Grant County, Oklahoma facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Grant County
U.S. county
Grant County Courthouse in Medford (2017)
Location within the U.S. state of Oklahoma
Oklahoma's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
Founded	1893
Named for	Ulysses S. Grant
Seat	Medford
Largest city	Medford
Area
• Total	1,004 sq mi (2,600 km2)
• Land	1,001 sq mi (2,590 km2)
• Water	2.7 sq mi (7 km2)  0.3%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,169
• Density	4.2/sq mi (1.6/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	3rd

Grant County is a county located in the northern part of Oklahoma, a state in the United States. In 2020, about 4,169 people lived there. The main town and center of the county government is Medford. This area was once part of the Cherokee Outlet, which was land belonging to the Cherokee Nation. The county was named after Ulysses S. Grant, who was a U.S. President.

History of Grant County

Pond Creek Masonic Lodge No. 125 is a historic building in Grant County.

Grant County was originally part of the Cherokee Nation's Cherokee Outlet. This land was opened for new settlers on September 16, 1893. The settlers chose to name the county after President Ulysses S. Grant in an election held on November 6, 1894.

When it was first created, the U.S. Congress called this area County L in Oklahoma Territory. The first county seat, or main town, was Pond Creek. However, in an election on May 27, 1908, Medford became the new county seat.

Railroads and Growth

Railroads played a big part in the county's early growth. In 1889 and 1890, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built tracks through Grant County. Later, other railroads like the Gulf Railroad and the Blackwell, Enid and Southwestern Railroad also built lines.

These railroads connected Grant County to markets in the northern and eastern United States. This helped the county become a major producer of farm goods and cattle. When Oklahoma became a state, important crops included wheat, corn, oats, and alfalfa. The county also had many hogs, cattle, and horses.

Geography of Grant County

Grant County covers about 1,004 square miles. Most of this area, about 1,001 square miles, is land. Only a small part, about 2.7 square miles, is water.

Most of the county's land is drained by the Salt Fork of the Arkansas River and its smaller streams. The Chikaskia River also flows into the county from Kansas.

Neighboring Areas

Grant County shares its northern border with the state of Kansas. Specifically, it borders Sumner and Harper counties in Kansas.

Within Oklahoma, Grant County is next to:

• Alfalfa County (to the west)
• Garfield County (to the south)
• Kay County (to the east)
• Noble County (to the southeast)

Main Roads

Several important highways run through Grant County, making it easy to travel around. These include:

• U.S. Route 60
• U.S. Route 64
• U.S. Route 81
• State Highway 11
• State Highway 11A
• State Highway 74
• State Highway 132

Population and People

This chart shows the age groups of people in Grant County, based on 2000 data.

In 2010, the county's population was 4,527 people. This was a decrease from the 5,144 people counted in 2000. Most residents, over 90%, identified as white. A smaller number, less than 3%, identified as Native American. Less than 2% identified as Hispanic or Latino.

The average household in Grant County had about 2.42 people. Many households, about 60%, were married couples living together. About 30% of households had children under 18 living with them.

The median age for people in the county was 41 years old. This means half the people were younger than 41, and half were older. About 25% of the population was under 18 years old.

Economy and Jobs

The economy of Grant County has mostly been based on farming for a long time. Even before Oklahoma became a state, agriculture was very important. Farmers grew crops like wheat, corn, oats, and alfalfa. They also raised many hogs, cattle, and horses.

In the early 1920s, oil and natural gas were found in the eastern part of the county. The first oil well in Grant County was drilled near Deer Creek on April 24, 1921. This discovery added another important industry to the county's economy.

Towns and Communities

Grant County has several cities and towns where people live and work.

Cities in Grant County

• Medford (the county seat)
• Pond Creek

Towns in Grant County

• Deer Creek
• Jefferson
• Lamont
• Manchester
• Nash
• Renfrow
• Wakita

Other Communities

Some smaller communities in Grant County are not officially cities or towns. These include:

• Clyde
• Sand Creek
• Gibbon

Education in Grant County

Children in Grant County attend schools in several different school districts. These districts help provide education for students across the county.

• Billings Public Schools
• Deer Creek-Lamont Schools
• Kremlin-Hillsdale Schools
• Medford Public Schools
• Pond Creek-Hunter Schools
• Timberlake Public Schools

One school district, Wakita Public Schools, used to operate on its own. However, it merged with Medford Public Schools in 2011.

Historic Places

Several places in Grant County are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites that are protected.

• Bank of Nashville, Nash
• Dayton School, Lamont
• Deer Creek General Merchandise Store, Deer Creek
• Grant County Courthouse, Medford
• Medford Bathhouse and Swimming Pool, Medford

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Grant (Oklahoma) para niños