Mayes County, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Mayes County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Oklahoma
. It was named for Samuel Houston Mayes
, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation
from 1895 to 1899. According to the 2010 census
the population was 41,259, a 7.5 percent increase from 2000, when the population was 38,369. Its county seat
is Pryor Creek, Oklahoma
.
French voyageurs
roamed the area in the early 18th Century, giving French names to many of the waterways and other local sites. Jean Pierre Chouteau
established a trading post at the location of the present town of Salina
, where he chiefly traded with the Osage
tribe that had settled in the vicinity. Union Mission, near the present day town of Chouteau, Oklahoma
was established in 1820. Rev. Samuel Worcestor set up the first printing press in this part of the United States at Union Mission in 1835.
In 1828, members of the Western Cherokee Nation
began arriving in the area from their former lands in Arkansas
. The Eastern Cherokee, who were forced from their homes in Tennessee
, Georgia
and North Carolina
, followed during the 1830s. In 1841, the present Mayes County area became part of the Saline District of the Cherokee Nation.
, the county has a total area of 684 square miles (1,771.6 km²), of which 656 square miles (1,699 km²) is land and 27 square miles (69.9 km²) (4.00%) is water.
The county is bisected by the Grand River
. The eastern half of the county is on the Ozark Plateau, with flat areas divided by deep stream valleys. The western half is in the Prairie Plains
.
The county contains several man-made major reservoirs, including:
Lake Spavinaw is owned by the city of Tulsa and is the principal source of water for the city. The other three reservoirs were built by the Federal Government primarily for flood control and hydroelectric power generation. They are managed by the Grand River Dam Authority
(GRDA). GRDA also manages the GRDA Coal-fired power generation station.
In 1960, the former munitions plant near Pryor was converted into the Mid-America Industrial Park, which included plants manufacturing paper, cement and fertilizer.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 38,369 people, 14,823 households, and 10,820 families residing in the county. The population density
was 58 people per square mile (23/km²). There were 17,423 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 72.14% White
, 0.30% Black
or African American
, 19.10% Native American
, 0.28% Asian
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
, 0.62% from other races
, and 7.55% from two or more races. 1.87% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. 94.8% spoke English
, 2.1% Cherokee
, 1.4% Spanish
and 1.2% German
as their first language.
There were 14,823 households out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.20% were married couples
living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% were non-families. 23.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the county, the population was spread out with 26.60% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 26.20% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,125, and the median income for a family was $37,542. Males had a median income of $31,668 versus $20,573 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $15,350. About 11.20% of families and 14.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.90% of those under age 18 and 10.90% 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 for Samuel Houston Mayes
Samuel Houston Mayes
Samuel Houston Mayes was Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation from 1895 to 1899.-Background:He was born May 11, 1845, near Stilwell, Oklahoma and was named for Samuel Houston, a friend of his father, Samuel Mayes. He was brother of Joel B. Mayes...
, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation
Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation
Principal Chief is today the title of the chief executives of the Cherokee Nation, of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, the three federally recognized tribes of Cherokee. In the eighteenth century, when the people were organized by clans and...
from 1895 to 1899. According to the 2010 census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...
the population was 41,259, a 7.5 percent increase from 2000, when the population was 38,369. 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 Pryor Creek, Oklahoma
Pryor Creek, Oklahoma
Pryor Creek, usually known as simply Pryor, is a city in Mayes County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 8,659 at the 2000 census, compared to 9,539 in the 2010 census....
.
History
According to the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, the area covered by what is now Mayes County has many prehistoric sites. There is evidence of human habitation dated before 6,000 B. C., plus 35 Archaic sites ( 6,000 B. C to 1 A. D.), 25 Woodland sites (1 A. D. to 1000 A. D.) and 31 Plains Village sites (1000 A. D. to 1500 A. D.French voyageurs
Voyageurs
The Voyageurs were the persons who engaged in the transportation of furs by canoe during the fur trade era. Voyageur is a French word which literally translates to "traveler"...
roamed the area in the early 18th Century, giving French names to many of the waterways and other local sites. Jean Pierre Chouteau
Jean Pierre Chouteau
Jean Pierre Chouteau was a French-Canadian fur trader, merchant, politician and slaveholder. An early settler of St. Louis, Missouri, he became one its most prominent citizens. He and his brother Auguste Chouteau, known as the "river barons", negotiated the many political changes as the city...
established a trading post at the location of the present town of Salina
Salina, Oklahoma
Salina is a town in Mayes County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,396 at the 2010 census, a slight decline from 1,422 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, where he chiefly traded with the Osage
Osage Nation
The Osage Nation is a Native American Siouan-language tribe in the United States that originated in the Ohio River valley in present-day Kentucky. After years of war with invading Iroquois, the Osage migrated west of the Mississippi River to their historic lands in present-day Arkansas, Missouri,...
tribe that had settled in the vicinity. Union Mission, near the present day town of Chouteau, Oklahoma
Chouteau, Oklahoma
Chouteau is the second-largest town in Mayes County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,097 at the 2010 census, compared to 1,931 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Chouteau is located at ....
was established in 1820. Rev. Samuel Worcestor set up the first printing press in this part of the United States at Union Mission in 1835.
In 1828, members of the Western Cherokee Nation
Cherokee Nation
The Cherokee Nation is the largest of three Cherokee federally recognized tribes in the United States. It was established in the 20th century, and includes people descended from members of the old Cherokee Nation who relocated voluntarily from the Southeast to Indian Territory and Cherokees who...
began arriving in the area from their former lands in Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
. The Eastern Cherokee, who were forced from their homes in Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, followed during the 1830s. In 1841, the present Mayes County area became part of the Saline District of the Cherokee Nation.
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 684 square miles (1,771.6 km²), of which 656 square miles (1,699 km²) is land and 27 square miles (69.9 km²) (4.00%) is water.
The county is bisected by the Grand River
Grand River (Oklahoma)
The Grand River is an alternate name for the lower section of the Neosho River, a tributary of the Arkansas River in Oklahoma. "Grand River" refers to the section of river below the confluence of the Neosho and Spring rivers in Ottawa County near Miami...
. The eastern half of the county is on the Ozark Plateau, with flat areas divided by deep stream valleys. The western half is in the Prairie Plains
Great Plains
The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...
.
The county contains several man-made major reservoirs, including:
- Lake Fort Gibson;
- Lake Spavinaw;
- Grand Lake o' the CherokeesGrand Lake o' the CherokeesGrand Lake o' the Cherokees is situated in Northeast Oklahoma, nestled in the foothills of the Ozark Mountain Range. The "o'" in the name of the lake stands for of not over. Grand Lake Of the Cherokees is the official name. It is often simply called Grand Lake...
; - Lake Hudson;
- Salina Pumped Storage Project.
Lake Spavinaw is owned by the city of Tulsa and is the principal source of water for the city. The other three reservoirs were built by the Federal Government primarily for flood control and hydroelectric power generation. They are managed by the Grand River Dam Authority
Grand River Dam Authority
The Grand River Dam Authority is an Oklahoma agency created to control, develop, and maintain the Grand River waterway. It was created by the Oklahoma state legislature in 1935, and is headquartered in Vinita, Oklahoma. It operates three hydroelectric facilities and two reservoirs, Grand Lake...
(GRDA). GRDA also manages the GRDA Coal-fired power generation station.
Economy
Agriculture has long been the primary economic activity in the county. Important crops include:corn, soybeans, sorghum and hay. Cattle raising and dairy farming occur in the more rugged parts of the Ozark Plateau.In 1960, the former munitions plant near Pryor was converted into the Mid-America Industrial Park, which included plants manufacturing paper, cement and fertilizer.
Major highways
Interstate 44
U.S. Highway 69
U.S. Highway 412
State Highway 20State Highway 20 (Oklahoma)State Highway 20 is a highway in northeastern Oklahoma. Its eastern terminus is at the corner of Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri near Southwest City, Missouri; its western terminus is at State Highway 18 near Ralston...
State Highway 28State Highway 28 (Oklahoma)State Highway 28 is a state highway in Oklahoma. It runs 68.8 miles in an irregular west-to-east pattern through Nowata, Rogers, Mayes and Delaware counties.There is one letter-suffixed spur highway branching from SH-28, SH-28A....
State Highway 82
Demographics
As of 2010 Mayes County had a population of 41.259. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 68.0% white, 0.4% black, 21.4% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.8% reporting some other race and 9.0% of the population reporting two or more races. 2.7% of the population reported being Hispanic or Latino of any race.As of the census
Census
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 38,369 people, 14,823 households, and 10,820 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 58 people per square mile (23/km²). There were 17,423 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 72.14% 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...
, 0.30% 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...
, 19.10% 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...
, 0.28% 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...
, 0.01% 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...
, 0.62% 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 7.55% from two or more races. 1.87% 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. 94.8% spoke English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, 2.1% Cherokee
Cherokee language
Cherokee is an Iroquoian language spoken by the Cherokee people which uses a unique syllabary writing system. It is the only Southern Iroquoian language that remains spoken. Cherokee is a polysynthetic language.-North American etymology:...
, 1.4% Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
and 1.2% German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
as their first language.
There were 14,823 households out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.20% 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, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% were non-families. 23.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the county, the population was spread out with 26.60% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 26.20% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,125, and the median income for a family was $37,542. Males had a median income of $31,668 versus $20,573 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 $15,350. About 11.20% of families and 14.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.90% of those under age 18 and 10.90% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
|
Grand Lake Towne, Oklahoma Grand Lake Towne is a town in Mayes County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 74 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Grand Lake Towne is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land.... Hoot Owl, Oklahoma Hoot Owl is a town in Mayes County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of zero . By 2010, the population had risen to 4.- Geography :... Langley, Oklahoma Langley is a town in Mayes County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 819 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Langley is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land.... Locust Grove, Oklahoma Locust Grove is a town in Mayes County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,423 at the 2010 census compared to 1,366 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Locust Grove is located at .... |
Pensacola, Oklahoma Pensacola is a town in Mayes County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 125 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Pensacola is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land.... Pryor Creek, Oklahoma Pryor Creek, usually known as simply Pryor, is a city in Mayes County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 8,659 at the 2000 census, compared to 9,539 in the 2010 census.... Salina, Oklahoma Salina is a town in Mayes County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,396 at the 2010 census, a slight decline from 1,422 at the 2000 census.-History:... Spavinaw, Oklahoma Spavinaw is a town in Mayes County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 563 at the 2000 census. The town is best known as the birthplace of baseball player Mickey Mantle.-Geography:Spavinaw is located at .... |
Sportsmen Acres, Oklahoma Sportsmen Acres is a town in Mayes County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 322 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Sportsmen Acres is located at .... Strang, Oklahoma Strang is a town in Mayes County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 89 at the 2000 census.1-Geography:Strang is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land.... |
Census Designated Places (CDPs)
|
Mazie, Oklahoma Mazie is a census-designated place in Mayes County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 91 at the Mazie is a [[census-designated place]] in [[Mayes County, Oklahoma|Mayes County]], [[Oklahoma]], [[United States]]... Murphy, Oklahoma Murphy is a census-designated place in Mayes County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 231 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Murphy is located at .... Pin Oak Acres, Oklahoma Pin Oak Acres is a census-designated place in Mayes County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 427 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Pin Oak Acres is located at .... |
Pump Back, Oklahoma Pump Back is a census-designated place in Mayes County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 175 at the 2010 census compared to 155 at the 2000 census, a gain of 13 pecent.-Geography:... Sams Corner, Oklahoma Sams Corner is a census-designated place in Mayes County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 137 at the 2010 census, compared to 126 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sams Corner is located at .... Snake Creek, Oklahoma Snake Creek is a census-designated place in Mayes County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 298 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Snake Creek is located at .... |
Sportsmen Acres Community, Oklahoma Sportsmen Acres Community is a census-designated place in Mayes County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 322 on the 2010 census.- Geography :... Wickliffe, Oklahoma Wickliffe is a census-designated place in Mayes County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 99 at the 2000 census, but only 75 at the 2010 census, a drop of 25 percent.-Geography:Wickliffe is located at .... |
NRHP sites
The following sites in Mayes County are listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
:
- Cabin Creek Battlefield, Pensacola
- Farmers and Merchants Bank, Chouteau
- Lewis Ross/Cherokee Orphan Asylum Springhouse, Salina
- Pensacola DamPensacola DamThe Pensacola Dam, also known as the Grand River Dam, is a multiple-arch buttress dam on the Grand River in-between Disney and Langley in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The dam is operated by the Grand River Dam Authority and creates Grand Lake o' the Cherokees...
, Langley - Territorial Commercial District, Chouteau
- Union Mission Site, Mazie
Adjacent counties
- Craig CountyCraig County, OklahomaCraig County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010, the population was 15,029, a gain of 0.5 percent from 14,950 in 2000. Its county seat is Vinita.Craig County was organized in 1907.-History:...
(north) - Delaware CountyDelaware County, OklahomaDelaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 37,077 and the newest population estimate is 45,000. Its county seat is Jay. The county was named for the Delaware Indians resettled in what was then Indian Territory in the 1830s. .Delaware County...
(east) - Cherokee CountyCherokee County, OklahomaCherokee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 42,521. Its county seat is Tahlequah.Cherokee County was established in 1907.-Geography:...
(southeast) - Wagoner CountyWagoner County, OklahomaWagoner County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010, the population was 73,085. Its county seat is Wagoner.-Early History:The area of Wagoner County was settled by the Creek after their forced removal in Alabama in the 1820's...
(south) - Rogers CountyRogers County, OklahomaRogers County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010, the population was 86,905. Its county seat is Claremore. The county was originally created in 1906 and named Cooweescoowee...
(west)