Woods County
County
Historic Central National Bank in Alva (2017)
Historic Central National Bank in Alva (2017)
Map of Oklahoma highlighting Woods County
Location within the U.S. state of Oklahoma
Map of the United States highlighting Oklahoma
Oklahoma's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°46′N 98°52′W / 36.77°N 98.86°W / 36.77; -98.86
Country United States
State Oklahoma
Founded1893
Named forSamuel Newitt Wood
SeatAlva
Largest cityAlva
Area
 • Total1,290 sq mi (3,300 km2)
 • Land1,286 sq mi (3,330 km2)
 • Water3.5 sq mi (9 km2)  0.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total8,624
 • Density6.7/sq mi (2.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd

Woods County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,624.[1] Its county seat is Alva.[2] The county is named after Samuel Newitt Wood, a renowned Kansas populist.[3]

History

The Burnham site in Woods County is a pre-Clovis site, that is, an archaeological site dating before 11,000 years ago.[4] The region of Woods County, Oklahoma, was home to the Antelope Creek Phase of Southern Plains Villagers, a precontact culture of Native Americans, who are related to the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes.

An early European explorer of the area now contained within Woods County was George C. Sibley, who traveled through in 1811. He visited a salt formation near the present town of Freedom, Oklahoma, then followed the Mountain Fork of the Arkansas River southeastward to the Great Salt Plains. In 1843, Nathan Boone traveled along the Cimarron River.[3]

The area was part of Cherokee Outlet, guaranteed to the Cherokee Nation under the Treaty of New Echota. It later became important for cattle ranching. The Dodge City and Red Fork Trail, a branch of the Chisholm Trail followed the north bank of the Cimarron River en route to Kansas. The U. S. Government acquired the Cherokee Outlet under Congressional Acts in 1889, 1891 and 1893, and divided the area into counties. One of these was designated M County, prior to opening the area for settlement. The Secretary of the Interior designated Alva as the county seat. M County was renamed Woods County by a ballot measure on November 6, 1894. The name was one of three put forth on the ballot, and was the Populists party's submission to honor Samuel Newitt Wood, a Kansas Populist. Despite the name being misspelled on the ballot, the election committee "decided to keep the s for euphony sake".[3] Woods County became part of Oklahoma Territory.

The Constitutional Convention of 1906 created Major County and Alfalfa County from southern and eastern parts of Woods County and added a part of Woodward County to Woods County.[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,290 square miles (3,300 km2), of which 1,286 square miles (3,330 km2) is land and 3.5 square miles (9.1 km2) (0.3%) is water.[5] It is located along the Kansas border.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
191017,567—
192015,939−9.3%
193017,0056.7%
194014,915−12.3%
195014,526−2.6%
196011,932−17.9%
197011,920−0.1%
198010,923−8.4%
19909,103−16.7%
20009,089−0.2%
20108,878−2.3%
20208,624−2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010[10]
Age pyramid for Woods County, Oklahoma, based on census 2000 data.

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 8,878 people, 3,533 households, and 2,133 families residing in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (2.7 people/km2). There were 4,478 housing units at an average density of 3.5 units per square mile (1.4/km2).[11] The racial makeup of the county was 88.4% white, 3.3% black or African American, 2.4% Native American, 0.9% Asian, less than 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.3% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. 4.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,533 households, out of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% were non-families. 32.3% of households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. 8.2% of the population was institutionalized The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 18.8% under the age of 18, 18.6% from 18 to 24, 22.3% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.7 years. For every 100 females there were 114.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.9 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,255, and the median income for a family was $60,500. Males had a median income of $39,754 versus $23,897 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,935. About 8% of families and 16% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of June 30, 2023[12]
Party Number of Voters Percentage
Democratic 838 17.23%
Republican 3,404 69.97%
Others 623 12.81%
Total 4,865 100%
United States presidential election results for Woods County, Oklahoma[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 2,993 81.38% 591 16.07% 94 2.56%
2016 2,947 80.34% 522 14.23% 199 5.43%
2012 2,727 80.25% 671 19.75% 0 0.00%
2008 3,043 77.71% 873 22.29% 0 0.00%
2004 3,166 77.26% 932 22.74% 0 0.00%
2000 2,774 68.56% 1,235 30.52% 37 0.91%
1996 2,151 52.44% 1,431 34.89% 520 12.68%
1992 2,225 46.58% 1,361 28.49% 1,191 24.93%
1988 2,835 60.95% 1,735 37.30% 81 1.74%
1984 3,741 74.55% 1,231 24.53% 46 0.92%
1980 3,592 68.97% 1,364 26.19% 252 4.84%
1976 2,788 51.43% 2,530 46.67% 103 1.90%
1972 4,413 76.23% 1,234 21.32% 142 2.45%
1968 3,449 63.81% 1,439 26.62% 517 9.57%
1964 2,886 51.21% 2,750 48.79% 0 0.00%
1960 4,064 68.12% 1,902 31.88% 0 0.00%
1956 3,787 64.08% 2,123 35.92% 0 0.00%
1952 4,892 70.99% 1,999 29.01% 0 0.00%
1948 2,871 49.90% 2,882 50.10% 0 0.00%
1944 3,226 56.85% 2,426 42.75% 23 0.41%
1940 3,440 49.09% 3,506 50.04% 61 0.87%
1936 2,346 35.71% 4,179 63.62% 44 0.67%
1932 2,008 31.94% 4,279 68.06% 0 0.00%
1928 3,941 70.38% 1,550 27.68% 109 1.95%
1924 2,615 52.43% 1,533 30.73% 840 16.84%
1920 2,827 60.32% 1,530 32.64% 330 7.04%
1916 1,358 41.14% 1,417 42.93% 526 15.93%
1912 1,679 48.43% 1,247 35.97% 541 15.60%

Communities

Former communities

A 1911 map of Woods County[14] shows a large number of settlements which either no longer exist or remain only as small populated places, including:

  • Abbie
  • Cora
  • Coy
  • Eagle
  • Fairvalley
  • Fanshaw
  • Farry
  • Faulkner
  • Fitzlen
  • Flagg
  • Galena
  • Gamet
  • Heman
  • Irene
  • Kingman
  • Saratoga
  • Tegarden
  • Whitehorse
  • Winchester

NRHP Sites

There are multiple NRHP sites in the county, mostly in Alva but with some in Waynoka.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Woods County, Oklahoma". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Reichenberger, Donovan. "Woods County," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Oklahoma Historical Society, 2009. Accessed April 5, 2015.
  4. ↑ Buehler, Kent J. "Burnham Site". The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  5. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  6. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  8. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 22, 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 October 9, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  10. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on December 17, 2015. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  11. ↑ "General Housing Characteristics: 2010 - United States – County by State; and for Puerto Rico". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Oklahoma Registration Statistics by County" (PDF). OK.gov. January 15, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  13. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Woods County, Oklahoma 1911 Map". My Genealogy Hound. Retrieved November 14, 2021.

36°46′N 98°52′W / 36.77°N 98.86°W / 36.77; -98.86

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