View source for Cleveland County, Oklahoma

{{short description|County in Oklahoma, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Cleveland, Oklahoma}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county           = Cleveland County
| state            = Oklahoma
| seal             =
| founded year     = 1890
| founded date     = 
| seat wl          = Norman
| largest city     = Norman
| named for        = [[Grover Cleveland]]
| area_total_sq_mi = 558
| area_land_sq_mi  = 539
| area_water_sq_mi = 19
| area percentage  = 3.5%
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_total = 295528 
| pop_est_as_of    = 2024
| population_est   = 303952 {{gain}}
| density_sq_mi    = auto
| web              = http://www.clevelandcountyok.com
| time zone        = Central
| ex image         = Norman July 2019 09 (Cleveland County Courthouse).jpg
| ex image cap     = Cleveland County Courthouse
| district         = 4th }}
'''Cleveland County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[Central Oklahoma|central]] part of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Oklahoma]]. The population was 295,528 at the [[2020 United States census]],<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/40/40025.html|publisher=US 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 third-most populous county in Oklahoma. Its [[county seat]] is [[Norman, Oklahoma|Norman]].<ref>{{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> The county was named for U.S. President [[Grover Cleveland]].<ref name=ECC>Wilson, Linda D. [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CL013 "Cleveland County,"] ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'', 2009. Accessed March 28, 2015.</ref> Cleveland County is part of the [[Oklahoma City]] [[Oklahoma City metropolitan area|metropolitan statistical area]].

==History==
{{Main|History of Cleveland County}}
Originally occupied by the [[Quapaw]] tribe, the Quapaw ceded the area to the U.S. Government soon after the [[Louisiana Purchase]] in 1818. During the late 1820s and 1830s, the area was given to the [[Muscogee (Creek)|Creek]] and [[Seminole]] tribes after their [[Trail of Tears|forced removal from the southeastern United States]]. An agreement between the two tribes resulted in this area being part of the Seminole Nation, located west of the Creek Nation.

In 1866, these tribes were forced to cede the area to the Federal Government; the professed rationale was their siding with the Confederacy during the [[American Civil War]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/25C3.txt|title=Abrogation of treaties (25 USC Sec. 72) Codification R.S. Sec. 2080 derived from act July 5, 1862, ch. 135, Sec. 1, 12 Stat. 528.|access-date=April 8, 2022|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317074540/http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/25C3.txt|archive-date=March 17, 2012}}</ref> The area became part of the [[Unassigned Lands]] and was opened for white settlement on April 22, 1889.

After the passage of the Organic Act in 1890, Cleveland County was organized as County 3 (of 7)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://clevelandcountyok.com/183/History|title=History: The Namesake|author=Norman County|access-date=April 8, 2022}}</ref> and [[Norman, Oklahoma|Norman]] became the county seat. For a short time, Cleveland County was known as Little River County, until an election in 1890. The voters selected the name Cleveland in honor of President [[Grover Cleveland]] over the name Lincoln.<ref name=ECC/>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|558|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|539|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|19|sqmi}} (3.5%) is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_40.txt|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=February 18, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref> It is the eighth smallest county in the state.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://clevelandcountyok.com/183/History|title=History: By The Numbers|author=Norman County|access-date=April 8, 2022}}</ref>

Cleveland County contains the reservoir [[Lake Thunderbird]] {{convert|5349|acre|km2|abbr=on}}, constructed between 1962 and 1965. Its waters covered the previous settlement of Denver.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.okgenweb.net/okprojects/cleveland/cleveland-1915.html|title=1915 Atlas - Cleveland County OK|author=Sharon McAllister|date=March 31, 2001|website=Maps 'n' More|publisher=OKGenWeb|access-date=April 8, 2022}}</ref><ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cleveland+County,+OK/@35.1527847,-97.5469975,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x87b263b67f93eee7:0xb3ff18fd3b75a68a!8m2!3d35.254964!4d-97.3516558] Cleveland County, Oklahoma. Google Maps. Accessed April 8, 2022</ref>

Cleveland County is the origin of the [[Little River (Oklahoma)|Little River]], a tributary of the Canadian River, {{convert|90|mi}} long. The [[Canadian River]] defines the southern border of Cleveland County.

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Oklahoma County, Oklahoma|Oklahoma County]] − north
* [[Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma|Pottawatomie County]] − east
* [[McClain County, Oklahoma|McClain County]] − southwest
* [[Canadian County, Oklahoma|Canadian County]] − northwest

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1890 = 6605
| 1900 = 16388
| 1910 = 18843
| 1920 = 19389
| 1930 = 24948
| 1940 = 27728
| 1950 = 41443
| 1960 = 47600
| 1970 = 81839
| 1980 = 133173
| 1990 = 174253
| 2000 = 208016
| 2010 = 255755
| 2020 = 295528
| estyear = 2024
| estimate = 303952
| estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/clevelandcountyoklahoma/AGE775222|title=QuickFacts: Cleveland County, Oklahoma|publisher= United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 16, 2025}}</ref>
| align-fn = center
| footnote = US Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=US Decennial Census|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=February 18, 2016}}</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=August 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://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=US 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=US Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=February 18, 2015}}</ref> 2010-2019<ref name="QF"/>
}}
{{Stack|[[File:USA Cleveland County, Oklahoma age pyramid.svg|thumb|Age pyramid for Cleveland County, Oklahoma, based on census 2000 data.]]}}

As of the [[2010 United States census]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau|US Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=US Census website}}</ref> there were 255,755 people, 98,306 households, and 64,182 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|458|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 104,821 housing units at an average density of {{convert|188|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 79.3% [[Race (United States Census)|white]], 4.2% [[Race (United States Census)|black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 4.7% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 3.8% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.3% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 5.6% from two or more races. 7.0% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. By 2020, its population was 295,528 with a 2022 census-estimated population of 299,587. As of 2021's census estimates, its racial makeup was 69.5% [[Non-Hispanic whites|non-Hispanic white]], 5.7% African American, 5.6% Native American, 4.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 6.3% multiracial, and 9.9% Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=QuickFacts: Cleveland County, Oklahoma |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/clevelandcountyoklahoma |website=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref>

As of 2010, were 98,306 households, of which almost half (49.9%) included [[Marriage|married couples]] living together and more than a third (34.7%) were non-families. Almost a third (32.9%) included children under the age of 18, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present. More than a fourth (25.9%) of households consisted of a sole individual and 6.9% were individuals 65 years of age or older living alone. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.02.

As of 2010, the county population contained 23.1% under the age of 18, 14.2% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.1 males.

As of 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $53,759, and the median income for a family was $67,412. Males had a median income of $45,580 versus $34,801 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $26,640. About 7.2% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over. As of 2021, its median household income was $67,068 and the poverty rate was 12.3%.<ref name=":0" />

==Politics==
Cleveland County is rather conservative for a county influenced by a college town. While most such counties swung heavily to the Democrats in the 1990s, Cleveland County has gone Republican in all but one presidential election since 1952, and last went Democratic for president in 1964. However, the county leans much less Republican than the state as a whole; in 2020, [[Joe Biden]] became the first Democrat to win more than 40% of the county's vote since [[Jimmy Carter]] in 1976, only losing the county by 14 percentage points, compared to a 33-point loss statewide.

The county backed Democratic candidate [[Joy Hofmeister]] with nearly 52% of the vote in the [[2022 Oklahoma gubernatorial election|2022 gubernatorial election]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 8, 2022 |title=Oklahoma Election Results |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/11/08/us/elections/results-oklahoma.html |access-date=August 23, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

{| 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|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align="center" | 84,250
| align="center" | 47.18%
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| align="center" | 52,617
| align="center" | 29.46%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| Unaffiliated
| align="center" | 39,670
| align="center" | 22.21%
|-
| {{party color cell|Libertarian Party (United States)}}
| Libertarian
| align="center" | 2,047
| align="center" | 1.15%
|-
! colspan="2" | Total
! align="center" | 178,584 
! align="center" | 100%
|}

{{PresHead|place=Cleveland County, Oklahoma|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 28, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|1,092|1,437|477|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|938|1,471|456|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|885|1,753|597|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|2,283|2,397|305|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|1,672|2,841|495|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,738|2,291|64|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,868|5,969|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,643|6,304|75|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|3,660|5,933|57|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|3,642|5,240|21|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|3,671|6,556|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|8,149|6,190|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|7,766|5,987|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|9,292|6,397|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|9,656|11,599|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|12,446|8,617|4,711|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|25,777|11,126|615|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|22,098|20,054|1,129|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|31,178|14,536|4,687|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|42,806|16,512|387|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|36,313|22,067|553|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|35,561|24,404|20,664|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|36,457|26,038|7,288|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|47,393|27,792|986|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|65,720|34,007|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|64,749|39,681|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|59,116|34,771|0|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|62,538|38,829|8,083|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|66,677|49,827|3,274|Oklahoma}}
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|67,225|49,432|2,637|Oklahoma}}
{{PresFoot}}

==Education==
The [[University of Oklahoma]] is located in Norman. It is the largest university in Oklahoma with approximately 30,000 students.

===K-12 school districts===
School districts include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40027_cleveland/DC20SD_C40027.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221010/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40027_cleveland/DC20SD_C40027.pdf |archive-date=October 10, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Cleveland County, OK|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 23, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40027_cleveland/DC20SD_C40027_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Lexington Public Schools]]
* [[Little Axe Public Schools]]
* [[McLoud Public Schools]]
* [[Midwest City-Del City Schools]]
* [[Moore Public Schools]]
* [[Mustang Public Schools]]
* [[Noble Public Schools]]
* [[Norman Public Schools]]
* [[Robin Hill Public School]] (elementary only)
{{div col end}}

===Libraries===
[[Pioneer Library System]] operates branch libraries in ten cities in Cleveland, [[McClain County, Oklahoma|McClain]] and [[Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma|Pottawatomie]] counties.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pioneer Library System to buy Borders bookstore building in Norman|url=http://newsok.com/article/3608103|work=NewsOK|date=September 27, 2011|publisher=[[The Oklahoman]]|access-date=October 25, 2011}}</ref>

==Transportation==

===Airports===
The [[University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport]] is owned by the University of Oklahoma. It is located {{convert|3|nmi|km}} northwest of Norman.

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
* [[File:I-35 (OK).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 35 in Oklahoma|Interstate 35]]
* [[File:I-44 (OK).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 44 in Oklahoma|Interstate 44]]
* [[File:US 62.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 62 in Oklahoma|U.S. Highway 62]]
* [[File:US 77.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 77 in Oklahoma|U.S. Highway 77]]
* [[File:Oklahoma State Highway 9.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 9 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 9]]
* [[File:Oklahoma State Highway 37.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 37 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 37]]
* [[File:Oklahoma State Highway 39.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 39 (Oklahoma)|State Highway 39]]
* [[File:Oklahoma State Highway 77H.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 77H (Oklahoma)|State Highway 77H]]
{{colend}}

==James C. Nance Memorial Bridge==
The US 77 [[James C. Nance Memorial Bridge]] linking Lexington and Purcell was originally built as a circa 1938 [[deck truss]] two-lane bridge and in 2019 rebuilt as a concrete pier four-lane bridge <ref name="Oklahoma">Department of Transportation, website. [https://www.ok.gov/odot/Purcell_Lexington_Bridge_project.html]. "US-77 James C. Nance Bridge between Purcell and Lexington". Accessed July 26, 2019.</ref> crossing the [[Canadian River]] between [[Purcell, Oklahoma|Purcell]] and [[Lexington, Oklahoma]]. The bridge carries [[U.S. Route 77 in Oklahoma|U.S. Route&nbsp;77]] (US-77) and [[Oklahoma State Highway&nbsp;39]] (SH-39) from [[McClain County, Oklahoma|McClain County]] to Cleveland County. The bridge is named for [[James C. Nance]], longtime community newspaper chain publisher and Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, President Pro Tem of Oklahoma State Senate and Uniform Law Commissioner.

The Nance bridge allows travel time from Purcell (west side of the Canadian River) to Lexington (east side of the river) to be only three minutes by car, according to google maps. When the bridge was closed for emergency repairs, the same trip was 43 minutes when rerouted north to the nearest bridge, or one hour, four minutes when rerouted southeast to the nearest bridge.

The 1938 construction of this bridge enabled communities from West and Southwest (Byars, Cole, Dibble, Paoli, Pauls Valley, Purcell, Rosedale, and Wayne) side of the river to reach the communities on the East side of the river (Lexington, Slaughterville, and Wanette). Traffic using the bridge allows trade and commerce to freely flow in this retail trade area of southern McClain County, southern Cleveland County, Southern Pottawatomie County, and northern areas of Garvin County, and the eastern portion of Grady County. The bridge, rebuilt in 2019, features the same design elements with concrete post and wrought iron railings with protected turn lane and sidewalks.<ref name="Oklahoma"/>

According to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, "History was made Friday July 26, 2019 in Purcell and Lexington, just as it was more than 80 years ago when the two cities celebrated the grand opening of a new bridge connecting their communities. The new US 77 Purcell/Lexington James C. Nance Bridge that links the twin cities, located less than one mile apart, fully opened to traffic with much fanfare on Friday, July 26, 2019, the culmination of a major two-year, expedited reconstruction project."<ref name="Oklahoma"/>

==Communities==

=== Cities ===

* [[Lexington, Oklahoma|Lexington]]
* [[Moore, Oklahoma|Moore]]
* [[Noble, Oklahoma|Noble]]
* [[Norman, Oklahoma|Norman]] (county seat)
* [[Oklahoma City]] (mostly in Oklahoma County)
* [[Purcell, Oklahoma|Purcell]] (mostly in McClain County)

=== Towns ===

* [[Etowah, Oklahoma|Etowah]]
* [[Slaughterville, Oklahoma|Slaughterville]]

=== Former town ===

* [[Hall Park, Oklahoma|Hall Park]] (annexed into Norman by 2003)

==NRHP sites==
{{Main|National Register of Historic Places listings in Cleveland County, Oklahoma}}
The following sites in Cleveland County are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]:
{{colbegin}}
* [[Bavinger House]], Norman
* [[Beta Theta Pi Fraternity House, The University of Oklahoma|Beta Theta Pi Fraternity House]], Norman
* [[Bizzell Library]], Norman
* [[Casa Blanca (Norman, OK)|Casa Blanca]], Norman
* [[Cleveland County Courthouse (Norman, Oklahoma)|Cleveland County Courthouse]], Norman
* [[DeBarr Historic District]], Norman
* [[Patricio Gimeno House]], Norman
* [[Oscar B. Jacobson House]], Norman
* [[Ledbetter House]], Norman
* [[Mardock Mission]], Stella
* [[Moore Public School Building]], Moore
* [[Moore-Lindsay House]], Norman
* [[Norman City Park New Deal Resources]], Norman
* [[Norman Historic District]], Norman
* [[Norman Public Library]], Norman
* [[Boyd House (University of Oklahoma)]], Norman
* [[Norman (Amtrak station)|Santa Fe Depot]], Norman
* [[Sooner Theater Building]],
* [[United States Post Office--Norman]], Norman
* [[James C. Nance Bridge]], Lexington/Purcell
{{colend}}

== See also ==
*[[List of tornadoes in Cleveland County, Oklahoma]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CL013 Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Cleveland County]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121024013411/http://www.library.okstate.edu/okmaps/ Oklahoma Digital Maps: Digital Collections of Oklahoma and Indian Territory]

{{Geographic location
| Centre    = Cleveland County
| North     = [[Oklahoma County, Oklahoma|Oklahoma County]]
| East      = [[Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma|Pottawatomie County]]
| Southwest = [[McClain County, Oklahoma|McClain County]]
| Northwest = [[Canadian County, Oklahoma|Canadian County]]
}}

{{Cleveland County, Oklahoma}}
{{Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area}}
{{Oklahoma}}

{{coord|35.20|-97.33|type:adm2nd_region:US-OK_source:UScensus1990|display=title}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cleveland County, Oklahoma| ]]
[[Category:Oklahoma City metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1890 establishments in Oklahoma Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1890]]