McClain County | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 35°00′N97°26′W / 35°N 97.44°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Oklahoma |
Founded | 1907 |
Seat | Purcell |
Largest city | Newcastle |
Area | |
• Total | 580 sq mi (1,500 km2) |
• Land | 571 sq mi (1,480 km2) |
• Water | 9.6 sq mi (25 km2) 1.6%% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 41,662 |
• Density | 72/sq mi (28/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Congressional district | 4th |
Website | mcclain-co-ok |
McClain County is a county located in south central Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, the population was 41,662. [1] Its county seat is Purcell. [2] The county was named for Charles M. McClain, an Oklahoma constitutional convention attendee. [3]
McClain County is part of the Oklahoma City, OK metropolitan statistical area.
The Chickasaw tribe began moving into this area in 1837, when the land had already been assigned to the Choctaws by the U.S. government. In 1855, the area became part of the Chickasaw Nation, after the two tribes officially separated. The present McClain County became part of Pontotoc County, Chickasaw Nation and remained so until Oklahoma attained statehood. Few Chickasaws lived here because of hostilities with western tribes (e.g., Kiowa). Major Richard Mason established Camp Holmes (also called Camp Mason) in 1835, near the present city of Lexington, while negotiating a treaty between the western tribes and the newly arrived Choctaws. Federal troops abandoned the camp in August 1835, after the Treaty of Camp Holmes was signed. [3]
Auguste Pierre Chouteau built a trading post at the Camp Holmes site, but it closed after Chouteau died in 1838. Randolph Marcy is credited with bringing the California Road through this area in 1849. The U.S. Army built Camp Arbuckle in 1850 to protect the road, but the troops were withdrawn to what is now Garvin County, Oklahoma in the following year. [3]
Jesse Chisholm also operated a trading post in this area around 1850. A group of Delaware Indians occupied the former camp, then known as Beaversville, but left before the outbreak of the Civil War. [3]
Montford T. Johnson, a rancher, moved to this area after the Civil War. He and Jesse Chisholm, who acted as the negotiator, obtained an agreement with the Chickasaw leaders to allow ranching on their land, provided no whites were employed. Thereafter, Johnson built a ranch and hired a Chickasaw freedman to operate it. He then established other ranches and hired another freedman to run those. [3]
The Southern Kansas Railway built a line south from Kansas to present McClain County in 1886–7, and the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway (both of which were controlled by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, AT&SF) built a line north from Texas, meeting at and founding the town of Purcell. Eastern Oklahoma Railroad (later acquired by the AT&SF) laid tracks in 1900-04 from Newkirk to Pauls Valley, passing through eastern McClain County. In 1906 the Oklahoma Central Railway (sold to AT&SF in 1914) built a line that traversed McClain County from the southeast to the northwest. It ran through Byars and Purcell, and established Washington, Cole, and Blanchard. [3]
Purcell was a starting point for the Land Run of 1889. It also was at the dividing line between Indian Territory, where alcohol could not be sold, and Oklahoma Territory, where alcohol sale was legal. The town of Lexington, across the river from Purcell, had numerous saloons. In 1899, the Purcell Bridge Company built a toll bridge across the river, profiting from the alcohol trade. [3]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 580 square miles (1,500 km2), of which 571 square miles (1,480 km2) is land and 9.6 square miles (25 km2) (1.6%) is water. [4] The county lies largely in the Red Bed Plains region of the Osage Plains. The western part of the county is hilly and covered with black jack oak trees, while the eastern part is level lowlands. The South Canadian River forms the northern border, The Washita River flows through the southwestern corner, and is fed by several McClain County creeks. [3]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1910 | 15,659 | — | |
1920 | 19,326 | 23.4% | |
1930 | 21,575 | 11.6% | |
1940 | 19,205 | −11.0% | |
1950 | 14,681 | −23.6% | |
1960 | 12,740 | −13.2% | |
1970 | 14,157 | 11.1% | |
1980 | 20,291 | 43.3% | |
1990 | 22,795 | 12.3% | |
2000 | 27,740 | 21.7% | |
2010 | 34,506 | 24.4% | |
2020 | 41,662 | 20.7% | |
2021 (est.) | 43,516 | [5] | 4.5% |
U.S. Decennial Census [6] 1790-1960 [7] 1900-1990 [8] 1990-2000 [9] 2010-2019 [10] |
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 34,506 people, 12,891 households, and 9,785 families residing in the county. The population density was 59.5 people per square mile (23/km2). There were 13,996 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile (9.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 84.5% white, 0.7% black or African American, 6.4% Native American, 0.4% Asian, less than 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.7% from other races, and 5.3% from two or more races. Seven percent of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. By 2020, its population was 41,662. [1]
There were 12,891 households, out of which 37.4% included children under the age of 18, 61.3% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 24.1% were non-families. Individuals living alone accounted for 20.1% of households and individuals 65 years of age or older living alone accounted for 8.1%. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.6% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.4 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $56,126, and the median income for a family was $67,948. Males had a median income of $42,262 versus $32,821 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,898. About 8% of families and 12% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11% of those under age 18 and 8% of those age 65 or over.
Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of February 28, 2022 [11] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Number of Voters | Percentage | |||
Republican | 16,540 | 63.38% | |||
Democratic | 5,692 | 21.81% | |||
Libertarian | 190 | 0.73% | |||
Unaffiliated | 3,675 | 14.08% | |||
Total | 26,097 | 100% |
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 15,295 | 79.51% | 3,582 | 18.62% | 359 | 1.87% |
2016 | 13,169 | 78.12% | 2,894 | 17.17% | 795 | 4.72% |
2012 | 11,112 | 77.67% | 3,194 | 22.33% | 0 | 0.00% |
2008 | 11,193 | 75.92% | 3,551 | 24.08% | 0 | 0.00% |
2004 | 10,041 | 72.85% | 3,742 | 27.15% | 0 | 0.00% |
2000 | 6,750 | 64.05% | 3,679 | 34.91% | 110 | 1.04% |
1996 | 4,363 | 46.22% | 3,753 | 39.76% | 1,323 | 14.02% |
1992 | 4,377 | 40.62% | 3,378 | 31.35% | 3,021 | 28.03% |
1988 | 4,771 | 56.44% | 3,594 | 42.52% | 88 | 1.04% |
1984 | 6,056 | 69.83% | 2,549 | 29.39% | 67 | 0.77% |
1980 | 4,284 | 56.87% | 2,990 | 39.69% | 259 | 3.44% |
1976 | 2,444 | 37.19% | 4,048 | 61.59% | 80 | 1.22% |
1972 | 4,241 | 73.16% | 1,350 | 23.29% | 206 | 3.55% |
1968 | 2,047 | 36.98% | 1,842 | 33.27% | 1,647 | 29.75% |
1964 | 1,638 | 31.05% | 3,638 | 68.95% | 0 | 0.00% |
1960 | 2,547 | 51.85% | 2,365 | 48.15% | 0 | 0.00% |
1956 | 2,081 | 41.11% | 2,981 | 58.89% | 0 | 0.00% |
1952 | 2,326 | 42.08% | 3,201 | 57.92% | 0 | 0.00% |
1948 | 908 | 20.83% | 3,451 | 79.17% | 0 | 0.00% |
1944 | 1,492 | 31.08% | 3,301 | 68.76% | 8 | 0.17% |
1940 | 1,862 | 33.01% | 3,768 | 66.80% | 11 | 0.20% |
1936 | 1,191 | 22.47% | 4,092 | 77.21% | 17 | 0.32% |
1932 | 818 | 13.85% | 5,087 | 86.15% | 0 | 0.00% |
1928 | 2,399 | 55.07% | 1,913 | 43.92% | 44 | 1.01% |
1924 | 1,233 | 30.74% | 2,519 | 62.80% | 259 | 6.46% |
1920 | 1,733 | 40.32% | 2,315 | 53.86% | 250 | 5.82% |
1916 | 680 | 25.04% | 1,541 | 56.74% | 495 | 18.23% |
1912 | 583 | 25.63% | 1,273 | 55.96% | 419 | 18.42% |
The county economy has been based primarily on agriculture and cattle raising. Each town had its own cotton gin early in the 1900s. Purcell had a flour mill. Otherwise, there was little industrial activity. Many county residents commute to work in the Oklahoma City area. Mid-America Area Vo-Tech opened in 1971 to provide vocational education to students. Duke Energy North America built a power plant (which it sold to NRG Energy, Inc., that year) near Newcastle in 2001. The Chickasaw Nation operated a gaming casino at Newcastle. [3]
School districts include (all full K-12): [13]
Pioneer Library System operates branch libraries in nine cities in Cleveland, McClain and Pottawatomie counties. [14] The Purcell Public Library at 919 N. 9th Street in Purcell is the only library in McClain County that is part of the Pioneer System.
The busiest highway in the county is Interstate 35, which enters the county on the north at Goldsby on the McCall Bridge. It then parallels the Canadian River through the county seat, Purcell. It eventually turns southward and leaves the county at its border with Garvin County.
Another important interstate highway is Interstate 44, which runs through the northwestern part of the county. The H.E. Bailey Turnpike Norman Spur connects this highway to the US-62/US-277/SH-9 intersection.
SH-9 enters McClain County via the McCall bridge, duplexed with I-35, and immediately turns due west, running along the northern edge of Goldsby until its intersection with U.S. Highway 62/U.S. Highway 277, south of Newcastle, Oklahoma. From this intersection the three highways continue southwest towards Blanchard and further on to Chickasha in Grady County.
Like many counties, McClain County contains an extensive network of county-maintained roads. They form a grid with parallel roads generally placed 1 mile apart.
To dispel confusion and assist the small cities introducing new 9-1-1 systems, the county road system was recently renamed and signed throughout the county. East–west roads are numbered, with 100th Street located along the southern edge of the county, and the numbers gradually increasing toward the northern tip of the county. North–south streets are named, generally indicating the name of the road in the Oklahoma City grid that the county road best aligns with. (e.g. Pennsylvania Avenue would, if extended northward, eventually connect with the street of the same name in Oklahoma City.)
In 2010, the EPA ordered local water utilities to begin the first nationwide tests for hexavalent chromium 6 (AKA The Erin Brockovich Chemical). From 2013 to 2015, utilities took more than 60,000 samples of drinking water and found chromium-6 in more than 75 percent of them. [15] The Purcell water supply tested positive for an average of 11.53ppb, 577 times the original recommendation from the scientists at the respected and influential California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment of 0.02ppb. [16]
The following sites in McClain County are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:
Pontotoc County is in the south central part of Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,492. Its county seat is Ada. The county was created at statehood from part of the Chickasaw Nation in Indian Territory. It was named for a historic Chickasaw tribal area in Mississippi. According to the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Pontotoc is usually translated "cattail prairie" or "land of hanging grapes."
Love County is a county on the southern border of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,146. Its county seat is Marietta. The county was created at statehood in 1907 and named for Overton Love, a prominent Chickasaw farmer, entrepreneur and politician.
Grady County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, the population was 54,795. Its county seat is Chickasha. It was named for Henry W. Grady, an editor of the Atlanta Constitution and southern orator.
Garvin County is a county in south-central Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,656. Its county seat is Pauls Valley. In 1906, delegates to Constitution Convention formed Garvin County from part of the Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory. The county was named for Samuel J. Garvin, a local Chickasaw rancher, merchant and banker. Its economy is largely based on farming, ranching and oil production.
Cleveland County is a county in the central part of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 295,528 at the 2020 United States census, making it the third-most populous county in Oklahoma. Its county seat is Norman. The county was named for U.S. President Grover Cleveland.
Lexington is a city in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States. The city population was 2010 at the 2020 census, a 6.6% decrease from 2010.
Lindsay is a city in Garvin County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,840 at the 2010 census. It once promoted itself as "The Broomcorn Capital of the World" but no longer uses that slogan, as broomcorn is no longer raised in the area.
Dibble is a town in McClain County, Oklahoma, United States. The population within city limits was 867 at the 2020 census, down from 878 at the 2010 census. The community has 8,868 residents in its 73031 zipcode, according to Sperling's Best Places. Dibble is in the outer suburban area west of Purcell and southwest of Norman, in the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area, according to the U.S. Census.
Goldsby is a town in McClain County, Oklahoma, United States. It lies within the Washington public school district and is home to the second largest casino in Oklahoma. As of the 2020 Census, the estimated population was 2,694, a 66 percent increase since 2010.
Newcastle is a city in McClain County, Oklahoma, United States, and part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 10,984, a 42.9% increase from 2010.
Washington is a town in McClain County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 673 as of the 2020 census, a 0.2% increase from 2010.
Purcell is a city in and the county seat of McClain County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 6,651, a 13% increase from 2010.
Blanchard is a city in McClain and Grady counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 8,879 at the 2020 census, up from 7,670 at the 2010 census. Blanchard is part of a rapidly growing area of northern McClain and Grady counties known as the "Tri-City Area" with Newcastle and Tuttle.
State Highway 74, usually abbreviated as SH-74 or OK-74 is the numbering of two different highways maintained by the U.S. state of Oklahoma. These highways were once a single major north–south route, connecting Oklahoma City to more rural parts of the state. The original road stretched from SH-7 near Tatums to SH-11 west of Deer Creek.
State Highway 9, abbreviated as SH-9, OK-9, or simply Highway 9, is a major east–west highway in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Spanning across the central part of the state, SH-9 begins at the Texas state line west of Vinson, Oklahoma, and ends at the Arkansas state line near Fort Smith, Arkansas. State Highway 9 is a major highway around the Norman area. At 348.1 miles (560.2 km), SH-9 is Oklahoma's second-longest state highway.
State Highway 24 (SH-24) is a highway maintained by the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It runs for 21.1 miles (34.0 km) through central Oklahoma, almost entirely within McClain County. It is signed north–south and has no lettered spur routes.
State Highway 39, abbreviated as SH-39, is a state highway in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It is 68.4 miles (110.1 km) in length. It runs east–west through the central part of the state, beginning at unincorporated Tabler, east of Chickasha, and ending east of Konawa. Along the way, SH-39 serves the counties of Grady, McClain, Cleveland, Pottawatomie, and Seminole. It currently has no lettered spurs.
Bridge Creek is a town in Grady County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2020 census, the town population was 336, a 0% change from 2010.
The Oklahoma City metropolitan area is an urban region in the Southern United States. It is the largest metropolitan area in the state of Oklahoma and contains the state capital and principal city, Oklahoma City. It is often known as the Oklahoma City Metro, Oklahoma City Metroplex, or Greater Oklahoma City in addition to the nicknames Oklahoma City itself is known for, such as OKC or "the 405".
Interstate 35 (I-35), in the US State of Oklahoma, runs from the Red River at the Texas border to the Kansas state line near Braman for a length of 236 miles (380 km). I-35 has one spur route in the state, I-235 in the inner city of Oklahoma City.