Atoka County, Oklahoma

Atoka County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,143. Its county seat is Atoka. The county was formed before statehood from Choctaw Lands, and its name honors a Choctaw Chief named Atoka. The county is part of Choctaw Nation reservation lands.

History

thumb|250px|Map of Atoka County, 1909

The area forming Atoka County was part of the Choctaw Nation after the tribe was forced to relocate in the early 1830s to Indian Territory from its home in the Southeastern United States. Unlike the State of Oklahoma, whose county boundaries follow the precise north–south, east–west grid established with the state's township and range system, the Choctaw Nation established its internal divisions using easily recognizable landmarks, such as mountains and rivers, as borders. The territory of present-day Atoka County fell within the Pushmataha District, one of the three administrative super-regions comprising the Choctaw Nation. Within that district, it was in parts of Atoka, Blue, and Jack's Fork counties.

The Choctaw named their Atoka County in honor of Chief Atoka, a leader of a party that migrated from Georgia to Indian Territory; the name was retained when Oklahoma became a state.

In 1858, the Butterfield Overland Mail established a stagecoach route through the area. It carried passengers, US Mail, and some freight. One station, Waddell's, was near Wesley; a second station, Geary's, was between Waddell's and the Muddy Boggy River, while a third was at Boggy Depot. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.5%) is water.

Atoka County is drained by North Boggy, Clear Boggy and Muddy Boggy Creeks, which are tributaries of the Red River, and by McGee Creek, which is a tributary of Muddy Boggy Creek. Atoka Reservoir is in the northern section of the county. The Ouachita Mountains are in the eastern part of the county, while the Sandstone Hills and Coastal Plains physiographic regions provide a more level terrain suitable for agriculture in the north and western part of the county.

Major highways

20px U.S. Highway 69
20px U.S. Highway 75
20px State Highway 3
20px State Highway 7
State Highway 43
Indian Nation Turnpike

Adjacent counties

Pittsburg County (north)
Pushmataha County (east)
Choctaw County (southeast)
Bryan County (south)
Johnston County (west)
Coal County (northwest)

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, the county had a population of 14,143. Of the residents, 21.7% were under the age of 18 and 18.7% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 41.0 years. For every 100 females there were 119.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 122.4 males.

The racial makeup of the county was 67.0% White, 4.0% Black or African American, 15.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 1.9% from some other race, and 10.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.9% of the population. 97.4% spoke English and 1.4% Spanish as their first language.

There were 4,964 households, out of which 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.90% were married couples living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.40% were non-families. 27.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.60% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 29.10% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 117.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 119.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,752, and the median income for a family was $29,409. Males had a median income of $26,193 versus $18,861 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,919. About 15.70% of families and 19.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.40% of those under age 18 and 21.10% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

{| class=wikitable

! colspan = 6 | Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of May 31, 2023

! colspan = 2 | Party

! Number of Voters

! Percentage

| Democratic

| align = center | 2,726

| align = center | 35.47%

| Republican

| align = center | 4,076

| align = center | 53.03%

| Others

| align = center | 882

| align = center | 11.48%

! colspan = 2 | Total

! align = center | 7,686

! align = center | 100%

Government and infrastructure

The Oklahoma Department of Corrections operates the Mack Alford Correctional Center in an unincorporated area, near Stringtown.

Communities

City

Atoka (county seat)

Towns

Caney
Stringtown
Tushka

Census-designated places

Bentley
Lane
Wardville

Other unincorporated places

Bethany
Blackjack
Boehler
Boggy Depot
Bruno
Burg
Centerpoint
Chockie
Cook
Crystal
Daisy
Dok
East Allison
East Talico
Farris
Flora
Forrest Hill
Fugate
Goss
Grassy Lake
Half Bank Crossing
Harmony
Hickory Hill
High Hill
Hopewell
Iron Stob
Limestone Gap
Lone Pine
Mayers Chapel
McGee Valley
Mt. Carmel
Mt. Olive
Negro Bend
New Hope
Nix
Old Farris
Patapoe
Payton Crossing
Pine Springs
Plainview
Pleasant Hill
Redden
Reynolds
Rock Springs
Standing Rock
Star
Taloah
Valley View
Voca
Wards Chapel
Webster
Wesley
West Allison
West Telico
Wilson

Education

K-12 school districts include:

Atoka Public Schools
Caddo Public Schools
Caney Public Schools
Clayton Public Schools
Coalgate Public Schools
Coleman Public Schools
Harmony Public School
Kiowa Public Schools
Pittsburg Public Schools
Rock Creek Public Schools
Stringtown Public Schools
Tushka Public Schools
Wapanucka Public Schools

There is one elementary school district, Lane Public School. In 2013 the Farris district closed and consolidated into the Lane district.

NRHP sites

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

Atoka Armory, Atoka
Atoka Community Building, Atoka
Isaac Billy Homestead and Family Cemetery, Daisy
Boggy Depot Site, Atoka
First Methodist Church Building, Atoka
First Oil Well in Oklahoma, Wapanucka
Indian Citizen Building, Atoka
Captain Charles LeFlore House, Limestone Gap
Masonic Temple, Atoka
Bo McAlister Site, Wapanucka
Middle Boggy Battlefield Site and Confederate Cemetery, Atoka
Old Atoka County Courthouse, Atoka
Old Atoka State Bank, Atoka
Pioneer Club, Atoka
Joe Ralls House, Atoka
Captain James S. Standley House, Atoka
Waddell's Station Site, Wesley
Zweigel Hardware Store Building, Atoka

References

External links

Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Atoka County
Oklahoma Digital Maps: Digital Collections of Oklahoma and Indian Territory
Atoka County Sheriff's Office