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Payne County, Oklahoma

Coordinates: 36°05′N 96°58′W / 36.08°N 96.97°W / 36.08; -96.97
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Payne County
County
Payne County Courthouse
Payne County Courthouse
Flag of Payne County
Flag
Official seal of Payne County
Seal
Map of Oklahoma highlighting Payne County
Location within the U.S. state of Oklahoma
Map of the United States highlighting Oklahoma
Oklahoma's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°05′N 96°58′W / 36.08°N 96.97°W / 36.08; -96.97
Country United States
State Oklahoma
FoundedMay 2, 1890
Named forCapt. David L. Payne
SeatStillwater
Largest cityStillwater
Area
 • Total
697 sq mi (1,810 km2)
 • Land685 sq mi (1,770 km2)
 • Water12 sq mi (30 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
81,646
 • Density120/sq mi (45/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.paynecounty.org

Payne County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, its population was 81,646.[1] Its county seat is Stillwater.[2] The county was created in 1890 as part of Oklahoma Territory and is named for Capt. David L. Payne, a leader of the "Boomers".[3]

Payne County comprises the Stillwater, OK Micropolitan Statistical Area. The county lies northeast of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area although some consider it an extension of the Oklahoma City metro area due to commuter patterns and other indicators.

History

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This county was established and named as the Sixth County by the Oklahoma Organic Act of 1890. It included land settled during the Land Run of 1889. The Organic Act settled a dispute between the towns of Stillwater and Perkins over which should be the county seat.[4]

Eastern Oklahoma Railway built two lines in Payne County between 1900 and 1902, then immediately leased them to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The historic civil townships of the county were abolished by 1930. One north–south line ran between Pawnee, Stillwater, Ripley and Cushing before joining another north–south line that from Newark to Shawnee. Another line was built from Guthrie along the Cimarron River to Ripley. These lines were important in getting crops from farm to market.[4]

In 2010, the Keystone-Cushing Pipeline (Phase II) was constructed into Payne County.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 697 square miles (1,810 km2), of which 685 square miles (1,770 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (1.8%) is water.[5]

Payne County is covered by rolling plains, mostly within the Sandstone Hills physiographic region, but with the western part of the county in the Red Bed plains. The county has two significant reservoirs: Lake McMurtry and Lake Carl Blackwell. The Cimarron River and Stillwater Creek drain most of the county.[4]

Transit

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Major highways

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Airports

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18907,215—
190020,909189.8%
191023,73513.5%
192030,18027.2%
193036,90522.3%
194036,057−2.3%
195046,43028.8%
196044,231−4.7%
197050,65414.5%
198062,43523.3%
199061,507−1.5%
200068,19010.9%
201077,35013.4%
202081,6465.6%
2023 (est.)83,352[6]2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2019[11]
Age pyramid for Payne County, Oklahoma, based on census 2000 data.

As of the census of 2000,[12] there were 68,190 people, 26,680 households, and 15,314 families residing in the county. The population density was 99 inhabitants per square mile (38/km2). There were 29,326 housing units at an average density of 43 units per square mile (17/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 84.33% White, 3.63% Black or African American, 4.58% Native American, 3.00% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.77% from other races, and 3.64% from two or more races. 2.15% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Since the 2000 census, its population has increased to 81,646 at the 2020 census. As of 2022, it had an estimated population of 82,794; according to census estimates in 2021, its racial makeup was 76.1% non-Hispanic white, 3.9% African American, 5.7% Native American, 4.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 6.0% multiracial, and 5% Hispanic or Latino of any race.[1]

As of 2000, there were 26,680 households, out of which 25.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.60% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.60% were non-families. 30.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the county as of 2000, the population was spread out, with 19.60% under the age of 18, 25.90% from 18 to 24, 26.20% from 25 to 44, 17.60% from 45 to 64, and 10.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.60 males.

According to the 2000 census, the median income for a household in the county was $28,733, and the median income for a family was $40,823. Males had a median income of $31,132 versus $21,113 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,983. About 10.80% of families and 20.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.00% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over. According to 2021 census estimates, its median household income was $43,686 with a poverty rate of 20.7%.[1]

Politics

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Payne County is very conservative for a county dominated by a college town. While many such counties swung hard to the Democrats in the 1990s, Payne County has gone Republican in every election since 1968 and all but twice since 1944. Since 1968, Southerners Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton are the only Democrats to cross the 40 percent mark.

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of June 30, 2023[13]
Party Number of Voters Percentage
Democratic 11,814 27.46%
Republican 22,548 52.42%
Others 8,655 20.12%
Total 43,017 100%
United States presidential election results for Payne County, Oklahoma[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 17,962 61.35% 10,560 36.07% 757 2.59%
2020 17,813 60.09% 10,904 36.78% 926 3.12%
2016 16,651 59.98% 8,788 31.66% 2,321 8.36%
2012 16,481 64.18% 9,198 35.82% 0 0.00%
2008 18,435 63.49% 10,601 36.51% 0 0.00%
2004 19,560 65.95% 10,101 34.05% 0 0.00%
2000 15,256 61.15% 9,319 37.36% 372 1.49%
1996 11,686 48.07% 9,985 41.08% 2,637 10.85%
1992 13,032 42.20% 9,886 32.01% 7,962 25.78%
1988 16,027 59.57% 10,568 39.28% 310 1.15%
1984 20,811 72.64% 7,653 26.71% 184 0.64%
1980 15,955 62.10% 7,466 29.06% 2,270 8.84%
1976 13,481 56.43% 9,987 41.81% 420 1.76%
1972 17,019 73.77% 5,644 24.46% 407 1.76%
1968 9,577 53.73% 5,772 32.38% 2,475 13.89%
1964 7,936 47.12% 8,906 52.88% 0 0.00%
1960 9,943 63.59% 5,694 36.41% 0 0.00%
1956 9,381 59.75% 6,320 40.25% 0 0.00%
1952 10,605 62.04% 6,490 37.96% 0 0.00%
1948 5,799 43.97% 7,390 56.03% 0 0.00%
1944 6,048 51.68% 5,624 48.06% 30 0.26%
1940 6,772 46.58% 7,704 52.99% 63 0.43%
1936 4,783 37.02% 8,081 62.54% 57 0.44%
1932 3,874 33.13% 7,819 66.87% 0 0.00%
1928 7,864 72.19% 2,904 26.66% 125 1.15%
1924 4,817 48.49% 4,342 43.71% 774 7.79%
1920 4,583 54.76% 3,238 38.69% 549 6.56%
1916 1,767 36.74% 2,140 44.50% 902 18.76%
1912 1,669 41.65% 1,534 38.28% 804 20.06%

Economy

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Agriculture was the basis of the county economy for more than fifty years. The primary crops were cotton, corn and wheat.[4]

World War II caused hundreds of students at Oklahoma A & M to leave school for military service. To offset this loss to the local economy, civic and college leaders lobbied military officials and Oklahoma Senator Mike Monroney to have the school designated as a war training center. This resulted in the establishment of twelve training programs for the Navy, with nearly 40,000 people.[4] The wartime experience showed local political leaders that it would be essential to diversify the county's economic base. They formed an Industrial Foundation to attract manufacturing plants and industrial jobs. This effort succeeded and accelerated an increase in population.[4]

Education

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"Old Central", first building constructed for Oklahoma A&M College, c. 1894

Educational entities located in Payne County include:

Communities

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Cities

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Towns

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Census-designated places

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Other unincorporated communities

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NRHP sites

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Main article: National Register of Historic Places listings in Payne County, Oklahoma

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

Other landmarks include:

References

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  1. ^ a b c "QuickFacts: Payne County, OK". U.S. Census Bureau.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Chronicles of Oklahoma. "Origin of County Names in Oklahoma." v. 2, N, 1. March 1924. Retrieved May 26, 2013.[1] Archived January 23, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ a b c d e f Newsom, D. Earl. "Payne County," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Oklahoma Historical Society, 2009. Accessed April 4, 2015.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  9. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  11. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. ^ "Oklahoma Registration Statistics by County" (PDF). OK.gov. January 15, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
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36°05′N 96°58′W / 36.08°N 96.97°W / 36.08; -96.97

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