Murray County, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Murray County
|
|
|---|---|
Murray County Courthouse in September 2014
|
|
Location within the U.S. state of Oklahoma
|
|
 Oklahoma's location within the U.S. |
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Oklahoma |
| Founded | 1907 |
| Seat | Sulphur |
| Largest city | Sulphur |
| Area | |
| • Total | 425 sq mi (1,100 km2) |
| • Land | 416 sq mi (1,080 km2) |
| • Water | 8.6 sq mi (22 km2) 2.0%% |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 13,904 |
| • Density | 32.72/sq mi (12.631/km2) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
Murray County is a county in the southern part of Oklahoma, a state in the United States. In 2020, about 13,904 people lived there. The main town and county seat is Sulphur. The county is named after William H. Murray, who was an important leader in Oklahoma's history and later became its governor.
Contents
History of Murray County
The land that is now Murray County was first given to the Choctaw Nation in 1820. Later, in 1838, the Chickasaw Nation also received some of this land. By 1855, the area became part of the Chickasaw Nation.
Before the U.S. Civil War, there were some disagreements between the Plains Indians and the Choctaw and Chickasaw people who had recently moved there. To help keep the peace and protect the Chickasaws, the U.S. Army built several forts. These included Fort Towson (built in 1824), Fort Washita (1842), and Fort Arbuckle (1851). After these conflicts were settled, some groups of outlaws caused trouble, making law enforcement difficult.
The town of Sulphur started growing in the 1880s. It was named for its natural springs, which were popular for bathing and spas. Many bathhouses were built there. A post office opened in 1898. A railway arrived in 1902, making it easier for people to visit. In 1904, Platt National Park was created with its main office in Sulphur. This park, along with nearby Turner Falls, made Sulphur one of Oklahoma's first popular places for vacations and outdoor fun.
Before Oklahoma became a state, this area was part of the Chickasaw Nation's Pickens County. Murray County was officially created in 1907 when Oklahoma became a state. Sulphur was chosen as its county seat.
Geography of Murray County
Murray County covers about 425 square miles. Most of this (416 square miles) is land, and a small part (8.6 square miles) is water. It is one of the smallest counties in Oklahoma.
The northern part of the county has sandy hills and is good for farming. The southern part is in the Arbuckle Mountains. This area has rolling hills and many rock formations. The Washita River flows through the county. The Chickasaw National Recreation Area is also located here. Lake of the Arbuckles, which is part of this recreation area, was finished in 1966.
Major highways
Interstate 35
U.S. Highway 77
U.S. Highway 177
Chickasaw Turnpike
State Highway 1
State Highway 7
State Highway 110
.svg){kind=small}
Protected areas
Adjacent counties
- Pontotoc County (to the northeast)
- Johnston County (to the southeast)
- Carter County (to the southwest)
- Garvin County (to the northwest)
People of Murray County (Demographics)
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 12,744 | — | |
| 1920 | 13,115 | 2.9% | |
| 1930 | 12,410 | −5.4% | |
| 1940 | 13,841 | 11.5% | |
| 1950 | 10,775 | −22.2% | |
| 1960 | 10,622 | −1.4% | |
| 1970 | 10,669 | 0.4% | |
| 1980 | 12,147 | 13.9% | |
| 1990 | 12,042 | −0.9% | |
| 2000 | 12,623 | 4.8% | |
| 2010 | 13,488 | 6.9% | |
| 2020 | 13,904 | 3.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010 |
|||
In 2000, there were 12,623 people living in Murray County. There were 5,003 households, which are groups of people living together. The population density was about 12 people per square kilometer.
About 24.2% of the people were under 18 years old. About 18.5% were 65 years or older. The average age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were about 97 males.
The average income for a household in the county was about $30,294 per year. For families, the average income was about $37,303.
Economy of Murray County
In the past, when the area was part of the Chickasaw Nation, farming and ranching were the main ways people made a living. The area was known as "the Prairie of Eden" because it had lots of grasslands, which were great for animals. Chickasaw ranchers like Noah Lael and Perry Froman had large cattle operations near Sulphur by 1881. More farms and businesses grew when railways were built through Dougherty and Davis in the late 1880s.
Cattle ranching is still an important industry today. Murray County is known as the center of "Hereford Heaven," which means it's famous for raising Hereford cattle. A famous rancher, Oklahoma Governor Roy J. Turner, had operations here. The Flying L Ranch near Davis was also where famous cowboy singer Roy Rogers and his wife Dale Evans got married in 1947.
Other important parts of the economy include the Oklahoma School for the Deaf in Sulphur, which opened in 1907, and a center for veterans. Limestone quarries, which are places where limestone rock is dug out of the ground, have also been important. One of the biggest quarry operations started in the 1890s at Big Canyon.
Communities in Murray County
Cities
Towns
Unincorporated communities
Education in Murray County
Here are some of the school districts in Murray County:
- Davis Public Schools
- Elmore City-Pernell Schools
- Mill Creek Public Schools
- Roff Public Schools
- Sulphur Public Schools
- Wynnewood Public Schools
The Oklahoma School for the Deaf is also located in Sulphur.
Images for kids
-
Chickasaw National Recreation Area
-
Turner Falls
-
Age pyramid for Murray County, Oklahoma, based on census 2000 data.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Murray (Oklahoma) para niños
