Editing McIntosh County, Oklahoma

{{short description|County in Oklahoma, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = McIntosh County
 | state                = Oklahoma
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1907
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = Eufaula
 | largest city wl      = Checotah
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 712
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 618
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 94
 | area percentage      = 13%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 18941
 | census estimate yr   = 
 | pop                  = 
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | ex image             = Mcintosh county ok courthouse.jpg
 | ex image size        = 250
 | ex image cap         = The McIntosh County Courthouse in Eufaula.
 | web                  = 
 | district             = 2nd
}}

'''McIntosh 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 18,941.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=McIntosh County, Oklahoma|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/McIntosh_County,_Oklahoma?g=050XX00US40091|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 13, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Eufaula, Oklahoma|Eufaula]].<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 is named for an influential [[Muscogee Creek]] family, whose members led the migration of the Lower Towns to Indian Territory and served as leaders for generations.<ref name ="EOHC-McIntoshCo">O'Dell, Larry. [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=MC028 "McIntosh County,"] ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'', Oklahoma Historical Society, 2009. Accessed April 4, 2015.</ref>

It is one of the counties within the jurisdiction of the federally recognized [[Muscogee (Creek) Nation]]; a small portion is within the jurisdiction of the [[Cherokee Nation|Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Maps|url=https://www.cherokee.org/about-the-nation/maps/|access-date=June 12, 2020|website=Cherokee Nation Website|language=en-US}}</ref>

==History==
Many [[archaeological]] sites in McIntosh County date back to the [[Archaic period in North America]] (6000 BC - 1 AD). (Ed. note: the ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'' defines this period as written here. The definition differs from that shown by the linked Wikipedia article.) Archaeologists have uncovered six sites since 2003 that predate these. These indigenous peoples predated any of [[Plains Indians]], as well as the tribes that settled in the territory in the 1830s following [[Indian Removal]] from the American Southeast. [[Indigenous people]] may have made petroglyphs at the Handprint Site before the coming of the earliest European explorers.<ref name ="EOHC-McIntoshCo"/>

In 1825, the Creek of the Lower Towns in the territory of present-day Georgia, led by [[William McIntosh]], agreed by the [[Treaty of Indian Springs (1825)|Treaty of Indian Springs]] with the United States, to exchange their land in Georgia for land in Indian Territory. These Creek were a historic people who had originated in the Southeast and were part of the larger Creek Confederacy for centuries. Much of their new territory was included in what later became McIntosh County. Chief McIntosh was executed in Georgia in 1825 by order of the Creek National Council, which had forbidden such land cessions without agreement by the full council.

His descendants and followers of the Lower Towns migrated to Indian Territory. There the Creek repeatedly battled with the [[Osage Nation|Osage]], who had historically occupied a large area including this and up through present-day [[Missouri]]. In 1836, the Creek established North Fork Town on the [[Texas Road]], about two miles east of present-day [[Eufaula, Oklahoma]]. A post office named Micco operated in North Fork Town from 1853 to 1886. This area became part of the Eufaula District of the [[Creek Nation]].<ref name ="EOHC-McIntoshCo"/>

[[Albert Pike]], representing the [[Confederate States of America]], signed treaties with the Chickasaw, Choctaw and Creek nations at the beginning of the Civil War. They allied with the Confederacy in the hopes of gaining an Indian state after the war. The [[Battle of Honey Springs]], the largest battle of the war in what is now Oklahoma, was fought near Rentiesville. The Union Army won and took control of that part of Indian Territory north of the [[Arkansas River]].<ref name ="EOHC-McIntoshCo"/>

The [[Missouri-Kansas-Texas]] Railway built a line through this area in 1871–2, generally following the Texas Road. The communities of Checotah and Eufaula were established then. In 1904–5, the Missouri, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway (later merged into the Kansas, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway) laid a line through the northwestern part of the area, starting the community of [[Hitchita, Oklahoma|Hitchita]].<ref name ="EOHC-McIntoshCo"/>

McIntosh County was established at statehood in 1907, when the population was 17,975. Before statehood, the area had been part of the Eufaula District of the Creek Nation. The county gained some land from [[Hughes County, Oklahoma|Hughes County]] in 1915, but lost some land to [[Okmulgee County, Oklahoma|Okmulgee County]] in 1918.<ref name ="EOHC-McIntoshCo"/>  The former moved the community of [[Hanna, Oklahoma|Hanna]] from Hughes County. The latter moved the towns of [[Grayson, Oklahoma|Grayson]]<ref name="EOHC-Grayson2">[http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=GR012 Lynn Marie Townsend, "Grayson."   ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture''.] Retrieved January 18, 2013.</ref> and [[Hoffman, Oklahoma|Hoffman]]<ref name="EOHC-Hoffman2">[http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=HO004 Lynn Marie Townsend, "Hoffman."  ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture''. Retrieved January 18, 2013.]</ref> into Okmulgee County.<ref name ="EOHC-McIntoshCo"/>

Between 1907 and 1909, the people of [[Checotah, Oklahoma|Checotah]] were involved in a dispute with nearby Eufaula known as the [[McIntosh County Seat War]]. After Checotah was designated as the new county seat, the people of Eufaula refused to hand over the county records. Soon after, a group of heavily armed men from Chectotah attempted to seize the records from the courthouse in Eufaula, but were beaten back and forced to surrender during the gunfight that followed. Eufaula was designated as the permanent seat of McIntosh County one year later.<ref name="Butler, pg. 65-73">{{cite book | last=Butler| first=Ken| title=More Oklahoma Renegades| publisher=Pelican Publishing| year=2007| isbn=978-1589804647}}</ref>

The county is mostly within the jurisdiction of the federally recognized [[Muscogee (Creek) Nation]], which oversees and represents its members. The far eastern portion of the county is within the jurisdiction of the [[Cherokee Nation|Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma]].<ref name=":0" /> Native Americans, mostly Muscogee, comprise more than 16% of the county's population.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|712|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|618|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|94|sqmi}} (13%) 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> Much of the water surface is attributable to [[Eufaula Lake]], the largest reservoir entirely within the state. Checotah is the nearest city to [[Lake Eufaula State Park]] (formerly Fountainhead State Park). The county is drained by the [[Deep Fork River]], [[North Canadian River]] and [[Canadian River]].<ref name ="EOHC-McIntoshCo"/>

===Major highways===
* [[File:I-40 (OK).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 40 in Oklahoma|Interstate 40]]
* [[File:US 69.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 69 in Oklahoma|U.S. Highway 69]]
* [[File:US 266.svg|23px]] [[U.S. Route 266 (Oklahoma)|U.S. Highway 266]]
* [[File:Oklahoma State Highway 9.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 9 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 9]]
* [[File:Oklahoma State Highway 72.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 72 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 72]]
* [[File:Indian Nation Turnpike.svg|20px]] [[Indian Nation Turnpike]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Muskogee County, Oklahoma|Muskogee County]] (northeast)
* [[Haskell County, Oklahoma|Haskell County]] (southeast)
* [[Pittsburg County, Oklahoma|Pittsburg County]] (south)
* [[Hughes County, Oklahoma|Hughes County]] (southwest)
* [[Okfuskee County, Oklahoma|Okfuskee County]] (west)
* [[Okmulgee County, Oklahoma|Okmulgee County]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 20961
|1920= 26404
|1930= 24924
|1940= 24097
|1950= 17829
|1960= 12371
|1970= 12472
|1980= 15562
|1990= 16779
|2000= 19456
|2010= 20252
|2020= 18941
|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/40/40091.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=November 9, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711184032/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/40/40091.html |archive-date=July 11, 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 19,456 people, 8,085 households, and 5,683 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|12|/km2|/mi2|abbr=on}}. There were 12,640 housing units at an average density of {{convert|8|/km2|/mi2|abbr=on}}. The racial makeup of the county was 72.59% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 4.06% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 16.20% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.14% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.35% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 6.63% from two or more races. 1.27% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 96.4% spoke [[English language|English]], 1.5% [[Muskogee language|Muskogee]] and 1.5% [[Spanish language|Spanish]] as their first language. As of 2020, its population declined to 18,941.<ref name=":1" />

There were 8,085 households, out of which 25.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.60% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 22.30% from 25 to 44, 26.90% from 45 to 64, and 21.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 91.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,964, and the median income for a family was $31,990. Males had a median income of $27,998 versus $19,030 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $16,410. About 13.50% of families and 18.20% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 24.80% of those under age 18 and 13.30% of those age 65 or over.

The most common self-identified ancestry groups in McIntosh County are:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://statisticalatlas.com/county/Oklahoma/McIntosh-County/Ancestry|title=The Demographic Statistical Atlas of the United States - Statistical Atlas}}</ref>

* 24.9% [[English American|English]]
* 19.8% [[Irish American|Irish]]
* 15.8% [[German American|German]]
* 2.7% [[French American|French]]

==Politics==
Despite a Democratic registration advantage as recently as the late 2010s, the county has not voted that way in presidential elections in the 21st century. Although Republican margins in the county have grown at a slower pace than in many other Oklahoma counties of this size, the party has nonetheless won greater than 60% of the county's vote in every election since 2012. In 2024, [[Donald Trump]] won over 75% of the county's vote, the strongest Republican performance in the county's history.

{| 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 | 4,949
| align = center | 40.81%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align = center | 5,512
| align = center | 45.45%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| Others
| align = center | 1,666
| align = center | 13.74%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | 12,127
! align = center | 100%
|}

{{PresHead|place=McIntosh 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|6,387|1,937|115|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|6,172|2,031|132|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|5,505|2,123|335|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|4,509|2,779|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|4,903|3,320|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|4,692|4,488|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|3,444|4,206|131|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|2,400|4,219|1,072|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|2,225|4,184|1,484|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|2,665|4,041|36|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,646|3,479|40|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|2,925|3,654|184|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,822|4,145|48|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,216|1,686|132|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|1,532|1,759|1,254|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,428|3,497|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,221|2,185|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|2,149|2,728|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|2,295|3,007|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,442|3,674|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|2,569|3,190|12|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|3,487|3,771|17|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,470|3,898|16|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,077|4,533|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,742|2,044|35|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|1,675|2,723|97|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|2,358|2,642|259|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|898|1,743|561|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|970|1,325|542|Oklahoma}}
{{PresFoot|1908|Republican|1,606|1,236|148|Oklahoma}}

==Economy==
The county economy has been based primarily on farming and ranching. Corn was the principal crop until 1900, when cotton superseded it (as measured by acreage) around the middle of the 20th century. Other crops such as sorghum, oats and wheat also became important. However, construction of a dam and the resulting [[Eufaula Lake]] inundated much of the best cropland, causing a large-scale decline in agriculture. Cotton farming essentially ceased in the county by the mid-1970s. Cattle ranching has remained important, continuing to rise throughout the century. By 2000, the county reported 55,000 head of cattle.<ref name ="EOHC-McIntoshCo"/>

Completion of Eufaula Lake in 1964 generated revenue from hydroelectric power, stimulated tourism, and produced companion businesses like boat building and general retail.<ref name ="EOHC-McIntoshCo"/>

Mineral resources such as oil, natural gas, limestone, sand and gravel have also been important. While there are ample coal deposits, much of it has a high ash and sulfur content, so little except the low-sulfur type has been mined.<ref name ="EOHC-McIntoshCo"/>

==Communities==

===Cities===
* [[Checotah, Oklahoma|Checotah]]
* [[Eufaula, Oklahoma|Eufaula]] (county seat)

===Towns===
* [[Hanna, Oklahoma|Hanna]]
* [[Hitchita, Oklahoma|Hitchita]]
* [[Rentiesville, Oklahoma|Rentiesville]]
* [[Stidham, Oklahoma|Stidham]]
* [[Vernon, Oklahoma|Vernon]]

===Census-designated places===
* [[Duchess Landing, Oklahoma|Duchess Landing]]
* [[Shady Grove, McIntosh County, Oklahoma|Shady Grove]]
* [[Texanna, Oklahoma|Texanna]]

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Lenna, Oklahoma|Lenna]]

==NRHP sites==
{{Main|National Register of Historic Places listings in McIntosh County, Oklahoma}}
The following sites in McIntosh County are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]:
{{colbegin}}
* [[Checotah Business District]], Checotah
* [[Checotah City Hall]], Checotah
* [[Checotah MKT Depot]], Checotah
* [[C. L. Cooper Building]], Eufaula
* [[Eufaula Armory]], Eufaula
* [[Eufaula, Oklahoma#Eufaula Business District|Eufaula Business District]], Eufaula
* [[First Soil Conservation District Dedication Site]], Eufaula
* [[Battle of Honey Springs|Honey Springs Battlefield]], Rentiesville
* [[Johnson Lake Shelters]], Warner
* [[Eufaula, Oklahoma#McIntosh County Courthouse|McIntosh County Courthouse]], Eufaula
* [[Methodist Episcopal Church, South (Checotah, Oklahoma)|Methodist Episcopal Church, South]], Checotah
* [[Oklahoma Odd Fellows Home at Checotah]], Checotah
* [[Rock Front]], Vernon
* [[Slippery Moss Shelter]], Texanna
* [[Tabor House, Checotah]]
{{colend}}

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

{{Geographic location
| Centre    = McIntosh County
| North     =
| Northeast = [[Muskogee County, Oklahoma|Muskogee County]]
| East      =
| Southeast = [[Haskell County, Oklahoma|Haskell County]]
| South     = [[Pittsburg County, Oklahoma|Pittsburg County]]
| Southwest = [[Hughes County, Oklahoma|Hughes County]]
| West      = [[Okfuskee County, Oklahoma|Okfuskee County]]
| Northwest = [[Okmulgee County, Oklahoma|Okmulgee County]]
}}

{{McIntosh County, Oklahoma}}
{{Oklahoma}}

{{coord|35.38|-95.67|type:adm2nd_region:US-OK_source:UScensus1990|display=title}}

{{authority control}}

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