Latimer County, Oklahoma

Latimer County is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its county seat is Wilburton. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,444. The county was created at statehood in 1907 and named for James L. Latimer, a delegate from Wilburton to the 1906 state Constitutional Convention. Prior to statehood, it had been for several decades part of Gaines County, Sugar Loaf County, and Wade County in the Choctaw Nation.

History

This area was occupied for at least 3500 years by cultures of indigenous peoples. The most recent of the prehistoric peoples established complex earthworks during the Mississippian culture. Archeological excavations have revealed artifacts from Archaic, Woodland, and Mississippian cultures. Living in what is now southeastern Oklahoma, these peoples were direct ancestors of the Caddo Nation, a historic confederacy of tribes that flourished in east Texas, Arkansas and northern Louisiana before removal to another area of Indian Territory.

In 1831, the area now known as Latimer County was organized as part of the Choctaw Nation in the Indian Territory after the Choctaw were removed by the federal government from their traditional territory in the American Southeast. Following statehood Latimer County's boundaries were drawn to conform to Oklahoma's township and range system, which uses east–west and north–south lines as land boundaries. The Choctaw Nation, by contrast, divided its counties using easily recognizable landmarks, such as mountains and rivers. The territory of present-day Latimer County had the distinction of being the meeting point of all three administrative super-regions comprising the Choctaw Nation, called the Apukshunubbee District, Moshulatubbee District, and Pushmataha District. Within these three districts the land area of the present-day county fell within Gaines County, Jacksfork County, Sans Bois County, Skullyville County, and Wade County.

In 1858, the Butterfield Overland Mail established a route through the territory, which included stage stops at Edwards's Station (near present Hughes), Holloway's Station (near Red Oak), Riddle's Station (near Lutie) and Pusley's Station near Higgins.

The Sans Bois Mountains span the northern border of the county, while the Winding Stair Mountains extend into its southern part. The Fourche Maline, Brazil and Sans Bois creeks drain the northern part of the county into the Poteau River, a tributary of the Arkansas River. Buffalo and Gaines Creeks drain the southern part into the Kiamichi River, a tributary of the Red River.

| align-fn = center

| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+Latimer County, Oklahoma – Racial composition

!Race (NH = Non-Hispanic)

!2010

!2000

!1990

!1980

|White alone (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |61.6% (5,818)

|69.2% (7,718)

|72.5% (7,747)

|82.1% (8,488)

|83.2% (8,186)

|Black alone (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.4% (42)

|0.7% (80)

|0.9% (99)

|1.5% (150)

|1.9% (190)

|American Indian alone (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |23.5% (2,216)

|19.9% (2,215)

|19.2% (2,050)

|15.1% (1,561)

|13.8% (1,355)

|Asian alone (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.7% (67)

|0.3% (31)

|0.2% (18)

|<td rowspan="2"> |0.2% (18)

|<td rowspan="2"> |0.2% (24)

|Pacific Islander alone (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.1% (5)

|0% (1)

|Other race alone (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.2% (16)

|0% (2)

|0.1% (6)

|0% (1)

|0% (0)

|Multiracial (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |9.9% (936)

|7.3% (814)

|5.7% (607)

|—

|Hispanic/Latino (any race)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.6% (344)

|2.6% (293)

|1.5% (164)

|1.1% (115)

|0.9% (85)

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, the county had a population of 9,444. Of the residents, 22.6% were under the age of 18 and 21.1% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 42.4 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.7 males.

The racial makeup of the county was 62.7% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 24.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% Asian, 0.8% from some other race, and 11.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.6% of the population.

English (13.8%)
Choctaw (13.4%)
Irish (10.7%)
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (9.3%)
German (6.4%)
Cherokee (4.8%)
Mexican (2.8%)
Italian (1.6%)
Scottish (1.4%)
The Chickasaw Nation (1.2%)

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 10,692 people, 3,951 households, and 2,868 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 4,709 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 73.01% White, 0.96% Black or African American, 19.42% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 5.91% from two or more races. 1.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.7% were of American, 9.5% Irish, 8.1% German and 5.0% English ancestry.

There were 3,951 households, out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.90% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.40% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.70% under the age of 18, 11.40% from 18 to 24, 24.20% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 16.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $23,962, and the median income for a family was $29,661. Males had a median income of $27,449 versus $19,577 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,842. About 19.00% of families and 22.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.70% of those under age 18 and 16.40% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Despite the county being home to a significant Native American population, Latimer County voted Republican in every presidential election in the 21st century. Following the lead of most rural counties nationwide, the Republican candidate has won at least 60% of the vote in the county since 2008, with Donald Trump topping out at 80.9% in 2020.

{| class=wikitable

! colspan = 6 | Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of June 30, 2023

! colspan = 2 | Party

! Number of Voters

! Percentage

| Democratic

| align = center | 2,384

| align = center | 40.26%

| Republican

| align = center | 2,831

| align = center | 47.81%

| Others

| align = center | 706

| align = center | 11.92%

! colspan = 2 | Total

! align = center | 5,921

! align = center | 100%

Economy

Coal mining was the basis of the county economy even before statehood, with mines operating by 1895. By 1912, The county 27 mines and about three thousand miners producing 3,000 tons per day. However, the industry collapsed during the 1920s due to labor disputes, competition from petroleum-based fuels and the onset of the Great Depression. Only one mine was still operating in 1933.