population declined to 24,785.[1]

There were 10,590 households, out of which 38.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.80% were married couples living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 24.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.20% under the age of 18, 10.30% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 19.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,737, and the median income for a family was $38,265. Males had a median income of $28,240 versus $19,215 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,454. About 13.60% of families and 16.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.70% of those under age 18 and 14.40% of those age 65 or over.

Politics
Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of June 30, 2023[13]
Party Number of Voters Percentage
Democratic 2,853 22.66%
Republican 7,323 58.16%
Others 2,415 19.18%
Total 12,591 100%
United States presidential election results for Jackson County, Oklahoma[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 6,392 77.75% 1,646 20.02% 183 2.23%
2016 5,969 76.47% 1,473 18.87% 364 4.66%
2012 5,965 75.33% 1,954 24.67% 0 0.00%
2008 6,719 74.80% 2,264 25.20% 0 0.00%
2004 7,024 75.89% 2,232 24.11% 0 0.00%
2000 5,591 68.53% 2,515 30.82% 53 0.65%
1996 4,422 51.53% 3,245 37.81% 915 10.66%
1992 3,893 41.33% 3,273 34.75% 2,254 23.93%
1988 4,423 55.28% 3,542 44.27% 36 0.45%
1984 5,773 65.64% 2,996 34.06% 26 0.30%
1980 4,327 50.58% 4,031 47.12% 196 2.29%
1976 3,189 39.07% 4,914 60.20% 60 0.74%
1972 5,519 71.61% 2,054 26.65% 134 1.74%
1968 2,248 30.36% 3,371 45.52% 1,786 24.12%
1964 2,366 28.64% 5,894 71.36% 0 0.00%
1960 3,375 47.30% 3,761 52.70% 0 0.00%
1956 2,343 34.57% 4,435 65.43% 0 0.00%
1952 2,627 34.80% 4,921 65.20% 0 0.00%
1948 923 14.48% 5,450 85.52% 0 0.00%
1944 1,313 21.20% 4,866 78.59% 13 0.21%
1940 1,540 24.03% 4,832 75.41% 36 0.56%
1936 1,095 16.66% 5,435 82.71% 41 0.62%
1932 603 9.48% 5,759 90.52% 0 0.00%
1928 3,440 57.72% 2,493 41.83% 27 0.45%
1924 941 24.74% 2,342 61.57% 521 13.70%
1920 1,345 30.18% 2,694 60.46% 417 9.36%
1916 409 12.77% 2,096 65.44% 698 21.79%
1912 588 19.02% 1,819 58.83% 685 22.15%

Economy

The county's economy has been based on farming and livestock since its inception. The major crops include cotton, wheat, corn, alfalfa, and hay. Barley and sorghum became major crops in the late 1940s. Livestock consisted of horses, cattle, mules, swine and sheep. Altus Air Force Base is the county's largest non-farm employer. There were 16 manufacturers in the county by 2000. These included Altus Athletic Manufacturing, the Bar-S Foods Company, and the Republic Gypsum plant.[3] (The Luscombe Aircraft manufacturing plant, later Quartz Mountain Aerospace, went bankrupt in 2009.)[15]

Education

The Western Oklahoma State College (WOSC) and the Southwest Technology Center, both in Altus, offer higher education opportunities in Jackson County.[3]

Communities

See also

References
  1. "Jackson County, Oklahoma". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Wilson, Linda D. "Jackson County," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Oklahoma Historical Society, 2009. Accessed April 4, 2015.
  4. Oklahoma Historical Society. "Origin of County Names in Oklahoma" Archived January 23, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Chronicles of Oklahoma Vol. 2 No.1 (March 1924) 75-82. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
  5. "The Archivist: How Oklahoma counties got their names". NewsOK.com. October 14, 2013. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  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. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  11. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. "Oklahoma Registration Statistics by County" (PDF). OK.gov. January 15, 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 17, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  14. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  15. "Luscombe 11E". RA Lalli. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
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