Editing Harmon County, Oklahoma

{{short description|County in Oklahoma, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Harmon County
 | state                = Oklahoma
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1909
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = Hollis
 | largest city wl      = Hollis
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 539
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 537
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 1.5
 | area percentage      = 0.3%
 | population_total     = 2488
 | population_as_of     = 2020 
 | pop                  = 
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = 
 | district             = 3rd
 | named for            = 
 | ex image             = Harmon County Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Harmon County Courthouse in January 2015
}}

'''Harmon County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the southwest corner of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Oklahoma]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 Census]], the population was 2,488,<ref>{{cite web|title=Harmon County, Oklahoma|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Harmon_County,_Oklahoma?g=050XX00US40057|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 13, 2023}}</ref> making it the second-least populous county in Oklahoma, behind only [[Cimarron County, Oklahoma|Cimarron County]]. It has lost population in every census since [[1930 United States census|1930]]. The [[county seat]] is [[Hollis, Oklahoma|Hollis]].<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}}</ref>

==History==
Following an election on May 22, 1909, Harmon County was created by proclamation of [[Governor of Oklahoma|Governor]] [[Lee Cruce]] on June 2. Carved from adjacent [[Greer County, Oklahoma|Greer County]], the new county was named in honor of [[Judson Harmon]], who was Governor of Ohio at the time.<ref>Joseph Nathan Kane, ''The American Counties'' (4th Ed.), (The Scarecrow Press, 1983), p149; Arrell Morgan Gibson, ''Oklahoma: A History of Five Centuries'' (University of Oklahoma Press, 1981), p208.</ref> The area now covered by Harmon County had been a part of [[Greer County, Texas]] until the U. S. Supreme Court awarded it to [[Oklahoma Territory]] in 1896.<ref name="EOHC-HarmonCo">Wilson, Linda D. [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=HA026 "Harmon County,"] ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'', Oklahoma Historical Society, 2009. Accessed April 4, 2015.</ref>

Another election held September 1, 1909, confirmed Hollis as the county seat. There were two other contestants: the towns of Harmon and Rosser. County offices operated in rented space until a courthouse was built in Hollis in 1926. In 1930, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the boundary between Texas and Oklahoma was actually {{convert|3800|ft|m}} farther east than originally believed. It returned the disputed land to Texas, reducing the county's area to its present size.<ref name="EOHC-HarmonCo"/>

A railroad built from Altus, Oklahoma to the Texas state line came to Hollis and Gould in 1910. The line was built by the Altus, Wichita Falls and Hollis Railway (later acquired by the [[Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad]]).<ref name="EOHC-HarmonCo"/>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has an area of {{convert|539|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|537|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.5|sqmi}} (0.3%) 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> It lies in the [[Gypsum Hills]] physiographic region, and is drained by the [[Red River of the South|Red River]] and its tributaries, the Salt and Elm forks of the Red River and Lebos and Turkey creeks.<ref name="EOHC-HarmonCo"/>

===Major highways===
* [[Image:US 62.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 62 in Oklahoma|U.S. Highway 62]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 5.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 5 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 5]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 9.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 9 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 9]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 30.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 30 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 30]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Beckham County, Oklahoma|Beckham County]] (north)
* [[Greer County, Oklahoma|Greer County]] (northeast)
* [[Jackson County, Oklahoma|Jackson County]] (southeast)
* [[Hardeman County, Texas]] (south)
* [[Childress County, Texas]] (west)
* [[Collingsworth County, Texas]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 11328
|1920= 11261
|1930= 13834
|1940= 10019
|1950= 8079
|1960= 5853
|1970= 5136
|1980= 4519
|1990= 3793
|2000= 3283
|2010= 2922
|2020= 2488 
|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/40/40057.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 9, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606154628/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/40/40057.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 3,283 people, 1,266 households, and 863 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|spell=in}}. There were 1,647 housing units at an average density of {{convert|3|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;|spell=in}}. The racial makeup of the county was 72.65% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 9.78% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 1.13% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.18% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 14.32% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.92% from two or more races. The population was 22.78% Hispanic or Latino.

There were 1,266 households, out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.70% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.80% were non-families. 29.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.50% 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 3.03.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.90% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 24.10% from 25 to 44, 21.10% from 45 to 64, and 21.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $22,365, and the median income for a family was $29,063. Males had a median income of $21,530 versus $16,658 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $13,464. About 23.50% of families and 29.70% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 38.20% of those under age 18 and 19.90% of those age 65 or over.

===Population decline===
Common to many rural counties in the [[Great Plains]] the population of Harmon county has declined steadily since 1930. Between 1930 and 2020, Harmon County lost a greater percentage of its population than any other Oklahoma county, from 13,834 in 1930 to 2,488 in 2020, a decrease of 82.1%.<ref>"Oklahoma: Population of Counties by Dicennial Census," https://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/cencounts/files/ok190090.txt, accessed May 11, 2018</ref>

==Politics==
{| class=wikitable
! colspan = 6 | Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of 2024<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 | 484
| align = center | 36.30%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align = center | 657
| align = center | 49.40%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| Others
| align = center | 182
| align = center | 14.34%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | 1,332
! align = center | 100%
|}

{{PresHead|place=Harmon 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|709|165|8|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|747|177|9|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|715|225|37|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|659|264|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|757|333|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|838|354|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|692|507|6|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|448|729|150|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|496|783|332|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|611|890|3|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,009|785|11|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|676|961|33|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|666|1,371|8|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,319|568|42|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|644|1,097|403|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|602|1,665|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|1,142|1,265|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|837|1,743|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,057|1,904|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|266|2,340|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|503|1,933|10|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|731|2,292|18|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|331|2,570|11|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|189|3,042|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,431|1,060|26|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|339|1,049|68|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|643|1,123|115|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|147|1,091|256|Oklahoma}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|197|895|290|Oklahoma}}

==Economy==
Agriculture has been the main component of the county economy. Cotton, wheat and sorghum have been the principal crops. By 1930, farmers had sizable holdings of cattle, poultry, horses, mules, swine, sheep and goats.<ref name="EOHC-HarmonCo"/>

==Communities==

=== City ===

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

=== Town ===

* [[Gould, Oklahoma|Gould]]

=== Unincorporated communities ===
* [[Arnett, Harmon County, Oklahoma|Arnett]]
* [[McQueen, Oklahoma|McQueen]]
* [[Vinson, Oklahoma|Vinson]]

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

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

==External links==
* [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=HA026 Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Harmon 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    = Harmon County
|North     = [[Beckham County, Oklahoma|Beckham County]]
|Northeast = [[Greer County, Oklahoma|Greer County]]
|East      =
|Southeast = [[Jackson County, Oklahoma|Jackson County]]
|South     = [[Hardeman County, Texas]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Childress County, Texas]]
|Northwest = [[Collingsworth County, Texas]]
}}

{{Harmon County, Oklahoma}}
{{Oklahoma}}

{{coord|34.74|-99.84|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-OK_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Harmon County, Oklahoma| ]]
[[Category:1909 establishments in Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1909]]