kids encyclopedia robot

Garvin County, Oklahoma facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Garvin County
Garvin County Courthouse
Map of Oklahoma highlighting Garvin County
Location within the U.S. state of Oklahoma
Map of the United States highlighting Oklahoma
Oklahoma's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Oklahoma
Founded 1906
Named for Samuel J. Garvin
Seat Pauls Valley
Largest city Pauls Valley
Area
 • Total 814 sq mi (2,110 km2)
 • Land 802 sq mi (2,080 km2)
 • Water 12 sq mi (30 km2)  1.4%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 25,656
 • Density 31.518/sq mi (12.169/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 4th

Garvin County is a place in south-central Oklahoma, United States. In 2020, about 25,656 people lived there. The main town and county seat is Pauls Valley.

The county was created in 1906. It was formed from a part of the Chickasaw Nation in what was then called Indian Territory. Garvin County got its name from Samuel J. Garvin. He was a local Chickasaw rancher, merchant, and banker. The county's main jobs are in farming, raising animals, and producing oil.

History of Garvin County

Garvin County officially began on November 16, 1907. This was the day Oklahoma became a state. Before this, the land was part of Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation in the Indian Territory.

Choosing the County Seat

On June 20, 1908, people in the county voted for their county seat. They chose Pauls Valley over other towns like Wynnewood and Elmore City. This made Pauls Valley the main administrative town.

Oil Discovery

Oil was found in the southwestern part of the county in the 1920s. This area became known as Robberson Field. Later, another big oil area called the Golden Trend pool developed. It stretched from the northwest to the southern parts of the county.

Geography of Garvin County

Garvin County covers a total area of about 814 square miles. Most of this, about 802 square miles, is land. The remaining 12 square miles (1.4%) is water.

The county is located between two different land areas. These are the Red Bed plains and the Sandstone Hills. The most important rivers and creeks here are the Washita River, Rush Creek, and Wildhorse Creek.

Main Roads in Garvin County

Many important roads pass through Garvin County. These roads help people travel and transport goods.

  • I-35 (OK).svg Interstate 35
  • US 77.svg U.S. Highway 77
  • US 177.svg U.S. Highway 177
  • Oklahoma State Highway 7.svg State Highway 7
  • Oklahoma State Highway 19.svg State Highway 19
  • Oklahoma State Highway 29.svg State Highway 29
  • Oklahoma State Highway 145.svg State Highway 145

Neighboring Counties

Garvin County shares its borders with several other counties.

People of Garvin County

Historical population
Census Pop.
1910 26,545
1920 32,445 22.2%
1930 31,401 −3.2%
1940 31,150 −0.8%
1950 29,500 −5.3%
1960 28,290 −4.1%
1970 24,874 −12.1%
1980 27,856 12.0%
1990 26,605 −4.5%
2000 27,210 2.3%
2010 27,576 1.3%
2020 25,656 −7.0%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010
USA Garvin County, Oklahoma age pyramid
Age pyramid for Garvin County, Oklahoma, based on census 2000 data.

In 2000, there were 27,210 people living in Garvin County. This meant about 34 people lived in each square mile. There were 10,865 households, which are groups of people living together.

About 30.7% of households had children under 18 years old. Many families, about 56.4%, were married couples living together. In 2020, the population went down to 25,656 people.

The people in the county were spread out by age. About 24.8% were under 18 years old. About 17.9% were 65 years or older. The average age was 39 years old.

Economy of Garvin County

Oil and gas production are important to Garvin County's economy. However, farming has been the main source of jobs since Oklahoma became a state. In 1907, crops like alfalfa, cotton, and onions were worth a lot of money.

By the 1930s, over 1,000 acres were planted with pecan trees. These trees grew pecans with thin shells. By 1961, the Lindsay area harvested more broomcorn than anywhere else in the world. This led to the county's slogan: "We sweep the world."

Towns and Cities in Garvin County

Garvin County has several communities. These include cities, towns, and smaller communities.

Cities in Garvin County

Towns in Garvin County

Smaller Communities

These are communities that are not officially cities or towns.

Old and Historic Places

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Garvin para niños

kids search engine
Garvin County, Oklahoma Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.