Latimer County, Oklahoma

Latimer County, Oklahoma
Location in the state of Oklahoma
Oklahoma's location in the U.S.
Founded	1907
Named for	James L. Latimer
Seat	Wilburton
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	729 sq mi (1,888 km²) 722 sq mi (1,870 km²) 7 sq mi (18 km²), 0.95%
PopulationEst.  - (2012)  - Density	11,019 15/sq mi (5.8/km²)
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5

Latimer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its county seat is Wilburton. As of the 2010 census, the population was 11,154, a 4.3 percent gain from 10,692 at the 2000 census. The county was created at statehood in 1907 and named for James L. Latimer, a delegate from Wilburton to the 1906 Constitutional Convention.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 729 square miles (1,888.1 km²), of which 722 square miles (1,870.0 km²) is land and 7 square miles (18.1 km²) (0.95%) is water.

The Sans Bois Mountains span the northern border of the county, while the Winding Stair Mountains extend into its southern part. The Fourche Maline, Brazil and Sans Bois creeks drain the northern part of the county into the Poteau River, a tributary of the Arkansas River. Buffalo and Gaines Creeks drain the southern part into the Kiamichi River, a tributary of the Red River.

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 270
• State Highway 1
• State Highway 2
• State Highway 63
• State Highway 82

Adjacent counties

• Haskell County (north)
• Le Flore County (east)
• Pushmataha County (south)
• Pittsburg County (west)

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 10,692 people, 3,951 households, and 2,868 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile (6/km²). There were 4,709 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 73.01% White, 0.96% Black or African American, 19.42% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 5.91% from two or more races. 1.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.7% were of American, 9.5% Irish, 8.1% German and 5.0% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 3,951 households out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.90% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.40% were non-families. 24.90% 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 2.54 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out with 25.70% under the age of 18, 11.40% from 18 to 24, 24.20% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 16.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $23,962, and the median income for a family was $29,661. Males had a median income of $27,449 versus $19,577 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,842. About 19.00% of families and 22.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.70% of those under age 18 and 16.40% of those age 65 or over.

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of January 15, 2012
Party		Number of Voters	Percentage
	Democratic	5,298	81.68%
	Republican	814	12.55%
	Unaffiliated	374	5.77%
Total		6,486	100%

Politics

Presidential election results

Year	Republican	Democrat
2008	68.54% 2,860	31.46% 1,313
2004	56.58% 2,535	43.42% 1,945
2000	47.40% 1,739	50.83% 1,865

Cities and Towns

• Fanshawe (mostly in Le Flore County)
• Red Oak
• Wilburton

Communities

• Buffalo Valley
• Panola
• Gowen

NRHP sites

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

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

Ash Creek School, Wilburton Bowers School, Wilburton Cambria School, Hartshorne Colony Park Pavilion, Wilburton Cupco Church, Yanush Degnan School, Wilburton Edwards Store, Red Oak Great Western Coal and Coke Company Building, Wilburton Great Western Coal and Coke Company Mine No. 3, Wilburton Holloway's Station, Red Oak

McLaughlin Site, Red Oak Mitchell Hal,l Wilburton Panola High School and Gymnasium, Panola Pusley's Station, Higgins Riddle's Station Site, Wilburton Robbers Cave State Park, Wilburton Rosenstein Building, Wilburton Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Rectory, Wilburton