McClain County, Oklahoma
From Oklahoma
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McClain County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Presently in 2006 the county population is estimated at 32,500 during the previous official census in 2000, the population was 27,740. Its county seat is Purcell6. According to 2oo5 Census estimates the county's city with the highest population is Newcastle (Blanchard has a higher total population but its McClain County population is lower).
McClain County is part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is in the top 3 fastest growing counties in Oklahoma with a growth rate of 21.5%
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[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county, roughly triangular in shape, has a total area of 1,503 km² (580 mi²). 1,475 km² (570 mi²) of it is land and 27 km² (10 mi²) of it (1.80%) is water.
[edit] Major highways
The busiest highway in the county is Interstate 35, which enters the county on the north at Goldsby on the McCall Bridge. It then parallels the Canadian River through the county seat, Purcell. It eventually turns southward and leaves the county at its border with Garvin County.
Another important interstate highway is Interstate 44, which runs through the northwestern part of the county. The H.E. Bailey Turnpike Norman Spur connects this highway to the U.S. 62/U.S. 277/OK-9 intersection.
OK-9 enters McClain County via the McCall bridge, duplexed with I-35, and immediately turns due west, running along the northern edge of Goldsby until its intersection with U.S. Route 62/U.S. Route 277 south of Newcastle, Oklahoma. From this intersection the three highways, continue southwest towards Blanchard and further on to Chickasha in Grady County.
[edit] County roads
Like many counties, McClain County contains an extensive network of county-maintained roads. They form a grid with parallel roads generally placed 1 mile apart.
To dispel confusion and assist the small cities introducing new 9-1-1 systems, the county road system was recently renamed and signed throughout the county. East-west roads are numbered, with 100th St. located along the southern edge of the county, and the numbers gradually increasing toward the northern tip of the county. North-south streets are named, generally indicating the name of the road in the Oklahoma City grid that the county road best aligns with. (e.g. Santa Fe Avenue would, if extended northward, eventually connect with the street of the same name in Oklahoma City.)
[edit] Adjacent counties
- Cleveland County (north)
- Pottawatomie County (northeast)
- Pontotoc County (east)
- Garvin County (south)
- Grady County (west)
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 27,740 people, 10,331 households, and 8,037 families residing in the county. The population density was 19/km² (49/mi²). There were 11,189 housing units at an average density of 8/km² (20/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.26% White, 0.66% Black or African American, 5.61% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.24% from other races, and 3.98% from two or more races. 4.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 10,331 households out of which 36.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.30% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.20% were non-families. 19.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the county, the population was spread out with 26.80% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 12.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,275, and the median income for a family was $42,487. Males had a median income of $31,062 versus $21,506 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,158. About 8.30% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.40% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Cities and towns
[edit] NRHP sites
The following sites in McClain County are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:
- Hotel Love, Purcell
- McClain County Courthouse, Purcell
- James C. Nance Memorial Bridge (U.S. Route 77/State Highway 39 Bridge over the Canadian River), Purcell/Lexington
