Editing Carter County, Oklahoma

{{short description|County in Oklahoma, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Carter, Oklahoma}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county        = Carter County
 | state              = Oklahoma
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1907
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl             = Ardmore
 | largest city wl     = Ardmore
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 834
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 822
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 12
 | area percentage      = 1.4%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 48003 {{gain}}
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       =  
 | density_sq_mi        = 58
 | time zone           = Central
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = http://cartercountyok.us
 | named for     = Ben W. Carter
 | ex image             = Ardmore July 2018 02 (Carter County Courthouse).jpg
 | ex image cap         = Carter County Courthouse in Ardmore
 | district             = 4th }}

'''Carter 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 48,003.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=Carter County, Oklahoma|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Carter_County,_Oklahoma?g=050XX00US40019|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 11, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Ardmore, Oklahoma|Ardmore]].<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> The county was named for Captain Ben W. Carter, a [[Cherokee]] who lived among the Chickasaw.<ref name="EOHC-CarterCo">O'Dell, Larry. [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CA065 "Carter County,"] ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'', 2009. Accessed March 28, 2015.</ref> Carter County is part of the [[Ardmore micropolitan area|Ardmore Micropolitan Statistical Area]]. It is also a part of the [[Texoma]] region.

==History==
Prior to statehood, the present Carter County, Oklahoma, was part of [[Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation|Pickens County]] in the [[Chickasaw Nation]] of the [[Indian Territory]].<ref>Charles Goins, ''Historical Atlas of Oklahoma'' (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2006), plate 105.</ref>

After the Civil War, the government of the United States forced the Chickasaw government to allow railroads built across its territory. The Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway (controlled by the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]], AT&SF) built a line north from Texas to [[Purcell, Oklahoma|Purcell]].

In 1901-1903 the Arkansas and Choctaw Railway (acquired by the [[St. Louis and San Francisco Railway]] in 1907) built a line from Arkansas to Ardmore. Oil production spurred further railroad development. In 1913–14, the Oklahoma, New Mexico and Pacific Railway constructed a line from Ardmore west to Ringling. In 1916, the Ringling and Oil Fields Railway laid tracks north from Ringling Junction to Healdton. These last two rail lines were abandoned in 1976.<ref name="EOHC-CarterCo"/>

Oil and gas production began very early in the 20th century. The Healdton field opened in 1913, and led to the development of Ardmore as a major oil production center. However, a disastrous fire occurred in Ardmore in 1915, when a railroad car exploded, killing 43 people and destroying much of the downtown. Ardmore and the local oil industry recovered, and the city also became a manufacturing center. Akron Tire and Rubber Company built and operated a plant in Ardmore as early as 1915. In 1970, Uniroyal built a tire plant there. It was acquired by Michelin North America in 1990. By the start of the 21st century, manufacturing was the largest component of the county economy.<ref name="EOHC-CarterCo"/>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|834|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|822|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|12|sqmi}} (1.4%) 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 contains parts of several physiographic regions, including the [[Arbuckle Mountains]], the [[Gulf Coastal Plain|Coastal Plains]], the [[Red Beds of Texas and Oklahoma|Red Bed]] plains and the [[Cross Timbers]]. The northern part of the county drains to the [[Washita River]], while several creeks drain the southern part directly to the [[Red River of the South|Red River]].<ref name="EOHC-CarterCo"/>

===Geology===
The Healdton Field, encompassing Healdton and located in the western portion of Carter County, produces from the [[Pennsylvanian (geology)|Pennsylvanian]] Healdton sands of the Hoxbar Group and the [[Ordovician]] massive carbonate Arbuckle Group.<ref>Latham, J.W., Petroleum Geology of Healdton Field, Carter County, Oklahoma, in AAPG Memoir 14, Geology of Giant Petroleum Fields, Halbouty, M.T., editor, Tulsa: American Association of Petroleum Geologists, p. 255</ref>  The field is located on the "Healdton uplift", a northwest–southeast trending [[anticline]], which formed with the [[Wichita Orogeny]], and is 8 miles long and up to 3 miles wide.<ref>Latham, J.W., Petroleum Geology of Healdton Field, Carter County, Oklahoma, in AAPG Memoir 14, Geology of Giant Petroleum Fields, Halbouty, M.T., editor, Tulsa: American Association of Petroleum Geologists, pp. 256-257</ref>  This was followed by deposition of the Healdton [[sandstone]]s and [[shale]]s on pre-Pennsylvanian eroded rocks and subsequent folding during the Arbuckle Orogeny.<ref>Latham, J.W., Petroleum Geology of Healdton Field, Carter County, Oklahoma, in AAPG Memoir 14, Geology of Giant Petroleum Fields, Halbouty, M.T., editor, Tulsa: American Association of Petroleum Geologists, pp. 255-256</ref>  A prospector named Palmer drilled a shallow well, 425 feet, near an oil seep in the 1890s but Federal Law prohibited oil development on "Indian lands" until the early 1900s.<ref name="Latham, J.W. p. 256">Latham, J.W., Petroleum Geology of Healdton Field, Carter County, Oklahoma, in AAPG Memoir 14, Geology of Giant Petroleum Fields, Halbouty, M.T., editor, Tulsa: American Association of Petroleum Geologists, p. 256</ref>  Therefore, the discovery of the field is credited to the drilling of No. 1 Wirt Franklin in 1913.<ref name="Latham, J.W. p. 256"/>

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Image:I-35 (OK).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 35 in Oklahoma|Interstate 35]]
* [[Image:US 70.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 70 in Oklahoma|U.S. Highway 70]]
* [[Image:US 70A.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 70A (Oklahoma)|U.S. Highway 70A]]
* [[Image:US 77.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 77 in Oklahoma|U.S. Highway 77]]
* [[Image:US 177.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 177 in Oklahoma|U.S. Highway 177]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 7.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 7 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 7]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 53.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 53 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 53]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 74.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 74 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 74]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 76.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 76 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 76]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 77S.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 77S (Oklahoma)|State Highway 77S]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 142.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 142 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 142]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 199.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 199 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 199]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Garvin County, Oklahoma|Garvin County]] (north)
* [[Murray County, Oklahoma|Murray County]] (northeast)
* [[Johnston County, Oklahoma|Johnston County]] (east)
* [[Marshall County, Oklahoma|Marshall County]] (southeast)
* [[Love County, Oklahoma|Love County]] (south)
* [[Jefferson County, Oklahoma|Jefferson County]] (southwest)
* [[Stephens County, Oklahoma|Stephens County]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 25358
|1920= 40247
|1930= 41419
|1940= 43292
|1950= 36455
|1960= 39044
|1970= 37349
|1980= 43610
|1990= 42919
|2000= 45621
|2010= 47557
|2020= 48003
|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/40/40019.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606151520/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/40/40019.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}
{{Stack|[[File:USA Carter County, Oklahoma age pyramid.svg|thumb|Age pyramid for Carter County, Oklahoma, based on census 2000 data.]]}}

As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 45,621 people, 17,992 households, and 12,648 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|55|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 20,577 housing units at an average density of {{convert|25|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 77.4% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 7.60% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 7.92% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.60% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.13% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 4.45% from two or more races; 2.78% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. According to the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 48,003.<ref name=":0" />

As of 2000, there were 17,992 households, out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.50% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 26.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.20% 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 26.20% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 16.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.00 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $29,405, and the median income for a family was $36,729. Males had a median income of $30,018 versus $20,877 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $15,511. About 12.70% of families and 16.60% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 21.70% of those under age 18 and 12.40% of those age 65 or over. Per 2021 census estimates, the county's median household income was $52,906 and it had a poverty rate of 14.2%.<ref name=":0" />

==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 | 8,419
| align = center | 28.07%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align = center | 15,656
| align = center | 52.20%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| Others
| align = center | 5,919
| align = center | 19.73%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | 29,994
! align = center | 100%
|}

{{PresHead|place=Carter 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|14,945|4,277|266|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|14,699|4,470|310|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|13,752|4,002|780|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|12,214|4,908|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|13,241|5,603|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|12,178|6,466|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|9,667|6,659|132|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|6,769|6,979|2,056|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|5,947|7,171|5,250|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|8,430|7,988|117|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|11,578|6,161|83|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|9,262|6,509|383|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|6,668|8,319|83|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|9,368|4,577|161|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|5,127|5,807|3,414|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|4,986|10,645|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|6,288|8,441|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|5,974|9,341|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|5,974|10,276|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|2,147|9,474|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|2,446|9,184|24|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|3,270|10,441|35|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,247|9,387|35|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,733|9,633|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|6,538|5,086|92|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|3,164|7,134|564|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|3,561|5,997|575|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,013|2,949|946|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|652|1,860|709|Oklahoma}}
{{PresFoot|1908|Democratic|1,305|2,181|594|Oklahoma}}

==Communities==

===Cities===
* [[Ardmore, Oklahoma|Ardmore]] (county seat)
* [[Healdton, Oklahoma|Healdton]]
* [[Lone Grove, Oklahoma|Lone Grove]]
* [[Wilson, Oklahoma|Wilson]]

===Towns===
* [[Dickson, Oklahoma|Dickson]]
* [[Gene Autry, Oklahoma|Gene Autry]]
* [[Ratliff City, Oklahoma|Ratliff City]]
* [[Springer, Oklahoma|Springer]]
* [[Tatums, Oklahoma|Tatums]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
* [[Alpers, Oklahoma|Alpers]]
* [[Baum, Oklahoma|Baum]]
* [[Brock, Oklahoma|Brock]]
* [[Caldwell Hill, Oklahoma|Caldwell Hill]]
* [[Cheek, Oklahoma|Cheek]]
* [[Clemscott, Oklahoma|Clemscott]]
* [[Countyline, Oklahoma|Countyline]]
* [[Dillard, Oklahoma|Dillard]]
* [[Dripping Springs, Carter County, Oklahoma|Dripping Springs]]
* [[Dundee, Oklahoma|Dundee]]
* [[Durwood, Oklahoma|Durwood]]
* [[Fox, Oklahoma|Fox]]
* [[Glenn, Oklahoma|Glenn]]
* [[Graham, Oklahoma|Graham]]
* [[Hewitt, Oklahoma|Hewitt]]
* [[Milo, Oklahoma|Milo]]
* [[Newport, Oklahoma|Newport]]
* [[Oil City, Oklahoma|Oil City]]
* [[Old Scott, Oklahoma|Old Scott]]
* [[Pooleville, Oklahoma|Pooleville]]
* [[Post Oak, Oklahoma|Post Oak]]
* [[Provence, Oklahoma|Provence]]
* [[Pruitt City, Oklahoma|Pruitt City]]
* [[Reck, Oklahoma|Reck]]
* [[Rexroat, Oklahoma|Rexroat]]
* [[Tussy, Oklahoma|Tussy]]
* [[Wirt, Oklahoma|Wirt]]
* [[Woodford, Oklahoma|Woodford]]
* [[Zaneis, Oklahoma|Zaneis]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Carter County, Oklahoma]]

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

==External links==
* [http://www.blogoklahoma.us/place.aspx?id=636 Healdton: Oklahoma's First State-Regulated Oil Field]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041204021206/http://www.brightok.net/chickasaw/ardmore/county/ Carter County Government webpage]
* [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CA065 Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Carter 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    = Carter County
|North     = [[Garvin County, Oklahoma|Garvin County]]
|Northeast = [[Murray County, Oklahoma|Murray County]]
|East      = [[Johnston County, Oklahoma|Johnston County]]
|Southeast = [[Marshall County, Oklahoma|Marshall County]]
|South     = [[Love County, Oklahoma|Love County]]
|Southwest = [[Jefferson County, Oklahoma|Jefferson County]]
|West      =
|Northwest = [[Stephens County, Oklahoma|Stephens County]]
}}

{{Carter County, Oklahoma}}
{{NRHP in Carter County, Oklahoma}}
{{Oklahoma}}

{{coord|34.25|-97.29|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-OK_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Carter County, Oklahoma| ]]
[[Category:1907 establishments in Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1907]]
[[Category:Ardmore, Oklahoma micropolitan area]]