Custer County

History

Custer County was formed on 1891 as an original county from former Cheyenne land, and called G County. On November 6, 1896, it was renamed Custer County after General George Armstrong Custer, who had fought the Southern Cheyenne Indians at the Battle of the Washita 20 miles west in Roger Mills County. The county was settled by American settlers during the third official land run of April 19, 1892. On this day the first newspaper of the county appeared, the Arapaho Arrow.

Before Custer County became a county two major expeditions were conducted through the area. The first was the Whipple Railroad Expedition surveyed during the year 1853 and was then followed by the construction of Beale's Wagon Road in 1858. Both of these expedition were federally funded. The Beale Wagon Road went from Fort Smith, Arkansas to Los Angeles, California at a cost of $210,000. While Lt. Edward Fitzgerald Beale was moving through the future county his crew built 7 wooden bridges across major creeks to make it easier for travelers to move over the hilly country. This road became the first federally funded interstate highway to be constructed in the American Southwest. It is the Grandmother of federal roads, with Route 66 being one of its children. The best source for this information is found in the report written by Lt. Beale in 1860 and entitled "Wagon Road Fort Smith To The Colorado River" published by the U.S Congress. This report can be read in an article written in the Chronicles Of Oklahoma in 1934 with the same title.

Before Custer County became a county four major expeditions were conducted through the area. The first was Josiah Gregg's route from Santa Fe, New Mexico to Fort Smith, Arkansas during the years 1839–1840. This route became known as the Fort Smith to Santa Fe Trail and entered the county a few miles northeast of Hydro, Oklahoma. From there it moved northward past the mounds near Thomas, Oklahoma. Once past the mounds the road went more northwest and left the county north of the headwaters of Deer Creek.

During the year 1849 thousands of gold seekers passed through the county. One such group was made up of 1,500 individuals and escorted by Captain Randolph B. Marcy. When this company entered future Custer County, southeast of Weatherford, Oklahoma, Marcy and the military escort traveled northward to join the Fort Smith Santa Fe Trail. The gold seekers blazed a new trail northwestward towards the Antelope Hills located in modern Roger Mills, County. Their major complaint was the difficulty they had crossing the many deep creeks they encountered on the route.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,002 square miles (2,600 km2), of which 989 square miles (2,560 km2) is land and 13 square miles (34 km2) (1.3%) is water.

Major highways

Interstate 40

U.S. Highway 183

State Highway 33

State Highway 44

State Highway 47

State Highway 54

State Highway 73

Adjacent counties

Dewey County (north)

Blaine County (east)

Caddo County (southeast)

Washita County (south)

Beckham County (southwest)

Roger Mills County (west)

National protected area

Washita National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, the county had a population of 28,513. Of the residents, 24.7% were under the age of 18 and 15.1% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 33.1 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.6 males.

The racial makeup of the county was 70.2% White, 2.9% Black or African American, 6.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% Asian, 6.8% from some other race, and 12.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 18.9% of the population.

There were 10,859 households in the county, of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 12,932 housing units, of which 16.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 60.7% were owner-occupied and 39.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 17.4%.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 26,142 people, 10,136 households, and 6,578 families residing in the county. The population density was 26 people per square mile (10 people/km2). There were 11,675 housing units at an average density of 12 units per square mile (4.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 81.41% White, 2.87% Black or African American, 5.81% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 5.80% from other races, and 3.20% from two or more races. 9.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 10,136 households, out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.60% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.10% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.30% under the age of 18, 17.40% from 18 to 24, 24.50% from 25 to 44, 20.10% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 94.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,524, and the median income for a family was $37,247. Males had a median income of $27,066 versus $19,479 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,584. About 12.40% of families and 18.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.00% of those under age 18 and 10.50% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Clinton (small parts in Washita County)

Thomas

Weatherford

Towns

Arapaho (county seat)

Butler

Custer City

Hammon (mostly in Roger Mills County)

Unincorporated communities

Anthon

Carpenter (also in Roger Mills County)

Cody

Dead Women Crossing

East Junction

Foley

Hammon Junction

McClure

Moorewood

Parkersburg

Ralph

Stafford

Sunset

Ghost towns

Independence

Indianapolis

Education

School districts (all K-12) include:

There was previously a Butler school district. In 2008, the district administration was seeking a merger with Arapaho school district.

In 1989 Thomas and Custer City had separate school districts. That year, several Custer County districts were considering merging and/or establishing joint high schools.