Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, its population was 40,397.[1] Its county seat is Jay.[2] The county was named for the Delaware Indians, who had established a village in the area prior to the Cherokees being assigned to relocate to Indian Territory in the 1830s. Delaware County was created in 1907. Prior to becoming Delaware County, a large portion of the area was known as the Delaware District of the Cherokee Nation. Today, Delaware County continues to be recognized by the Cherokee Nation as the Delaware District.
Archaeological studies have shown that at least three different periods of prehistoric people had lived in the area covered by Delaware County. These included 23 Archaic, 17 Woodland, and 63 Eastern Villager sites. Artifacts date back between 1400 and 2000 years from the present. Many of these sites have been submerged since the creation of Grand Lake o' the Cherokees.[3]
Few Native Americans lived in the area until the early 19th century, when the federal government began relocating tribes from the Eastern United States. About 1820, a group of Delaware, who had allied with the Cherokee against the Osage, settled Delaware Town, about two miles south of the present town of Eucha. In 1828, the Western Cherokee moved from Arkansas Territory into the area just south of the present Delaware County. In 1832, the Seneca moved from Ohio into an area that included the northeastern part of Delaware County.[3]
The present-day county was created at statehood in 1907. Initially, Grove, the only incorporated town in the county, was designated as the county seat. However, a large number of county residents wanted a more centrally located seat. This group founded the town of Jay, where they built a wooden courthouse and won an election to move the county seat. A court suit resolved the dispute in favor of the Jay location.[3]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 792 square miles (2,050km2), of which 54 square miles (140km2) (6.8%) are covered by water.[4] The county lies on the western slope of the Ozark Plateau; no oil, gas, or mineral resources of economic consequence are present, but the county has abundant water.[3]
U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7] 1990-2000[8] 2010[9]
Age pyramid for Delaware County, Oklahoma, based on census 2000 data
As of the 2010 census, 41,487 people resided in the county, up from 37,077 people in 2000. Of the 14,838 households, 29.0% had children under living with them, 59.5% were married couples living together, 8.9 had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.4% were not families. About 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.89. In the county, the age distribution was 24.5% under 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 24.40% from 25 to 44, 26.70% from 45 to 64, and 17.50% who were 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 96.50 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 93.80 males.
As of 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $27,996, and the median income for a family was $33,093. Males had a median income of $25,758 versus $19,345 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,424. About 14.10% of families and 18.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.40% of those under age 18 and 11.60% of those age 65 or over.
In the 2000 census, 14,838 households and 10,772 families resided in the county. The population density was 50 peopleper square mile (19 people/km2). The 22,290 housing units had an average density of 30 unitsper square mile (12/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 70.22% White, 0.13% African American, 22.31% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.63% from other races, and 6.53% from two or more races. Self-identified Hispanics or Latinos made up 1.75% of the population. About 93.8% spoke English, 3.5% Cherokee, and 2.3% Spanish as their first language.
Politics
Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of June 30, 2023[10]
Delaware County, together with Ottawa County to the north, has a large impact on tourism in Oklahoma. Said counties combined are the third-largest tourism destination in the state, following only the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metropolitan areas.[12]
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United States
Oklahoma 
