Custer County, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Custer County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Oklahoma
. It was named in honor of General George Armstrong Custer
. As of 2000, the population was 26,142. Its county seat
is Arapaho
.
, the county has a total area of 1002 square miles (2,595.2 km²), of which 987 square miles (2,556.3 km²) is land and 15 square miles (38.8 km²) (1.55%) is water.
land, and called G County. On November 6, 1896 it was renamed Custer County after General George Armstrong Custer
, who was killed at the Battle of Little Bighorn. The county was settled by white settlers during the third official land run of April 19, 1892. On this day the first newspaper of the county appeared, the Arapaho Arrow.
of 2000, there were 26,142 people, 10,136 households, and 6,578 families residing in the county. The population density
was 26 people per square mile (10/km²). There were 11,675 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 81.41% White
, 2.87% Black
or African American
, 5.81% Native American
, 0.88% Asian
, 0.04% Pacific Islander
, 5.80% from other races
, and 3.20% from two or more races. 9.03% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 10,136 households out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.60% were married couples
living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.10% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the county, the population was spread out with 24.30% under the age of 18, 17.40% from 18 to 24, 24.50% from 25 to 44, 20.10% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 94.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,524, and the median income for a family was $37,247. Males had a median income of $27,066 versus $19,479 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $15,584. About 12.40% of families and 18.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.00% of those under age 18 and 10.50% of those age 65 or over.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. It was named in honor of General George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1858, where he graduated last in his class...
. As of 2000, the population was 26,142. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Arapaho
Arapaho, Oklahoma
Arapaho is a town in Custer County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 796 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Custer County. Its name derives from the Arapaho Indians.-Geography:Arapaho is located at ....
.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the county has a total area of 1002 square miles (2,595.2 km²), of which 987 square miles (2,556.3 km²) is land and 15 square miles (38.8 km²) (1.55%) is water.
Major highways
Interstate 40
U.S. Highway 183
State Highway 33State Highway 33 (Oklahoma)Oklahoma's State Highway 33 is a major highway that traverses most of the state, and at one time traversed the entire state. Its general orientation is west to east. All mileages listed herein are from the western terminus of the highway at the Texas state line.-Roger Mills County:SH-33 begins...
State Highway 44
State Highway 47State Highway 47 (Oklahoma)State Highway 47 is a state highway in Oklahoma. It runs west-to-east in Roger Mills, Dewey and Custer counties.The current SH-47 was first established in late 1936. Over time it was expanded, reaching its current extent in 1945...
State Highway 54
State Highway 73State Highway 73 (Oklahoma)State Highway 73 is a 24½ mi state highway mostly in Custer Co., Oklahoma, although a stretch of about four-fifths of a mile of its eastbound lane lies in Roger Mills Co. SH-73 has no lettered spur routes.-Route description:State Highway 73 begins at State Highway 34 south of Hammon...
Adjacent counties
- Dewey CountyDewey County, OklahomaDewey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 4,743. Its county seat is Taloga.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and is water....
(north) - Blaine CountyBlaine County, OklahomaBlaine County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population is 11,976. Its county seat is Watonga. Blaine County is the birthplace of voice actor Clarence Nash, the voice of Donald Duck....
(east) - Caddo CountyCaddo County, OklahomaCaddo County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 30,150. Its county seat is Anadarko. It is named after the Caddo tribe who were settled here on the 1870s...
(southeast) - Washita CountyWashita County, OklahomaWashita County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 11,508. Its county seat is New Cordell. It was formerly located in Cloud Chief, Oklahoma....
(south) - Beckham CountyBeckham County, OklahomaBeckham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 19,799. Its county seat is Sayre.Founded upon statehood in 1907, Beckham County was named for J. C. W...
(southwest) - Roger Mills CountyRoger Mills County, OklahomaRoger Mills County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 3,436. Its county seat is Cheyenne.-History:Roger Mills County takes its name from Roger Q. Mills, a prominent American politician from Texas...
(west)
History
Custer County was formed on April 19, 1892 as an original county from CheyenneCheyenne
Cheyenne are a Native American people of the Great Plains, who are of the Algonquian language family. The Cheyenne Nation is composed of two united tribes, the Só'taeo'o and the Tsétsêhéstâhese .The Cheyenne are thought to have branched off other tribes of Algonquian stock inhabiting lands...
land, and called G County. On November 6, 1896 it was renamed Custer County after General George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1858, where he graduated last in his class...
, who was killed at the Battle of Little Bighorn. The county was settled by white settlers during the third official land run of April 19, 1892. On this day the first newspaper of the county appeared, the Arapaho Arrow.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 26,142 people, 10,136 households, and 6,578 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 26 people per square mile (10/km²). There were 11,675 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 81.41% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 2.87% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 5.81% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.88% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.04% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 5.80% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.20% from two or more races. 9.03% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 10,136 households out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.60% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.10% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the county, the population was spread out with 24.30% under the age of 18, 17.40% from 18 to 24, 24.50% from 25 to 44, 20.10% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 94.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,524, and the median income for a family was $37,247. Males had a median income of $27,066 versus $19,479 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $15,584. About 12.40% of families and 18.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.00% of those under age 18 and 10.50% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
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Custer City, Oklahoma Custer City is a town in Custer County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 375 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Custer City is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:... Hammon, Oklahoma Hammon is a town in Custer and Roger Mills counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Located at the junction of Oklahoma Highways 33 & 34, the majority of the town is in Roger Mills County, but some of the town limits extend into Custer County. The population was 568 at the 2010... |
Thomas, Oklahoma Thomas is a city in Custer County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,181 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Thomas is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.... Weatherford, Oklahoma Weatherford is a city in Custer County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 10,833 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Weatherford is located at , elevation 1,647 feet .... |