Beaver County, Oklahoma

Beaver County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,636.[1] The county seat is Beaver.[2] The name was given because of the presence of many beaver dams on the Beaver River, which runs through the area.[3] It is located in the Oklahoma Panhandle.

Beaver County
U.S. county
Rural Beaver County (2011)
Location within the U.S. state of Oklahoma
Oklahoma's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36.75°N 100.48°W / 36.75; -100.48
Country United States
State Oklahoma
Founded1890
SeatBeaver
Largest townBeaver
Area
 • Total1,818 sq mi (4,710 km2)
 • Land1,815 sq mi (4,700 km2)
 • Water2.8 sq mi (7 km2)  0.2%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total5,636
 • Estimate 
(2019)
5,311
 • Density3.1/sq mi (1.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitebeaver.okcounties.org

History

The land where Beaver County is located has been under several jurisdictions. At one time, it was part of Mexico and then Texas before Texas became a state of the United States. Then in the Compromise of 1850, Texas ceded the land that would eventually become the Oklahoma panhandle to the United States government.[4] The area was known as "No Man's Land" because it belonged to no state or territorial government.[4] From 1886 to 1890, it was a separate organized territory known as Cimarron Territory.[5] After becoming part of the Oklahoma Territory in 1890, Beaver County (first called Seventh County) covered the entire Oklahoma Panhandle.[5] At statehood in 1907, Cimarron County was taken from the western one-third, while Texas County was taken from the middle, leaving Beaver County only in the east.[4] Its borders are now at 100°W (east), 37°N (north), 36.5°N (south), and approximately 100.8°W (west).

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,818 square miles (4,710 km2), of which 1,815 square miles (4,700 km2) is land and 2.8 square miles (7.3 km2) (0.2%) is water.[6] It is the fifth-largest county in Oklahoma by area.

Just north of the town of Beaver is the Beaver Dunes State Park.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
19003,051—
191013,631346.8%
192014,0483.1%
193011,452−18.5%
19408,648−24.5%
19507,411−14.3%
19606,965−6.0%
19706,282−9.8%
19806,8068.3%
19906,023−11.5%
20005,857−2.8%
20105,636−3.8%
2019 (est.)5,311[7]−5.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2019[1]
Age pyramid for Beaver County, Oklahoma, United States of America, based on census 2000 data

As of the 2010 census, there were a total of 5,636 people, 2,192 households, and 1,614 families in the county.[12] The population density was 3 people per square mile (1/km2). There were 2,719 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.71% White, 0.29% Black or African American, 1.25% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.76% from other races, and 1.86% from two or more races. 10.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,245 households, out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.30% were married couples living together, 6.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.00% were non-families. 22.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.80% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 25.80% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 16.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,715, and the median income for a family was $41,542. Males had a median income of $31,013 versus $20,162 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,905. About 8.80% of families and 11.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.80% of those under age 18 and 7.80% of those age 65 or over.

Politics
Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of November 1, 2019[13]
Party Number of Voters Percentage
Democratic 406 14.07%
Republican 2,217 76.85%
Others 258 8.94%
Total 2,885 100%

Although at one time competitive, Beaver has become strongly Republican in presidential elections. The last Democratic candidate to win the county was Harry Truman in 1948.[14] Since 2000, the Republican presidential candidate has received over 85% of the county's vote.[15]

It is part of Oklahoma's 3rd congressional district and as such is represented by Frank Lucas. In the Oklahoma Senate it is part of the 27th district and is represented by Republican Casey Murdock. In the Oklahoma House of Representatives it is part of the 61st district and is represented by Republican Kenton Patzkowsky.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 90.4% 1,968 8.7% 190 0.9% 20
2016 88.9% 1,993 7.9% 176 3.3% 74
2012 89.4% 2,062 10.6% 244
2008 89.3% 2,199 10.8% 265
2004 88.4% 2,272 11.6% 297
2000 85.2% 2,092 13.8% 339 1.0% 25
1996 72.5% 1,893 19.7% 515 7.8% 203
1992 59.6% 1,699 20.4% 580 20.0% 571
1988 71.0% 2,013 27.4% 777 1.6% 44
1984 82.7% 2,689 16.5% 536 0.8% 27
1980 75.5% 2,430 21.6% 696 2.9% 92
1976 58.8% 1,801 39.6% 1,213 1.5% 47
1972 80.4% 2,562 16.4% 522 3.2% 102
1968 68.7% 2,114 20.3% 624 11.0% 339
1964 56.8% 1,982 43.2% 1,508
1960 73.4% 2,442 26.6% 887
1956 68.4% 2,046 31.6% 946
1952 75.6% 2,539 24.4% 819
1948 47.1% 1,420 52.9% 1,596
1944 58.1% 1,913 41.1% 1,355 0.8% 27
1940 51.8% 2,219 47.5% 2,034 0.7% 29
1936 34.7% 1,340 64.8% 2,502 0.5% 21
1932 34.7% 1,358 65.3% 2,553
1928 73.7% 2,596 25.2% 887 1.2% 41
1924 49.4% 1,565 37.7% 1,195 12.9% 407
1920 60.0% 1,973 32.7% 1,076 7.3% 240
1916 32.9% 913 49.8% 1,382 17.3% 479
1912 42.8% 1,070 37.0% 926 20.3% 507

Economy

Beaver County's economy has largely been based on agriculture since the turn of the 20th Century. At first, the major crop was broomcorn, but that was overtaken by wheat in the 1920s. Railroads connected the county to agricultural markets and stimulated an influx of new farmers. Beginning in 1912, the Wichita Falls and Northwestern Railway built a line from Woodward through Gate to Forgan. Beaver, Meade and Englewood Railroad completed a spur in 1915 from Beaver to Forgan, which was extended westward in 1925 -1927 to Hooker. New towns arose along the rail lines or old ones relocated along them.[5]

Communities

Towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Recreation

The 17,700 acres (7,200 ha) Beaver River WMA provides wildlife, hunting, fishing, boating, and swimming recreation.

Cemeteries

Meridian Cemetery

Meridian Cemetery is a cemetery that is located at 36°46′1.7″N 100°00′26.9″W in Beaver County. There are many unmarked graves and many lost graves.[17]

Originally known as Cline Cemetery, established sometime in 1893 or 1894, named after the City of Cline, which is now a ghost town, was sold to Meridian Cemetery Association in 1908. It was land originally owned by Phillip Huret, Jr. and consists of two acres of land. In 1908, it was sold for $150 to the Meridian Cemetery Association.[18]

NRHP sites
Main article: National Register of Historic Places listings in Beaver County, Oklahoma

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

Further reading
  • Gould, Charles Newton (1926). Geology of Beaver county, Oklahoma, by Chas. N. Gould and John T. Lonsdale. Fossil leaves from Beaver county, by E. W. Berry. Agriculture of Beaver county, by Ernest Slocum. History of Beaver county, by F. C. Tracy. Norman, Oklahoma. LCCN gs26000324.
  • A History of Beaver County. Beaver, Oklahoma: Beaver County Historical Society. 1970–71. LCCN 70021830. 2 v. illus. (part col.) 32 cm.

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on March 2, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Chronicles of Oklahoma. "Origin of County Names in Oklahoma." v. 2, N, 1. March 1924. Retrieved May 26, 2013. Archived January 23, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  4. Turner, Kenneth R."No Man's Land," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, 2009. Accessed March 28, 2015.
  5. Hodges, V. Pauline. "Beaver County," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, 2009. Accessed March 28, 2015.
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  7. "County Population Totals: 2010-2019". Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  10. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  12. U.S. Census website , United States Census Bureau. (accessed September 4, 2013)
  13. "Oklahoma Registration Statistics by County" (PDF). OK.gov. November 1, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  14. Geographie Electorale
  15. Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  17. "Meridian Cemetery — Cemetery in Laverne, OK". All US Churches in AllUSChurches.com. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  18. A History of Beaver County, Vol. 2 (Beaver, Okla.: Beaver County Historical Society, Inc., 1971). Beaver, Oklahoma: Beaver County Historical Society. 1971. pp. 111, 112.
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