Creek County

History

European explorers traveled through this area early in the 19th century, after the Louisiana Purchase. In 1825, the Osage Nation ceded the territory where the Federal Government planned to resettle the Creek Nation and other tribes after their expulsion from the Southeastern part of the United States. The Creeks began migrating into this area, where they and many black families settled to begin farming and raising cattle. In 1835, Federal soldiers under Captain J. L. Dawson built the Dawson Road, following an old Osage hunting trail.

Railroads gave an important boost to the local economy. In 1886, the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad built a line from Red Fork to Sapulpa. In 1898, the St. Louis and Oklahoma City Railway Company (later the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway), connected Sapulpa and Oklahoma City.

Bristow was originally designated by the statehood constitutional convention as the county seat for Moman County-- later Creek County-- prior to statehood; but, the convention later designated Sapulpa, with the proviso that an election could be held after statehood. The county held such an election on August 20, 1908, amidst arguments that Bristow was more centrally located, but Sapulpa was the center of population in the county. Sapulpa won, setting off a multi-year cycle of petitions, court challenges and new elections. After yet another election, the Oklahoma Supreme Court conclusively ruled in favor of Sapulpa on August 1, 1913.

After oil was discovered at Glenn Pool in adjacent Tulsa County in 1905, other strikes occurred in Creek County. The Cushing-Drumright Oil Field opened in 1912, creating boom towns Drumright, Kiefer and Oilton. By 1920, the county population had increased to 62,480.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 970 square miles (2,500 km2), of which 950 square miles (2,500 km2) is land and 20 square miles (52 km2) (2.0%) is water. It is drained by the Cimarron River, and the Deep Fork and Little Deep Fork of the North Canadian River. Heyburn Lake is contained within the county. Keystone Lake is partially within Creek County.

Adjacent counties

Pawnee County (north)

Tulsa County (east)

Okmulgee County (southeast)

Okfuskee County (south)

Lincoln County (west)

Payne County (northwest)

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, the county had a population of 71,754. Of the residents, 23.5% were under the age of 18 and 19.1% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 40.9 years. For every 100 females there were 98.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.2 males.

The racial makeup of the county was 73.1% White, 2.1% Black or African American, 10.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 1.7% from some other race, and 12.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.8% of the population.

There were 27,662 households in the county, of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 31,053 housing units, of which 10.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.0% were owner-occupied and 26.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.4%.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 67,367 people, 25,289 households, and 19,017 families residing in the county. The population density was 70 inhabitants per square mile (27/km2). There were 27,986 housing units at an average density of 29 units per square mile (11 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 82.27% White, 2.56% Black or African American, 9.08% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races, and 5.16% from two or more races; 1.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of 2000, there were 25,289 households, out of which 34.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.10% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.80% were non-families. 21.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.06. In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.40% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

As of 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $33,168, and the median income for a family was $38,470. Males had a median income of $31,190 versus $21,690 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,191. About 8% of families and 13.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.20% of those under age 18 and 14.10% of those age 65 or over. By 2021 census estimates, its median household income was $56,384.

Politics

Communities

Cities

Bristow

Drumright (partly in Payne County)

Mannford

Oilton

Sapulpa (county seat) (partly in Tulsa County)

Towns

Depew

Kellyville

Kiefer

Lawrence Creek

Mounds

Shamrock

Slick

Census-designated place

Milfay

Oakhurst (partly in Tulsa County)

Olive

Other unincorporated communities

Bowden

Gypsy

Hilton

Silver City

Townships

Creek County historically had civil townships. These civil township boundaries (and their names) were still used by the United States Census for counting purposes up to and including the 1960 census.

Education

K-12 school districts include:

Elementary school districts include: