Bryan County, Oklahoma

Last updated

Bryan County
County
Durant June 2018 02 (Bryan County Courthouse).jpg
Bryan County Courthouse
Map of Oklahoma highlighting Bryan County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Oklahoma
Oklahoma in United States.svg
Oklahoma's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°58′N96°15′W / 33.97°N 96.25°W / 33.97; -96.25
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Oklahoma.svg  Oklahoma
Founded1907
Seat Durant
Largest cityDurant
Area
 • Total
944 sq mi (2,440 km2)
 • Land904 sq mi (2,340 km2)
 • Water39 sq mi (100 km2)  4.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
46,067
 • Density49/sq mi (19/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 2nd

Bryan County is a county in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, the population was 46,067. [1] Its county seat is Durant. [2] It is the only county in the United States named for Democratic politician William Jennings Bryan.

Contents

Bryan County comprises the Durant, OK micropolitan statistical area, which is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth and the Texoma region, TX-OK combined statistical area. The city of Durant has the headquarters of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

Bryan County consists of 10 Townships: Albany, Bennington, Bokchito, Brown, Caddo, Calera, Colbert, Kemp, Matoy, and Speairs. [3]

History

Map of Bryan County, 1909 BryanCounty1909.jpg
Map of Bryan County, 1909

The area now known as Bryan County was occupied by the Choctaw tribe in 1831–2. After the tribe reestablished its government in the Indian Territory, it included much of the area within Blue County, a part of the Pushmataha District of the Choctaw Nation. [4]

In 1845, the tribe opened Armstrong Academy for boys near the community of Bokchito. The academy served as Chahta Tamaha, the Choctaw capital, during the Civil War.

Bloomfield Academy, a school for Chickasaw girls, was opened in 1852, just south of the present town of Achille. [5]

Prior to the Chickasaw removal to Indian Territory, the Chickasaw tribe bought part of the Choctaw allocation. The western quarter of today's Bryan County was made part of the Chickasaw District in 1837. When the two tribes formally separated into two distinct nations in 1855, the Chickasaw District became the Chickasaw Nation. [5]

During the late 1850s, the Butterfield Overland Mail and Stage route followed the older Texas Road across the present county. General Albert Pike established Fort McCulloch for the Confederate Army near the present town of Kenefic on the Blue River. Although no Civil War battles occurred in the vicinity, the fort was garrisoned by more than a thousand Indian troops whose leaders were allied with the Confederates. [5]

After the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway (Katy) built a north–south line through this area in 1872, several new towns were created. One such town was Colbert, which became the seat of Blue County and the largest town in the Choctaw Nation. The St. Louis, San Francisco and New Orleans Railroad, later bought by the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway (Frisco), built an east–west line in 1903. [5]

Just prior to statehood, when all tribal governments were dissolved, Blue County was extinguished. Bryan County was officially established on November 16, 1907, and Durant was designated as the county seat. [5]

The Bridge War, also called the Red River Bridge War or the Toll Bridge War, was a 1931 bloodless boundary conflict between the U.S. states of Oklahoma and Texas over an existing toll bridge and a new free bridge crossing the Red River between Grayson County, Texas and Bryan County, Oklahoma.

Geography

Aerial view of the State Highway No. 78 Bridge at the Red River State Highway 78 Bridge at the Red River.jpg
Aerial view of the State Highway No. 78 Bridge at the Red River

Bryan County is in southeastern Oklahoma, in a 10-county area designated as Choctaw Country for tourism purposes by the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation. [6] According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 944 square miles (2,440 km2), of which 904 square miles (2,340 km2) is land and 39 square miles (100 km2) (4.2%) is water. [7]

The county is in the Coastal Plains physiographic region, and is drained mostly by the Blue River. The Washita River originally drained much of the western part of the county, but now empties into Lake Texoma, which forms much of the southern boundary of the county. [5] The county is a major part of the Texoma region.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1910 29,854—
1920 40,70036.3%
1930 32,277−20.7%
1940 38,13818.2%
1950 28,999−24.0%
1960 24,252−16.4%
1970 25,5525.4%
1980 30,53519.5%
1990 32,0895.1%
2000 36,53413.9%
2010 42,41616.1%
2020 46,0678.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [8]
1790-1960 [9] 1900-1990 [10]
1990-2000 [11] 2010 [12]
Age pyramid for Bryan County, Oklahoma, based on census 2000 data. USA Bryan County, Oklahoma age pyramid.svg
Age pyramid for Bryan County, Oklahoma, based on census 2000 data.

As of the census of 2000, there were 36,534 people, 14,422 households, and 9,936 families residing in the county. [13] The population density was 40 people per square mile (15 people/km2). There were 16,715 housing units at an average density of 18 units per square mile (6.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 80.02% White, 1.42% Black or African American, 12.16% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.08% from other races, and 4.84% from two or more races; 2.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.4% were of American, 10.1% Irish, 8.1% German and 6.7% English ancestry. By 2020, its population grew to 46,067. [1]

In 2000, there were 14,422 households, out of which 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.00% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.10% were non-families. 26.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.98. In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.80% under the age of 18, 11.70% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.40 males.

According to the 2000 census, the median income for a household in the county was $27,888, and the median income for a family was $33,984. Males had a median income of $26,831 versus $20,087 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,217. About 14.00% of families and 18.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.40% of those under age 18 and 17.00% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of May 31, 2023 [14]
PartyNumber of VotersPercentage
Democratic 7,17128.11%
Republican 13,82954.21%
Others4,50817.67%
Total25,508100%
United States presidential election results for Bryan County, Oklahoma [15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 13,99978.59%3,56920.04%2441.37%
2020 12,34477.27%3,32320.80%3091.93%
2016 10,47875.83%2,80420.29%5363.88%
2012 9,52072.12%3,68127.88%00.00%
2008 9,30767.77%4,42632.23%00.00%
2004 8,61559.99%5,74540.01%00.00%
2000 6,08451.80%5,55447.28%1080.92%
1996 3,94334.79%5,96252.60%1,43012.62%
1992 3,45225.63%6,25946.47%3,75727.90%
1988 4,61540.13%6,84959.55%370.32%
1984 6,24653.07%5,47546.52%480.41%
1980 3,98037.61%6,41060.57%1921.81%
1976 2,84827.67%7,41071.99%350.34%
1972 5,39761.91%3,14436.06%1772.03%
1968 2,72733.24%3,21439.17%2,26427.59%
1964 2,65230.89%5,93469.11%00.00%
1960 3,84546.48%4,42853.52%00.00%
1956 2,93933.91%5,72966.09%00.00%
1952 3,34033.14%6,73966.86%00.00%
1948 1,36614.99%7,74885.01%00.00%
1944 1,67718.90%7,18080.91%170.19%
1940 2,19019.36%9,09580.42%250.22%
1936 1,36214.35%8,10685.43%200.21%
1932 8259.70%7,68190.30%00.00%
1928 3,01443.37%3,88555.90%510.73%
1924 1,78025.17%4,59364.95%6999.88%
1920 3,12738.83%4,50255.90%4245.27%
1916 1,26725.30%2,97459.40%76615.30%
1912 71118.49%2,27859.25%85622.26%

Economy

Agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, and distribution are bedrocks of the county's economy. Tourism attractions include Lake Texoma, Lake Durant, the Choctaw Casino Resort, Choctaw Casino Bingo and Fort Washita.

Major employers in the region include the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, the headquarters of the J.C. Potter meat processing facility, Durant's Historic Central Business District and Retail District, a Cardinal Glass Industries manufacturing facility, AllianceHealth Durant, [16] a Big Lots distribution center, the headquarters of First United Bank and First Texoma National Bank, Indian Nation Wholesale, and Wal-Mart.

Communities

City

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

NRHP sites

The following sites in Bryan county are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armstrong, Oklahoma</span> Town in Oklahoma, United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bennington, Oklahoma</span> Incorporated Town in Oklahoma, United States

Bennington is an incorporated town in Bryan County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 334 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bokchito, Oklahoma</span> Town in Oklahoma, United States

Bokchito is a town in Bryan County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 632 at the 2010 census, an increase of 12.1 percent over the figure of 564 recorded in 2000. In the Choctaw language, "bok" means river, and "chito" means big or large, literally translating into "big creek".

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Caddo is a town in Bryan County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 997 at the 2010 census, a 5.6 percent gain over the figure of 944 recorded in 2000. The name is derived from a Caddo word, ka do hada’ cho, meaning "real chief" in English. According to Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, the town was named for the nearby Caddo Hills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calera, Oklahoma</span> Town in Oklahoma, United States

Calera is a town in Bryan County, Oklahoma, United States, located five miles south of Durant and 10 miles north of the Oklahoma-Texas state line. The population was 2,906 at the 2020 census, an increase of 34.2 percent over the figure of 2,164 recorded in 2010 indicating that Calera is experiencing larger growth than Durant and other surrounding areas. It is part of the Durant Micropolitan Area, as well as being part of the Texoma region.

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References

  1. 1 2 "Bryan County, Oklahoma". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ Oklahoma Townships
  4. ↑ Morris, John W. Historical Atlas of Oklahoma (Norman: University of Oklahoma, 1986), plate 38.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Milligan, James C. "Bryan County," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, 2009. Accessed March 28, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Counties & Regions". Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department (Travel Promotion Division). Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  7. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  10. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  12. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
  13. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  14. ↑ "Voter Registration Totals". OK Elections Interactive Statistics Beta. May 31, 2023. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  15. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  16. ↑ http://www.ok-durant.org/files/profiles/22/2017%20Major%20Employers-Durant.pdf [ dead link ]

Further reading

33°58′N96°15′W / 33.97°N 96.25°W / 33.97; -96.25

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