Editing Delaware County, Oklahoma

{{short description|County in Oklahoma, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Delaware, Oklahoma}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Delaware County
 | state                = Oklahoma
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1907
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = Jay
 | largest city wl      = Grove
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 792
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 738
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 54
 | area percentage      = 6.8%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 40397
 | census estimate yr   = 
 | pop                  = 
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | web                  = https://delaware.okcounties.org/
 | named for            = [[Delaware Indians]]
 | ex image             = Delaware courthouse facade.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Delaware County Courthouse
 | district             = 2nd
}}

'''Delaware County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Oklahoma]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 40,397.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=Delaware County, Oklahoma|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Delaware_County,_Oklahoma?g=050XX00US40041|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 11, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Jay, Oklahoma|Jay]].<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 the [[Delaware Indians]], who had established a village in the area prior to the Cherokees being assigned to relocate to [[Indian Territory]] in the 1830s. Delaware County was created in 1907. Prior to becoming Delaware County, a large portion of the area was known as the Delaware District of the Cherokee Nation. Today, Delaware County continues to be recognized by the [[Cherokee Nation]] as the Delaware District.

==History==
Archaeological studies have shown that at least three different periods of prehistoric people had lived in the area covered by Delaware County. These included 23 Archaic, 17 Woodland, and 63 Eastern Villager sites. Artifacts date back between 1400 and 2000 years from the present. Many of these sites have been submerged since the creation of [[Grand Lake o' the Cherokees]].<ref name="EOHC-DelCo">Stauber, Rose. [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=DE010 "Delaware County,"] ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'', 2009. Accessed March 25, 2015.</ref>

Few Native Americans lived in the area until the early 19th century, when the federal government began relocating tribes from the Eastern United States. About 1820, a group of Delaware, who had allied with the [[Cherokee]] against the [[Osage Nation|Osage]], settled Delaware Town, about two miles south of the present town of [[Eucha, Oklahoma|Eucha]]. In 1828, the Western Cherokee moved from Arkansas Territory into the area just south of the present Delaware County. In 1832, the Seneca moved from [[Ohio]] into an area that included the northeastern part of Delaware County.<ref name="EOHC-DelCo"/>

The present-day county was created at statehood in 1907. Initially, [[Grove, Oklahoma|Grove]], the only incorporated town in the county, was designated as the county seat. However, a large number of county residents wanted a more centrally located seat. This group founded the town of [[Jay, Oklahoma|Jay]], where they built a wooden courthouse and won an election to move the county seat. A court suit resolved the dispute in favor of the Jay location.<ref name="EOHC-DelCo"/>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|792|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|54|sqmi}} (6.8%) are covered by  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 on the western slope of the [[Ozark Plateau]]; no oil, gas, or mineral resources of economic consequence are present, but the county has abundant water.<ref name="EOHC-DelCo"/>

[[Lake Eucha]], a man-made reservoir on Spavinaw Creek, completed in 1952, lies primarily within Delaware County. [[Grand Lake o' the Cherokees]], completed in 1940, and [[Spavinaw Water Project|Lake Spavinaw]], completed in 1924, are partly within Delaware County. The [[Neosho River]] and the [[Elk River (Oklahoma)|Elk River]] drain the northern part of the county, while [[Flint Creek (Arkansas/Oklahoma)|Flint Creek]] and the [[Illinois River (Oklahoma)|Illinois River]] drain the southern part.<ref name="EOHC-DelCo"/>

===Major highways===
* [[Image:US 59.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 59 (Oklahoma)|U.S. Highway 59]]
* [[Image:US 60.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 60 (Oklahoma)|U.S. Highway 60]]
* [[Image:US 412.svg|23px]] [[U.S. Highway 412 (Oklahoma)|U.S. Highway 412]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 10.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 10 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 10]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 20.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 20 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 20]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 25.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 25 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 25]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 28.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 28 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 28]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Ottawa County, Oklahoma|Ottawa County]] (north)
* [[McDonald County, Missouri]]  northeast)
* [[Benton County, Arkansas]] (east)
* [[Adair County, Oklahoma|Adair County]] (south)
* [[Cherokee County, Oklahoma|Cherokee County]] (south)
* [[Mayes County, Oklahoma|Mayes County]] (west)
* [[Craig County, Oklahoma|Craig County]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 11469
|1920= 13868
|1930= 15370
|1940= 18592
|1950= 14734
|1960= 13198
|1970= 17767
|1980= 23946
|1990= 28070
|2000= 37077
|2010= 41487
|2020= 40397
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 19, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426102944/http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|archive-date=April 26, 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}}</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/40/40041.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 9, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606154536/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/40/40041.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011}}</ref>
}}
{{Stack|[[File:USA Delaware County, Oklahoma age pyramid.svg|thumb|Age pyramid for Delaware County, Oklahoma, based on census 2000 data]]}}

As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], 41,487 people resided in the county, up from 37,077 people in 2000. Of the 14,838 households, 29.0% had children under living with them, 59.5% were married couples living together, 8.9 had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.4% were not families. About 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.89. In the county, the age distribution was 24.5% under 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 24.40% from 25 to 44, 26.70% from 45 to 64, and 17.50% who were 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 96.50 males. For every 100 females  18 and over, there were 93.80 males.

As of 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $27,996, and the median income for a family was $33,093. Males had a median income of $25,758 versus $19,345 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $15,424. About 14.10% of families and 18.30% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 27.40% of those under age 18 and 11.60% of those age 65 or over.

In the 2000 census, 14,838 households and 10,772 families resided in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|50|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. The 22,290 housing units had an average density of {{convert|30|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the county was 70.22% White, 0.13% African American, 22.31% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.63% from other races, and 6.53% from two or more races. Self-identified Hispanics or Latinos made up 1.75% of the population. About 93.8% spoke [[English language|English]], 3.5% [[Cherokee language|Cherokee]], and 2.3% [[Spanish language|Spanish]] as their first language.

==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 | 5,872
| align = center | 22.79%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align = center | 15,725
| align = center | 61.03%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| Others
| align = center | 4,169
| align = center | 16.18%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | 25,766
! align = center | 100%
|}

{{PresHead|place=Delaware 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=February 20, 2021}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|14,407|3,475|226|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|13,557|3,472|216|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|11,826|3,311|579|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|10,080|4,196|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|10,277|5,085|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|10,017|5,591|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|7,618|5,514|221|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|5,230|5,094|1,615|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|4,840|4,842|2,744|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|5,248|4,889|75|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|6,690|3,789|63|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|5,302|4,244|273|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|3,642|4,924|91|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|5,476|2,135|178|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|3,168|2,129|1,402|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,743|3,702|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|3,639|2,282|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|3,078|2,679|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|3,399|2,686|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|2,343|3,157|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|2,660|2,373|93|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|3,305|3,417|17|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,632|3,398|15|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,469|3,684|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,603|1,706|51|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|1,563|1,729|263|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,059|1,282|139|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|837|1,227|233|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|732|983|184|Oklahoma}}
{{PresFoot|1908|Democratic|625|974|54|Oklahoma}}

==Communities==
===Cities===
* [[Grove, Oklahoma|Grove]]
* [[Jay, Oklahoma|Jay]]

===Towns===
* [[Bernice, Oklahoma|Bernice]]
* [[Colcord, Oklahoma|Colcord]]
* [[Kansas, Oklahoma|Kansas]]
* [[Oaks, Oklahoma|Oaks]]
* [[West Siloam Springs, Oklahoma|West Siloam Springs]]

===Census-designated places===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Brush Creek, Oklahoma|Brush Creek]]
* [[Bull Hollow, Oklahoma|Bull Hollow]]
* [[Butler, Oklahoma|Butler]]
* [[Cayuga, Oklahoma|Cayuga]]
* [[Cleora, Oklahoma|Cleora]]
* [[Cloud Creek, Oklahoma|Cloud Creek]]
* [[Copeland, Delaware County, Oklahoma|Copeland]]
* [[Deer Lick, Oklahoma|Deer Lick]]
* [[Dennis, Oklahoma|Dennis]]
* [[Dodge, Oklahoma|Dodge]]
* [[Dripping Springs, Delaware County, Oklahoma|Dripping Springs]]
* [[Drowning Creek, Oklahoma|Drowning Creek]]
* [[Flint Creek, Oklahoma|Flint Creek]]
* [[Indianola, Delaware County, Oklahoma|Indianola]]
* [[Kenwood, Oklahoma|Kenwood]]
* [[Leach, Oklahoma|Leach]]
* [[New Eucha, Oklahoma|New Eucha]]
* [[Oak Hill-Piney, Oklahoma|Oak Hill-Piney]]
* [[Old Eucha, Oklahoma|Old Eucha]]
* [[Rocky Ford, Oklahoma|Rocky Ford]]
* [[Sycamore, Delaware County, Oklahoma|Sycamore]]
* [[Tagg Flats, Oklahoma|Tagg Flats]]
* [[Twin Oaks, Oklahoma|Twin Oaks]]
* [[White Water, Oklahoma|White Water]]
* [[Zena, Oklahoma|Zena]]
{{div col end}}

===Other unincorporated communities===
* [[Chloeta, Oklahoma|Chloeta]]
* [[Eucha, Oklahoma|Eucha]]

==NRHP sites==
Delaware County, together with Ottawa County to the north, has a large impact on tourism in Oklahoma. Said counties combined are the third-largest tourism destination in the state, following only the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metropolitan areas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tulsaworld.com/news/state-and-regional/ottawa-delaware-counties-generates-million-combined-in-visitor-spending-as/article_633b0aa0-fe66-5d7e-92bd-ea43785a864e.html |title=Ottawa, Delaware counties generates $519 million combined in visitor spending as 'welcome mat' for Oklahoma|publisher=Kaylea M. Hutson-Miller, Tulsa World, October 19, 2019|access-date=October 19, 2019}}</ref>
{{Main|National Register of Historic Places listings in Delaware County, Oklahoma}}

These sites are in Delaware County are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]:
* [[Bassett Grove Ceremonial Grounds]], Grove
* [[Beattie's Prairie]], Jay
* [[Corey House/Hotel]], Grove
* [[Hildebrand Mill]], Siloam Springs
* [[Polson Cemetery]], Jay
* [[Rose, Oklahoma#Saline District Courthouse|Saline Courthouse]], [[Rose, Oklahoma|Rose]]
* [[Splitlog Church]], Grove

==Education==
Kindergarten-grade 12 school districts include:<ref name=SDMap2020>{{cite map|author=Geography Division|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40041_delaware/DC20SD_C40041.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Delaware County, OK|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2025-04-04}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40041_delaware/DC20SD_C40041_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Afton Public Schools]]
* [[Colcord Public Schools]]
* [[Grove Public Schools]]
* [[Jay Public Schools]]
* [[Kansas Public Schools]]
* [[Ketchum Public Schools]]
* [[Oaks-Mission Public Schools]]
* [[Westville Public Schools]]
{{div col end}}

Elementary school districts include:<ref name=SDMap2020/>
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Cleora Public School]]
* [[Kenwood Public School]]
* [[Leach Public School]]
* [[Moseley Public School]]
* [[Turkey Ford Public School]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=DE010 Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Delaware 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    = Delaware County
|North     = [[Ottawa County, Oklahoma|Ottawa County]]
|Northeast = [[McDonald County, Missouri]]
|East      = [[Benton County, Arkansas]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Adair County, Oklahoma|Adair County]] and<br />[[Cherokee County, Oklahoma|Cherokee County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Mayes County, Oklahoma|Mayes County]]
|Northwest = [[Craig County, Oklahoma|Craig County]]
}}

{{Delaware County, Oklahoma}}
{{Oklahoma}}

{{coord|36.41|-94.80|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-OK_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

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