Creek County, Oklahoma

Creek County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, the population was 71,754. Its county seat is Sapulpa.

Creek County is part of the Tulsa, OK metropolitan statistical area.

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 their black slaves 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.

The present Creek County was established at the time of statehood, with a population of 18,365. The town of Sapulpa was initially designated as the county seat. This decision was challenged by supporters of the town of Bristow. An election held August 12, 1908, to choose a permanent seat was won by Sapulpa, but the dispute did not end there. After a series of court cases, the Oklahoma Supreme Court 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 sqmi, of which 950 sqmi is land and 20 sqmi (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.

Major highways

 * I-44 (OK).svg Interstate 44
 * US 75.svg US Highway 75 ALT
 * Oklahoma State Highway 16.svg State Highway 16
 * Oklahoma State Highway 33.svg State Highway 33
 * Oklahoma State Highway 48.svg State Highway 48
 * Oklahoma State Highway 51.svg State Highway 51
 * Oklahoma State Highway 66.svg State Highway 66 US 66 (historic).svg
 * Oklahoma State Highway 99.svg State Highway 99
 * Oklahoma State Highway 117.svg State Highway 117

Adjacent counties

 * Pawnee County (north)
 * Tulsa County (east)
 * Okmulgee County (southeast)
 * Okfuskee County (south)
 * Lincoln County (west)
 * Payne County (northwest)

Demographics
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 PD/sqmi. There were 27,986 housing units at an average density of 29 /mi2. 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 the 2020 census, its population increased to 71,754.

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.

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

 * Oakhurst (partly in Tulsa County)

Other unincorporated communities

 * Bowden
 * Gypsy
 * Hilton
 * Milfay
 * Olive
 * Silver City