Editing Greer County, Oklahoma

{{short description|County in Oklahoma, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Greer County
 | state                = Oklahoma
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1896
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = Mangum
 | largest city wl      = Mangum
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 644
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 639
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 4.3
 | area percentage      = 0.7%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 5491
 | census estimate yr   = 
 | pop                  = 
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = greer.okcounties.org
 | district             = 3rd
 | named for            =[[John Alexander Greer]] 
 | ex image             = Greer County Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[Greer County Courthouse]] in Mangum
}}

'''Greer County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located along the southwest border of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Oklahoma]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 5,491.<ref>{{cite web|title=Greer County, Oklahoma|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Greer_County,_Oklahoma?g=050XX00US40055|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 12, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Mangum, Oklahoma|Mangum]].<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>  From 1860 to 1896, the state of [[Texas]] claimed an area known as [[Greer County, Texas]], which included present-day Greer County along with neighboring areas. In 1896 it was designated as a county in [[Oklahoma Territory]] under a ruling by the US Supreme Court.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/OK_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|title=Oklahoma: Individual County Chronologies|publisher=The Newberry Library|website=Oklahoma Atlas of Historical County Boundaries|access-date=February 24, 2015|archive-date=April 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402160135/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/OK_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> The rural Greer County is home to [[Quartz Mountain State Park]], near the community of [[Lone Wolf, Oklahoma]]. It is also home to the [[Oklahoma State Reformatory]], located in [[Granite, Oklahoma|Granite]].<ref name="EOHC-GreerCo"/> Its population has declined since 1930 due to changes in agriculture and migration to cities for work.

==History==
After a dispute over the 1819 [[Adams-Onís Treaty]] and the related 1828 [[Treaty of Limits (Mexico–United States)|Treaty of Limits]], the governments of both the United States and the state of Texas claimed ownership of some {{convert|1.5|e6acre|km2}} in what was then operated as [[Greer County, Texas]]. The county was named for former Texas lieutenant governor, [[John Alexander Greer|John A. Greer]].<ref name="EOHC-GreerCo">[http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=GR025 Wilson, Linda D. ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture''. "Greer County.] Retrieved March 5, 2015.</ref> Litigation followed, and in the case of ''United States v. State of Texas'' {{ussc|162|1|1896}}, with a ruling issued on March 16, the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]], having original jurisdiction over the case, decided in favor of the United States.

The county was assigned to the Oklahoma Territory on May 4, 1896. When Oklahoma was admitted as a state, Greer County was established according to its current boundaries; the remaining former county area was organized as [[Harmon County, Oklahoma|Harmon]], [[Jackson County, Oklahoma|Jackson]], and part of [[Beckham County, Oklahoma|Beckham]] counties. The town of Mangum, designated as the county seat in 1886 when it was part of Texas, continued as the seat of Greer County, Oklahoma.<ref name="EOHC-GreerCo"/> From its establishment until at least 1903, Greer County was a [[Sundown town|sundown county]], prohibiting African Americans from living in the county.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ban Placed on Negroes|work=Scott County Kicker|location=Benton, Missouri|date=September 5, 1903|page=2|url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn89066234/1903-09-05/ed-1/seq-2/|via=Chronicling America|quote=Because the ban has been placed on the negroes by the citizens of Greer county, Okla., there will be an estimated loss of 5,000 bales of this year's cotton crop. Greer county, which, until a few years ago, was a part of Texas, is one of the big cotton producers of the territory. This year the farmers raised 20 per cent. increased acreage and a 15-per-cent. increase yield, but there is a labor famine. The growers have been threatened by the citizens in general upon every attempt to import negroes, but unless the necessary laborers are secured in the immediate future the financial loss will be great. The growers now have a movement on foot to bring 100 Mexican families to pick the cotton crop. Since the organization of Greer county no negroes have been allowed to live within its boundaries.}}</ref>

Originally developed for agriculture, the rural county had its peak of population in 1930. Mechanization of agriculture reduced the need for farm labor, and the population has declined as people migrated to cities for work.

Among the county attractions is [[Quartz Mountain State Park]] (known from 2002 to 2020 as Quartz Mountain Nature Park), near the community of [[Lone Wolf, Oklahoma|Lone Wolf]].

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|644|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|639|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|4.3|sqmi}} (0.7%) 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 21, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

Western Greer County lies in the Gypsum Hills, while the eastern one-third is in the Red Bed Plains physiographic region. The county is drained by the [[North Fork Red River]], [[Elm Fork Red River]], and [[Salt Fork Red River]].<ref name="EOHC-GreerCo"/>

===Major highways===
* [[Image:US 283.svg|23px]] [[U.S. Route 283#Oklahoma|U.S. Highway 283]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 6.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 6 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 6]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 9.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 9 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 9]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 34.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 34 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 34]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 44.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 44 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 44]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Beckham County, Oklahoma|Beckham County]] (north)
* [[Kiowa County, Oklahoma|Kiowa County]] (east)
* [[Jackson County, Oklahoma|Jackson County]] (south)
* [[Harmon County, Oklahoma|Harmon County]] (west)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 16449
|1920= 15836
|1930= 20282
|1940= 14550
|1950= 11749
|1960= 8877
|1970= 7979
|1980= 7028
|1990= 6559
|2000= 6061
|2010= 6239
|2020= 5491
|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 21, 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 21, 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 21, 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://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |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 21, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/40/40055.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 9, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606154623/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/40/40055.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011}}</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 6,061 people, 2,237 households, and 1,442 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|10|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 2,788 housing units at an average density of {{convert|4|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 81.46% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 8.78% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 2.47% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.26% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.99% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.02% from two or more races. 7.44% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 2,237 households, out of which 25.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.00% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.50% were non-families. 33.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.00% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 28.40% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 20.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 123.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 129.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,793, and the median income for a family was $30,702. Males had a median income of $24,318 versus $18,641 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $14,053. About 15.00% of families and 19.60% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 28.40% of those under age 18 and 14.80% 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}}</ref>
|-
! colspan = 2 | Party
! Number of Voters
! Percentage
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| align = center | 916
| align = center | 32.28%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align = center | 1,501
| align = center | 52.89%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| Others
| align = center | 421
| align = center | 14.83%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | 2,838
! align = center | 100%
|}

{{PresHead|place=Greer 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 29, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|1,511|304|21|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,605|328|40|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,482|323|91|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,344|488|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|1,548|566|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,529|719|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,287|839|26|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|905|1,240|372|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|964|1,162|653|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|1,225|1,256|22|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,664|1,220|17|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,535|1,492|72|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,164|2,113|31|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,154|1,004|86|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|1,225|1,419|830|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,247|2,671|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,158|1,698|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,499|1,907|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|2,147|2,321|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|713|3,044|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,075|2,984|5|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,195|3,524|21|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|766|3,745|11|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|418|4,240|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,262|1,645|28|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|551|1,982|293|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|1,013|1,854|226|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|369|1,675|483|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|351|1,334|404|Oklahoma}}
{{PresFoot|1908|Democratic|708|2,149|502|Oklahoma}}

==Economy==
The county's economy has been based on farming and raising livestock. In 1907, the main crops were cotton, corn, oats, wheat and alfalfa. Livestock raised includes cattle, horses, mules, swine, sheep and goats.<ref name="EOHC-GreerCo"/>

The [[Oklahoma State Reformatory]] is located in [[Granite, Oklahoma|Granite]] in the county and provides some jobs.<ref name="EOHC-GreerCo"/>

==Communities==

===Cities===

* [[Mangum, Oklahoma|Mangum]] (county seat)

===Towns===

* [[Granite, Oklahoma|Granite]]
* [[Willow, Oklahoma|Willow]]

===Unincorporated communities===

* [[Brinkman, Oklahoma|Brinkman]]
* [[Reed, Oklahoma|Reed]]

==Education==
School districts include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40055_greer/DC20SD_C40055.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Greer County, OK|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-10-13}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40055_greer/DC20SD_C40055_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Blair Public Schools]]
* [[Duke Public Schools]]
* [[Erick Public Schools]]
* [[Granite Public Schools]]
* [[Hollis Public Schools]]
* [[Lone Wolf Public Schools]]
* [[Mangum Public Schools]]
* [[Merritt Public Schools]]
* [[Navajo Public Schools]]
* [[Sayre Public Schools]]
{{div col end}}

==Notable people==
* [[Edward Everett Dale]] (1879–1972), historian; professor at the [[University of Oklahoma]]<ref name="EOHC-GreerCo"/>
* [[William Thomas Ponder|William T. Ponder]] (1891–1947), World War I flying ace<ref name="EOHC-GreerCo"/>
* [[Victor Eugene Wickersham|Victor E. Wickersham]] (1906–1988), U.S. politician; member of the U.S. House of Representatives<ref name="EOHC-GreerCo"/>

==See also==
* [[List of sundown towns in the United States]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Greer County, Oklahoma]]
* {{USS|Greer County|LST-799}}

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

==External links==
{{AmCyc Poster|Greer}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20161021162645/http://mangummainstreet.com/ Mangum Main Street]
* [http://greercountychamber.com Greer County Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.oldgreercountymuseum.com Old Greer County Museum & Hall of Fame] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309142529/http://www.oldgreercountymuseum.com/ |date=March 9, 2022 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070610122257/http://countyext.okstate.edu/greer/ Greer County Extension Service]
* [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=GR025 Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Greer 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    = Greer County
|North     = [[Beckham County, Oklahoma|Beckham County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Kiowa County, Oklahoma|Kiowa County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Jackson County, Oklahoma|Jackson County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Harmon County, Oklahoma|Harmon County]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Greer County, Oklahoma}}
{{Oklahoma}}

{{coord|34.93|-99.56|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-OK_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Greer County, Oklahoma| ]]
[[Category:1896 establishments in Oklahoma Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1896]]
[[Category:Sundown towns in Oklahoma]]