Love County, Oklahoma

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Love County, Oklahoma
Map of Oklahoma highlighting Love County
Location in the U.S. state of Oklahoma
Map of the United States highlighting Oklahoma
Oklahoma's location in the U.S.
Founded 1907
Named for Overton Love, a judge of the Chickasaw Nation
Seat Marietta
Largest city Marietta
Area
 • Total 532 sq mi (1,378 km2)
 • Land 514 sq mi (1,331 km2)
 • Water 18 sq mi (47 km2), 3.5%
Population (est.)
 • (2013) 9,742
 • Density 18/sq mi (7/km²)
Congressional district 4th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website love.okcounties.org

Love County is a county located on the southern border of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the population was 9,423.[1] Its county seat is Marietta.[2] The county was created at statehood in 1907 and named for Overton Love, a prominent Chickasaw farmer, entrepreneur and politician.[3]

Love County is part of the Ardmore, OK Micropolitan Statistical Area. It is also a part of the Texoma region.

History

The Louisiana Purchase, effected in 1803, included all of the present state of Oklahoma except the Panhandle. Explorers and traders began travelling extensively through the area, intending to find trade routes to Santa Fe. The Quapaw were the principal native Americans living south of the Canadian River. The Quapaws ceded their land to the American government in 1818, and were replaced by the Choctaws in the early 1830s. The Chickasaws were assigned land in the middle of Choctaw territory during 1837-8.[3]

Overton Love was one of the earliest Chickasaws who settled in present-day Love County. He was twenty years old when he arrived in Indian Territory from Mississippi in 1843. His settlement became known as Love's Valley (about 6 miles (9.7 km) east of the present town of Marietta). He later became one of the largest Chickasaw landowners and cattle raisers in the area, working 8,000 acres (3,200 ha) of Red River Bottomland.. Eventually, he became a member of both houses of the Chickasaw National Council, a county and district judge, and a member of the Dawes Commission.[3]

Prior to statehood, the area now known as Love County was part of Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory. It had three incorporated towns: Marietta (the county seat, founded in 1887), Leon (established 1883) and Thackerville (established 1882). It also contained two unincorporated postal areas: Burneyville (post office established 1879) and Overbrook (post office established 1887).[3] The settlement of Courtney at the mouth of Mud Creek was settled ca. 1872 by Henry D. Courtney.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 532 square miles (1,380 km2), of which 514 square miles (1,330 km2) is land and 18 square miles (47 km2) (3.5%) is water.[4] It is the fifth-smallest county in Oklahoma by land area.

Love County is within the Red River Plains physiographic region, with a rolling to hilly topography. The Red River and its tributaries Simon Creek, Walnut Bayou, Hickory Creek and Mud Creek drain the county. Lake Murray is on the northeastern border and Lake Texoma is on the southern border.[3]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1910 10,236 —
1920 12,433 21.5%
1930 9,639 −22.5%
1940 11,433 18.6%
1950 7,721 −32.5%
1960 5,862 −24.1%
1970 5,637 −3.8%
1980 7,469 32.5%
1990 8,157 9.2%
2000 8,831 8.3%
2010 9,423 6.7%
Est. 2014 9,773 [5] 3.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[1]
File:USA Love County, Oklahoma age pyramid.svg
Age pyramid for Love County, Oklahoma, based on census 2000 data.

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 8,831 people, 3,442 households, and 2,557 families residing in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile (7/km²). There were 4,066 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.15% White, 2.19% Black or African American, 6.41% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 3.58% from other races, and 3.41% from two or more races. 7.01% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,442 households out of which 31.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.70% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.00% 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 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out with 25.70% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 25.70% from 45 to 64, and 16.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,558, and the median income for a family was $38,212. Males had a median income of $30,024 versus $20,578 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,648. About 8.80% of families and 11.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.40% of those under age 18 and 13.80% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of January 15, 2012[11]
Party Number of Voters Percentage
  Democratic 3,901 70.34%
  Republican 1,090 19.65%
  Unaffiliated 555 10.01%
Total 5,546 100%
Presidential election results[12]
Year Republican Democrat
2008 67.32% 2,589 32.68% 1,257
2004 59.87% 2,295 40.13% 1,538
2000 53.59% 1,807 45.37% 1,530

Economy

Love County is home to Winstar World Casino, located across the Red River from the Texas-Oklahoma border. The casino is operated by the Chickasaw Nation, and is the county's largest private employer. Agriculture and ranching have been important to the county economy since its inception. Leading non-agricultural employers include the Marietta Bakery, Murray Biscuit Company, Marietta Sportswear, Robertson Hams, Rapistan Systems, Earth Energy Systems, and the Joe Brown Company. The county also produces natural gas and its co-products propane and butanes.[3]

Education

The following school districts are located in Love County:

  • Greenville Public Schools
  • Marietta Public Schools
  • Thackerville Public Schools
  • Turner Public Schools

Transportation

Major highways

Airports

Public-use airports in Love County:

Communities

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See also

References

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  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Susan L. Webb, and Sandra L. Thomas. "Love County," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. 2009. Accessed April 4, 2015.
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  11. ↑ http://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/reg_0112.pdf
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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 Jefferson County Carter County
Marshall County
  'Love County'  
Montague County, Texas Cooke County, Texas
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