Rogers County, Oklahoma

Rogers County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, the population was 95,240, making it the sixth-most populous county in Oklahoma. The county seat is Claremore. Rogers County is included in the Tulsa, OK metropolitan statistical area.

Created in 1907 from the western Saline District of the Cherokee Nation, this area was named the ''Cooweescoowee'' District, and Cooweescoowee County at the time of statehood. However, the residents protested, and the name was changed to Rogers County, after Clem Vann Rogers, a prominent Cherokee rancher, and father of Will Rogers.Thomas, Sarah C
"Rogers County,"
''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'', Oklahoma Historical Society, 2009. Accessed April 5, 2015.

History

According to the ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'', the Arkansas Band of the Osage Nation settled in the Three Forks area (the junction of the Arkansas River, Grand River, and Verdigris River during the 1760s and established two villages called ''Pasuga'' and ''Pasona'' in what is now Rogers County. Pasona was near an ancient earthwork platform mound near the Verdigris River. It was later called Claremore Mound, to honor Osage chief Claremore (aka ''Gra-mon'' in Osage, meaning Arrow Going Home; his name was first recorded by French colonists as ''Clermont''.)

In 1828, Cherokee bands who had left the Southeast early exchanged their Arkansas land for an area that included present-day Rogers County. This had been ceded by the Osage in 1825 under a treaty to the United States. The area became organized by the Cherokee Nation as the Saline District of their portion of Indian Territory. In 1907 the western portion of that district was organized as the Cooweescoowee District.

Upon statehood in 1908, the district was designated as a county named Cooweescoowee. Residents supported renaming the county in honor of Clement Vann Rogers, an early Cherokee settler and prominent rancher here.

Shortly after statehood, Eastern University Preparatory School was established on College Hill, just west of Claremore, Oklahoma.Paul B. Hatley
"Rogers State University"
''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'', Oklahoma Historical Society, 2009. Accessed April 5, 2015. The Oklahoma Military Academy, established in 1919, took over the facility. In 1971 the academy was closed and the facility was converted for use by Claremore Junior College. As a four-year curriculum and graduate departments were added, the state legislature renamed the institution as Rogers State College and Rogers University, before settling in 1998 on the current Rogers State University.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (5.0%) is water. The largest body of water is Lake Oologah. The main streams are the Caney River and the Verdigris River. There are also several smaller creeks and lakes in the county.

Adjacent counties

* Nowata County (north)
* Craig County (northeast)
* Mayes County (east)
* Wagoner County (south)
* Tulsa County (southwest)
* Washington County (northwest)

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 86,905 people, 31,884 households, and 24,088 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 27,476 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 75.3% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 13.1% Native American, 1.1% Asian (0.5% Hmong, 0.1% Filipino, 0.1% Indian), 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.4% from other races, and 8.1% from two or more races. Of the population 3.7% were Hispanic or Latino of any race (2.7% Mexican, 0.3% Puerto Rican, 0.2% Spanish, 0.1% Peruvian). 18.1% were of German, 13.8% Irish, 8.7% English, 3.0% French, 2.5% Scottish, and 2.2% Italian ancestries. By 2020, its population was 92,240, with a 2022 census-estimated population of 98,836. As of 2021's census estimates, its racial makeup was 70.1% non-Hispanic white, 1.3% African American, 13.9% Native American, 1.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 8.7% multiracial, and 5.5% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of its population as of 2006, 96.7% spoke English, 1.7% Spanish, and 0.4% German as their first language.

As of 2010, there were 31,884 households, out of which 38.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.60% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.90% were non-families. Of all households, 19.00% were made up of individuals, and 7.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.10. In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.70% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 11.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.40 males. From 2017 to 2021, it had 34,465 households with an average of 2.71 people per household.

As of 2010, its median income for a household in the county was $58,434 and the median income for a family was $67,691. The per capita income for the county was $26,400. About 7.2% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.3% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those aged 65 or over. In 2021, its median household income was $69,322 and 9.7% lived at or below the poverty line.

Politics

Communities

Cities

* Catoosa
* Claremore (county seat)
* Collinsville (primarily in Tulsa County)
* Owasso (primarily in Tulsa County)
* Tulsa (primarily in Tulsa County)

Towns

* Chelsea
* Fair Oaks (primarily in Wagoner County)
* Foyil
* Inola
* Oologah
* Talala
* Valley Park
* Verdigris

Census-designated places

* Bushyhead
* Gregory
* Justice
* Limestone
* Sequoyah
* Tiawah

Unincorporated communities

* Jamestown
* Keetonville

Education

School districts include:

K-12:

* Catoosa Public Schools
* Chelsea Public Schools
* Chouteau-Mazie Public Schools
* Claremore Public Schools
* Collinsville Public Schools
* Foyil Public Schools
* Inola Public Schools
* Oologah-Talala Public Schools
* Owasso Public Schools
* Sequoyah Public Schools
* Verdigris Public Schools

K-8:
* Justus-Tiawah Public Schools

The Big Cabin School District covered parts of the county until its 1992 dissolution. It merged into the Vinita school district.

NRHP sites

The following sites in Rogers County are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:
* I.W.W. Beck Building, Oologah
* The Belvidere, Claremore
* Chelsea Motel, Chelsea
* Claremore Auto Dealership, Claremore
* Eastern University Preparatory School, Claremore
* Ed Galloway's Totem Pole Park, Foyil
* Hanes Home, Sageeyah
* Hogue House, Chelsea
* Mendenhall's Bath House, Claremore
* Maurice Meyer Barracks, Claremore
* Oologah Bank, Oologah
* Oologah Pump, Oologah
* Pryor Creek Bridge, Chelsea
* Will Rogers Birthplace, Oologah
* Will Rogers Hotel, Claremore
* Verdigris Club Lodge, Catoosa

References

External links

Rogers County Government's website

Rogers County Genealogy page

Oklahoma Digital Maps: Digital Collections of Oklahoma and Indian Territory

Voices of Oklahoma interview with Frank Robson.
First person interview conducted on November 2, 2009, with Frank Robson referencing the history of Rogers County, Oklahoma. Original audio and transcript archived wit
Voices of Oklahoma oral history project.

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1907 establishments in Oklahoma
Populated places established in 1907
Tulsa metropolitan area