Atoka County, Oklahoma

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Atoka County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,143.[1] Its county seat is Atoka.[2] The county was formed before statehood from Choctaw Lands, and its name honors a Choctaw Chief named Atoka. The county is part of Choctaw Nation reservation lands.

History

File:AtokaCounty1909.jpg
Map of Atoka County, 1909

The area forming Atoka County was part of the Choctaw Nation after the tribe was forced to relocate in the early 1830s to Indian Territory from its home in the Southeastern United States. Unlike the State of Oklahoma, whose county boundaries follow the precise north–south, east–west grid established with the state's township and range system, the Choctaw Nation established its internal divisions using easily recognizable landmarks, such as mountains and rivers, as borders. The territory of present-day Atoka County fell within the Pushmataha District, one of the three administrative super-regions comprising the Choctaw Nation. Within that district, it was in parts of Atoka, Blue, and Jack's Fork counties.

The Choctaw named their Atoka County in honor of Chief Atoka, a leader of a party that migrated from Georgia to Indian Territory; the name was retained when Oklahoma became a state.[3]

In 1858, the Butterfield Overland Mail established a stagecoach route through the area. It carried passengers, US Mail, and some freight. One station, Waddell's, was near Wesley; a second station, Geary's, was between Waddell's and the Muddy Boggy River, while a third was at Boggy Depot.[3]

During the Civil War, Confederate troops established a supply depot named Camp Boggy Depot here. After the war, the town of Atoka was established. In 1872, the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railway (nicknamed the Christopher Casey) built a track through the county. It bypassed Boggy Depot and passed through Atoka; this access increased the importance of Atoka, but lack of the railroad contributed to the decline of Boggy Depot.[3]

The economy of Atoka County has been largely built on coal mining, limestone quarrying, forestry, and agriculture. Cattle raising became the leading business in the mid-twentieth century. A major employer is the Oklahoma State Penitentiary Farm (renamed the Mack H. Alford Correctional Center), a medium-security prison that opened in 1933.[3]

Geography

Atoka County is in southeastern Oklahoma, in a 10-county area designated for tourism purposes by the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation as Choctaw Country.[4] According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 990 square miles (2,600 km2), of which 976 square miles (2,530 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (1.5%) is water.[5]

Atoka County is drained by North Boggy, Clear Boggy and Muddy Boggy Creeks, which are tributaries of the Red River, and by McGee Creek, which is a tributary of Muddy Boggy Creek. Atoka Reservoir is in the northern section of the county. The Ouachita Mountains are in the eastern part of the county, while the Sandstone Hills and Coastal Plains physiographic regions provide a more level terrain suitable for agriculture in the north and western part of the county.[3]

About 12 miles WSW of the town of Atoka is Boggy Depot State Park, the historic site of a once large community on the Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoach route.

The Katian Age of the Ordovician Period of geological time is named for Katy Lake, which is two miles north east of Atoka. The Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) of the Katian stage is the Black Knob Ridge Section in the county.[6][7]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Template:Sronly%±
191013,808—
192020,86251.1%
193014,533−30.3%
194018,70228.7%
195014,269−23.7%
196010,352−27.5%
197010,9726.0%
198012,74816.2%
199012,7780.2%
200013,8798.6%
201014,1822.2%
202014,143−0.3%
2025 (est.)14,609[8] Increase3.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010[13]

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, the county had a population of 14,143. Of the residents, 21.7% were under the age of 18 and 18.7% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 41.0 years. For every 100 females there were 119.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 122.4 males.[14][15]

The racial makeup of the county was 67.0% White, 4.0% Black or African American, 15.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 1.9% from some other race, and 10.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.9% of the population.[15]

There were 5,040 households in the county, of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 27.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[14]

There were 5,981 housing units, of which 15.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.7% were owner-occupied and 25.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 16.1%.[14]

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 14,182 people, 4,964 households, and 3,504 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km2). There were 5,673 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3/km2). 73.8% of the population were White, 13.8% Native American, 3.7% Black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 1.1% of some other race and 7.1% of two or more races. 2.9% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 24.5% were of American, 11.7% Irish and 8.5% German ancestry.[16] 97.4% spoke English and 1.4% Spanish as their first language.

There were 4,964 households, out of which 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.90% were married couples living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.40% were non-families. 27.10% 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 2.48 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.60% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 29.10% from 25 to 44, 24.30% 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 117.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 119.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,752, and the median income for a family was $29,409. Males had a median income of $26,193 versus $18,861 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,919. About 15.70% of families and 19.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.40% of those under age 18 and 21.10% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of May 31, 2023[17]
Party Number of Voters Percentage
Democratic 2,726 35.47%
Republican 4,076 53.03%
Others 882 11.48%
Total 7,686 100%

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Government and infrastructure

The Oklahoma Department of Corrections operates the Mack Alford Correctional Center in an unincorporated area, near Stringtown.[18]

Communities

City

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated places

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  • Bethany
  • Blackjack
  • Boehler
  • Boggy Depot
  • Bruno
  • Burg
  • Centerpoint
  • Chockie
  • Cook
  • Crystal
  • Daisy
  • Dok
  • East Allison
  • East Talico
  • Farris
  • Flora
  • Forrest Hill
  • Fugate
  • Goss
  • Grassy Lake
  • Half Bank Crossing
  • Harmony
  • Hickory Hill
  • High Hill
  • Hopewell
  • Iron Stob
  • Limestone Gap
  • Lone Pine
  • Mayers Chapel
  • McGee Valley
  • Mt. Carmel
  • Mt. Olive
  • Negro Bend
  • New Hope
  • Nix
  • Old Farris
  • Patapoe
  • Payton Crossing
  • Pine Springs
  • Plainview
  • Pleasant Hill
  • Redden
  • Reynolds
  • Rock Springs
  • Standing Rock
  • Star
  • Taloah
  • Valley View
  • Voca
  • Wards Chapel
  • Webster
  • Wesley
  • West Allison
  • West Telico
  • Wilson

Education

K-12 school districts include:[19]

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There is one elementary school district, Lane Public School.[19]

Previously another elementary school district, Farris Public School, was in operation.[20] In 2013 the Farris district closed and consolidated into the Lane district.[21]

NRHP sites

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References

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  1. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Atoka County, Oklahoma". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  2. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e James C. Milligan, "Atoka County." Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.
  4. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Counties & Regions". Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department (Travel Promotion Division). Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  5. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  6. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Goldman, Daniel; Stephen A. Leslie; Jaak Nõlvak; Seth Young; Stig M. Bergström; Warren D. Huff (2007). "The Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the base of the Katian Stage of the Upper Ordovician Series at Black Knob Ridge, Southeastern Oklahoma, USA" (PDF). Episodes. 30 (4): 258–270. doi:10.18814/epiiugs/2007/v30i4/002. Retrieved September 20, 2012.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."GSSP for Katian Stage". Geologic Timescale Foundation. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  8. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  10. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  11. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  12. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  13. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
  14. ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 2025-11-21.
  15. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved 2025-11-21.
  16. ^ "American FactFinder"
  17. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Voter Registration Totals". OK Elections Interactive Statistics Beta. May 31, 2023. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  18. ^ "Mack Alford Correctional Center Script error: No such module "webarchive".." Oklahoma Department of Corrections. Retrieved on November 22, 2010.
  19. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Atoka County, OK" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved October 13, 2024. - Text list
  20. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Atoka County, OK" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved October 13, 2024. - Text list
  21. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Coppernoll, Carrie (March 4, 2013). "Oklahoma school district closes, but questions, lawsuits remain". The Oklahoman. Retrieved October 13, 2024.

Further reading

  • Underwood, William Henry. "A History Atoka County, Oklahoma". Bryan County Heritage Association, 1997. 213.

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