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Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma

Coordinates: 35°12′N 96°56′W / 35.20°N 96.94°W / 35.20; -96.94
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Pottawatomie County
County
Pottawatomie County Courthouse in Shawnee, Oklahoma
Pottawatomie County Courthouse in Shawnee, Oklahoma
Map of Oklahoma highlighting Pottawatomie 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°12′N 96°56′W / 35.2°N 96.94°W / 35.2; -96.94
Country United States
State Oklahoma
Founded1891[1]
Named forPotawatomi Tribe[2]
SeatShawnee
Area
 • Total793 sq mi (2,055 km2)
 • Land790 sq mi (2,040 km2)
 • Water5 sq mi (14 km2)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total65,521
 • Density83/sq mi (32/km2)

Pottawatomie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 65,521 as of the 2000 census. Its county seat is ShawneeTemplate:GR. Pottawatomie County is part of the Shawnee Micropolitan Statistical Area and the Oklahoma City–Shawnee Combined Statistical Area.

History

Pottawatomie County was carved out of land originally given to the Creek and Seminole after their forced removal from Georgia and Florida. After the Civil War, the Creek and Seminole were forced to cede their lands back to the federal government, and the area of Pottawatomie County was used to resettle the Iowa, Sac and Fox, Absentee Shawnee, Potawatomi and Kickapoo tribes.

Non-Indian settlement began on September 22, 1891 when all the tribes except the Kickapoo agreed to land allotment, where communal reservation land was divided and allotted to individual members of the tribes. The remaining land was opened to settlement.

During the land run, Pottawatomie County was organized as County B with Tecumseh as the county seat. In 1892, the voters of the county elected to name County B as Pottawatomie County after the Potawatomi Indians.

In 1895, the Kickapoo gave up their land rights and their land was given away to white settlers in the last land run in Oklahoma.

In 1930, Shawnee, now bigger in size than Tecumseh, was approved by the voters to become the new county seat. [3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,055 km² (793 mi²). Some 2,040 km² (788 mi²) of it is land and 14 km² (6 mi²) of it (0.70%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Age pyramid for Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, based on census 2000 data.

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 65,521 people, 24,540 households, and 17,717 families residing in the county. The population density was 32/km² (83/mi²). There were 27,302 housing units at an average density of 13/km² (35/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.88% White, 2.89% Black or African American, 11.20% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.65% from other races, and 4.67% from two or more races. About 2.36% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race, while 19.6% were of American, 12.2% German, 11.3% Irish and 9.0% English ancestry according to Census 2000. About 96.6% spoke English and 1.6% Spanish as their first language.

There were 24,540 households out of which 32.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.50% were married couples living together, 11.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.80% were non-families. Around 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out with 25.80% under the age of 18, 11.20% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,573, and the median income for a family was $38,162. Males had a median income of $31,104 versus $21,460 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,972. About 11.60% of families and 14.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.90% of those under age 18 and 11.70% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

† Oklahoma City is mainly in Oklahoma County, but part of the city limits extends into Pottawatomie County.

Government and infrastructure

The Pioneer Library System operates branch libraries in nine cities in Pottawatomie, Cleveland, and McClain counties.[4]

The Oklahoma Department of Corrections operates the Mabel Bassett Correctional Center in an unincorporated area in the county, near McLoud.[5]

NRHP Sites

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

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

  • Aldridge Hotel, Shawnee
  • Barnard Elementary School, Tecumseh
  • Beard Cabin, Shawnee
  • Bell Street Historic District, Shawnee
  • Billington Building, Shawnee
  • H. T. Douglas Mansion and Garage, Shawnee
  • Governors Mansion, Shawnee
  • Kerfoot House, Shawnee

References

  1. ^ Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Pottawatomie County Retrieved 2/26/2011
  2. ^ Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Pottawatomie County Retrieved 2/26/2011
  3. ^ Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Pottawatomie County Retrieved 2/26/2011
  4. ^ "Pioneer Library System to buy Borders bookstore building in Norman". NewsOK. The Oklahoman. September 27, 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
  5. ^ "Mabel Bassett Correctional Center." Oklahoma Department of Corrections. Retrieved on November 22, 2010.

35°12′N 96°56′W / 35.20°N 96.94°W / 35.20; -96.94

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