Pontotoc County, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pontotoc County
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Pontotoc County Courthouse in Ada
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Location within the U.S. state of Oklahoma
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 Oklahoma's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Oklahoma |
| Founded | 1907 |
| Named for | Chickasaw word for the region meaning either "cattail prairie" "land of hanging grapes" |
| Seat | Ada |
| Largest city | Ada |
| Area | |
| • Total | 725 sq mi (1,880 km2) |
| • Land | 720 sq mi (1,900 km2) |
| • Water | 4.8 sq mi (12 km2) 0.7%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 38,065 |
| • Density | 52.50/sq mi (20.272/km2) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
Pontotoc County is a county located in the south-central part of Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, about 38,065 people lived there. Its main city and county seat is Ada.
The county was created in 1907 when Oklahoma became a state. It was named after an old Chickasaw tribal area in Mississippi. The name "Pontotoc" means "cattail prairie" or "land of hanging grapes." Pontotoc County is part of the Ada, OK micropolitan statistical area. The headquarters for the Chickasaw Nation are located in Ada.
Contents
History of Pontotoc County
The land that is now Pontotoc County was once part of a large area given to the Choctaw tribe in 1830. This happened through a special agreement called the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek. Later, in 1837, the Chickasaw tribe was also given land within the Choctaw area.
In 1857, the Chickasaw Nation created its own government on this land. However, not many Chickasaw people settled there right away. This was mainly because of attacks from different Plains Indian tribes.
Early Settlements and Growth
The first settlers in the area arrived around the 1840s near a place called Boggy Depot. A camp called Camp Arbuckle was set up to protect people traveling on the California Road. After the American Civil War, more settlements began to appear across the area.
Some of the new settlers were white people who moved in without permission, and even some outlaws. The first post office in the county was opened in Stonewall in 1878. The town of Ada was founded a bit later, in 1890. Ada grew quickly after three different railroads built lines through it. This made Ada the most important community in the area. When Pontotoc County was officially created, Ada was chosen as its county seat.
Geography of Pontotoc County
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Pontotoc County covers a total area of 725 square miles. Out of this, 720 square miles is land, and 4.8 square miles (or 0.7%) is water. The Canadian River forms the northern border of the county.
Neighboring Counties
Pontotoc County shares its borders with several other counties:
- Seminole County (to the north)
- Hughes County (to the northeast)
- Coal County (to the southeast)
- Johnston County (to the south)
- Murray County (to the southwest)
- Garvin County (to the west)
- McClain County (to the northwest)
- Pottawatomie County (to the northwest)
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 24,331 | — | |
| 1920 | 30,949 | 27.2% | |
| 1930 | 32,469 | 4.9% | |
| 1940 | 39,792 | 22.6% | |
| 1950 | 30,875 | −22.4% | |
| 1960 | 28,089 | −9.0% | |
| 1970 | 27,867 | −0.8% | |
| 1980 | 32,598 | 17.0% | |
| 1990 | 34,119 | 4.7% | |
| 2000 | 35,143 | 3.0% | |
| 2010 | 37,492 | 6.7% | |
| 2020 | 38,065 | 1.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010 |
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In 2020, the total population of Pontotoc County was 38,065 people.
Based on the 2010 United States census, there were 37,492 people living in the county. About 71.2% of the people were White. Around 17.4% were Native American. About 2.4% were Black or African American, and 0.7% were Asian. About 1.1% were from other races, and 7.2% were of two or more races. Also, 4.1% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino (of any race).
Economy and Jobs
For a long time, cattle ranching was a very important way to make money in this area. This was true even before Oklahoma became a state. In the early 1900s, farming became very important, with cotton being the main crop.
Today, raising cattle has become the biggest industry again. The county is sometimes even called "Hereford Heaven" because of all the Hereford cattle.
Other important jobs and businesses in Pontotoc County include mining for limestone and making cement. There is also light manufacturing, which means making smaller products. Many people work in service jobs and for the government. The city of Ada is the main office for the Chickasaw Nation, and it also has the Carl Albert Indian Health System.
Cities and Towns
Pontotoc County has several communities where people live and work.
City
- Ada (This is the county seat, meaning it's the main administrative city.)
Towns
Census-Designated Places
These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities or towns.
Other Unincorporated Places
These are smaller communities that are not officially part of a city or town.
- Gaar Corner
- Happyland
- Harden City
- Jesse
Education in Pontotoc County
There are several school districts that serve the students in Pontotoc County:
- Ada Public Schools
- Allen Public Schools
- Asher Public Schools
- Byng Public Schools
- Latta Public Schools
- Roff Public Schools
- Stonewall Public Schools
- Stratford Public Schools
- Tupelo Public Schools
- Vanoss Public Schools
Historic Places
Several places in Pontotoc County are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites that are protected.
- Ada Arts and Heritage Center, Ada
- Bebee Field Round House, Ada
- East Central State Normal School, Ada
- F.W. Meaders House, Ada
- Mijo Camp Industrial District, Ada
- Pontotoc County Courthouse, Ada
- Roff Armory, Roff
- Sugg Clinic, Ada
- Wintersmith Park Historic District, Ada
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Pontotoc (Oklahoma) para niños
