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Pawnee County, Oklahoma facts for kids

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Pawnee County
Pawnee County Courthouse, 2014
Pawnee County Courthouse, 2014
Map of Oklahoma highlighting Pawnee 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 1893
Named for Pawnee Nation
Seat Pawnee
Largest city Cleveland
Area
 • Total 595 sq mi (1,540 km2)
 • Land 568 sq mi (1,470 km2)
 • Water 27 sq mi (70 km2)  4.5%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 16,577
 • Estimate 
(2019)
16,376
 • Density 29/sq mi (11/km2)
Congressional district 3rd

Pawnee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the population was 16,577. Its county seat is Pawnee. The county is named after the Pawnee Nation, whose reservation used to encompass the county prior to allotment in 1893.

Pawnee County is included in the Tulsa, OK Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The Osage Tribe used the area that contains present day Pawnee County as buffalo hunting grounds. In 1825, The Osage ceded parts of present-day Missouri, Arkansas and most of the future state of Oklahoma to the federal government.

After their forced removal from the Southeastern United States, the Cherokee received land in Eastern Oklahoma as well as the Cherokee Outlet in 1828, which included present-day Pawnee County. After the Civil War, the Cherokee agreed to allow other American Indians to settle in the eastern portion of the Outlet. In 1873, the federal government began to relocate the Pawnee Tribe from Nebraska to a reservation here.

In 1891, the Pawnee agreed to take land allotments from the reservation, and the remaining land was opened to non-Indian settlers in 1893 during the Cherokee Outlet opening. Pawnee County was organized as County Q, and the future town of Pawnee, Townsite Number 13, was designated the county seat. In 1894, the voters chose the name Pawnee County over the name Platte County.

The female bandit, Little Britches, companion in crime with Cattle Annie, lived for a time at Sinnett, site of the Creek Nation in Pawnee County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 595 square miles (1,540 km2), of which 568 square miles (1,470 km2) is land and 27 square miles (70 km2) (4.5%) is water.

The western third of the county is part of the Red Bed plains, while the remainder is in the Sandstone Hills region. The Cimarron and Arkansas Rivers drain the county. Black Bear Creek also extends through the county. Lone Chimney Lake dam is also in Pawnee County, while the lake extends into Payne County.

Adjacent counties

Earthquake

A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck near the city of Pawnee, just after 7 A. M. (CST) on September 3, 2016. This was Oklahoma's strongest quake in history, exceeding the 5.7-magnitude quake near Prague on November 5, 2011. Buildings in Pawnee were damaged, but there were no reports of deaths. A Pawnee resident was injured while shielding his child from debris falling from a chimney. State regulators in Oklahoma ordered 37 petroleum production wastewater disposal wells in the vicinity of the earthquake (see map in citation) to be rapidly closed while assessments were made.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1900 12,366
1910 17,332 40.2%
1920 19,126 10.4%
1930 19,882 4.0%
1940 17,395 −12.5%
1950 13,616 −21.7%
1960 10,884 −20.1%
1970 11,338 4.2%
1980 15,310 35.0%
1990 15,575 1.7%
2000 16,612 6.7%
2010 16,577 −0.2%
2019 (est.) 16,376 −1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2019

As of the census of 2000, there were 16,612 people, 6,383 households, and 4,748 families residing in the county. The population density was 11/km2 (29/mi2). There were 7,464 housing units at an average density of 5/km2 (13/mi2). The racial makeup of the county was 82.27% White, 0.69% Black or African American, 12.13% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 4.42% from two or more races. 1.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,383 households, out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.60% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.60% were non-families. 22.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.50% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 26.20% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,661, and the median income for a family was $37,274. Males had a median income of $29,946 versus $21,069 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,261. About 9.60% of families and 13.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.60% of those under age 18 and 13.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

NRHP sites

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

  • Arkansas Valley National Bank, Pawnee
  • Blackburn Methodist Church, Blackburn
  • Blue Hawk Peak Ranch, Pawnee
  • Corliss Steam Engine, Pawnee
  • First State Bank of Maramec, Maramec
  • Mullendore Mansion, Cleveland
  • Pawnee Agency and Boarding School Historic District, Pawnee
  • Pawnee Armory, Pawnee
  • Pawnee County Courthouse, Pawnee
  • Pawnee Indian Agency, Pawnee
  • Pawnee Municipal Swimming Pool and Bathhouse, Pawnee
  • Ralston Opera House, Ralston

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Pawnee (Oklahoma) para niños

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