Keys, Oklahoma

Keys, Oklahoma
Census-designated place
Location within Cherokee County and the state of Oklahoma
Coordinates: 35°48′08″N94°57′38″W / 35.80222°N 94.96056°W / 35.80222; -94.96056
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
County	Cherokee
Area [1]
• Total	9.76 sq mi (25.29 km2)
• Land	9.75 sq mi (25.24 km2)
• Water	0.019 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation [2]	961 ft (293 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,030
• Density	105.7/sq mi (40.81/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CST)
FIPS code	40-39625
GNIS feature ID	2408478 [2]

Keys is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Cherokee County, Oklahoma, United States. ^[2] As of the 2020 census, Keys had a population of 1,030. ^[3]

Geography

Keys is located south of the center of Cherokee County and is bordered by Park Hill to the north and Pettit to the south. The eastern end of the CDP is bordered by the Illinois River at the northern end of Tenkiller Ferry Lake.

Oklahoma State Highway 82 forms the western and southern edges of the Keys CDP; it leads north 8 miles (13 km) to Tahlequah, the Cherokee County seat, and southeast 5 miles (8.0 km) to Cherokee Landing State Park on Tenkiller Ferry Lake.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Keys CDP has a total area of 5.53 square miles (14.33 km²), of which 5.51 square miles (14.28 km²) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km²), or 0.33%, is water. ^[4]

School

Keys has recently acquired a high school. Its mascot is a cougar, and the school colors are red and white.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2010	565		—
2020	1,030		82.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [5]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Keys had a population of 1,030. The median age was 38.3 years. 27.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 83.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 84.2 males age 18 and over. ^{[6] [7]}

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas. ^[8]

There were 377 households in Keys, of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 56.2% were married-couple households, 18.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. ^[6]

There were 445 housing units, of which 15.3% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.7%. ^[6]

Racial composition as of the 2020 census ^[7]

Race	Number	Percent
White	466	45.2%
Black or African American	6	0.6%
American Indian and Alaska Native	357	34.7%
Asian	2	0.2%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	7	0.7%
Two or more races	192	18.6%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)	53	5.1%

2010 census

At the 2010 census, ^[9] there were 565 people, 189 households and 160 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 102.7 inhabitants per square mile (39.7/km²). There were 221 housing units at an average density of 40.2 per square mile (15.5/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 47.8% White, 0.5% African American, 37.2% Native American, 2.3% from other races, and 12.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.2% of the population.

There were 189 households, of which 39.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.6% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.3% were non-families. 12.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.26.

29.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.7 males. ^[10]

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Keys, Oklahoma
3. "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Keys CDP, Oklahoma". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 18, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
5. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
6. "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
7. "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
8. "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
9. "2010 U.S. Census: Profile of General Population and Housing" . Retrieved December 9, 2012.
10. "2010 U.S. Census: Age Groups and Sex". Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2012.