Editing Latimer County, Oklahoma

{{short description|County in Oklahoma, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Latimer County
 | state                = Oklahoma
 | ex image             = Whistle Stop.jpg
 | ex image size        = 300px
 | ex image cap         = [[Robbers Cave State Park]]
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1907
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = Wilburton
 | largest city wl      = Wilburton
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 729
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 722
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 7.0
 | area percentage      = 0.95%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 9444
 | census estimate yr   = 
 | pop                  = 
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = 
 | named for            = James L. Latimer
 | district             = 2nd
}}

'''Latimer County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the southeastern part of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Oklahoma]]. Its [[county seat]] is [[Wilburton, Oklahoma|Wilburton]].<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> As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 9,444.<ref>{{cite web|title=Latimer County, Oklahoma|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Latimer_County,_Oklahoma?g=050XX00US40077|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 13, 2023}}</ref> The county was created at statehood in 1907 and named for James L. Latimer, a delegate from Wilburton to the 1906 state Constitutional Convention. Prior to statehood, it had been for several decades part of Gaines County, Sugar Loaf County, and [[Wade County, Choctaw Nation|Wade County]] in the [[Choctaw Nation]].<ref name="EOHC-LatCo">Everett, Dianna. [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=LA025 "Latimer County,"] ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'', Oklahoma Historical Society, 2009. Accessed April 4, 2015.</ref>

==History==
This area was occupied for at least 3500 years by cultures of indigenous peoples. The most recent of the prehistoric peoples established complex earthworks during the [[Mississippian culture]]. Archeological excavations have revealed artifacts from [[Archaic period in the Americas|Archaic]], [[Woodland period|Woodland]], and Mississippian cultures. Living in what is now southeastern Oklahoma, these peoples were direct ancestors of the [[Caddo Nation]], a historic confederacy of tribes that flourished in east Texas, Arkansas and northern Louisiana before removal to another area of Indian Territory.<ref name="oas"/>

In the 1970s excavations at the McCutchan-McLaughlin site revealed many details about the lives and deaths of the [[Fourche Maline culture]] people, who lived in this area in the [[Woodland Period]], about 300 BCE to 800 CE. These hunter-gatherers were physically healthier than later descendants in more complex cultures who depended on [[maize]] agriculture, but they were also often beset by warfare. Numerous remains were found in mass graves, killed by arrows or spears. This archeological site continues to be studied and has been listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="oas">[http://www.ou.edu/cas/archsur/counties/latimer.htm "Latimer County: McCutchan-McLaughlin Site"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100531183817/http://www.ou.edu/cas/archsur/counties/latimer.htm |date=May 31, 2010 }}, ''Oklahoma's Past'', Oklahoma Archeological Survey, University of Oklahoma, 2005 (updated 2016); accessed January 19, 2016</ref>

In 1831, the area now known as Latimer County was organized as part of the [[Choctaw Nation]] in the [[Indian Territory]] after the Choctaw were removed by the federal government from their traditional territory in the American Southeast. Following statehood Latimer County's boundaries were drawn to conform to Oklahoma's township and range system, which uses east–west and north–south lines as land boundaries. The Choctaw Nation, by contrast, divided its counties using easily recognizable landmarks, such as mountains and rivers. The territory of present-day Latimer County had the distinction of being the meeting point of all three administrative super-regions comprising the Choctaw Nation, called the [[Apukshunnubbee District|Apukshunubbee District]], [[Moshulatubbee District]], and [[Pushmataha District]]. Within these three districts the land area of the present-day county fell within Gaines County, [[Jack's Fork County|Jacksfork County]], [[Sans Bois County, Choctaw Nation|Sans Bois County]], [[Skullyville County, Choctaw Nation|Skullyville County]], and [[Wade County, Choctaw Nation|Wade County]].

In 1858, the [[Butterfield Overland Mail]] established a route through the territory, which included stage stops at Edwards's Station (near present Hughes), Holloway's Station (near Red Oak), Riddle's Station (near Lutie) and Pusley's Station near Higgins.<ref name="EOHC-LatCo"/>

The beginning of large-scale coal mining attracted railroad construction to the area to get the commodity to market. The chief coal mining areas were in the mountains in the north of the county, in the Choctaw Segregated Coal Lands. Coal mining companies were rapidly established in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1889–90, the Choctaw Coal and Railway Company (later known as the [[Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad]], and still later as part of the [[Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway]]) laid 67.4 miles of track from [[Wister, Oklahoma|Wister]] to [[McAlester, Oklahoma|McAlester]]. The Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway (Katy) completed a branch line from North McAlester to Wilburton in 1904.<ref name="EOHC-LatCo"/>

As a prelude to Oklahoma being admitted as a state to the Union, the [[Dawes Act]] was extended to the Choctaw and others of the [[Five Civilized Tribes]]. These had all been removed from the Southeast. Choctaw tribal control of communal lands was dissolved, and the lands were allotted to individual households of tribal members, in an effort to encourage subsistence farming on the European-American model. The Choctaw lost most of their land, with individuals retaining about one-quarter of the land in the county.<ref name="EOHC-LatCo"/> The government declared any remaining land to be 'surplus;' it was sold, mostly to non-Natives. Tribal governments were also dissolved, and Oklahoma became a state. McGirt v. Oklahoma, 591 U.S. ___ (2020), was a landmark[1][2] United States Supreme Court case which ruled that, as pertaining to the Major Crimes Act, much of the eastern portion of the state of Oklahoma remains as Native American lands of the prior Indian reservations of the Five Civilized Tribes, never disestablished by Congress as part of the Oklahoma Enabling Act of 1906. As such, prosecution of crimes by Native Americans on these lands falls into the jurisdiction of the tribal courts and federal judiciary under the Major Crimes Act, rather than Oklahoma's courts.

By 1912, the newly organized county had 27 mines; some 3,000 miners produced 5,000 tons of coal per day. Most coal was produced by the large companies. Native-born whites held most of the jobs as miners, but African Americans, European immigrants from the British Isles and Italy, and Mexicans also worked as laborers in the mining industry.<ref name="EOHC-LatCo"/>

In less than two decades, the coal industry collapsed, due to labor unrest seeking relief from harsh working conditions and unfair labor practices, competition from oils, and the effects of the [[Great Depression]]. From 1920 to 1930, the county lost about 2,000 people, who sought work in other areas.<ref name="EOHC-LatCo"/> By 1932, only one mine still operated in the county. Mining towns lost almost half of their populations, and at one point, 93.5 percent of those remaining in the country were surviving on government relief, through programs started by the administration of President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]. Federal construction projects to build infrastructure and invest for the future provided many jobs for the unemployed. Locally such projects included Wilburton Municipal Airport, schools at Panola and elsewhere, and road-paving works. The [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] (CCC), another federal program conducted in collaboration with state governments, developed a park project at the state game preserve, now part of [[Robbers Cave State Park]].<ref name="EOHC-LatCo"/>

In 1933, Spanish–American War veterans established Veterans Colony in the county, buying land together. The war veterans could build cabins here and grow their own food, living year round in a community. In later years, membership was opened to veterans of all wars. Veterans Colony still operates.<ref name="EOHC-LatCo"/>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|729|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|722|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|7.0|sqmi}} (1.0%) 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 [[Sans Bois Mountains]] span the northern border of the county, while the [[Winding Stair Mountains]] extend into its southern part. The [[Fourche Maline]], Brazil and Sans Bois creeks drain the northern part of the county into the [[Poteau River]], a tributary of the [[Arkansas River]]. Buffalo and Gaines Creeks drain the southern part into the [[Kiamichi River]], a tributary of the [[Red River of the South|Red River]].<ref name="EOHC-LatCo"/>

===Major highways===
* [[File:US 270.svg|23px]] [[U.S. Highway 270 (Oklahoma)|U.S. Highway 270]]
* [[File:Oklahoma State Highway 1.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 1 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 1]]
* [[File:Oklahoma State Highway 2.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 2 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 2]]
* [[File:Oklahoma State Highway 63.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 63 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 63]]
* [[File:Oklahoma State Highway 82.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 82 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 82]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Haskell County, Oklahoma|Haskell County]] (north)
* [[Le Flore County, Oklahoma|Le Flore County]] (east)
* [[Pushmataha County, Oklahoma|Pushmataha County]] (south)
* [[Pittsburg County, Oklahoma|Pittsburg County]] (west)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 11321
|1920= 13866
|1930= 11184
|1940= 12380
|1950= 9690
|1960= 7738
|1970= 8601
|1980= 9840
|1990= 10333
|2000= 10692
|2010= 11154
|2020= 9444
|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/40/40077.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 9, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606154912/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/40/40077.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 10,692 people, 3,951 households, and 2,868 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|15|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 4,709 housing units at an average density of {{convert|6|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 73.01% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.96% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 19.42% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.18% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.51% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 5.91% from two or more races. 1.53% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 20.7% were of [[United States|American]], 9.5% [[Irish people|Irish]], 8.1% [[German people|German]] and 5.0% [[English people|English]] ancestry.

There were 3,951 households, out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.90% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.40% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.70% under the age of 18, 11.40% from 18 to 24, 24.20% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 16.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $23,962, and the median income for a family was $29,661. Males had a median income of $27,449 versus $19,577 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $12,842. About 19.00% of families and 22.70% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 30.70% of those under age 18 and 16.40% of those age 65 or over.

==Politics==
Despite the county being home to a significant [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] population, Latimer County voted Republican in every presidential election in the 21st century. Following the lead of most rural counties nationwide, the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] candidate has won at least 60% of the vote in the county since 2008, with [[Donald Trump]] topping out at 80.9% in 2020.

{| 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 | 2,384
| align = center | 40.26%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align = center | 2,831
| align = center | 47.81%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| Others
| align = center | 706
| align = center | 11.92%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | 5,921
! align = center | 100%
|}

{{PresHead|place=Latimer 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|3,356|681|42|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|3,437|762|50|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|3,100|797|159|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,628|1,170|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,860|1,313|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|2,535|1,945|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|1,739|1,865|65|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|1,189|2,222|592|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,212|2,606|1,067|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|1,830|2,365|38|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,210|1,858|32|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|1,737|2,105|124|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,312|2,661|55|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,520|1,239|130|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|1,091|1,350|892|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|849|2,297|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|1,454|1,534|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,387|1,994|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,668|2,283|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|919|2,536|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,296|1,948|11|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,600|3,138|28|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,344|2,923|19|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|728|3,119|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|1,368|1,583|38|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|971|1,457|274|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,410|1,200|331|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|663|950|346|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|482|722|345|Oklahoma}}
{{PresFoot|1908|Democratic|616|726|200|Oklahoma}}

==Economy==
Coal mining was the basis of the county economy even before statehood, with mines operating by 1895. By 1912, The county 27 mines and about three thousand miners producing 3,000 tons per day. However, the industry collapsed during the 1920s due to labor disputes, competition from petroleum-based fuels and the onset of the Great Depression. Only one mine was still operating in 1933.<ref name="EOHC-LatCo"/>

Agriculture was primarily limited to vegetables sold in the mining towns. Cotton, corn and cattle were the primary cash crops sold outside the area. After the coal industry collapsed, the main industries were cattle raising, lumbering and production of oil and gas.<ref name="EOHC-LatCo"/>

==Education==
In 1909 state government created the Oklahoma School of Mines and Metallurgy at Wilburton, placed centrally within the southeastern Oklahoma mining district. In 2000, as [[Eastern Oklahoma State College]], the school was a two-year, liberal-arts institution.<ref name="EOHC-LatCo"/>

==Communities==
===City===
* [[Wilburton, Oklahoma|Wilburton]] (county seat)

===Towns===
* [[Fanshawe, Oklahoma|Fanshawe]] (primarily in [[Le Flore County, Oklahoma|Le Flore County]])
* [[Red Oak, Oklahoma|Red Oak]]

===Census-designated places===
* [[Gowen, Oklahoma|Gowen]]
* [[Panola, Oklahoma|Panola]]

==NRHP sites==
{{Main|National Register of Historic Places listings in Latimer County, Oklahoma}}
The following sites in Latimer County are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]:

{|
|----- valign="top"
|
* [[Administration Building (Wilburton, Oklahoma)|Administration Building]], vicinity of Wilburton
* [[Ash Creek School]], Wilburton
* [[Bowers School (Wilburton, Oklahoma)|Bowers School]], Wilburton
* [[Cambria School]], Hartshorne
* [[Colony Park Pavilion]], Wilburton
* [[Cupco Church]], Yanush
* [[Degnan School]], Wilburton
* [[Eastern Oklahoma Tuberculosis Sanatorium]], vicinity of Talihina
* [[Edwards Store]], Red Oak
* [[Edwards-Hardaway Homestead and Cemetery]], vicinity of Red Oak
* [[Great Western Coal and Coke Company Building]], Wilburton
|
* [[Great Western Coal and Coke Company Mine No. 3]], Wilburton
* [[Holloway's Station]], Red Oak
* [[Lake Wister Locality]], Wister (extends into Le Flore Co.)
* [[McLaughlin Site]], Red Oak
* [[Mitchell Hall (Eastern Oklahoma State College)]], Wilburton
* [[Panola High School and Gymnasium]], Panola
* [[Pusley's Station]], Higgins
* [[Riddle's Station|Riddle's Station Site]], Wilburton
* [[Robbers Cave State Park]], Wilburton
* [[Rosenstein Building]], Wilburton
* [[Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Rectory (Wilburton, Oklahoma)|Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Rectory]], Wilburton
|}

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

==External links==
* [http://latimercountysheriff.com/ Latimer County Sheriff's Office]

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Latimer County
|North     = [[Haskell County, Oklahoma|Haskell County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Le Flore County, Oklahoma|Le Flore County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Pushmataha County, Oklahoma|Pushmataha County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Pittsburg County, Oklahoma|Pittsburg County]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Latimer County, Oklahoma}}
{{Oklahoma}}

{{coord|34.87|-95.24|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-OK_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

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