Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, its population was 40,397. Its county seat is Jay. 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.
History
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.
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. 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.
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|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<br />1790-1960 1900-1990<br />1990-2000 2010
2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, the county had a population of 40,397. Of the residents, 20.0% were under the age of 18 and 25.6% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 48.0 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.9 males.
The racial makeup of the county was 62.9% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 21.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% Asian, 1.5% from some other race, and 12.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.0% of the population.
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! colspan = 2 | Party
! Number of Voters
! Percentage
|-
|
| Democratic
| align = center | 5,872
| align = center | 22.79%
|-
|
| Republican
| align = center | 15,725
| align = center | 61.03%
|-
|
| Others
| align = center | 4,169
| align = center | 16.18%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | 25,766
! align = center | 100%
|}
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Communities
Cities
- Grove
- Jay
Towns
- Bernice
- Colcord
- Kansas
- Oaks
- West Siloam Springs
Census-designated places
- Brush Creek
- Bull Hollow
- Butler
- Cayuga
- Cleora
- Cloud Creek
- Copeland
- Deer Lick
- Dennis
- Dodge
- Dripping Springs
- Drowning Creek
- Flint Creek
- Indianola
- Kenwood
- Leach
- New Eucha
- Oak Hill-Piney
- Old Eucha
- Rocky Ford
- Sycamore
- Tagg Flats
- Twin Oaks
- White Water
- Zena
Other unincorporated communities
- Chloeta
- Eucha
NRHP sites
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.
These sites are in Delaware County are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:
- Bassett Grove Ceremonial Grounds, Grove
- Beattie's Prairie, Jay
- Corey House/Hotel, Grove
- Hildebrand Mill, Siloam Springs
- Polson Cemetery, Jay
- Saline Courthouse, Rose
- Splitlog Church, Grove
Education
Kindergarten-grade 12 school districts include:
- Afton Public Schools
- Colcord Public Schools
- Grove Public Schools
- Jay Public Schools
- Kansas Public Schools
- Ketchum Public Schools
- Oaks-Mission Public Schools
- Westville Public Schools
Elementary school districts include: