Editing Craig County, Oklahoma

{{short description|County in Oklahoma, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county         = Craig County
 | state              = Oklahoma
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1907
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = Vinita
 | largest city wl      = Vinita
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 763
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 761
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 1.4
 | area percentage      = 0.2%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 14107
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2021
 | population_est       = 14115 {{gain}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone           = Central
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = 
 | named for   = Granville Craig
 | ex image             = Craig County Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Old Craig County Courthouse in [[Vinita, Oklahoma|Vinita]] (2010)
 | district             = 2nd }}

'''Craig County''' is a [[Counties of Oklahoma|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Oklahoma]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 14,107.<ref>{{cite web|title=Craig County, Oklahoma|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Craig_County,_Oklahoma?g=050XX00US40035|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 11, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Vinita, Oklahoma|Vinita]].<ref name="GR6">{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=[[National Association of Counties]]}}</ref> The county was organized in 1907, shortly before statehood, and named for Granville Craig, a prominent Cherokee farmer who lived in the [[Bluejacket, Oklahoma|Bluejacket]] area.<ref name = "EOHC-CraigCo">[http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CR001 Craig County Genealogical Society.  "Craig County,"  ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture''], Retrieved October 28, 2011.</ref>

==History==
In the early 1800s, this area was part of the hunting grounds of the [[Osage nation]] and other Plains tribes, some of whom had migrated west from other areas. Members of the [[Cherokee Nation]] began moving into the area during the 1830s, particularly after [[Indian Removal]] by the US government, which forced them on the "Trail of Tears" to west of the Mississippi River, when they were given land by the United States in exchange for their territory in the Southeast. The area was sparsely populated until after the Civil War. The [[Texas Road]] and the [[Shawnee Cattle Trail|East Shawnee Cattle Trail]], used for cattle drives from Texas, ran through the eastern part of the present-day Craig County.<ref name = "EOHC-CraigCo" />

Between 1867 and 1870, the U. S. government moved the [[Shawnee]] and [[Delaware]] tribes into this area from Kansas, another section of Indian Territory. Then the area was assigned as part of the Delaware and Cooweescoowee districts of the [[Cherokee Nation]], Indian Territory, after the US government had made new treaties with the tribes that had allied with the Confederacy during the Civil War.

In 1871, the federal government took Cherokee land for the [[Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad]] to construct a north–south railroad through this area, while the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad (later acquired by the [[St. Louis and San Francisco Railway]]) was allowed to build an east–west line that ran through Vinita in the same year. This line was extended through [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]] in 1881–2.<ref name = "EOHC-CraigCo" />

Coal mining began in this area after the Civil War. Mine companies used both tunnel and strip mines, but they did not begin major production until about 1900. Production has continued into the 21st century.

Other resource exploitation was based on oil, and the first oil refinery began operations by 1911; it was operated by [[Sinclair Oil]] until the 1920s. Otherwise, farming and ranching were the mainstays of the county economy.<ref name = "EOHC-CraigCo" />

The county was organized in 1907, at the Oklahoma Statehood Convention. It was named for Granville Craig, a prominent Cherokee farmer of [[mixed race]] who had property near Bluejacket.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|763|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|761|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.4|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 19, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref> The county lies in the Osage Plains, on the western edge of the [[Ozark Plateau]], and drains into several tributaries of the [[Neosho River]].<ref name = "EOHC-CraigCo" />

===Major highways===
{|
|
* [[Image:I-44 (OK).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 44 in Oklahoma|Interstate 44]]
* [[Image:US 59.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 59 in Oklahoma|U.S. Highway 59]]
* [[Image:US 60.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 60 in Oklahoma|U.S. Highway 60]]
* [[Image:US 69.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 69 in Oklahoma|U.S. Highway 69]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 2.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 2 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 2]]
|
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 10.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 10 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 10]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 25.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 25 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 25]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 66.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 66 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 66]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 82.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 82 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 82]]
|}

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Labette County, Kansas]] (north)
* [[Cherokee County, Kansas]] (northeast)
* [[Ottawa County, Oklahoma|Ottawa County]] (east)
* [[Delaware County, Oklahoma|Delaware County]] (southeast)
* [[Mayes County, Oklahoma|Mayes County]] (south)
* [[Rogers County, Oklahoma|Rogers County]] (southwest)
* [[Nowata County, Oklahoma|Nowata County]] (west)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 17404
|1920= 19160
|1930= 18052
|1940= 21083
|1950= 18263
|1960= 16303
|1970= 14722
|1980= 15014
|1990= 14104
|2000= 14950
|2010= 15029
|2020= 14107
|estyear= 2021
|estimate= 14115
|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 19, 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 19, 2015|archive-date=August 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=dead}}</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 19, 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 19, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/40/40035.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606154511/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/40/40035.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}
{{Stack|[[File:USA Craig County, Oklahoma age pyramid.svg|thumb|Age pyramid for Craig County, Oklahoma, based on census 2000 data.]]}}

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 2006, there were 14,880 people, 5,620 households, and 3,945 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|20|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 6,459 housing units at an average density of {{convert|8|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 68.54% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 16.31% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 3.09% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.18% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.48% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 11.37% from two or more races. 1.20% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 5,620 households, out of which 30.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.80% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.90% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 16.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,997, and the median income for a family was $36,499. Males had a median income of $26,704 versus $20,082 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $16,539. About 10.90% of families and 13.70% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 17.30% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.

==Politics==
{| class=wikitable
! colspan = 6 | Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of June 30, 2023<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/20190115%20-%20Registration%20By%20County%20(vr2420).pdf|title=Oklahoma Registration Statistics by County|date=January 15, 2019|website=OK.gov|access-date=February 27, 2019|archive-date=July 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717212721/https://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/20190115%20-%20Registration%20By%20County%20(vr2420).pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
! colspan = 2 | Party
! Number of Voters
! Percentage
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| align = center | 2,743
| align = center | 33.36%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align = center | 4,416
| align = center | 53.71%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| Others
| align = center | 1,063
| align = center | 12.93%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | 8,222
! align = center | 100%
|}

{{PresHead|place=Craig 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|4,740|1,212|104|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|4,686|1,217|129|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|4,283|1,252|250|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|3,559|1,747|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|3,858|2,073|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|3,894|2,504|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|2,815|2,568|101|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|2,058|2,649|779|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|2,106|2,780|1,333|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|2,463|2,940|43|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,629|2,515|46|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,956|2,801|195|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|2,540|3,577|61|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,163|1,642|112|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,686|2,098|1,229|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,541|3,838|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|3,770|2,792|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|3,543|3,106|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|3,830|3,135|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|2,807|4,182|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|3,111|3,363|11|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|3,582|4,316|19|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,964|4,377|13|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,124|4,861|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,511|2,897|36|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|2,519|3,096|171|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,094|2,903|84|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,647|1,901|196|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,391|1,772|122|Oklahoma}}
{{PresFoot|1908|Democratic|1,296|1,578|62|Oklahoma}}

==Communities==
===Cities===
* [[Vinita, Oklahoma|Vinita]] (county seat)

===Towns===
* [[Big Cabin, Oklahoma|Big Cabin]]
* [[Bluejacket, Oklahoma|Bluejacket]]
* [[Ketchum, Oklahoma|Ketchum]]
* [[Welch, Oklahoma|Welch]]
* [[Langley, Oklahoma|Langley]]

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Centralia, Oklahoma|Centralia]]
* [[White Oak, Oklahoma|White Oak]] (a [[census-designated place]])

==Education==
Unified school districts include:<ref name=SDMap2020>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40035_craig/DC20SD_C40035.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Craig County, OK|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-10-12}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40035_craig/DC20SD_C40035_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Afton Public Schools]]
* [[Bluejacket Public Schools]]
* [[Chelsea Public Schools]]
* [[Ketchum Public Schools]]
* [[Vinita Public Schools]]
* [[Welch Public Schools]]
* [[White Oak Public Schools]] (has separate zones for K-8 only and for 9-12, and it only operates K-8 in-house)
{{div col end}}

There is one elementary school district, [[Cleora Public School]].<ref name=SDMap2020/>

The [[Big Cabin School District]] covered parts of the county until its 1992 dissolution. It merged into the Vinita school district.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1992/05/07/merger-of-schools-okd/62493841007/|title=Merger of Schools OK'd|newspaper=[[The Oklahoman]]|place=[[Oklahoma City, Oklahoma]]|date=1992-05-07|access-date=2024-10-12}}</ref>

==NRHP sites==
{{Main|National Register of Historic Places listings in Craig County, Oklahoma}}
The following sites in Craig County are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]:
* [[Craig County Courthouse]], Vinita
* [[First Methodist Episcopal Church, South (Vinita, Oklahoma)|First Methodist Episcopal Church, South]], Vinita
* [[Hotel Vinita]], Vinita
* [[McDougal Filling Station]], Vinita
* [[Randall Tire Company]], Vinita
* [[Spraker Service Station]], Vinita

== Notable people ==

* [[Shella Bowlin]], Cherokee government official and business executive<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-08-11 |title=Second-term cabinet nominees announced |url=https://www.cherokeephoenix.org/news/second-term-cabinet-nominees-announced/article_4d6d9812-37ff-11ee-8ec1-d7fb03fe7601.html |access-date=2024-09-14 |website=cherokeephoenix.org |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* "Craig County," Vertical File, Research Division, Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City.
* ''The Heritage of Craig County and Cooweescoowee and Delaware Districts, Indian Territory,'' Vol. 3 (Vinita, Okla.: Craig County Genealogical Society, 2000).
* ''The Story of Craig County: Its People and Places,'' 2 vols. (Vinita, Okla.: Craig County Heritage Association, 1984–1991).

==External links==
* [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CR001 Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Craig 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    = Craig County
|North     = [[Labette County, Kansas]]
|Northeast = [[Cherokee County, Kansas]]
|East      = [[Ottawa County, Oklahoma|Ottawa County]]
|Southeast = [[Delaware County, Oklahoma|Delaware County]]
|South     = [[Mayes County, Oklahoma|Mayes County]]
|Southwest = [[Rogers County, Oklahoma|Rogers County]]
|West      = [[Nowata County, Oklahoma|Nowata County]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Craig County, Oklahoma}}
{{Oklahoma}}

{{coord|36.76|-95.22|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-OK_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

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