Beaver County, Oklahoma

Beaver County, Oklahoma
Location in the state of Oklahoma
Oklahoma's location in the U.S.
Founded	1890
Seat	Beaver
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	1,818 sq mi (4,708 km²) 1,814 sq mi (4,699 km²) 3 sq mi (8 km²),
PopulationEst.  - (2012)  - Density	5,591 3.1/sq mi (1/km²)
Congressional district	3rd
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Website	www.beaverchamber.com

Beaver County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,636. The county seat is Beaver.

The land where Beaver County is located has been under several jurisdictions. At one time, it was part of Texas before Texas became a state of the United States. There was a period of time that it was not part of the Oklahoma Territory but not a separate organized territory. After becoming part of the Oklahoma Territory in 1890, Beaver County (first called Seventh County) covered the entire Oklahoma Panhandle. 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. [1] 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 (4,708.6 km²), of which 1,814 square miles (4,698.2 km²) is land and 3 square miles (7.8 km²) (0.18%) is water.

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 64
• U.S. Highway 83
• U.S. Highway 270
• U.S. Highway 412
• State Highway 3
• State Highway 23

Adjacent counties

• Meade County, Kansas (north)
• Clark County, Kansas (northeast)
• Harper County, Oklahoma (east)
• Ellis County, Oklahoma (southeast)
• Lipscomb County, Texas (south)
• Ochiltree County, Texas (southwest)
• Texas County, Oklahoma (west)
• Seward County, Kansas (northwest)

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

Beaver County is one of the few counties in the United States to border at least eight counties.

Demographics

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1900	3,051	—
1910	13,631	+346.8%
1920	14,048	+3.1%
1930	11,452	−18.5%
1940	8,648	−24.5%
1950	7,411	−14.3%
1960	6,965	−6.0%
1970	6,282	−9.8%
1980	6,806	+8.3%
1990	6,023	−11.5%
2000	5,857	−2.8%
2010	5,636	−3.8%
Cimarron County, Oklahoma, and Texas County, Oklahoma, split from Beaver County in 1907

Age pyramid for Beaver County, Oklahoma, United States of America, based on census 2000 data

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,857 people, 2,245 households, and 1,706 families residing in the county. 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.

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of January 15, 2013
Party		Number of Voters	Percentage
	Democratic	717	21.34%
	Republican	2,344	69.79%
	Unaffiliated	299	8.90%
Total		3,360	100%

Politics

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. In the last three Presidential elections the Republican candidate has consistently received over 85% of the county's vote.

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 Bryce Marlatt. In the Oklahoma House of Representatives it is part of the 61st district and is represented by Republican Gus Blackwell.

Presidential election results

Year	Republican	Democrat
2012	89.42% 2,062	10.58% 244
2008	89.25% 2,199	10.75% 265
2004	88.44% 2,272	11.56% 297
2000	85.18% 2,092	13.80% 339

Communities

City

• Beaver

Towns

• Forgan
• Gate
• Knowles

Unincorporated communities

• Balko
• Elmwood
• Floris
• Mocane
• Slapout
• Turpin

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:

Beaver County Courthouse, Beaver City Floris Grain Elevator, Floris Gate School, Gate Knowles Grain Elevator, Turpin Lane Cabin, Beaver City Lonker Archeological Site, Gate

Old Settler's Irrigation Ditch, Rosston Presbyterian Church, Beaver City Rose, Billy, Archeological Site, Mocane Sharps Creek Crossing Site, Turpin Turpin Grain Elevator, Turpin

External links

• Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Beaver County
• [2]
• McCasland Digital Collection of Early Oklahoma and Indian Territory Maps