View source for Cimarron County, Oklahoma

{{Short description|County in Oklahoma, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Cimarron City, Oklahoma}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Cimarron County
 | state                = Oklahoma
 | seal                 = 
 | founded              = 1907
 | seat wl              = Boise City
 | largest city wl      = Boise City
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1841
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 1835
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 6.1
 | area percentage      = 0.3%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 2296 
 | density_sq_mi        = 1.2
 | time zone 1          = Central
 | tz note 1            = entire county (legally)
 | time zone 2          = Mountain
 | tz note 2            = [[Kenton, Oklahoma|Kenton]] (unofficially)
 | web                  = 
 | ex image             = Cimarron County Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[Cimarron County Courthouse]] in [[Boise City, Oklahoma|Boise City]] (2009)
}}

'''Cimarron County''' is the westernmost [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Oklahoma]]. Its [[county seat]] is [[Boise City, Oklahoma|Boise City]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref>  As of the [[2010 United States Census|2020 census]], its population was 2,296,<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/40/40025.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606151626/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/40/40025.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> making it the least-populous county in Oklahoma. Throughout most of its history, it has had both the smallest population and the lowest population density of any county in Oklahoma.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://tulsaworld.com/news/state-regional/is-rural-oklahoma-losing-ground-to-the-metros-in-tulsa-and-okc-a-look-at/article_7a0e5804-d82e-11ef-987d-d36378438aaa.html#tracking-source=mp-homepage |title=Is rural Oklahoma losing ground to the metros in Tulsa and OKC? A look at the trends|publisher=Tulsa World, January 26, 2025|accessdate=January 27, 2025}}</ref>  Located in the [[Oklahoma Panhandle]], Cimarron County contains the only community in the state ([[Kenton, Oklahoma|Kenton]]) that observes the [[Mountain Time Zone]]. [[Black Mesa (Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico)|Black Mesa]], the highest point in the state, is in the northwest corner of the county.   The Cimarron County community of [[Regnier, Oklahoma|Regnier]] has the distinction of being the driest spot in Oklahoma ranked by lowest annual average precipitation, at just 15.62 inches; at the same time, Boise City is the snowiest location in Oklahoma ranked by highest annual average snowfall, at 31.6 inches.<ref>{{cite web|url=  http://coolweather.net/staterainfall/oklahoma.htm |title=Oklahoma Annual Rainfall and Climate Data|publisher=Coolweather.net|access-date=November 29, 2020}}</ref>

==History==
Cimarron County was created at statehood in 1907. Before the [[Oklahoma Organic Act]] was passed in 1890, the area had belonged to what was known as "No-Man's Land", also referred to as the "Public Land Strip". This was a relatively lawless area, with no organized government, and several outlaws sought refuge within its borders. In 1890, the strip became known as [[Beaver County, Oklahoma|Beaver County]], Oklahoma Territory. Informally, it was known as the "Oklahoma Panhandle". Only two communities were in the strip. One, Carrizo (near present-day [[Kenton, Oklahoma|Kenton]]),<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.historynet.com/oklahoma-panhandle-badmen-in-no-mans-land.htm |title= Oklahoma Panhandle: Badmen in No Man's Land |date= June 12, 2006 |publisher=HistoryNet.com|accessdate=January 18, 2021}}</ref> had 83 residents in 1890, while the other, [[Mineral City, Oklahoma|Mineral City]], had 93 residents. Otherwise, the land was used primarily by sheepherders from New Mexico.<ref name ="EOHC-CimarronCo">Young, Norma Gene. [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CI003 "Cimarron County,"] ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'', 2009. Accessed March 28, 2015.</ref>

Several communities vied to become county seat after statehood: Boise City, Cimarron, [[Doby, Oklahoma|Doby]], Hurley, Willowbar, and Centerview. A county election in 1908 selected Boise City.<ref name ="EOHC-CimarronCo"/>

Railroads came late to this part of Oklahoma. The Elkhart and Santa Fe Railway built a line from [[Elkhart, Kansas]], through Cimarron County in 1925. It completed the link into New Mexico in 1932. Service ended in 1942. The same company built a line from Colorado to Boise City in 1931 and extended it into Texas in 1937. This line still operates and in 2000 was part of the [[BNSF]] system.<ref name ="EOHC-CimarronCo"/>

Cimarron County was affected by the [[Dust Bowl]] and was the site of the iconic 1936 photo titled ''[[Farmer and Sons Walking in the Face of a Dust Storm]]''.

==Geography==
[[File:Farmer walking in dust storm Cimarron County Oklahoma2.jpg|thumb|[[Arthur Rothstein]]'s ''[[Farmer and Sons Walking in the Face of a Dust Storm]]'', a [[Resettlement Administration]] photograph taken in Cimarron County, Oklahoma, in April 1936]]

According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1841|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|6.1|sqmi|abbr=on}} (0.3%) are covered by water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_40.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 18, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref> It is the fourth-largest county in Oklahoma by area. It also has Oklahoma's [[highest point]] at {{convert|4973|ft|m|0}} [[above mean sea level]] on the [[Black Mesa (Oklahoma)|Black Mesa]].

The northern part of the county is drained by the Cimarron River, which flows eastward, then turns north into [[Kansas]]. The southern part is drained by the [[Beaver River (Oklahoma)|Beaver River]] (sometimes also called the [[North Canadian River]]). The human-made Lake Carl Etling lies inside Black Mesa Park.<ref name ="EOHC-CimarronCo"/>

The [[Boise City Airport]] (FAA ID: 17K) is about 3 miles north of town.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.airnav.com/airport/17k |title= Boise City Airport|publisher=AirNav.com|access-date=December 17, 2020}}</ref>

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
* [[File:US 56.svg|x24px]] [[U.S. Route 56 in Oklahoma|U.S. Highway 56]]
* [[File:US 64.svg|x24px]] [[U.S. Route 64 in Oklahoma|U.S. Highway 64]]
* [[File:US 287.svg|x24px]] [[U.S. Route 287 in Oklahoma|U.S. Highway 287]]
* [[File:US 385.svg|x24px]] [[U.S. Route 385 in Oklahoma|U.S. Highway 385]]
* [[File:US 412.svg|x24px]] [[U.S. Route 412 in Oklahoma|U.S. Highway 412]]
* [[File:Oklahoma State Highway 3.svg|x24px]] [[State Highway 3 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 3]]
* [[File:Oklahoma State Highway 171.svg|x24px]] [[State Highway 171 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 171]]
* [[File:Oklahoma State Highway 325.svg|x24px]] [[State Highway 325 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 325]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent states and counties===
Cimarron County is the only county in the United States that borders four states: [[Colorado]], [[Kansas]], [[New Mexico]], and [[Texas]].<ref name ="EOHC-CimarronCo"/> As a result, Cimarron County is the only county in the United States to border at least five counties from five different states (one from each of the four aforementioned states, plus one in Oklahoma and a second county in Texas).
* [[Baca County, Colorado]]  (north/Mountain Time border)
* [[Morton County, Kansas]]  (northeast)
* [[Texas County, Oklahoma|Texas County]]  (east)
* [[Dallam County, Texas]]  (south)
* [[Sherman County, Texas]] (southeast)
* [[Union County, New Mexico]]  (west/Mountain Time border)

A location {{convert|300| yards|m}} east of US 287-385 and {{convert|1.75| mi|km}} south of the [[Cimarron River (Arkansas River)|Cimarron River]] is the only place in the US less than {{convert|27| mi|km}} from five different states:  {{convert|26.99| mi|km}} from Kansas, New Mexico, and Texas and {{convert|7| mi|km}} from Colorado.<ref>From [[United States Geological Survey]] sources, an area one mile southwest of [[Goshen, Massachusetts]], is {{convert|27.3|mi|km}} from five different states, second to this location.</ref>

===National protected area===
* [[Rita Blanca National Grassland]] (part)

===Images===
<gallery widths="220px" heights="165px">
File:Black Mesa, Oklahoma high point.jpg|Black Mesa, the highest point in Oklahoma, is in the northwestern corner of Cimarron County.
File:Highway 412 In The Oklahoma Panhandle.JPG|[[U.S. Route 412]] in Cimarron County.
File:Map of states and counties affected by the Dust Bowl, sourced from US federal government dept. (NRCS SSRA-RAD).svg|Area affected by 1930s [[Dust Bowl]].
File:OKPanhand8-08.jpg|[[NASA]] satellite image of Cimarron County, August 2008.
</gallery>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 4553
|1920= 3436
|1930= 5408
|1940= 3054
|1950= 4589
|1960= 4496
|1970= 4145
|1980= 3648
|1990= 3301
|2000= 3148
|2010= 2475 
|2020= 2296
|estref=<ref name=USCensusEst2019>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2010s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals: 2010-2019|access-date=November 9, 2020}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 18, 2015}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=February 18, 2015|archive-date=May 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530033223/https://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=dead}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ok190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=February 18, 2015}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=February 18, 2015}}</ref> 2010-2019<ref name="QF"/>
}}

As of the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]], 2,475 people, 1,047 households, and 705 families were residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. The 1,587 housing units averaged {{convert|1|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the county was 84.7% White, 0.2% African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 12.1% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race made up 20.8% (16.4% [[Mexican American|Mexican]], 1.4% [[Spanish American|Spanish]], 0.2% [[Salvadoran American|Salvadoran]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid%3DDEC_10_DP_DPDP1%26prodType%3Dtable |title=American FactFinder - Results |access-date=May 15, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305164937/http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_DP_DPDP1&prodType=table |archive-date=March 5, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid%3DDEC_10_SF1_QTP10%26prodType%3Dtable |title=American FactFinder - Results |access-date=May 7, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218203429/http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_SF1_QTP10&prodType=table |archive-date=December 18, 2014 }}</ref>

Of the 1,257 households, 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% were married couples living together, 6.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were not families. About 29.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47, and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the age distribution was 27.60% under 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 23.40% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 18.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,625, and for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $24,327 versus $18,110 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $15,744. About 13.90% of families and 17.60% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 22.20% of those under age 18 and 10.10% of those age 65 or over.

==Politics==
Cimarron County is a solidly Republican county in presidential elections, and recently the most Republican county in the state of Oklahoma. It cast 92% of its votes for [[Donald Trump]] in the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 election]] and nearly the same in the [[2024 United States presidential election|2024]] election, the highest percentage of any Oklahoma county.<ref name="CNN">{{cite web |title=Election Results: President: Oklahoma |url=https://www.cnn.com/election/2020/results/state/oklahoma/president |website=CNN Politics |publisher=CNN}}</ref> The last Democrat to carry the county was [[Jimmy Carter]] in 1976, and no Democrat has even won 10% of the county’s vote since 2008.

A section of [[U.S. Route 287 in Oklahoma]] within the county was renamed President Donald Trump Highway after Trump left office. The Oklahoman newspaper reported in December 2021: "After altering rules and overcoming opposition to pass the state's highway naming bill in May, Oklahoma GOP legislators have yet to provide promised funding for signage along a 20-mile stretch of Panhandle highway designated 'President Donald J. Trump Highway.'"<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gore |first1=Hogan |title=Roadwork ahead: Signage for Trump highway in Oklahoma remains unfunded |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2021/12/15/donald-j-trump-highway-oklahoma-road-signs-transportation-department-funding/6463485001/ |publisher=[[The Oklahoman]] |access-date=9 September 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240909203309/https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2021/12/15/donald-j-trump-highway-oklahoma-road-signs-transportation-department-funding/6463485001/ |archive-date=9 September 2024 |date=15 December 2021 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

{{Hidden
|headercss  = background: #ccccff; font-size: 100%; width: 100%;
|contentcss = text-align: left; font-size: 100%; width: 100%;
|header     = Presidential election results
|content    =
{{PresHead|place=Cimarron County, Oklahoma|whig=no|source1=<!-- <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 28, 2018}}</ref> -->}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|371|449|38|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|263|342|105|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|238|387|146|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|630|465|83|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|586|672|164|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,139|566|20|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|571|1,895|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|555|1,342|13|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|841|989|23|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|822|746|11|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|650|894|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,438|705|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,053|812|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,316|696|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|1,225|878|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,122|436|527|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,350|323|212|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|872|962|45|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,404|373|44|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,420|359|15|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,153|470|24|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|965|395|264|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|986|361|108|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,230|227|27|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,242|184|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|1,119|152|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,082|115|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|963|71|45|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|970|70|14|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|860|66|9|Oklahoma}}
{{PresFoot}}
}}<!-- End of Hidden template -->

{| class=wikitable
|-
! colspan = 6 | Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of May 31, 2023<ref>{{cite web |title=Voter Registration Totals |url=https://stats.okelections.us/ |website=OK Elections Interactive Statistics Beta |access-date=June 25, 2023 |date=May 31, 2023}}</ref>
|-
! colspan = 2 | Party
! Number of Voters
! Percentage
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 183
| style="text-align:center;"| 13.30%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 1,057
| style="text-align:center;"| 76.82%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| Others
| style="text-align:center;"| 136
| style="text-align:center;"| 9.88%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! style="text-align:center;"| 1,376
! style="text-align:center;"| 100%
|}

==Economy==
The county economy has been largely based on cattle ranching and agriculture throughout its history. Wheat and grain sorghum are the most important crops. The [[Dust Bowl]] devastated the county during the 1930s, and the deluges of 1942-1945 destroyed what was left; the economy had to be completely rebuilt. Oil and natural gas production became important in the 1960s, and a gas plant near Keyes began producing [[helium]] in 1959. In 2000, Cimarron County had the ninth-highest per capita income of all Oklahoma counties.<ref name ="EOHC-CimarronCo"/>

==Communities==

===City===
* [[Boise City, Oklahoma|Boise City]] (county seat)

===Towns===
* [[Keyes, Oklahoma|Keyes]]

===Census-designated place===
* [[Felt, Oklahoma|Felt]]
* [[Kenton, Oklahoma|Kenton]]

===Other unincorporated places===
* [[Griggs, Oklahoma|Griggs]]
* [[Mexhoma, Oklahoma|Mexhoma]]
* [[Regnier, Oklahoma|Regnier]]
* [[Sturgis, Oklahoma|Sturgis]]
* [[Wheeless, Oklahoma|Wheeless]]

==Education==
School districts include:<ref>{{cite map|author=Geography Division|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40025_cimarron/DC20SD_C40025.pdf|title=2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Cimarron County, OK|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|date=December 22, 2020|access-date=2025-10-05}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40025_cimarron/DC20SD_C40025_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
{{div col}}
* [[Boise City Public Schools]]
* [[Felt Public Schools]]
* [[Keyes Public Schools]]
* [[Yarbrough Public Schools]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Cimarron County, Oklahoma]]
* [[Oklahoma Panhandle]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|title= ''The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl''|last= Egan|first= Timothy|year= 2006|publisher= [[Mariner Books]]|location= [[Boston]]|isbn= 0-618-34697-X|oclc= 58788898|url-access= registration|url= https://archive.org/details/worsthardtimeunt00egan}}, includes much about the history of Cimarron County in the 20th century.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Cimarron County, Oklahoma}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080821073917/http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=18125 NASA Earth Observatory article about Cimarron County]
* [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CI003 Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Cimarron County]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121024013411/http://www.library.okstate.edu/okmaps/ Oklahoma Digital Maps: Digital Collections of Oklahoma and Indian Territory]
* [https://cimarroncosheriff.com Cimarron County Sheriff's Office]

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Cimarron County, Oklahoma
|North     = [[Baca County, Colorado]]
|Northeast = [[Morton County, Kansas]]
|East      = [[Texas County, Oklahoma|Texas County]]
|Southeast = [[Sherman County, Texas]]
|South     = [[Dallam County, Texas]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Union County, New Mexico]]
|Northwest =
}}
{{Cimarron County, Oklahoma}}
{{Oklahoma}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|36.74|-102.52|type:adm2nd_region:US-OK_source:UScensus1990|display=title}}


[[Category:Cimarron County, Oklahoma| ]]
[[Category:1907 establishments in Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1907]]
[[Category:Oklahoma Panhandle]]