Editing Bryan County, Oklahoma

{{short description|County in Oklahoma, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Bryan County
 | state                = Oklahoma
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1907
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = Durant
 | largest city wl      = Durant
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 944
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 904
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 39
 | area percentage      = 4.2%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 46067
 | census estimate yr   = 
 | pop                  = 
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = 
 | named for            = 
 | ex image             = Durant June 2018 02 (Bryan County Courthouse).jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[Bryan County Courthouse (Oklahoma)|Bryan County Courthouse]]
 | district             = 2nd
}}

'''Bryan County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Oklahoma]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 46,067.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=Bryan County, Oklahoma|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Bryan_County,_Oklahoma?g=050XX00US40013|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 9, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Durant, Oklahoma|Durant]].<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/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> It is the only county in the United States named for Democratic politician [[William Jennings Bryan]].

Bryan County comprises the Durant, OK [[Micropolitan Statistical Area|micropolitan statistical area]], which is part of the [[Dallas-Fort Worth]] and the [[Texoma]] region, [[Texas|TX]]-OK [[Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex#Combined statistical area|combined statistical area]]. The city of Durant has the headquarters of the [[Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma]].

Bryan County consists of 10 [[List of Oklahoma townships|Townships]]: Albany, Bennington, Bokchito, Brown, Caddo, Calera, Colbert, Kemp, Matoy, and Speairs.<ref>[http://www.okgenweb.org/okprojects/township-name-index.html Oklahoma Townships]</ref>

==History==
[[Image:BryanCounty1909.jpg|thumb|250px|Map of Bryan County, 1909]]

The area now known as Bryan County was occupied by the Choctaw tribe in 1831–2. After the tribe reestablished its government in the Indian Territory, it included much of the area within [[Blue County, Choctaw Nation|Blue County]], a part of the [[Pushmataha District]] of the Choctaw Nation.<ref>Morris, John W.  ''Historical Atlas of Oklahoma'' (Norman: University of Oklahoma, 1986), plate 38.</ref>

In 1845, the tribe opened Armstrong Academy for boys near the community of [[Bokchito, Oklahoma|Bokchito]]. The academy served as [[Chahta Tamaha, Indian Territory|Chahta Tamaha]], the Choctaw capital, during the Civil War.

Bloomfield Academy, a school for [[Chickasaw]] girls, was opened in 1852, just south of the present town of [[Achille, Oklahoma|Achille]].<ref name="EOHC-Bryan">Milligan, James C. [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=BR028 "Bryan County,"] ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'', 2009. Accessed March 28, 2015.</ref>

Prior to the Chickasaw removal to Indian Territory, the [[Chickasaw]] tribe bought part of the Choctaw allocation. The western quarter of today's Bryan County was made part of the Chickasaw District in 1837. When the two tribes formally separated into two distinct nations in 1855, the Chickasaw District became the Chickasaw Nation.<ref name="EOHC-Bryan"/>

During the late 1850s, the Butterfield Overland Mail and Stage route followed the older Texas Road across the present county. General [[Albert Pike]] established [[Fort McCulloch]] for the Confederate Army near the present town of [[Kenefic, Oklahoma|Kenefic]] on the Blue River. Although no Civil War battles occurred in the vicinity, the fort was garrisoned by more than a thousand Indian troops whose leaders were allied with the Confederates.<ref name="EOHC-Bryan"/>

After the [[Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway]] (Katy) built a north–south line through this area in 1872, several new towns were created. One such town was Colbert, which became the seat of Blue County and the largest town in the Choctaw Nation. The St. Louis, San Francisco and New Orleans Railroad, later bought by the [[St. Louis and San Francisco Railway]] (Frisco), built an east–west line in 1903.<ref name="EOHC-Bryan"/>

Just prior to statehood, when all tribal governments were dissolved, Blue County was extinguished. Bryan County was officially established on November 16, 1907, and Durant was designated as the county seat.<ref name="EOHC-Bryan"/>

The Bridge War, also called the [[Red River Bridge War]] or the Toll Bridge War, was a 1931 bloodless boundary conflict between the U.S. states of Oklahoma and Texas over an existing toll bridge and a new free bridge crossing the Red River between [[Grayson County, Texas]] and Bryan County, Oklahoma.

==Geography==
[[File:State Highway 78 Bridge at the Red River.jpg|thumb|right|Aerial view of the State Highway No. 78 Bridge at the Red River]]

Bryan County is in southeastern Oklahoma, in a 10-county area designated as [[Choctaw Country]] for tourism purposes by the [[Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation]].<ref name="Department">{{cite web | url=https://www.travelok.com/maps | title= Counties & Regions | publisher= Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department (Travel Promotion Division) | access-date=February 5, 2019}}</ref>  According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|944|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|904|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|39|sqmi}} (4.2%) 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 in the Coastal Plains physiographic region, and is drained mostly by the [[Blue River (Oklahoma)|Blue River]]. The [[Washita River]] originally drained much of the western part of the county, but now empties into [[Lake Texoma]], which forms much of the southern boundary of the county.<ref name="EOHC-Bryan"/> The county is a major part of the [[Texoma]] region.

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
* [[Image:US 69.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 69 in Oklahoma|US-69]]
* [[Image:US 70.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 70 in Oklahoma|US-70]]
* [[Image:US 75.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 75 in Oklahoma|US-75]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 91.svg|20px]] [[Oklahoma State Highway 91|SH-91]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 70E.svg|20px]] [[Oklahoma State Highway 70E|SH-70E]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 48.svg|20px]] [[Oklahoma State Highway 48|SH-48]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 199.svg|20px]] [[Oklahoma State Highway 199|SH-199]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 78.svg|20px]] [[Oklahoma State Highway 78|SH-78]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Atoka County, Oklahoma|Atoka County]] (north)
* [[Choctaw County, Oklahoma|Choctaw County]] (east)
* [[Lamar County, Texas]] (southeast)
* [[Fannin County, Texas]] (south)
* [[Grayson County, Texas]] (southwest)
* [[Marshall County, Oklahoma|Marshall County]] (west)
* [[Johnston County, Oklahoma|Johnston County]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 29854
|1920= 40700
|1930= 32277
|1940= 38138
|1950= 28999
|1960= 24252
|1970= 25552
|1980= 30535
|1990= 32089
|2000= 36534
|2010= 42416
|2020= 46067
|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/40/40013.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606151419/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/40/40013.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}
{{Stack|[[File:USA Bryan County, Oklahoma age pyramid.svg|thumb|Age pyramid for Bryan County, Oklahoma, based on census 2000 data.]]}}

As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 36,534 people, 14,422 households, and 9,936 families residing in the county.<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> The [[population density]] was {{convert|40|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 16,715 housing units at an average density of {{convert|18|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 80.02% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 1.42% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 12.16% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.44% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.08% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 4.84% from two or more races; 2.65% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 28.4% were of [[United States|American]], 10.1% [[Irish people|Irish]], 8.1% [[German people|German]] and 6.7% [[English people|English]] ancestry. By 2020, its population grew to 46,067.<ref name=":0" />

In 2000, there were 14,422 households, out of which 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.00% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.10% were non-families. 26.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.98. In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.80% under the age of 18, 11.70% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.40 males.

According to the 2000 census, the median income for a household in the county was $27,888, and the median income for a family was $33,984. Males had a median income of $26,831 versus $20,087 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $14,217. About 14.00% of families and 18.40% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 21.40% of those under age 18 and 17.00% 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 | 7,171
| align = center | 28.11%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align = center | 13,829
| align = center | 54.21%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| Others
| align = center | 4,508
| align = center | 17.67%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | 25,508
! align = center | 100%
|}

{{PresHead|place=Bryan 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|13,999|3,569|244|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|12,344|3,323|309|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|10,478|2,804|536|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|9,520|3,681|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|9,307|4,426|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|8,615|5,745|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|6,084|5,554|108|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|3,943|5,962|1,430|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|3,452|6,259|3,757|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|4,615|6,849|37|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|6,246|5,475|48|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|3,980|6,410|192|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|2,848|7,410|35|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|5,397|3,144|177|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|2,727|3,214|2,264|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,652|5,934|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|3,845|4,428|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|2,939|5,729|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|3,340|6,739|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,366|7,748|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,677|7,180|17|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2,190|9,095|25|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,362|8,106|20|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|825|7,681|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|3,014|3,885|51|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|1,780|4,593|699|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|3,127|4,502|424|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,267|2,974|766|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|711|2,278|856|Oklahoma}}
{{PresFoot|1908|Democratic|1,044|2,215|479|Oklahoma}}

==Economy==
[[Agriculture]], [[tourism]], [[manufacturing]], and [[distribution (business)|distribution]] are bedrocks of the county's economy. Tourism attractions include [[Lake Texoma]], Lake Durant, the [[Choctaw Casino Resort]], [[Choctaw Casino Bingo]] and [[Fort Washita]].

Major employers in the region include the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, the headquarters of the J.C. Potter meat processing facility, Durant's Historic Central Business District and Retail District, a Cardinal Glass Industries manufacturing facility, AllianceHealth Durant,<ref>http://www.ok-durant.org/files/profiles/22/2017%20Major%20Employers-Durant.pdf {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref> a [[Big Lots]] distribution center, the headquarters of [[First United Bank]] and First Texoma National Bank, Indian Nation Wholesale, and Wal-Mart.

==Communities==
===City===
* [[Durant, Oklahoma|Durant]] (county seat)

===Towns===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Achille, Oklahoma|Achille]]
* [[Armstrong, Oklahoma|Armstrong]]
* [[Bennington, Oklahoma|Bennington]]
* [[Bokchito, Oklahoma|Bokchito]]
* [[Caddo, Oklahoma|Caddo]]
* [[Calera, Oklahoma|Calera]]
* [[Colbert, Oklahoma|Colbert]]
* [[Hendrix, Oklahoma|Hendrix]]
* [[Kemp, Oklahoma|Kemp]]
* [[Kenefic, Oklahoma|Kenefic]]
* [[Mead, Oklahoma|Mead]]
* [[Silo, Oklahoma|Silo]]
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated places===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Albany, Oklahoma|Albany]]
* [[Blue, Oklahoma|Blue]]
* [[Cartwright, Oklahoma|Cartwright]]
* [[Platter, Oklahoma|Platter]]
* [[Sand Point, Oklahoma|Sand Point]]
* [[Utica, Oklahoma|Utica]]
{{div col end}}

===Other unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Allison, Oklahoma|Allison]]
* [[Banty, Oklahoma|Banty]]
* [[Brown, Oklahoma|Brown]]
* [[Cade, Oklahoma|Cade]]
* [[Cobb, Oklahoma|Cobb]]
* [[Kiersey, Oklahoma|Kiersey]]
* [[Romia, Oklahoma|Romia]]
* [[Roberta, Oklahoma|Roberta]]
* [[Yarnaby, Oklahoma|Yarnaby]]
* [[Yuba, Oklahoma|Yuba]]
{{div col end}}

==NRHP sites==
{{Main|National Register of Historic Places listings in Bryan County, Oklahoma}}

The following sites in Bryan county are on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].

{|
|----- valign="top"
|
* [[Bloomfield Academy (Oklahoma)|Bloomfield Academy Site]], Achille vicinity
* [[Armstrong Academy Site]], Bokchito vicinity
* [[Caddo Community Building]], Caddo
* [[Colbert's Ferry|Colbert's Ferry Site]], Colbert vicinity
* [[Durant, Oklahoma|Durant Downtown Historic District]], Durant
* [[Bryan County Courthouse (Durant, Oklahoma)|Bryan County Courthouse]], Durant
* [[Robert E. Lee School (Durant, Oklahoma)|Robert E. Lee School]], Durant
* [[Oklahoma Presbyterian College]], Durant

|
* [[Robert Lee Williams Public Library]], Durant
* [[J. L. Wilson Building]], Durant
* [[Fisher's Station|Carriage Point (Fisher's Station)]], Durant
* [[Roberta School Campus]], Durant
* [[State Highway No. 78 Bridge at the Red River]], Karma vicinity
* [[Fort McCulloch]], Kenefic vicinity
* [[Nail's Station]], Kenefic vicinity
* [[Fort Washita]], Nida vicinity
|}

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

==Further reading==
* Bryan County Heritage Association.  ''The History of Bryan County Oklahoma''. National ShareGraphics, 1983. 596.

==External links==
* [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=BR028 Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Bryan 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    = Bryan County
|North     = [[Atoka County, Oklahoma|Atoka County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Choctaw County, Oklahoma|Choctaw County]]
|Southeast = [[Lamar County, Texas]]
|South     = [[Fannin County, Texas]]
|Southwest = [[Grayson County, Texas]]
|West      = [[Marshall County, Oklahoma|Marshall County]]
|Northwest = [[Johnston County, Oklahoma|Johnston County]]
}}
{{Bryan County, Oklahoma}}
{{NRHP in Bryan County, Oklahoma}}
{{Oklahoma}}
{{authority control}}
{{coord|33.97|-96.25|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-OK_source:UScensus1990}}

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