Ottawa County is a county located in the northeastern corner of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,285. Its county seat is Miami. The county was named for the Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma. It is also the location of the federally recognized Modoc Nation and the Quapaw Nation, which is based in Quapaw. Ottawa County comprises the Miami micropolitan statistical area, which is included in the Joplin-Miami, MO-OK combined statistical area. The county borders both Kansas and Missouri. The county was an important lead and zinc mining region during the early 1900s, and in 1983, the Tar Creek Superfund site was inaugurated to clean up tailings and prevent groundwater and waterway contamination with leachates.

History

Archaeological studies indicate this area was inhabited for thousands of years by succeeding cultures of prehistoric indigenous peoples. According to the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, at the start of the 20th century, eight Archaic sites (6000 BC to 1 AD), 16 Woodland sites (1 to 1000 AD), and six Plains Village sites (1000 to 1500 A D) were known. It is the fourth-smallest county in Oklahoma by area. The eastern part of the county lies in the Ozark Plains, while the western is in the Neosho Lowlands.

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| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<br />1790–1960 1900–1990<br />1990–2000 2010–2019

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 30,285. Of the residents, 23.4% were under the age of 18 and 20.0% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 40.2 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.3 males.

The racial makeup of the county was 63.9% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 18.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 1.8% from some other race, and 13.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 5.6% of the population. there were 14,100 households, of which 30.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.60% were married couples living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.80% were non-families. About 26.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.60% 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 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.70% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 24.80% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 16.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.10 males.

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! colspan = 2 | Party

! Number of Voters

! Percentage

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| Democratic

| align = center | 5,204

| align = center | 29.60%

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|

| Republican

| align = center | 8,856

| align = center | 50.36%

|-

|

| Others

| align = center | 3,525

| align = center | 20.05%

|-

! colspan = 2 | Total

! align = center | 17,585

! align = center | 100%

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Prior to 2008, Ottawa County was a swing county in presidential elections, backing the national winner in all but three presidential elections from 1912 to 2004. It has since become a Republican stronghold similar to the rest of the state, with Donald Trump's 2024 53 point win over Kamala Harris being the most lopsided margin of victory in the county's electoral history.

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Economy

Mining economy

Lead and zinc mining has been important to the county economy since 1890, and Quapaw lands have been exploited for mining, first by lease. They were restricted in terms of receiving royalties and were generally excluded by discrimination from mining jobs. By 1910, the local mining industry was controlled by a few large corporations, including Commerce Mining and Royalty Company, the Eagle-Picher Company, the Childers Mining Company, the LaClede Lead and Zinc Company, and the American Lead and Zinc Company.

Communities

Cities

  • Miami (county seat)
  • Commerce

Towns

  • Afton
  • Fairland
  • North Miami
  • Peoria
  • Quapaw
  • Wyandotte

Census-designated places

  • Dotyville
  • Narcissa

Unincorporated communities

  • Lincolnville

Ghost towns

  • Cardin
  • Douthat
  • Hockerville
  • Picher
  • Potter
  • Zincville

Education

School districts include:

  • Afton Public Schools
  • Commerce Public Schools
  • Fairland Public Schools
  • Miami Public Schools
  • Quapaw Public Schools
  • Welch Public Schools
  • Wyandotte Public Schools
  • Turkey Ford Public School (elementary only)

Picher-Cardin Public Schools was in operation until 2009.

NRHP sites

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

  • Cities Service Station, Afton
  • Coleman Theatre, Miami
  • George L. Coleman Sr. House, Miami
  • Commerce Building/Hancock Building, Miami
  • Dobson Family House, Miami
  • Horse Creek Bridge, Afton
  • John Patrick McNaughton Barn, Quapaw
  • Miami Downtown Historic District, Miami
  • Miami Marathon Oil Company Service Station, Miami
  • Miami Original Nine-Foot Section of Route 66 Roadbed, Miami
  • Modoc Mission Church and Cemetery, Miami
  • Narcissa D-X Gas Station, Miami
  • Nine Tribes Tower, Miami
  • Ottawa County Courthouse, Miami
  • Peoria Indian School, Miami
  • Peoria Tribal Cemetery, Miami
  • Riviera Courts--Motel, Miami
  • Tri-State Zinc and Lead Ore Producers Association Office, Picher
  • Isaiah Walker House, Wyandotte

See also

  • Quapaw Indian Agency

References

  • Ottawa County Map
  • Oklahoma Digital Maps: Digital Collections of Oklahoma and Indian Territory