Noble County, Oklahoma

Not to be confused with Noble, Oklahoma.

Noble County
County
Noble County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Oklahoma
Oklahoma's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°23′N97°14′W / 36.39°N 97.24°W / 36.39; -97.24
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
Founded	1893
Named for	John Willock Noble
Seat	Perry
Largest city	Perry
Area
• Total	743 sq mi (1,920 km2)
• Land	732 sq mi (1,900 km2)
• Water	11 sq mi (30 km2)  1.4%
Population  (2020)
• Total	10,924
• Density	15/sq mi (5.7/km2)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.noblecountyok.com

Noble County is a county located in the north central part of Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,924. ^[1] Its county seat is Perry. ^[2] It was part of the Cherokee Outlet in Indian Territory until Oklahoma Territory was created in 1890, and the present county land was designated as County P. After the U. S. government opened the area to non-Indian settlement in 1893, it was renamed Noble County for John Willock Noble, then the United States Secretary of the Interior. ^[3]

History

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the area now occupied by Noble County was used as a hunting ground by the Osage Indians. In 1835, a treaty with the Cherokees made it part of the so-called Cherokee Outlet. During the time of Cherokee ownership, non-native cattlemen who belonged to the Cherokee Strip Live Stock Association leased grazing land from the tribe. Later, reservations were created in the northeastern part of the county for the Otoe and Ponca tribes. These reservations existed until 1904, when the lands were allotted and added to Noble County. ^[3]

The Cherokee Outlet became part of Oklahoma Territory at the time of the Oklahoma Organic Act, and was divided into counties. After the 1893 opening of the Cherokee Outlet for settlement by non-Indians, the land was divided into counties. One county, originally designated as County P, was renamed in honor of John W. Noble, interior secretary in 1893. The town of Perry was laid out in August 1893 as the county seat and land-office town ^[3]

Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh was arrested in Noble County April 19, 1995, heading north bound on Interstate 35. McVeigh was stopped for not having a car tag on his car. He was minutes from being released when the Noble County Sheriff's Department was notified to hold McVeigh. McVeigh was tried and convicted for the bombing attack that killed 168 persons and injured many more. He was executed in 2001. McVeigh's arresting officer, Charlie Hanger, was elected Noble County Sheriff in 2004. ^{[4] [5]}

In 2010, the Keystone-Cushing Pipeline (Phase II) was constructed north to south through Noble County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 743 square miles (1,920 km²), of which 732 square miles (1,900 km²) is land and 11 square miles (28 km²) (1.4%) is water. ^[6] The Arkansas River forms part of the county's northeastern boundary. Two of its tributaries, Red Rock Creek in the north and by Black Bear Creek in the south, drain the county before emptying into the Arkansas River. ^[3]

Major highways

• Interstate 35
• U.S. Highway 64
• U.S. Highway 77
• U.S. Highway 177
• U.S. Highway 412
• State Highway 15
• State Highway 86
• State Highway 108
• State Highway 156
• State Highway 164

Adjacent counties

• Kay County (north)
• Osage County (northeast)
• Pawnee County (east)
• Payne County (south)
• Logan County (southwest)
• Garfield County (west)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1900	11,798		—
1910	14,945		26.7%
1920	13,560		−9.3%
1930	15,139		11.6%
1940	14,826		−2.1%
1950	12,156		−18.0%
1960	10,376		−14.6%
1970	10,043		−3.2%
1980	11,573		15.2%
1990	11,045		−4.6%
2000	11,411		3.3%
2010	11,561		1.3%
2020	10,924		−5.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 1790-1960 [8] 1900-1990 [9] 1990-2000 [10] 2010 [11]

As of the census ^[12] of 2000, there were 11,411 people, 4,504 households, and 3,211 families residing in the county. The population density was 6/km² (16/sq mi). There were 5,082 housing units at an average density of 3/km² (7.8/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 86.44% White, 1.58% Black or African American, 7.57% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.65% from other races, and 3.40% from two or more races. 1.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,504 households, out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.20% 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 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.50% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,968, and the median income for a family was $40,180. Males had a median income of $32,224 versus $21,235 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,022. About 9.60% of families and 12.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.40% of those under age 18 and 11.00% of those age 65 or over.

Downtown Perry

Politics

Noble County is reliably Republican. In only five elections since 1908 (out of 30) has the Democratic nominee carried the county, and no Democrat carried it after 1964.

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of June 30, 2023 [13]
Party		Number of Voters	Percentage
	Democratic	1,377	20.68%
	Republican	4,364	65.54%
	Others	918	13.79%
Total		6,659	100%

United States presidential election results for Noble County, Oklahoma ^[14]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	3,853	77.73%	1,009	20.36%	95	1.92%
2020	3,821	77.38%	1,003	20.31%	114	2.31%
2016	3,715	76.16%	901	18.47%	262	5.37%
2012	3,488	75.32%	1,143	24.68%	0	0.00%
2008	3,881	76.78%	1,174	23.22%	0	0.00%
2004	3,993	74.94%	1,335	25.06%	0	0.00%
2000	3,230	68.77%	1,416	30.15%	51	1.09%
1996	2,318	48.38%	1,756	36.65%	717	14.97%
1992	2,474	46.83%	1,333	25.23%	1,476	27.94%
1988	3,015	63.80%	1,661	35.15%	50	1.06%
1984	4,018	76.11%	1,238	23.45%	23	0.44%
1980	3,663	69.90%	1,398	26.68%	179	3.42%
1976	2,634	53.05%	2,278	45.88%	53	1.07%
1972	4,085	78.38%	999	19.17%	128	2.46%
1968	2,911	58.92%	1,412	28.58%	618	12.51%
1964	2,157	44.29%	2,713	55.71%	0	0.00%
1960	3,198	62.61%	1,910	37.39%	0	0.00%
1956	3,536	63.68%	2,017	36.32%	0	0.00%
1952	4,422	71.04%	1,803	28.96%	0	0.00%
1948	2,430	46.73%	2,770	53.27%	0	0.00%
1944	3,060	56.95%	2,300	42.81%	13	0.24%
1940	3,441	51.56%	3,226	48.34%	7	0.10%
1936	2,461	38.60%	3,901	61.19%	13	0.20%
1932	1,635	27.03%	4,414	72.97%	0	0.00%
1928	3,607	66.21%	1,777	32.62%	64	1.17%
1924	2,680	51.15%	1,927	36.77%	633	12.08%
1920	2,467	59.69%	1,515	36.66%	151	3.65%
1916	1,243	44.03%	1,346	47.68%	234	8.29%
1912	1,266	46.15%	1,188	43.31%	289	10.54%

Economy

The county economy has largely been based on agriculture and cattle. Wheat was the major crop, although alfalfa, oats, corn, and barley have also been important. The county lies in the Mid-Continent oil and gas region. Natural gas wells began producing in 1915–1919. Oil production began in the 1920s. ^[3]

Ditch Witch, a Charles Machine Works company, is headquartered in Perry, the county seat.

Communities

City

• Perry (county seat)

Towns

• Billings
• Marland
• Morrison
• Red Rock

Census-designated places

• Lucien
• Sumner

Other unincorporated places

• Ceres
• Gansel
• Otoe

NRHP sites

Main article: National Register of Historic Places listings in Noble County, Oklahoma

The following sites in Noble County are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:

• First National Bank and Trust Company Building, Perry
• Morrison Baptist Church, Morrison
• Morrison Suspension Bridge, Morrison
• Noble County Courthouse, Perry
• Perry Armory, Perry
• Perry Courthouse Square Historic District, Perry
• Perry Lake Park, Perry
• Rein School, Ponca City vicinity
• Renfrow Building, Billings
• Renfrow House, Billings
• Sumner School, Morrison
• Wolleson-Nicewander Building, Perry

References

1. "Noble County, Oklahoma". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 20, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Dianna Everett, "Noble County." Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
4. "Search results for Oklahoma Trooper Reflects on McVeigh Arrest in Art…". www.officer.com. Archived from the original on September 9, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
5. "Oklahoma Sheriffs Association". www.oklahomasheriffs.com. Archived from the original on May 10, 2009.
6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
9. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
10. "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 October 9, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
11. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
13. "Oklahoma Registration Statistics by County" (PDF). OK.gov. January 15, 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 17, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
14. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 29, 2018.

36°23′N97°14′W / 36.39°N 97.24°W / 36.39; -97.24