Pittsburg County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, the population was 43,773. Its county seat is McAlester. The county was formed from part of the Choctaw Nation in Indian Territory in 1907. County leaders believed that its coal production compared favorably with Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the time of statehood.
Pittsburg County comprises the McAlester, OK micropolitan statistical area.
History
The area forming Pittsburg County was part of the Choctaw Nation after the Choctaw tribe was forced to relocate to Indian Territory from its home in the Southeastern United States in the early 1830s. Unlike the State of Oklahoma, whose county boundaries follow the precise north–south, east–west grid provided by Oklahoma'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 Pittsburg County fell within two of the three provinces, called districts, comprising the Choctaw Nation, the Moshulatubbee District and Pushmataha District, and within those districts, into Atoka County, Jack's Fork County, Gaines County, Sans Bois County, and Tobucksy County.
Some important trails, including the Texas Road and one route of the California Trail passed through what is now Pittsburg County. In 1840, James Perry established a village called Perryville that became an important stop near the place where the two trails crossed. During the Civil War, Perryville served as an important supply depot for Confederate forces until the Union Army captured and burned the town. It became defunct after the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway (MK&T) bypassed it in 1872, and the remaining inhabitants moved to McAlester. The Butterfield Overland Mail route followed a route through this area. The county's topography is generally hilly to mountainous. The Ouachita Mountains extend into the southeastern portion. The Canadian River drains most of the county and with Eufaula Lake form the northern boundary of the county. The southern part of the county is drained by several creeks that flow into the Kiamichi River and then into the Red River.
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| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<br />1790-1960 1900-1990<br />1990-2000 2010
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 43,773. Of the residents, 22.1% were under the age of 18 and 20.4% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 41.8 years. For every 100 females there were 103.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 102.9 males.
The racial makeup of the county was 66.3% White, 2.9% Black or African American, 15.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, 2.0% from some other race, and 13.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 5.2% of the population. The population density was . There were 22,634 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 73.6% White/Caucasian, 3.3% Black or African American, 13.8% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.78% from other races, and 7.6% from two or more races; 3.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.4% were of American, 12.7% Irish, 11.3% German, 9.4% English and 7.2% Italian ancestry.
In 2010, there were 18,623 households, out of which 29.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.90% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.40% were non-families. 27.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.90. In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.50% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 17.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.10 males.
As of 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $28,679, and the median income for a family was $35,190. Males had a median income of $28,470 versus $19,886 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,494. About 13.60% of families and 17.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.70% of those under age 18 and 13.30% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
{| class=wikitable
! colspan = 6 | Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of June 30, 2023
|-
! colspan = 2 | Party
! Number of Voters
! Percentage
|-
|
| Democratic
| align = center | 8,505
| align = center | 32.28%
|-
|
| Republican
| align = center | 13,446
| align = center | 51.04%
|-
|
| Others
| align = center | 4,395
| align = center | 16.68%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | 26,346
! align = center | 100%
|}
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Economy
Although Pittsburg County was originally noted for its coal production, agriculture has long been important to the county economy. Just after statehood, farmers controlled 20 percent of the county's land area. The most important cash crops were corn and cotton. By 1960, sorghum had become the most important crop. In 2000, wheat had become the top crop. – located near the intersection of "Cabiness" Road, US Highway 270 and Twisted Creek Road.
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Education
School districts include:
K-12:
- Canadian Public Schools
- Clayton Public Schools
- Crowder Public Schools
- Haileyville Public Schools
- Hartshorne Public Schools
- Indianola Public Schools
- Kiowa Public Schools
- McAlester Public Schools
- Pittsburg Public Schools
- Quinton Public Schools
- Savanna Public Schools
- Stuart Public Schools
Elementary only:
- Frink-Chambers Public School
- Haywood Public School
- Krebs Public School
- Tannehill Public School
There is a Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)-affiliated school and boarding facility, Jones Academy (education for grades 1–6, boarding only for grades 7–12)
NRHP sites
The following sites in Pittsburg County are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:
- Aldridge Hotel, McAlester
- Blackburn's Station Site, Pittsburg
- Busby Office Building, McAlester
- Busby Theatre, McAlester
- Canadian Jail and Livery Stable, Canadian
- Choate Cabin, Indianola
- Cole Chapel School, Hartshorne
- Federal Building and US Courthouse, McAlester
- First Presbyterian Church, McAlester
- Hokey's Drugstore, Krebs
- Jeff Lee Park Bath House and Pool, McAlester
- Mass Grave of the Mexican Miners, McAlester
- McAlester Armory, McAlester
- McAlester DX, McAlester
- McAlester House, McAlester
- McAlester Scottish Rite Temple, McAlester
- Mine Rescue Station Building, McAlester
- New State School, McAlester
- OKLA Theater, McAlester
- Perryville, McAlester
- Pittsburg County Courthouse, McAlester
- Pittsburg School and Gymnasium, Pittsburg
- Southern Ice and Cold Storage Company, Pittsburg
- St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Krebs
- Tipton Ridge School, Blocker