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Oklahoma Counties
There are seventy-seven counties in Oklahoma. Oklahoma originally had seven counties when it was first organized as the Oklahoma Territory. These counties were designated numerically, first through seventh. New counties added after this were designated by letters of the alphabet. The first seven counties were later renamed. The Oklahoma Constitutional Convention named all of the counties that were formed when Oklahoma entered statehood in 1907. Only two counties have been formed since thenJackson County, Oklahoma
Jackson County Education, Geography, and History
Jackson County is a county located in the southwestern corner of the state of Oklahoma. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 26,446.
Its county seat is Altus. According to the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, the county was named for two historical figures:
President Andrew Jackson and Confederate General Stonewall Jackson. One source states only that the county was named for the former President,
while an earlier source states it was only named for General Stonewall Jackson.
Jackson County comprises the Altus, OK Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Etymology - Origin of Jackson County Name
Named for President Andrew Jackson.
Demographics:
County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts
Jackson County History
After a dispute over the Adams-Onís Treaty of 1819, both the governments of the United States and the state of Texas
claimed ownership of some 1,500,000 acres (6,100 km2) in what was then operated as Greer County, Texas. Litigation followed, and in the case
of United States v. State of Texas 162 US 1 (1896), issued on March 16, the Supreme Court, having original jurisdiction over the case,
decided in favor of the United States. Greer County was then assigned to the Oklahoma Territory on May 4, 1896, and when Oklahoma became a
state, in addition to becoming Jackson County, the region was also further split into Greer, Harmon, and part of Beckham counties.
Altus was originally designated as the seat of Jackson County. Olustee vied in an unsuccessful bid to replace Altus as the seat in an election
on July 18, 1908.
Oklahoma History Center
Located in southwestern Oklahoma, Jackson County is bounded by Greer County on the north, Kiowa and Tillman counties
on the east, Harmon County on the west, and the Red River and Texas on the south. Altus is the county seat. Named for
two notable southerners, Pres. Andrew Jackson and Confederate Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, the county has 804.15
square miles of land and water. Jackson County is drained by the Red River and its tributaries, the North Fork and the
Salt Fork of the Red River, and Turkey and Gypsum creeks. Most of the county lies within the Red Bed Plains
physiographic region. Approximately the western third of the county is situated in the Gypsum Hills region, while the
northeastern corner is in the Wichita Mountains region....JACKSON
COUNTY
Geography: Land and Water
As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 804 square miles (2,080 km2), of which 803 square miles
(2,080 km2) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2) (0.2%) is water.
Most of the county is within the Red Bed Plains physiographic region. The western part lies in the Gypsum Hills and the northeastern part is
in the Wichita Mountains. The county is drained by the Red River and its tributaries, the North Fork of the Red River and the Salt Fork of the
Red River.
Neighboring Counties
Bordering counties are as follows:
- Greer County (north)
- Kiowa County (northeast)
- Tillman County (east)
- Wilbarger County, Texas (south)
- Hardeman County, Texas (southwest)
- Harmon County (west)
Education
The Western Oklahoma State College (WOSC) and the Southwest Technology Center, both in Altus, offer higher education opportunities in Jackson County.
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