Comanche County, Oklahoma

Comanche County
County
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Oklahoma
Oklahoma's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°40′N 98°28′W
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
Seat	Lawton
Area
• Total	1,084 sq mi (2,810 km2)
• Land	1,069 sq mi (2,770 km2)
• Water	14 sq mi (40 km2)  1.34%
Population  (2000)
• Total	114,996
• Density	110/sq mi (42/km2)
Website	www.comanchecounty.us

Comanche County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 114,996. It is included in the Lawton, Oklahoma, Metropolitan Statistical Area. Its county seat is LawtonTemplate:GR. In 2002 Western District Commissioner Susan Ulrich became the first woman to be elected to that position in Comanche County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,084 square miles (2,807 km²), of which, 1,069 square miles (2,770 km²) of it is land and 14 square miles (38 km²) of it (1.34%) is water.

Major highways

Interstate 44 U.S. Highway 62 U.S. Highway 277 U.S. Highway 281 State Highway 7

State Highway 17 State Highway 36 State Highway 49 State Highway 58 State Highway 65

Adjacent counties

• Caddo County (north)
• Grady County (northeast)
• Stephens County (southeast)
• Cotton County (south)
• Tillman County (southwest)
• Kiowa County (west)

National protected area

• Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

Law and government

Front of the Comanche County Courthouse.

Comanche County has a county commission comprising three members elected by district. Commissioners from each district serve four-year staggered terms in partisan elections. Boundaries are set once every 10 years following the federal census.

County Commissioners

• District 1 - Gail Turner (Term: January 2007 - December 2010)
• District 2 - Ron Kirby (Term: January 2009 - December 2012)
• District 3 - Susan Ulrich (Term: January 2007 - December 2010)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1910	41,489		—
1920	26,629		−35.8%
1930	34,317		28.9%
1940	38,988		13.6%
1950	55,165		41.5%
1960	90,803		64.6%
1970	108,144		19.1%
1980	112,456		4.0%
1990	111,486		−0.9%
2000	114,996		3.1%

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 114,996 people, 39,808 households, and 28,860 families residing in the county. The population density was 108 people per square mile (42/km²). There were 45,416 housing units at an average density of 42 per square mile (16/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 65.21% White, 19.00% Black or African American, 5.13% Native American, 2.09% Asian, 0.40% Pacific Islander, 3.48% from other races, and 4.69% from two or more races. 8.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 89.1% spoke English, 5.6% Spanish and 2.3% German as their first language.

There were 39,808 households out of which 39.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.60% were married couples living together, 14.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 23.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the county, the population was spread out with 27.80% under the age of 18, 13.90% from 18 to 24, 30.70% from 25 to 44, 17.80% from 45 to 64, and 9.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 107.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,867, and the median income for a family was $39,214. Males had a median income of $28,712 versus $22,084 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,728. About 13.20% of families and 15.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.90% of those under age 18 and 10.70% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Cache Chattanooga Elgin

Faxon Fletcher Geronimo

Indiahoma Lawton

Medicine Park Sterling

External links

• Comanche County
• City of Lawton
• Fort Sill Military Reservation
• Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Comanche County