Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pottawatomie County
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Pottawatomie County Courthouse in Shawnee
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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 | 1891 |
| Named for | Potawatomi people |
| Seat | Shawnee |
| Largest city | Shawnee |
| Area | |
| • Total | 793 sq mi (2,050 km2) |
| • Land | 788 sq mi (2,040 km2) |
| • Water | 5.7 sq mi (15 km2) 0.7%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 72,454 |
| • Density | 91.37/sq mi (35.277/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 5th |
Pottawatomie County is a county in the state of Oklahoma. It was named after the Potawatomi Native American people. In 2020, about 72,454 people lived here.
The main city and county seat is Shawnee. Pottawatomie County is part of a larger area that includes Oklahoma City.
Contents
A Look Back: Pottawatomie County's History
Pottawatomie County was once land given to the Creek and Seminole tribes. This happened after they were forced to move from Georgia and Florida.
After the Civil War, these tribes had to give their land back. The government then used this land to resettle other tribes. These included the Iowa, Sac and Fox, Absentee Shawnee, Potawatomi, and Kickapoo.
How the County Began
People who were not Native American started settling here on September 22, 1891. This happened after most tribes agreed to "land allotment." This meant their shared reservation land was divided into smaller pieces for individual tribal members. The leftover land was then opened for new settlers.
During a "land run," Pottawatomie County was first called County "B." Tecumseh was chosen as its county seat. In 1892, voters decided to rename County "B" to Pottawatomie County. They named it after the Potawatomi Indians.
In 1895, the Kickapoo tribe also gave up their land rights. Their land was then given to white settlers in the last land run in Oklahoma.
Changes Over Time
By 1930, Shawnee had grown bigger than Tecumseh. Voters then chose Shawnee to be the new county seat. The Pottawatomie County Courthouse was built in 1934. It was part of a government project called the Public Works Administration. The building cost about $250,000.
On May 19, 2013, a strong tornado hit the area. It badly damaged a mobile home park. One person died, and at least six others were hurt. Many homes in Shawnee were also damaged.
Where is Pottawatomie County?
The county covers a total area of about 793 square miles. Most of this (788 square miles) is land. About 5.7 square miles (0.7%) is water.
Neighboring Counties
Pottawatomie County shares borders with several other counties:
- Lincoln County (north)
- Okfuskee County (northeast)
- Seminole County (east)
- Pontotoc County (southeast)
- McClain County (southwest)
- Cleveland County (west)
- Oklahoma County (northwest)
Who Lives in Pottawatomie County?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 26,412 | — | |
| 1910 | 43,595 | 65.1% | |
| 1920 | 46,028 | 5.6% | |
| 1930 | 66,572 | 44.6% | |
| 1940 | 54,377 | −18.3% | |
| 1950 | 43,517 | −20.0% | |
| 1960 | 41,486 | −4.7% | |
| 1970 | 43,134 | 4.0% | |
| 1980 | 55,239 | 28.1% | |
| 1990 | 58,760 | 6.4% | |
| 2000 | 65,521 | 11.5% | |
| 2010 | 69,442 | 6.0% | |
| 2020 | 72,454 | 4.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2019 2020 census |
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In 2010, there were 69,442 people living in the county. There were 25,911 households, which are groups of people living together. About 18,227 of these were families. The population density was about 34 people per square kilometer.
Most people (76.3%) were white. About 12.9% were Native American, and 2.9% were Black or African American. About 6.3% were from two or more races. About 4% of the people were Hispanic or Latino.
Most people (90.6%) spoke English at home. About 4.2% spoke Spanish. In 2020, the population grew to 72,454 people.
Households and Ages
In 2010, about 34.5% of households had children under 18. More than half (51.9%) were married couples living together. About 29.7% were non-family households.
The average household had 2.56 people. The average family had 3.04 people. About 25% of the population was under 18 years old. About 14.3% were 65 years or older. The average age was 37 years.
Money and Well-being
In 2010, the average income for a household was $41,332 per year. For families, the average income was $50,399.
About 18% of all people in the county lived below the poverty line. This means they had a very low income. This included 26.4% of those under 18. In 2021, the average household income was $54,896. The poverty rate was 14.4%.
Getting Around: Roads and Airport
Main Roads
Many important roads run through Pottawatomie County:
Interstate 40
U.S. Highway 177
U.S. Highway 270
U.S. Highway 377
State Highway 3
State Highway 3E
State Highway 3W
State Highway 9
State Highway 9A
State Highway 18
State Highway 39
State Highway 59
State Highway 59B
State Highway 99
State Highway 99A
State Highway 102
State Highway 270
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Local Airport
The Shawnee Regional Airport is located about 2 miles northwest of downtown Shawnee. It is used for general aviation, which means it's mostly for private planes and smaller flights.
Towns and Cities in the County
Cities
- Oklahoma City (a small part is in Pottawatomie County)
- Shawnee (the county seat)
- Tecumseh
Towns
Other Communities
- Dale (a census-designated place)
- Aydelotte
- Bellemont
- Harjo
- Pearson
- Romulus
- Sacred Heart
Learning in Pottawatomie County
Many school districts serve the students in Pottawatomie County.
K-12 Schools
These schools teach students from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade:
- Asher Public Schools
- Bethel Public Schools
- Dale Public Schools
- Earlsboro Public Schools
- Harrah Public Schools
- Konawa Public Schools
- Little Axe Public Schools
- Macomb Public Schools
- Maud Public Schools
- McLoud Public Schools
- Meeker Public Schools
- North Rock Creek Public School
- Prague Public Schools
- Shawnee Public Schools
- Strother Public Schools
- Tecumseh Public Schools
- Wanette Public Schools
Elementary Schools
These schools teach younger students, usually up to 5th or 6th grade:
- Grove Public School
- Pleasant Grove Public School
- South Rock Creek Public School
Historic Places to Explore
The National Register of Historic Places lists many important sites. These places are special because of their history, architecture, or culture. Here are some in Pottawatomie County:
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See also
In Spanish: Condado de Pottawatomie (Oklahoma) para niños
