Cimarron County, Oklahoma

Cimarron County, Oklahoma
Cimarron Courthouse in Boise City
Location in the U.S. state of Oklahoma
Oklahoma's location in the U.S.
Founded	1907
Seat	Boise City
Largest city	Boise City
Area
• Total	1,841 sq mi (4,768 km2)
• Land	1,835 sq mi (4,753 km2)
• Water	6.1 sq mi (16 km2), 0.3%
Population (est.)
• (2013)	2,335
• Density	1.3/sq mi (1/km²)

NASA satellite image of Cimarron County, August 2008

Cimarron County is the westernmost county in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,475, making it the least populous county in Oklahoma. Its county seat is Boise City.

Located in the Oklahoma Panhandle, Cimarron County contains the only community in the state (Kenton) that observes the Mountain Time Zone. Black Rock Mesa, the highest point in the state, is in the northwest corner of the county. Throughout most of its history it has had the smallest population and the lowest population density of any county in Oklahoma.

History

Cimarron County was created at statehood in 1907. Before the Oklahoma Organic Act was passed in 1890, the area had belonged to what was known as 'No Man's Land", also known as the "Public Land Strip." This was a relatively lawless area, with no organized government. It attracted many outlaws to seek refuge here. In 1890, the strip became known as Beaver County, Oklahoma Territory. Informally, it was known as the "Oklahoma Panhandle." There were only two communities in the strip. One, Carrizo, had 83 residents in 1890, while the other, Mineral City, had 93 residents. Otherwise, the land was used primarily by sheepherders from New Mexico.

Seven communities vied to become county seat after statehood: Boise City, Cimarron, Doby, Hurley and Willowbar. A county election in 1908 selected Boise City.

Railroads came late to this part of Oklahoma. The Elkhart and Santa Fe Railway built a line from Elkhart, Kansas through Cimarron County in 1925. It completed the link into New Mexico in 1932. Service ended in 1942. The same company built a line from Colorado to Boise City in 1931 and extended it into Texas in 1937. This line still operates and in 2000 was part of the BNSF system.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,841 square miles (4,770 km²), of which 1,835 square miles (4,750 km²) is land and 6.1 square miles (16 km²) (0.3%) is water. It is the fourth-largest county in Oklahoma by area. It also has Oklahoma's highest point at 4,973 feet (1,516 m) (AMSL) on the Black Mesa.

Black Mesa, the highest point in Oklahoma, is in the northwestern corner of Cimarron County.

The northern part of the county is drained by the Cimarron River, which flows eastward, then turns north into Kansas, The southern part is drained by the North Canadian River (also called the Beaver River). The man-made Lake Carl Etling lies inside Black Mesa park.

A location 300 yards (270 m) east of Rt. 287/385 and 1.75 miles (2.82 km) south of the Cimarron River is the only place in the US less than 27 miles (43 km) from five different states: 26.99 miles (43.44 km) from Kansas, New Mexico, and Texas and 7 miles (11 km) from Colorado.

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 56
• U.S. Highway 64
• U.S. Highway 287
• U.S. Highway 385
• U.S. Highway 412
• State Highway 3
• State Highway 171
• State Highway 325

Adjacent counties

Cimarron County is the only county in the United States that borders four states: Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, and Texas. As a result, Cimarron County is the only county in the United States to border at least five counties from five different states (one from each of the four aforementioned states, plus one in Oklahoma and a second county in Texas).

• Baca County, Colorado (north)
• Morton County, Kansas (northeast)
• Texas County (east)
• Dallam County, Texas (south)
• Sherman County, Texas (southeast)
• Union County, New Mexico (west)

National protected area

• Rita Blanca National Grassland (part)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1910	4,553		—
1920	3,436		−24.5%
1930	5,408		57.4%
1940	3,054		−43.5%
1950	4,589		50.3%
1960	4,496		−2.0%
1970	4,145		−7.8%
1980	3,648		−12.0%
1990	3,301		−9.5%
2000	3,148		−4.6%
2010	2,475		−21.4%
Est. 2014	2,294		−7.3%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013

Farmer and two sons during a dust storm in Cimarron County, 1936

As of the 2010 census, there were 2,475 people, 1,047 households, and 705 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 1,587 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.7% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 12.1% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. 20.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race (16.4% Mexican, 1.4% Spanish, 0.2% Salvadoran).

There were 1,257 households out of which 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% were married couples living together, 6.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 29.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the population was spread out with 27.60% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 23.40% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 18.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,625, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $24,327 versus $18,110 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,744. About 13.90% of families and 17.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.20% of those under age 18 and 10.10% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of January 15, 2012
Party		Number of Voters	Percentage
	Democratic	709	39.50%
	Republican	952	53.04%
	Unaffiliated	134	7.46%
Total		1,795	100%

Presidential election results

Year	Republican	Democrat
2012	90.39% 1,082	9.61% 115
2008	88.04% 1,119	11.96% 152
2004	87.10% 1,242	12.90% 184
2000	82.88% 1,230	15.30% 227
1996	67.76% 986	24.81% 361
1992	59.42% 965	24.32% 395
1988	70.00% 1,153	28.53% 470
1984	79.15% 1,420	19.98% 359
1980	77.10% 1,404	20.48% 373

Economy

The county economy has been largely based on cattle ranching and agriculture throughout its history. Wheat and grain sorghum are the most important crops. The Dust Bowl devastated the county during the 1930s, but the economy has since recovered. Oil and natural gas production became important in the 1950s, and a gas plant near Keyes began producing helium in 1959. In 2000, Cimarron County had the ninth largest per capita income of all Oklahoma counties. Cimarron is one of 25 dry counties in the state.

Communities

Highway 412 in Cimarron County

• Boise City (county seat)
• Felt
• Griggs
• Kenton
• Keyes
• Sturgis
• Wheeless

Notable natives

• Vera Miles, actress

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Cimarron County, Oklahoma
• Oklahoma Panhandle

Further reading

• , includes much about the history of Cimarron County in the 20th century.

External links

• NASA Earth Obseratory article about Cimarron County
• Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Cimarron County
• Oklahoma Digital Maps: Digital Collections of Oklahoma and Indian Territory