Garvin County is a county in south-central Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,656. Its county seat is Pauls Valley. In 1906, delegates to the Constitution Convention formed Garvin County from part of the Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory. The county was named after Samuel J. Garvin, a local Chickasaw rancher, merchant, and banker. Its economy is largely based on farming, ranching and oil production.
History
Garvin County came into existence on November 16, 1907, the day Oklahoma became a state. The territory within the present-day county had been a part of Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation in the Indian Territory.
An election held June 20, 1908, resulted in county citizens choosing Pauls Valley as the county seat over the towns of Wynnewood and Elmore City.
Oil was discovered in the southwestern part of the county known as Robberson Field in the 1920s. The Golden Trend pool, which ran from the northwest to the southern parts of the county developed later.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 814 square miles (2,110 km2), of which 802 square miles (2,080 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (1.4%) is water. The county lies between the Red Bed plains and the Sandstone Hills physiographic regions. The main waterways are the Washita River, Rush Creek and Wildhorse Creek.
Major highways
Interstate 35
U.S. Highway 77
U.S. Highway 177
State Highway 7
State Highway 19
State Highway 29
State Highway 145
Adjacent counties
McClain County (north)
Pontotoc County (east)
Murray County (southeast)
Carter County (south)
Stephens County (southwest)
Grady County (northwest)
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, the county had a population of 25,656. Of the residents, 24.2% were under the age of 18 and 19.5% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 40.7 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.8 males.
The racial makeup of the county was 73.7% White, 2.2% Black or African American, 8.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 4.2% from some other race, and 10.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 9.6% of the population.
There were 10,164 households in the county, of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 12,054 housing units, of which 15.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 69.8% were owner-occupied and 30.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 15.6%.
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 27,210 people, 10,865 households, and 7,605 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile (13 people/km2). There were 12,641 housing units at an average density of 16 units per square mile (6.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 84.93% White, 2.55% Black or African American, 7.36% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.54% from other races, and 3.34% from two or more races. 3.40% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 10,865 households, out of which 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.40% were married couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.00% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.30% 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 2.96.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.80% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 17.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,070, and the median income for a family was $34,774. Males had a median income of $28,033 versus $18,940 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,856. About 11.40% of families and 15.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.60% of those under age 18 and 14.30% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
Economy
While oil and gas production are important to the county economy, agriculture has been the major industry for employment since statehood. In 1907 crops of alfalfa, broomcorn, cotton, onions, potatoes, and hay produced in the county were valued at $2.5 million. By the 1930s over 1,000 acres (400 ha) had been planted with paper shelled pecan trees. By 1961 the Lindsay area harvested more broomcorn than any other region in the world, and the county slogan became "We sweep the world."
Communities
Cities
Davis (mostly in Murray County)
Lindsay
Pauls Valley (county seat)
Wynnewood
Towns
Elmore City
Erin Springs
Foster
Katie
Maysville
Paoli
Stratford
Unincorporated communities
Hennepin (census designated place)
Hoover
Pernell
Purdy
Tussy
Wallville
Ghost town
Antioch
Historic place
Fort Arbuckle