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McIntosh County, Oklahoma

Coordinates: 35°23′N 95°40′W / 35.38°N 95.67°W / 35.38; -95.67
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McIntosh County
County
The McIntosh County Courthouse in Eufaula.
The McIntosh County Courthouse in Eufaula.
Map of Oklahoma highlighting McIntosh County
Location within the U.S. state of Oklahoma
Map of the United States highlighting Oklahoma
Oklahoma's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°23′N 95°40′W / 35.38°N 95.67°W / 35.38; -95.67
Country United States
State Oklahoma
Founded1907
SeatEufaula
Largest cityChecotah
Area
 • Total
712 sq mi (1,840 km2)
 • Land618 sq mi (1,600 km2)
 • Water94 sq mi (240 km2)  13%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
18,941
 • Density27/sq mi (10/km2)
Congressional district2nd

McIntosh County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,941.[1] Its county seat is Eufaula.[2] The county is named for an influential Muscogee Creek family, whose members led the migration of the Lower Towns to Indian Territory and served as leaders for generations.[3]

It is one of the counties within the jurisdiction of the federally recognized Muscogee (Creek) Nation; a small portion is within the jurisdiction of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.[4]

History

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Many archaeological sites in McIntosh County date back to the Archaic period in North America (6000 BC - 1 AD). (Ed. note: the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture defines this period as written here. The definition differs from that shown by the linked Wikipedia article.) Archaeologists have uncovered six sites since 2003 that predate these. These indigenous peoples predated any of Plains Indians, as well as the tribes that settled in the territory in the 1830s following Indian Removal from the American Southeast. Indigenous people may have made petroglyphs at the Handprint Site before the coming of the earliest European explorers.[3]

In 1825, the Creek of the Lower Towns in the territory of present-day Georgia, led by William McIntosh, agreed by the Treaty of Indian Springs with the United States, to exchange their land in Georgia for land in Indian Territory. These Creek were a historic people who had originated in the Southeast and were part of the larger Creek Confederacy for centuries. Much of their new territory was included in what later became McIntosh County. Chief McIntosh was executed in Georgia in 1825 by order of the Creek National Council, which had forbidden such land cessions without agreement by the full council.

His descendants and followers of the Lower Towns migrated to Indian Territory. There the Creek repeatedly battled with the Osage, who had historically occupied a large area including this and up through present-day Missouri. In 1836, the Creek established North Fork Town on the Texas Road, about two miles east of present-day Eufaula, Oklahoma. A post office named Micco operated in North Fork Town from 1853 to 1886. This area became part of the Eufaula District of the Creek Nation.[3]

Albert Pike, representing the Confederate States of America, signed treaties with the Chickasaw, Choctaw and Creek nations at the beginning of the Civil War. They allied with the Confederacy in the hopes of gaining an Indian state after the war. The Battle of Honey Springs, the largest battle of the war in what is now Oklahoma, was fought near Rentiesville. The Union Army won and took control of that part of Indian Territory north of the Arkansas River.[3]

The Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railway built a line through this area in 1871–2, generally following the Texas Road. The communities of Checotah and Eufaula were established then. In 1904–5, the Missouri, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway (later merged into the Kansas, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway) laid a line through the northwestern part of the area, starting the community of Hitchita.[3]

McIntosh County was established at statehood in 1907, when the population was 17,975. Before statehood, the area had been part of the Eufaula District of the Creek Nation. The county gained some land from Hughes County in 1915, but lost some land to Okmulgee County in 1918.[3] The former moved the community of Hanna from Hughes County. The latter moved the towns of Grayson[5] and Hoffman[6] into Okmulgee County.[3]

Between 1907 and 1909, the people of Checotah were involved in a dispute with nearby Eufaula known as the McIntosh County Seat War. After Checotah was designated as the new county seat, the people of Eufaula refused to hand over the county records. Soon after, a group of heavily armed men from Chectotah attempted to seize the records from the courthouse in Eufaula, but were beaten back and forced to surrender during the gunfight that followed. Eufaula was designated as the permanent seat of McIntosh County one year later.[7]

The county is mostly within the jurisdiction of the federally recognized Muscogee (Creek) Nation, which oversees and represents its members. The far eastern portion of the county is within the jurisdiction of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.[4] Native Americans, mostly Muscogee, comprise more than 16% of the county's population.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 712 square miles (1,840 km2), of which 618 square miles (1,600 km2) is land and 94 square miles (240 km2) (13%) is water.[8] Much of the water surface is attributable to Eufaula Lake, the largest reservoir entirely within the state. Checotah is the nearest city to Lake Eufaula State Park (formerly Fountainhead State Park). The county is drained by the Deep Fork River, North Canadian River and Canadian River.[3]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
191020,961—
192026,40426.0%
193024,924−5.6%
194024,097−3.3%
195017,829−26.0%
196012,371−30.6%
197012,4720.8%
198015,56224.8%
199016,7797.8%
200019,45616.0%
201020,2524.1%
202018,941−6.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010[13]

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 19,456 people, 8,085 households, and 5,683 families residing in the county. The population density was 12/km2 (31/sq mi). There were 12,640 housing units at an average density of 8/km2 (21/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 72.59% White, 4.06% Black or African American, 16.20% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races, and 6.63% from two or more races. 1.27% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 96.4% spoke English, 1.5% Muskogee and 1.5% Spanish as their first language. As of 2020, its population declined to 18,941.[1]

There were 8,085 households, out of which 25.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were married couples living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.60% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 22.30% from 25 to 44, 26.90% from 45 to 64, and 21.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 91.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,964, and the median income for a family was $31,990. Males had a median income of $27,998 versus $19,030 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,410. About 13.50% of families and 18.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.80% of those under age 18 and 13.30% of those age 65 or over.

The most common self-identified ancestry groups in McIntosh County are:[15]

Politics

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Despite a Democratic registration advantage as recently as the late 2010s, the county has not voted that way in presidential elections in the 21st century. Although Republican margins in the county have grown at a slower pace than in many other Oklahoma counties of this size, the party has nonetheless won greater than 60% of the county's vote in every election since 2012. In 2024, Donald Trump won over 75% of the county's vote, the strongest Republican performance in the county's history.

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of June 30, 2023[16]
Party Number of Voters Percentage
Democratic 4,949 40.81%
Republican 5,512 45.45%
Others 1,666 13.74%
Total 12,127 100%
United States presidential election results for McIntosh County, Oklahoma[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 6,387 75.68% 1,937 22.95% 115 1.36%
2020 6,172 74.05% 2,031 24.37% 132 1.58%
2016 5,505 69.13% 2,123 26.66% 335 4.21%
2012 4,509 61.87% 2,779 38.13% 0 0.00%
2008 4,903 59.63% 3,320 40.37% 0 0.00%
2004 4,692 51.11% 4,488 48.89% 0 0.00%
2000 3,444 44.26% 4,206 54.05% 131 1.68%
1996 2,400 31.21% 4,219 54.86% 1,072 13.94%
1992 2,225 28.19% 4,184 53.01% 1,484 18.80%
1988 2,665 39.53% 4,041 59.94% 36 0.53%
1984 3,646 50.89% 3,479 48.56% 40 0.56%
1980 2,925 43.25% 3,654 54.03% 184 2.72%
1976 1,822 30.29% 4,145 68.91% 48 0.80%
1972 3,216 63.89% 1,686 33.49% 132 2.62%
1968 1,532 33.71% 1,759 38.70% 1,254 27.59%
1964 1,428 28.99% 3,497 71.01% 0 0.00%
1960 2,221 50.41% 2,185 49.59% 0 0.00%
1956 2,149 44.06% 2,728 55.94% 0 0.00%
1952 2,295 43.29% 3,007 56.71% 0 0.00%
1948 1,442 28.19% 3,674 71.81% 0 0.00%
1944 2,569 44.52% 3,190 55.28% 12 0.21%
1940 3,487 47.93% 3,771 51.84% 17 0.23%
1936 2,470 38.69% 3,898 61.06% 16 0.25%
1932 1,077 19.20% 4,533 80.80% 0 0.00%
1928 2,742 56.88% 2,044 42.40% 35 0.73%
1924 1,675 37.26% 2,723 60.58% 97 2.16%
1920 2,358 44.84% 2,642 50.24% 259 4.92%
1916 898 28.04% 1,743 54.43% 561 17.52%
1912 970 34.19% 1,325 46.70% 542 19.10%

Economy

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The county economy has been based primarily on farming and ranching. Corn was the principal crop until 1900, when cotton superseded it (as measured by acreage) around the middle of the 20th century. Other crops such as sorghum, oats and wheat also became important. However, construction of a dam and the resulting Eufaula Lake inundated much of the best cropland, causing a large-scale decline in agriculture. Cotton farming essentially ceased in the county by the mid-1970s. Cattle ranching has remained important, continuing to rise throughout the century. By 2000, the county reported 55,000 head of cattle.[3]

Completion of Eufaula Lake in 1964 generated revenue from hydroelectric power, stimulated tourism, and produced companion businesses like boat building and general retail.[3]

Mineral resources such as oil, natural gas, limestone, sand and gravel have also been important. While there are ample coal deposits, much of it has a high ash and sulfur content, so little except the low-sulfur type has been mined.[3]

Communities

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Cities

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Towns

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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NRHP sites

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Main article: National Register of Historic Places listings in McIntosh County, Oklahoma

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

References

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  1. ^ a b "McIntosh 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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k O'Dell, Larry. "McIntosh County," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Oklahoma Historical Society, 2009. Accessed April 4, 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Maps". Cherokee Nation Website. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  5. ^ Lynn Marie Townsend, "Grayson." Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  6. ^ Lynn Marie Townsend, "Hoffman." Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  7. ^ Butler, Ken (2007). More Oklahoma Renegades. Pelican Publishing. ISBN 978-1589804647.
  8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  11. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
  14. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  15. ^ "The Demographic Statistical Atlas of the United States - Statistical Atlas".
  16. ^ "Oklahoma Registration Statistics by County" (PDF). OK.gov. January 15, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  17. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 29, 2018.

35°23′N 95°40′W / 35.38°N 95.67°W / 35.38; -95.67

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