Editing Harper County, Oklahoma

{{short description|County in Oklahoma, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Harper County
 | state                = Oklahoma
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1907
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = Buffalo
 | largest city wl      = Laverne
 | city type            = town
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1041
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 1039
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 2.0
 | area percentage      = 0.2%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 3272
 | census estimate yr   = 
 | pop                  = 
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = 
 | district             = 3rd
 | named for            = 
 | ex image             = HARPER COUNTY COURTHOUSE.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[Harper County Courthouse (Buffalo, Oklahoma)|Harper County Courthouse]] in [[Buffalo, Oklahoma|Buffalo]] (2007)
}}

'''Harper 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 3,272,<ref>{{cite web|title=Harper County, Oklahoma|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Harper_County,_Oklahoma?g=050XX00US40059|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 13, 2023}}</ref> making it the third-least populous county in Oklahoma. The [[county seat]] is [[Buffalo, Oklahoma|Buffalo]].<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> It was created in 1907 from the northwestern part of [[Woodward County, Oklahoma|Woodward County]], and named for Oscar Green Harper, who was clerk of the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention.<ref name ="EOHC-HarperCo">Richter, Sara Jane and Tom Lewis. [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=HA029 "Harper County,"] ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'', Oklahoma Historical Society, 2009. Accessed April 4, 2015.</ref>

==History==

During the late 19th century, the area now known as Harper County was part of the [[Cherokee Outlet]], reserved for use by the [[Cherokee Nation]] by treaties in 1828 and 1835, The U.S. government opened the outlet for settlement by non-Indians in 1893. The area was divided into counties after the formation of what is now the state of Oklahoma. Harper County was created in 1907. It was named for Oscar Green Harper, who was a local resident, school teacher, and served as clerk of the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention.<ref name ="EOHC-HarperCo"/>

The present county lay on several trails that were blazed during the 19th century. One of the most significant was the Fort Dodge to Camp Supply Military Trail. It was used followed in 1868 by the U.S. Army's Seventh Cavalry, to move men and supplies to build Camp Supply (forerunner of the present town of [[Fort Supply, Oklahoma]]). The [[Great Western Trail]] (also known as the Dodge City Trail) was first used between South Texas and Fort Robinson, Nebraska, in 1874. The Cimarron Valley Turnpike Company built a bridge over the Cimarron River in 1908 to facilitate travel between [[Englewood, Kansas]] and Oklahoma.<ref name ="EOHC-HarperCo"/>

A 1908 election was held to determine whether Buffalo or [[Doby Springs, Oklahoma|Doby Springs]] would become the county seat. Buffalo won the election. Doby Springs later ceased to be a town and is now a park in Buffalo.<ref name ="EOHC-HarperCo"/> Other ghost towns in the county are Paruna, Flat, Avis, Readout, Cross, Alto, Cupid, and Stockholm.<ref name ="EOHC-HarperCo"/>

Railroads first came to Harper County in 1912, when the Wichita Falls and Northwestern Railway, a subsidiary of the [[Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway]] (MK&T), built a line through Dunlap, May, Laverne, and Rosston. The locally owned Buffalo and Northwestern Railroad (B&NW), connected Buffalo with Waynoka in 1919–20. The [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]] acquired the B&NW in 1920. The MK&T line was abandoned in 1970.<ref name ="EOHC-HarperCo"/>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1041|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1039|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2.0|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 21, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref> The county is drained by the [[Cimarron River (Arkansas River)|Cimarron River]] and the [[Beaver River (Oklahoma)|Beaver River]].<ref name ="EOHC-HarperCo"/>

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
* [[Image:US 64.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 64 in Oklahoma|U.S. Highway 64]]
* [[Image:US 183.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 183#Oklahoma|U.S. Highway 183]]
* [[Image:US 270.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 270#Oklahoma|U.S. Highway 270]]
* [[Image:US 283.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 283#Oklahoma|U.S. Highway 283]]
* [[Image:US 412.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 412 in Oklahoma|U.S. Highway 412]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 3.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 3 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 3]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 34.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 34 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 34]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 46.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 46 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 46]]
* [[Image:Oklahoma State Highway 149.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 149 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 149]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Comanche County, Kansas]] (northeast)
* [[Woods County, Oklahoma|Woods County]] (east)
* [[Woodward County, Oklahoma|Woodward County]] (southeast)
* [[Ellis County, Oklahoma|Ellis County]] (south)
* [[Beaver County, Oklahoma|Beaver County]] (west)
* [[Clark County, Kansas]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 8189
|1920= 7623
|1930= 7761
|1940= 6454
|1950= 5777
|1960= 5956
|1970= 5151
|1980= 4715
|1990= 4063
|2000= 3562
|2010= 3685
|2020= 3272
|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/40/40059.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 9, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606154635/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/40/40059.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011}}</ref>
}}
{{Stack|[[File:USA Harper County, Oklahoma age pyramid.svg|thumb|Age pyramid for Harper 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 2000, there were 3,562 people, 1,509 households, and 1,030 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 1,863 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 95.87% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.03% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.93% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.08% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.36% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.70% from two or more races. 5.64% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 1,509 households, out of which 28.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.60% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.70% were non-families. 29.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.30% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 23.40% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 21.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,705, and the median income for a family was $40,907. Males had a median income of $27,896 versus $20,784 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $18,011. About 7.10% of families and 10.20% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.90% of those under age 18 and 4.00% of those age 65 or over.

==Politics==
At the presidential level, Harper County is one of the most overwhelmingly Republican counties in Oklahoma, with more than 85% of the vote going to the Republican candidate in each of the past four presidential elections. Democrats have not won the county at the presidential level since [[Harry S. Truman|Harry Truman]] in 1948. This dominance is also reflected in the large voter registration advantage that Republicans have in the county. 
{| 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 | 263
| align = center | 13.81%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align = center | 1,469
| align = center | 77.11%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| Others
| align = center | 173
| align = center | 9.08%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | 1,905
! align = center | 100%
|}

{{PresHead|place=Harper 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|1,284|147|20|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,327|136|24|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,318|134|47|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,261|173|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|1,342|221|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,397|268|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,296|374|13|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|1,036|511|231|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|1,038|486|511|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,281|593|26|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,748|373|25|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,652|517|61|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|1,303|978|39|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,976|385|114|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,483|518|353|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|1,379|1,240|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,057|744|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,596|736|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,057|736|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,221|1,281|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|1,394|1,056|23|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|1,616|1,419|38|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,068|1,836|7|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|783|2,139|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,844|872|59|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,226|824|365|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,404|753|182|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|662|798|427|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1912|Republican|679|523|298|Oklahoma}}
{{PresFoot|1908|Republican|876|746|207|Oklahoma}}

==Communities==

=== Towns ===
* [[Buffalo, Oklahoma|Buffalo]] (county seat)
* [[Laverne, Oklahoma|Laverne]]
* [[May, Oklahoma|May]]
* [[Rosston, Oklahoma|Rosston]]

=== Unincorporated communities ===

* [[Doby Springs, Oklahoma|Doby Springs]] (ghost town)
* [[Selman, Oklahoma|Selman]] (also a [[census-designated place]])

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

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

==External links==
* [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=HA029 Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Harper County]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110205103755/http://harpercountyok.com/ Harper County Oklahoma Tourism Website]
* [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    = Harper County, Oklahoma
|North     =
|Northeast = [[Comanche County, Kansas]]
|East      = [[Woods County, Oklahoma|Woods County]]
|Southeast = [[Woodward County, Oklahoma|Woodward County]]
|South     = [[Ellis County, Oklahoma|Ellis County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Beaver County, Oklahoma|Beaver County]]
|Northwest = [[Clark County, Kansas]]
}}
{{Harper County, Oklahoma}}
{{Oklahoma}}

{{coord|36.78|-99.65|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-OK_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

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