According to archaeological studies, this area was inhabited by CaddoanMound Builders during 300 to 1200 AD.[1]
The western area of Wagoner County was settled by the Creek after their forced removal in Alabama in the 1820s. The eastern portion of the county was settled by the Cherokee.[1]
During the Civil War in 1865, the present county was the scene of the Battle of Flat Rock (also known as the Hay Camp Action). Confederate troops led by Brig. General Stand Watie and Brig. General Richard Gano captured 85 Union troops and killed even more who were harvesting hay.[1]
In 1905, the Sequoyah Convention proposed creating two counties from this area. The western half would be named Coweta and the eastern half would have been named Tumechichee. However, failure of the attempt to create the state of Sequoyah negated the proposal. In 1907 at Oklahoma statehood, Wagoner County was organized. The towns of Porter and Coweta vied with Wagoner as the county seat. The county was named after the town of Wagoner, which won the election. The town was named after Henry "Bigfoot" Wagoner, a Katy Railroad dispatcher from Parsons, Kansas.[1]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 591 sq mi (1,530 km2), of which 29 sq mi (75 km2) (4.9%) are covered by water.[4] It is part of the Ozark Highlands. The Verdigris River divides the east and west parts of the county. The Arkansas River forms part of the western and southern boundaries. Grand River also flows south through the county. It was dammed in 1942 to create Fort Gibson Lake.[1]
U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8] 1990-2000[9] 2010-2019[10]
As of the census of 2010, 73,085 people were in the county.[11] The population density was 47.7/km2. The 29,694 housing units averaged 55.9 per square mile (21.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 80.07% White, 3.75% African American, 9.38% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.88% from other races, and 5.41% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 2.50% of the population. By the 2020 census, its population was 80,981 with a 2022 census-estimated population of 86,644. Its racial and ethnic makeup as of 2021's census estimates were 69.4% non-Hispanic white, 3.8% African American, 10.9% Native American, 2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 7.7% multiracial, and 7.6% Hispanic or Latino of any race.[2]
Of the 21,010 households in 2010, 37.40% had children under 18 living with them, 65.90% were married couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.50% were not families. About 17.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.70% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.73, and the average family size was 3.08. As of 2010, the age distribution was 28.10% under 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 28.50% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 10.20% who were 65 age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.
As of 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $56,819, and for a family was $62,997. The per capita income for the county was $24,976. About 8.3% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.5% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.[12] As of 2021, its median household income grew to $68,906 with a poverty rate of 9.7%.[2]
Politics
Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of June 30, 2023[13]
