Editing Beckham County, Oklahoma

{{short description|County in Oklahoma, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Beckham County
 | state                = Oklahoma
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1907
 | founded date         = November 16
 | seat wl              = Sayre
 | largest city wl      = Elk City
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 904
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 902
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 2.1
 | area percentage      = 0.2%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 22410
 | census estimate yr   = 
 | pop                  = 
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | district             = 3rd
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = beckham.okcounties.org
 | named for            = [[J. C. W. Beckham]]
 | ex image             = Beckham County Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[Beckham County Courthouse]],<br> Sayre, Oklahoma 2015
}}

'''Beckham County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located on the western border of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Oklahoma]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 22,410.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=Beckham County, Oklahoma|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Beckham_County,_Oklahoma?g=050XX00US40009|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 9, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Sayre, Oklahoma|Sayre]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712220218/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=July 12, 2012 }}</ref> Founded upon statehood in 1907, Beckham County was named for [[J. C. W. Beckham]], who was [[Governor of Kentucky]]<ref name="EOHC-BeckhamCo">Wilson, Linda D. [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=BE008 "Beckham County,"] ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'', 2009. Accessed March 28, 2015.</ref> and the first popularly elected member of the [[United States Senate]] from [[Kentucky]]. Beckham County comprises the Elk City, OK [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
In 1855, the U.S. government leased the western part of the formerly reserved [[Choctaw Nation|Choctaw]] and [[Chickasaw Nation]] lands, which became known as the [[Leased District]]. After the Civil War, the two nations were forced to cede the land to the US government under terms of new treaties required because they had been allies of the Confederacy. Under the treaties they were also required to emancipate their slaves and provide them with citizenship in their nations.

In 1869, the former Leased District was designated by the President as the [[Cheyenne and Arapaho Indian Reservation]], following their removal from further west. During the 1880s, Texas cattlemen leased grazing land from the Cheyenne and Arapaho.

Under the [[Dawes Act]] of 1891, the government split up such communal lands, allocating plots to individual households of various tribes. After distribution was made, the government declared any additional lands on the reservation to be "surplus". In 1892, the government opened such surplus land to settlement by non-Indians, attracting numerous European-American settlers and immigrants.  The area was designated as County F in the newly created [[Oklahoma Territory]], until it was renamed [[Roger Mills County, Oklahoma|Roger Mills County]].

In 1896, [[Greer County, Texas]] was transferred to the Oklahoma Territory and became [[Greer County, Oklahoma]], following a United States Supreme Court decision in the ''United States v. State of Texas'' boundary dispute case.
At statehood, portions of land from both Roger Mills and Greer County were joined to form Beckham County. Sayre was named as the temporary county seat. A 1908 election after statehood made [[Sayre, Oklahoma]] the permanent seat.<ref name="EOHC-BeckhamCo"/>

In 1910, a piece of southern Beckham County was returned to Greer County, Oklahoma.

The Gannett survey of 1927-1929 found that the true 100th Meridian, the boundary between Texas and western Oklahoma, was {{convert|3800|ft|m}} farther east than previously thought. The US Supreme Court ruled on March 17, 1930 that the strip of land must be returned to Texas, thereby reducing Beckham County's area slightly.<ref name="EOHC-BeckhamCo"/>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|904|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|902|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2.1|sqmi}} (0.2%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_40.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 18, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref> The county is drained by the [[North Fork of the Red River]] and its tributaries: the Timber, Sweetwater, and Buffalo creeks. The northwestern part of the county is part of the High Plains. The rest of the county is part of the Gypsum Hills physiographic region.<ref name="EOHC-BeckhamCo"/>

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
* [[Image:I-40 (OK).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 40 in Oklahoma|Interstate 40]]
* {{jct|state=OK|BL|40|US|66|dab1=Erick}}
* [[Image:US 283.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 283#Oklahoma|U.S. Highway 283]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 6.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 6 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 6]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 30.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 30 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 30]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 34.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 34 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 34]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 55.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 55 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 55]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 66.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 66 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 66]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 152.svg|25px]] [[State Highway 152 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 152]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
* [[Roger Mills County, Oklahoma|Roger Mills County]] (north)
* [[Custer County, Oklahoma|Custer County]] (northeast)
* [[Washita County, Oklahoma|Washita County]] (east)
* [[Kiowa County, Oklahoma|Kiowa County]] (southeast)
* [[Greer County, Oklahoma|Greer County]] (south)
* [[Harmon County, Oklahoma|Harmon County]] (southwest)
* [[Collingsworth County, Texas]] (west)
* [[Wheeler County, Texas]] (northwest)
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 19699
|1920= 18989
|1930= 28991
|1940= 22169
|1950= 21627
|1960= 17782
|1970= 15754
|1980= 19243
|1990= 18812
|2000= 19799
|2010= 22119
|2020= 22410
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 18, 2015}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=February 18, 2015}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ok190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=February 18, 2015}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=February 18, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/40/40009.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606151405/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/40/40009.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}
{{Stack|[[File:USA Beckham County, Oklahoma age pyramid.svg|thumb|Age pyramid for Beckham County, Oklahoma, based on census 2000 data.]]}}

As of the [[2010 United States census]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> there were 22,119 people, 8,163 households, and 5,485 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|24.5|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 9,647 housing units at an average density of {{convert|10.7|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 85% [[Race (United States Census)|white]], 4% [[Race (United States Census)|black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 2.8% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.8% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], less than 0.01% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 4.6% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.8% from two or more races. Twelve percent of the population was [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]]. By 2020, its population was 22,410.<ref name=":0" />

In 2010, there were 8,163 households, out of which 34.6% included children under the age of 18, 50.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.8% were non-families. Individuals living alone accounted for 27.6% of households and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.02. In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.1% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.4 years. For every 100 females there were 105 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,726, and the median income for a family was $57,316. Males had a median income of $42,470 versus $27,075 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $21,470. More than 12% of families and 15% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 26% of those under age 18 and 14.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Politics==
{| class=wikitable
! colspan = 6 | Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of May 31, 2023<ref>{{cite web |title=Voter Registration Totals |url=https://stats.okelections.us/ |website=OK Elections Interactive Statistics Beta |access-date=June 25, 2023 |date=May 31, 2023}}</ref>
|-
! colspan = 2 | Party
! Number of Voters
! Percentage
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| align = center | 2,300
| align = center | 20.09%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align = center | 7,328
| align = center | 64.01%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| Others
| align = center | 1,821
| align = center | 15.90%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | 11,449
! align = center | 100%
|}

{{PresHead|place=Beckham County, Oklahoma|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 28, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|6,474|1,093|111|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|6,767|1,048|133|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|6,308|960|284|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|5,508|1,417|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|5,772|1,625|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|5,454|1,931|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|4,067|2,408|57|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|2,912|2,797|842|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|2,913|2,947|1,960|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|3,463|3,388|64|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|5,005|2,601|48|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|3,637|3,298|178|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|2,351|4,530|54|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,472|1,608|155|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,935|2,354|1,550|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,557|4,115|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|4,258|2,721|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|3,194|3,561|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|4,504|3,972|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,310|4,544|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|2,034|3,608|15|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2,148|4,598|37|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,352|5,372|56|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|892|5,979|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,810|2,201|99|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|1,357|2,496|534|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|1,755|2,347|643|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|527|1,850|898|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|648|1,566|895|Oklahoma}}
{{PresFoot|1908|Democratic|866|1,807|515|Oklahoma}}

==Economy==
The county economy has been based mainly on farming and raising livestock. The major crops have been cotton, wheat, alfalfa, kafir, milo maize, and broomcorn. Mineral industries have occasionally been significant. In the early 20th century, there was some salt production. A limited amount of oil and gas production began in the 1920s.<ref name="EOHC-BeckhamCo"/>

== Public Libraries ==
Oklahoma’s first public library was in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Guthrie and Oklahoma City both opened libraries in 1901. This was the beginning of many libraries being established in Oklahoma.<blockquote>“Generally, most public libraries in Oklahoma were instigated by women's clubs. In addition, civic leagues, men's clubs, and ministers helped communities to fund and furnish libraries. Initially, small collections of reading material were housed in city halls, courthouses, business establishments such as furniture stores and newspaper offices, and churches until a public library building could be erected. At 1907 statehood Oklahoma had seventeen publicly accessible libraries. The number rose to forty-nine in 1922 to seventy in 1937."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Linda |date=28 April 2025 |title=The encyclopedia of Oklahoma history and culture |url=https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=PU008 |access-date=28 April 2025 |website=Oklahoma historical Society}}</ref></blockquote>Beckham County has three public libraries: Erick Public Library, [https://sayre.lib.ok.us/ Sayre Public Library], and [https://www.elkcity.com/category/library/ Elk City Carnegie Library].

=== History of Elk City Carnegie Public Library ===
On February 24, Mrs. John Scott, who had accepted chairmanship as president for the Elk City Library Association, held a meeting. The local Presbyterian Church of Elk City had been running a Sunday School library for many years that eventually led to the association being established. The Elk City Carnegie Library originally opened by renting a room in the back of the local bank building. Two hundred and fifty books had been donated, a librarian hired, and the library was able to hold open hours with the assistance of two Association members. Monthly subscriptions covered by local businesses maintained the library. By the second anniversary of the library, the Association requested obtaining a Carnegie building. On October 11, 1915, the new library building was opened through the gift of $10,000 from the Carnegie Corporation. The library has served as “a cultural and educational center."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Oklahoma Library Association. |first= |title=Oklahoma Libraries 1900-1937 |publisher=Oklahoma Library Commission |year=1937}}</ref> Today, the library continues to serve the community.

==Communities==

===Cities===
* [[Elk City, Oklahoma|Elk City]]
* [[Erick, Oklahoma|Erick]]
* [[Sayre, Oklahoma|Sayre]] (county seat)

===Towns===
* [[Carter, Oklahoma|Carter]]
* [[Sweetwater, Oklahoma|Sweetwater]] (partially in [[Roger Mills County, Oklahoma|Roger Mills County]])
* [[Texola, Oklahoma|Texola]]

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Delhi, Oklahoma|Delhi]]
* [[Hext, Oklahoma|Hext]]
* [[Mayfield, Oklahoma|Mayfield]]
* [[Retrop, Oklahoma|Retrop]]

==Education==
School districts include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40009_beckham/DC20SD_C40009.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Beckham County, OK|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-10-13}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40009_beckham/DC20SD_C40009_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Canute Public Schools]]
* [[Elk City Public Schools]]
* [[Erick Public Schools]]
* [[Hammon Public Schools]]
* [[Mangum Public Schools]]
* [[Merritt Public Schools]]
* [[Sayre Public Schools]]
* [[Sentinel Public Schools]]
* [[Sweetwater Public Schools]]
{{div col end}}

==NRHP sites==
{{Main|National Register of Historic Places listings in Beckham County, Oklahoma}}
The following sites in Beckham County are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]:
{|
|----- valign="top"
|
* [[Edwards Archaeological Site]], Carter
* [[Casa Grande Hotel (Elk City, Oklahoma)|Casa Grande Hotel]], Elk City
* [[Hedlund Motor Company Building]], Elk City
* [[Storm House]], Elk City
* [[Whited Grist Mill]], Elk City
* [[First National Bank (Erick, Oklahoma)]], Erick
* [[West Winds Motel]], Erick
* [[Beckham County Courthouse]], Sayre
|
* [[Sayre Champlin Service Station]], Sayre
* [[Sayre City Park]], Sayre
* [[J. W. Danner House]], Sayre
* [[Sayre Downtown Historic District]], Sayre
* [[Sayre Rock Island Depot]], Sayre
* [[Magnolia Service Station]], Texola
|}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=BE008 Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Beckham County]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121024013411/http://www.library.okstate.edu/okmaps/ Oklahoma Digital Maps: Digital Collections of Oklahoma and Indian Territory]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre = Beckham County
|North=[[Roger Mills County, Oklahoma|Roger Mills County]]
|Northeast=[[Custer County, Oklahoma|Custer County]]
|East=[[Washita County, Oklahoma|Washita County]]
|Southeast=[[Kiowa County, Oklahoma|Kiowa County]]
|South=[[Greer County, Oklahoma|Greer County]]<br />[[Harmon County, Oklahoma|Harmon County]]
|Southwest=[[Collingsworth County, Texas]]
|West=[[Wheeler County, Texas]]
}}
{{Beckham County, Oklahoma}}
{{NRHP in Beckham County, Oklahoma}}
{{Oklahoma}}
{{Authority control}}

{{coord|35.26|-99.69|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-OK_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Beckham County, Oklahoma| ]]
[[Category:1907 establishments in Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1907]]