Craig County, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Craig County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Oklahoma
. As of 2010, the population was 15,029, a gain of 0.5 percent from 14,950 in 2000. Its county seat
is Vinita
.
Craig County was organized in 1907.
, Indian Territory.
In 1871, the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad constructed a north-south railroad through this area, while the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad built an east-west line that ran through Vinita. This line was extended through Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1881.
, the county has a total area of 763 square miles (1,976.2 km²), of which 761 square miles (1,971 km²) is land and 2 square miles (5.2 km²) (0.22%) is water. The county lies in the Osage Plains, on the western edge of the Ozark Plateau, and drains into several tributaries of the Neosho River
.
of 2006, there were 14,880 people, 5,620 households, and 3,945 families residing in the county. The population density
was 20 people per square mile (8/km²). There were 6,459 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 68.54% White
, 3.09% Black
or African American
, 16.31% Native American
, 0.18% Asian
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
, 0.48% from other races
, and 11.37% from two or more races. 1.20% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 5,620 households out of which 30.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples
living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.80% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the county, the population was spread out with 23.90% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 16.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,997, and the median income for a family was $36,499. Males had a median income of $26,704 versus $20,082 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $16,539. About 10.90% of families and 13.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.30% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.
:
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. As of 2010, the population was 15,029, a gain of 0.5 percent from 14,950 in 2000. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Vinita
Vinita, Oklahoma
Vinita is a city in south-central Craig County, Oklahoma. As of 2009, the population estimate was 6,057. It is the county seat of Craig County.-Geography:...
.
Craig County was organized in 1907.
History
This county was created in 1907 and named for Granville Craig, a prominent mixed-blood-Cherokee farmer who lived in the Bluejacket area. This area was part of the hunting grounds of the Osage nations and other Plains tribes. The Cherokee began moving into the area during the 1830s, particularly after the "Trail of Tears." Then the area became part of the Delaware and Cooweescoowee districts of the Cherokee NationCherokee Nation
The Cherokee Nation is the largest of three Cherokee federally recognized tribes in the United States. It was established in the 20th century, and includes people descended from members of the old Cherokee Nation who relocated voluntarily from the Southeast to Indian Territory and Cherokees who...
, Indian Territory.
In 1871, the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad constructed a north-south railroad through this area, while the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad built an east-west line that ran through Vinita. This line was extended through Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1881.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the county has a total area of 763 square miles (1,976.2 km²), of which 761 square miles (1,971 km²) is land and 2 square miles (5.2 km²) (0.22%) is water. The county lies in the Osage Plains, on the western edge of the Ozark Plateau, and drains into several tributaries of the Neosho River
Neosho River
The Neosho River is a tributary of the Arkansas River in eastern Kansas and northeastern Oklahoma in the United States. Its tributaries also drain portions of Missouri and Arkansas. The river is about long. Via the Arkansas, it is part of the Mississippi River watershed.- Course :The Neosho's...
.
Major highways
|
 State Highway 10State Highway 10 (Oklahoma) State Highway 10 is a state highway in northeastern Oklahoma. It makes a 235.5 mile crescent through the northeast corner of the state, running from State Highway 99 in Osage County to Interstate 40 near Gore. It has two lettered spur routes.SH-10 first appeared as part of the original highway...  State Highway 25State Highway 25 (Oklahoma) State Highway 25 is a state highway in northeastern Oklahoma with two nonconnecting sections. The northern section runs between the communities of Pyramid Corners and Narcissa, and the southern section runs from east of Grove to the Missouri state line.-Western section:The western section of SH-25...  State Highway 66State Highway 66 (Oklahoma) State Highway 66 is a 196-mile state highway in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, beginning at U.S. Highway 81 in El Reno and ending at U.S. Highway 60 near White Oak. The highway was designated in 1985 as a replacement for the decommissioned US-66...  State Highway 82 |
Interstate 44
U.S. Highway 59
U.S. Highway 60
U.S. Highway 69
Adjacent counties
- Labette County, KansasLabette County, KansasLabette County is a county located in southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 21,607. Its county seat is Oswego, and its most populous city is Parsons...
(north) - Cherokee County, KansasCherokee County, KansasCherokee County is a county located in Southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 21,603. Its county seat is Columbus, and its most populous city is Baxter Springs...
(northeast) - Ottawa CountyOttawa County, OklahomaOttawa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 33,194. Its county seat is Miami. It was named for the Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma.Ottawa County was established in 1907.-Geography:...
(east) - Delaware CountyDelaware County, OklahomaDelaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 37,077 and the newest population estimate is 45,000. Its county seat is Jay. The county was named for the Delaware Indians resettled in what was then Indian Territory in the 1830s. .Delaware County...
(southeast) - Mayes CountyMayes County, OklahomaMayes County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It was named for Samuel Houston Mayes, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation from 1895 to 1899. According to the 2010 census the population was 41,259, a 7.5 percent increase from 2000, when the population was 38,369...
(south) - Rogers CountyRogers County, OklahomaRogers County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010, the population was 86,905. Its county seat is Claremore. The county was originally created in 1906 and named Cooweescoowee...
(southwest) - Nowata CountyNowata County, OklahomaNowata County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the population was 10,573, a decline of 0.3 percent from 2000, when the population was 10,569...
(west)
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2006, there were 14,880 people, 5,620 households, and 3,945 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 20 people per square mile (8/km²). There were 6,459 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 68.54% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 3.09% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 16.31% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.18% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.48% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 11.37% from two or more races. 1.20% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 5,620 households out of which 30.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.80% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the county, the population was spread out with 23.90% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 16.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,997, and the median income for a family was $36,499. Males had a median income of $26,704 versus $20,082 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $16,539. About 10.90% of families and 13.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.30% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
|
Ketchum, Oklahoma Ketchum is a town in Craig County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 286 at the 2000 census.-History:Ketchum was named for a prominent Methodist minister named James Ketchum who helped found the town in 1898... Vinita, Oklahoma Vinita is a city in south-central Craig County, Oklahoma. As of 2009, the population estimate was 6,057. It is the county seat of Craig County.-Geography:... |
Welch, Oklahoma Welch is a town in Craig County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 597 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Welch is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land.... |
NRHP sites
The following sites in Craig County are listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
:
- Craig County Courthouse, Vinita
- First Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Vinita
- Hotel Vinita, Vinita
- McDougal Filling Station, Vinita
- Randall Tire Company, Vinita
- Spraker Service Station, Vinita