Cherokee County, Oklahoma

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Cherokee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, the population was 47,078.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is Tahlequah,<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> which is also the capital of the Cherokee Nation.<ref name="EOHC-Cherokee County">Burnett, Amanda. "Cherokee County," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, 2009. Accessed March 28, 2015.</ref>

Cherokee County comprises the Tahlequah, OK micropolitan statistical area.

History

File:Cherokee stop sign.png

Cherokee stop sign with Cherokee language transliteration and the Cherokee syllabary in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, with "alehwisdiha" (also spelled "halehwisda") meaning "stop"

File:Cwy no parking.jpg

Cherokee traffic sign in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, reading "tla adi yigi", meaning "no parking" from "tla" meaning "no"

According to a historian, Cherokee County was established in 1907.<ref>Columbia-Lippincott Gazetteer. p. 386</ref> However, the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, states that it was created from the Tahlequah District of the Cherokee Nation in 1906.<ref name="EOHC-Cherokee County"/>Template:Efn

The Cherokee moved to this area as a result of the forced relocation brought about by the Indian Removal Act of 1830, also known as Trail Of Tears. The first significant settlements were at the site of Park Hill, where there was already a mission community, and Tahlequah, which became the seat of Cherokee government. However, the Civil War divided the tribe and caused many of the early structures to be destroyed. Non-Indians began moving into the area illegally starting in the mid-1870s, and became the majority by the 1890s.<ref name="EOHC-Cherokee County"/>

In 1851, the Cherokee Male Seminary opened in Tahlequah and the Cherokee Female Seminary opened in Park Hill. The latter burned down in 1887 and was rebuilt in Tahlequah. A 1910 fire destroyed the Male Seminary. The Female Seminary became Northeastern State Normal School after statehood in 1907 and is now part of Northeastern State University.<ref name="EOHC-Cherokee County"/>

During 1901 – 1903, The Ozark and Cherokee Central Railway, which later became part of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway was the first to build a track in the county. It boosted the shipment of farm products through the 1920s, but declined during the Great Depression. All rail service ceased in 1942.<ref name="EOHC-Cherokee County"/>

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (3.5%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

The county lies in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. It includes most of Tenkiller Lake and part of Fort Gibson Lake. The principal river running through it is the Illinois River. Grand River (Oklahoma) forms part of its western boundary.<ref name="EOHC-Cherokee County"/>

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Delaware County (north)
Adair County (east)
Sequoyah County (south)
Muskogee County (southwest)
Wagoner County (west)
Mayes County (northwest)

Demographics

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As of the census of 2000, there were 42,521 people, 16,175 households, and 11,079 families residing in the county.<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. There were 19,499 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 56.41% White, 1.20% Black or African American, 32.42% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.10% from other races, and 7.56% from two or more races. 4.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 92.7% spoke English, 3.8% Spanish and 2.7% Cherokee as their first language. At the publication of the 2020 census, its population grew to 48,078.<ref name=":0" />

In 2000, there were 16,175 households, out of which 32.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.50% were married couples living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.50% were non-families. 25.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.04. In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.30% under the age of 18, 14.60% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 96.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.

As of 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $26,536, and the median income for a family was $32,369. Males had a median income of $25,993 versus $21,048 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,436. About 17.00% of families and 22.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.40% of those under age 18 and 13.80% of those age 65 or over. In 2021, the median household income was an estimated $47,421.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Education

Primary & secondary education

Public K-12 school districts in the county include:<ref>Template:Cite map - Text list</ref>

K-12 school districts: Template:Div col

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Elementary school districts: Template:Div col

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Charter school:

Cherokee Immersion School

Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)-affiliated tribal school:

Sequoyah Schools

Colleges

File:Seminary Hall.jpg

Tahlequah is home to Northeastern State University.

Northeastern State University is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of Oklahoma as well as one of the oldest institutions of higher learning west of the Mississippi River.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Tahlequah is home to the capital of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and about 25 percent of the students at NSU identify themselves as American Indian.<ref name="EOHC-NSU">Agnew, Brad. Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. "Northeastern State University."Template:Cite web</ref> The university has many courses focused on Native American linguistics, and offers Cherokee language Education as a major.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Cherokee can be studied as a second language, and some classes are taught in Cherokee for first language speakers as well.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Politics

Despite the county being home to a significant Native American population and a historically wide Democratic registration advantage, the county has voted Republican in every presidential elections in the 21st century. Donald Trump beat Joe Biden 63%-34% in 2020. However, the county still will on occasion support local Democrats, as it narrowly voted for Democrat Drew Edmondson over Republican Kevin Stitt in the 2018 gubernatorial race.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of May 31, 2023<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Party		Number of voters	Percentage
Template:Party color cell	Democratic	10,590	40.15%
Template:Party color cell	Republican	10,845	41.12%
Template:Party color cell	Others	4,938	18.72%
Total		26,373	100%

Economy

Since statehood, the economy of Cherokee County has been based on agriculture, especially production of corn, wheat and vegetables. However, the percentage of the population engaged in farming has declined from 62 percent in 1940 to 4.4 percent in 1990. This is largely due to increased urbanization around Tahlequah since World War II. Agriculture remains very important. In 2002, this county ranked first in Oklahoma for the value of nursery and greenhouse crops and seventh in the state for poultry and eggs.<ref name="EOHC-Cherokee County"/> Illinois River and Lake Tenkiller tourism are perhaps of greater economic impact than agriculture, and both have lodging, water sports and recreation outfitters, fishing equipment and guides, eating and drinking establishments, campgrounds, festival events, and organizations for the conservation of resources.

Major non-agricultural employers in the county now include the Cherokee Nation government and Northeastern State University,<ref name="EOHC-Cherokee County"/>

Communities

City

Tahlequah (county seat)

Towns

Census-designated places

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Other unincorporated community

Qualls

NRHP sites

Template:Main The following sites in Cherokee County are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:

Cherokee Female Seminary, Tahlequah
Cherokee National Capitol, Tahlequah
Cherokee National Jail, Tahlequah
Cherokee Supreme Court Building, Tahlequah
First Cherokee Female Seminary Site, Tahlequah
French-Parks House, Tahlequah
Illinois Campground, Tahlequah
Indian University of Tahlequah, Tahlequah
Dr. Irwin D. Leoser Log Cabin, Tahlequah
Murrell Home, Park Hill
Park Hill Mission Cemetery, Park Hill (also known as Worcester Cemetery<ref>Template:NRHP url Accessed March 4, 2016.</ref>).
Ross Cemetery, Park Hill
Tahlequah Armory, Tahlequah
Tahlequah Carnegie Library, Tahlequah
Joseph M. Thompson House, Tahlequah