Editing Choctaw County, Oklahoma

{{short description|County in Oklahoma, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Choctaw, Oklahoma}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Choctaw County
 | state                = Oklahoma
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1907
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = Hugo
 | largest city wl      = Hugo
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 800
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 770
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 29
 | area percentage      = 3.7%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 14204
 | census estimate yr   = 
 | pop                  = 
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | ex image             = Choctaw county ok courthouse.jpg
 | ex image size        = 250
 | ex image cap         = The Choctaw County Courthouse in Hugo.
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = 
 | named for            = 
 | district             = 2nd
}}

'''Choctaw County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Oklahoma]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 14,204.<ref>{{cite web|title=Choctaw County, Oklahoma|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Choctaw_County,_Oklahoma?g=050XX00US40023|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 11, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Hugo, Oklahoma|Hugo]].<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/20150509170006/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 9, 2015 }}</ref>

Formerly part of the [[Choctaw Nation]] in [[Indian Territory]], this county was reorganized and redefined in 1907, at the time of Oklahoma statehood. According to the ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'', the name is derived from ''Chahta'', the mythical founder of the Choctaw people.<ref name="EOHC-ChoctawCo">Milligan, James C. [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CH051 "Choctaw County,"] ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'', 2009. Accessed March 28, 2015.</ref> It is part of the area of jurisdiction of the [[Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma]].

==History==
The [[Choctaw Nation]] moved into the area now occupied by Choctaw County in 1831–1832, as a result of their forcible removal from their homeland in the Southeastern United States, under the [[Indian Removal Act]]. The US wanted to extinguish Native American land claims in the Southeast to enable development by European Americans. It offered land in exchange in [[Indian Territory]].

The U.S. Army had already established [[Fort Towson]] in the western area in 1824, and took on the mission of protecting the newcomers from other tribes. In 1837, the [[Chickasaw]] were also removed, and settled the area around [[Doaksville, Choctaw Nation|Doaksville]], which was adjacent to the fort. Both the town of Fort Towson and Doaksville served as the capital of the Choctaw Nation. Doaksville became a ghost town after the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]. In 1848, the Presbyterian church established a mission, which still exists and is now known as [[Goodland Academy]].<ref name="EOHC-ChoctawCo"/>

The [[St. Louis and San Francisco Railway]] built a line through the town of Hugo in 1902, stimulating commercial development of the town as a regional center. Before statehood, the area of Choctaw County was part of [[Jackson County, Choctaw Nation|Jackson]], [[Kiamitia County|Kiamichi]], [[Cedar County, Choctaw Nation|Cedar]], and [[Towson County, Choctaw Nation|Towson]] counties, Choctaw Nation. It included two of the three provinces, or districts, comprising the Choctaw Nation: the [[Apukshunnubbee District]] and the [[Pushmataha District]].<ref>Morris, John W.  ''Historical Atlas of Oklahoma'' (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1986), plate 38.</ref>

As the end of the [[Indian Territory]] drew near, tribal citizens and other inhabitants organized an effort for the territory to be admitted to the Union as a state. The [[State of Sequoyah]], which they proposed, divided the territories of the five tribes into counties. Hugo was designated as the county seat of [[Hitchcock County, Sequoyah|Hitchcock County]]. Although neither Congress nor the president were interested in admitting Sequoyah as a state, the county boundaries proposed for Sequoyah were in some cases adopted for counties in the future state of Oklahoma.

In southeastern Oklahoma, the future Choctaw County's boundaries were generally those of Hitchcock County, Sequoyah. Similarly, boundaries proposed for [[Pushmataha County, Sequoyah]] served, in general, as the boundaries for [[Pushmataha County, Oklahoma]]. And [[McCurtain County, Oklahoma]] generally follows the boundaries proposed for McCurtain County, Sequoyah. Both counties are adjacent to and share boundaries with Choctaw County.<ref>Edwin C. McReynolds, ''Historical Atlas of Oklahoma'', 1965; Amos Maxwell, ''The Sequoyah Constitutional Convention'', 1953.</ref>

When Oklahoma became a state in 1907, Choctaw County was created and Hugo was named as the county seat.<ref name="EOHC-ChoctawCo"/>

===Recent events===
In October 2011 the [[U.S. Navy]] announced plans to honor Choctaw County with the naming of a ship. The [[Joint High Speed Vessel]] (JHSV) will simultaneously honor the three American counties named Choctaw County, in the states of Alabama, Mississippi, and Oklahoma.  "I grew up in Choctaw County, Miss., where people work hard to raise their families and provide for their children," Secretary of the Navy [[Ray Mabus]] said in announcing the plan. "I chose to name JHSV after Choctaw County to honor those men and women who represent rural America."  USNS ''Choctaw County'' will bear hull number JHSV-2.<ref>Ronald O'Rourke, "Navy Ship Names: Background for Congress," pp. 5-6. October 7, 2011. Congressional Research Service. This report is quoting U.S. Department of Defense news release 859-11, "Navy Names New Joint High Speed Vessel," dated October 6, 2011, accessed on October 6, 2011, at [https://web.archive.org/web/20111018131125/http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=14846].</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Hugo March 2016 45 (Hugo Lake).jpg|thumb|[[Hugo Lake]]]]
[[Image:ChoctawCounty1909.jpg|thumb|250px|Map of Choctaw County, 1909]]
Choctaw County is in southeastern Oklahoma, in a 10-county area designated for tourism purposes by the [[Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation]] as [[Choctaw Country]].<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 [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|800|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|770|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|29|sqmi}} (3.7%) 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 major streams in the county are the [[Kiamichi River]], the [[Muddy Boggy Creek|Muddy Boggy River]] and the [[Clear Boggy Creek|Clear Boggy River]], which all drain into the [[Red River of the South|Red River]]. Lakes include [[Hugo Lake]], on the Kiamichi River, and [[Raymond Gary Lake]].<ref name="EOHC-ChoctawCo"/> Choctaw County is the only documented part of Oklahoma, together with [[McCurtain County, Oklahoma|McCurtain County]], located within the natural range of the [[American alligator]].<ref name="ecology">{{cite web|year=2005 |url=http://www.travelok.com/about/StudentGuide.pdf |title=A Look at Oklahoma: A Student's Guide |publisher=State of Oklahoma |access-date=August 14, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061230052128/http://www.travelok.com/about/StudentGuide.pdf |archive-date=December 30, 2006 }}</ref>

===Major highways===
* [[Image:US 70.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 70 in Oklahoma|U.S. Highway 70]]
* [[Image:US 271.svg|23px]] [[U.S. Route 271#Oklahoma|U.S. Highway 271]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 93.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 93 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 93]]
* [[Image:Indian Nation Turnpike.svg|20px]] [[Indian Nation Turnpike]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Pushmataha County, Oklahoma|Pushmataha County]] (north)
* [[McCurtain County, Oklahoma|McCurtain County]] (east)
* [[Red River County, Texas]] (southeast)
* [[Lamar County, Texas]] (south)
* [[Bryan County, Oklahoma|Bryan County]] (west)
* [[Atoka County, Oklahoma|Atoka County]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 21862
|1920= 32144
|1930= 24142
|1940= 28358
|1950= 20405
|1960= 15637
|1970= 15141
|1980= 17203
|1990= 15302
|2000= 15342
|2010= 15205
|2020= 14204
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2010s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals: 2010-2019|accessdate=February 9, 2021}}{{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/40/40023.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606151609/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/40/40023.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[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> of 2000, there were 15,342 people, 6,220 households, and 4,285 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|20|/mi2|/km2|0|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 7,539 housing units at an average density of {{convert|10|/mi2|/km2|0|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 68.55% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 10.94% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 14.96% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.16% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.48% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 4.90% from two or more races. 1.60% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 97.1% spoke [[English language|English]], 1.6% [[Spanish language|Spanish]] and 1.3% [[Choctaw language|Choctaw]] as their first language.

There were 6,220 households, out of which 30.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.30% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.10% were non-families. 28.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.00% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 24.70% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 17.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 90.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $22,743, and the median income for a family was $28,331. Males had a median income of $25,777 versus $18,805 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $12,296. About 20.40% of families and 24.30% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 32.50% of those under age 18 and 21.70% of those age 65 or over.

==Life expectancy and health==
Of 3,142 counties in the United States in 2014, the [[Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation]] ranked Choctaw County 2,992 in the average life expectancy at birth of male residents and 3,081 in the life expectancy of female residents, among the lowest life expectancies of Oklahoma counties and among the lowest life expectancy for all counties. Males in Choctaw County lived an average of 70.8 years and females lived an average of 75.9 years compared to the national average for life expectancy of 76.7 for males and 81.5 for females.<ref name="Choctaw County">{{cite web |title=County Profiles: Choctaw County, Oklahoma |url=http://www.healthdata.org/sites/default/files/files/county_profiles/US/2015/County_Report_Choctaw_County_Oklahoma.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221010/http://www.healthdata.org/sites/default/files/files/county_profiles/US/2015/County_Report_Choctaw_County_Oklahoma.pdf |archive-date=October 10, 2022 |url-status=live 
 |website=Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation |publisher=University of Washington |access-date=December 28, 2020}}</ref>

In the 1980-2014 period, the average life expectancy in Choctaw County for females declined by 0.8 years while male longevity increased by 3.7 years compared to the national average for the same period of an increased life expectancy of 4.0 years for women and 6.7 years for men. Choctaw County ranked in the worst performing 10 percent of all counties. High rates of smoking and obesity for both sexes and a low level of physical activity for males appear to be contributing factors to the relatively short life expectancy.<ref>{{cite web |title=US Health Map |url=https://vizhub.healthdata.org/subnational/usa |website=Institute of Health Metrics and Evaulation |publisher=University of Washington |access-date=December 28, 2020}}</ref>

In 2020, the [[Robert Wood Johnson Foundation]] ranked Choctaw country as last of 77 counties in Oklahoma in "health outcomes," as measured by length and quality of life.<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 Oklahoma Report |url=https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/oklahoma/2020/rankings/seminole/county/outcomes/overall/snapshot |website=Robert Wood Johnson Foundation |access-date=December 27, 2020}}</ref>

==Politics==
Home to a significant [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] population, the county has voted heavily Republican in every presidential election since 2004. The GOP has won well over 70% of the vote in the county in every election since 2012, and topped out at 80.6% for [[Donald Trump]] in 2020.

{| 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|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align = center | 4,300
| align = center | 49.66%
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| align = center | 3,100
| align = center | 35.80%
|-
| {{party color cell|Libertarian Party (United States)}}
| [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
| align = center | 38
| align = center | 0.44%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| Unaffiliated 
| align = center | 1,221
| align = center | 14.10%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | 8,659
! align = center | 100%
|}

{{PresHead|place=Choctaw 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|4,633|944|62|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|4,698|1,082|52|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|4,206|1,067|153|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|3,572|1,494|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|3,730|1,860|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|3,168|2,639|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|2,461|2,799|55|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|1,580|3,198|601|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,641|3,413|1,323|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|2,217|3,362|20|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,155|2,801|31|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|2,394|3,507|108|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,821|4,269|50|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,399|1,798|81|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|1,414|2,268|1,751|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,718|3,969|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|2,531|2,941|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|2,206|3,469|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|2,251|4,260|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,036|4,750|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,404|4,358|13|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2,365|5,177|19|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,269|4,624|17|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,040|4,908|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|2,541|2,581|30|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|2,013|2,528|737|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|2,094|2,531|283|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|957|1,945|627|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|692|1,392|725|Oklahoma}}
{{PresFoot|1908|Democratic|878|1,038|319|Oklahoma}}

==Economy==
Agriculture, ranching and lumber have been the mainstays of the county economy since statehood. In 1910, cotton was the main crop. By 1930, the local agriculture industry had diversified to include corn, oats, prairie hay, and peanuts. At the start of the 21st century, soybeans, vegetables, and corn were the main crops. Retail businesses and health care were the largest employers.<ref name="EOHC-ChoctawCo"/>

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

===Towns===
* [[Boswell, Oklahoma|Boswell]]
* [[Fort Towson, Oklahoma|Fort Towson]]
* [[Sawyer, Oklahoma|Sawyer]]
* [[Soper, Oklahoma|Soper]]

===Census-designated places===
* [[Grant, Oklahoma|Grant]]
* [[Swink, Oklahoma|Swink]]

===Other unincorporated places===
{{div col}}
* [[Apple, Oklahoma|Apple]]
* [[Fallon, Oklahoma|Fallon]]
* [[Frogville, Oklahoma|Frogville]]
* [[Gay, Oklahoma|Gay]]
* [[Hamden, Oklahoma|Hamden]]
* [[Messer, Oklahoma|Messer]]
* [[Nelson, Oklahoma|Nelson]]
* [[Rufe, Oklahoma|Rufe]]
* [[Spencerville, Oklahoma|Spencerville]]
{{div col end}}

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

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

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.hugook.com/choctaw-county-government-offices/ Hugo and Choctaw County: Official Website]
* [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CH051 Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Choctaw 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    = Choctaw County
|North     = [[Pushmataha County, Oklahoma|Pushmataha County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[McCurtain County, Oklahoma|McCurtain County]]
|Southeast = [[Red River County, Texas]]
|South     = [[Lamar County, Texas]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Bryan County, Oklahoma|Bryan County]]
|Northwest = [[Atoka County, Oklahoma|Atoka County]]
}}
{{Choctaw County, Oklahoma}}
{{Oklahoma}}
{{authority control}}
{{coord|34.03|-95.55|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-OK_source:UScensus1990}}

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