Pittsburg County, Oklahoma

{{short description|County in Oklahoma, United States}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox U.S. county | county = Pittsburg County | state = Oklahoma | ex image = Pittsburg County Courthouse, McAlester, OK.jpg | ex image cap = Pittsburg County Courthouse | seal = | founded year = 1907 | founded date = | seat wl = McAlester | largest city wl = McAlester | area_total_sq_mi = 1378 | area_land_sq_mi = 1305 | area_water_sq_mi = 72 | area percentage = 5.3% | population_as_of = 2020 | population_total = 43773 | pop_est_as_of = 2025 | population_est = 43320 {{decrease}} | density_sq_mi = auto | web = pittsburg.okcounties.org | district = 2nd | named for = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania }}

'''Pittsburg County''' is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, the population was 43,773.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pittsburg County, Oklahoma|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Pittsburg_County,_Oklahoma?g=050XX00US40121|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 20, 2023}}</ref> Its county seat is McAlester.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=https://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county was formed from part of the Choctaw Nation in Indian Territory in 1907. County leaders believed that its coal production compared favorably with Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the time of statehood.<ref name="EOHC-PittsburgCo">O'Dell, Larry. [https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=PI016 "Pittsburg County,"] ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'', Oklahoma Historical Society, 2009. Accessed April 4, 2015.</ref>

Pittsburg County comprises the McAlester, OK micropolitan statistical area.

==History== The area forming Pittsburg County was part of the Choctaw Nation after the Choctaw tribe was forced to relocate to Indian Territory from its home in the Southeastern United States in the early 1830s. Unlike the State of Oklahoma, whose county boundaries follow the precise north–south, east–west grid provided by Oklahoma's township and range system, the Choctaw Nation established its internal divisions using easily recognizable landmarks, such as mountains and rivers, as borders. The territory of present-day Pittsburg County fell within two of the three provinces, called districts, comprising the Choctaw Nation, the Moshulatubbee District and Pushmataha District, and within those districts, into Atoka County, Jack's Fork County, Gaines County, Sans Bois County, and Tobucksy County.<ref>John W. Morris, ''Historical Atlas of Oklahoma'', Plate 38.</ref>

Some important trails, including the Texas Road and one route of the California Trail passed through what is now Pittsburg County. In 1840, James Perry established a village called Perryville that became an important stop near the place where the two trails crossed. During the Civil War, Perryville served as an important supply depot for Confederate forces until the Union Army captured and burned the town. It became defunct after the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway (MK&T) bypassed it in 1872, and the remaining inhabitants moved to McAlester. The Butterfield Overland Mail route followed a route through this area.<ref name="EOHC-PittsburgCo"/>

James J. McAlester moved to the Choctaw Nation in 1872, opened a trading post and married a Chickasaw woman. This qualified him to obtain citizenship rights in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. When the MK&T built its line, McAlester laid claim to the coal deposits in the Perryville area, which he and some partners leased to the Osage Coal and Mining Company, which was owned by the Missouri Pacific Railroad and acquired by the MK&T in 1888.<ref name="EOHC-PittsburgCo"/>

Pittsburg County was formed on July 16, 1907, as an original county from Choctaw land. County leaders, thinking its coal production compared favorably with Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, named the new county after the Pennsylvania city with the "h" removed. Coal mining continued to expand until the early 20th century. Production began to decline after 1920, and never fully recovered. By 1966, the county production was no longer reported.<ref name="EOHC-PittsburgCo"/>

==Geography== According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|1378|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1305|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|72|sqmi}} (5.3%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_40.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 22, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref> The county's topography is generally hilly to mountainous. The Ouachita Mountains extend into the southeastern portion. The Canadian River drains most of the county and with Eufaula Lake form the northern boundary of the county. The southern part of the county is drained by several creeks that flow into the Kiamichi River and then into the Red River.<ref name="EOHC-PittsburgCo"/>

===Adjacent counties=== * McIntosh County (north) * Haskell County (northeast) * Latimer County (east) * Pushmataha County (southeast) * Atoka County (south) * Coal County (southwest) * Hughes County (west)

==Demographics== {{US Census population | 1910 = 47650 | 1920 = 52570 | 1930 = 50778 | 1940 = 48985 | 1950 = 41031 | 1960 = 34360 | 1970 = 37521 | 1980 = 40524 | 1990 = 40581 | 2000 = 43953 | 2010 = 45837 | 2020 = 43773 | estyear = 2025 | estimate = 43320 | estref =<ref name="USCensusEst2025">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref> {{decrease}} | 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 22, 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 22, 2015}}</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 22, 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://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |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 22, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/40/40121.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 12, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606155708/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/40/40121.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011}}</ref> }}

===2020 census=== As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 43,773. Of the residents, 22.1% were under the age of 18 and 20.4% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 41.8 years. For every 100 females there were 103.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 102.9 males.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME%2CDP1_0021P%2CDP1_0024P%2CDP1_0025C%2CDP1_0049C%2CDP1_0045C%2CDP1_0069C%2CDP1_0073C%2CDP1_0125P%2CDP1_0126P%2CDP1_0129P%2CDP1_0138P%2CDP1_0139P%2CDP1_0141P%2CDP1_0142P%2CDP1_0143P%2CDP1_0145P%2CDP1_0146P%2CDP1_0147C%2CDP1_0148C%2CDP1_0149C%2CDP1_0156C%2CDP1_0157C%2CDP1_0158C%2CDP1_0159P%2CDP1_0160P&for=county%3A121&in=state%3A40|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=2025-11-26|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME%2CP1_001N%2CP1_003N%2CP1_004N%2CP1_005N%2CP1_006N%2CP1_008N%2CP1_009N%2CP2_001N%2CP2_002N%2CH1_001N%2CH1_002N&for=county%3A121&in=state%3A40|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=2025-11-26|df=mdy}}</ref>

The racial makeup of the county was 66.3% White, 2.9% Black or African American, 15.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, 2.0% from some other race, and 13.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 5.2% of the population.<ref name="Census2020PL"/>

There were 17,339 households in the county, of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 27.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 22,046 housing units, of which 21.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.3% were owner-occupied and 27.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.3%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

===2010 census=== As of the census of 2010, there were 45,837 people, 18,623 households, and 15,389 families residing in the county.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|13|/km2|/mi2|abbr=on}}. There were 22,634 housing units at an average density of {{convert|6|/km2|/mi2|abbr=on}}. The racial makeup of the county was 73.6% White/Caucasian, 3.3% Black or African American, 13.8% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.78% from other races, and 7.6% from two or more races; 3.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.4% were of American, 12.7% Irish, 11.3% German, 9.4% English and 7.2% Italian ancestry.

In 2010, there were 18,623 households, out of which 29.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.90% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.40% were non-families. 27.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.90. In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.50% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 17.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.10 males.

As of 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $28,679, and the median income for a family was $35,190. Males had a median income of $28,470 versus $19,886 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,494. About 13.60% of families and 17.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.70% of those under age 18 and 13.30% of those age 65 or over. ==Politics== {| class=wikitable ! colspan = 6 | Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of June 30, 2023<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ok.gov/elections/documents/20190115%20-%20Registration%20By%20County%20(vr2420).pdf|title=Oklahoma Registration Statistics by County|date=January 15, 2019|website=OK.gov|access-date=February 27, 2019}}</ref> |- ! colspan = 2 | Party ! Number of Voters ! Percentage |- | {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}} | Democratic | align = center | 8,505 | align = center | 32.28% |- | {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}} | Republican | align = center | 13,446 | align = center | 51.04% |- | {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}} | Others | align = center | 4,395 | align = center | 16.68% |- ! colspan = 2 | Total ! align = center | 26,346 ! align = center | 100% |}

{{PresHead|place=Pittsburg County, Oklahoma|source=<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 29, 2018}}</ref>}}  {{PresRow|1908|Democratic|2,735|2,891|640|Oklahoma}} {{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,574|2,767|1,473|Oklahoma}} {{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,879|3,441|889|Oklahoma}} {{PresRow|1920|Republican|5,371|5,361|655|Oklahoma}} {{PresRow|1924|Democratic|3,554|6,062|1,149|Oklahoma}} {{PresRow|1928|Democratic|5,875|5,960|107|Oklahoma}} {{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,396|10,536|0|Oklahoma}} {{PresRow|1936|Democratic|3,651|9,974|43|Oklahoma}} {{PresRow|1940|Democratic|4,484|10,169|23|Oklahoma}} {{PresRow|1944|Democratic|4,068|8,535|23|Oklahoma}} {{PresRow|1948|Democratic|2,893|9,576|0|Oklahoma}} {{PresRow|1952|Democratic|5,909|9,546|0|Oklahoma}} {{PresRow|1956|Democratic|5,239|8,382|0|Oklahoma}} {{PresRow|1960|Democratic|5,834|7,310|0|Oklahoma}} {{PresRow|1964|Democratic|3,555|9,903|0|Oklahoma}} {{PresRow|1968|Democratic|3,978|6,112|3,726|Oklahoma}} {{PresRow|1972|Republican|9,989|4,748|303|Oklahoma}} {{PresRow|1976|Democratic|4,807|10,743|142|Oklahoma}} {{PresRow|1980|Democratic|7,062|8,292|503|Oklahoma}} {{PresRow|1984|Republican|9,778|6,860|122|Oklahoma}} {{PresRow|1988|Democratic|7,594|8,623|125|Oklahoma}} {{PresRow|1992|Democratic|5,659|8,523|4,645|Oklahoma}} {{PresRow|1996|Democratic|5,966|8,475|2,325|Oklahoma}} {{PresRow|2000|Republican|8,514|7,627|216|Oklahoma}} {{PresRow|2004|Republican|11,134|7,452|0|Oklahoma}} {{PresRow|2008|Republican|11,752|5,457|0|Oklahoma}} {{PresRow|2012|Republican|10,841|4,831|0|Oklahoma}} {{PresRow|2016|Republican|12,753|3,711|807|Oklahoma}} {{PresRow|2020|Republican|13,851|3,768|305|Oklahoma}} {{PresRow|2024|Republican|13,841|3,473|258|Oklahoma}} {{PresFoot}}

==Economy== Although Pittsburg County was originally noted for its coal production, agriculture has long been important to the county economy. Just after statehood, farmers controlled 20 percent of the county's land area. The most important cash crops were corn and cotton. By 1960, sorghum had become the most important crop. In 2000, wheat had become the top crop.<ref name="EOHC-PittsburgCo"/>

Manufacturing became significant when the U.S. Navy built an ammunition depot at McAlester during World War II. It employed 8,000 people in 1945. The U. S. Army took over the facility in 1977.<ref name="EOHC-PittsburgCo"/>

The Corps of Engineers built Eufaula Lake between 1956 and 1964, which brought tourism, land development and a major source of hydroelectric power.<ref name="EOHC-PittsburgCo"/>

==Communities== ===Cities=== * Haileyville * Hartshorne * Krebs * McAlester (county seat)

===Towns=== {{div col|colwidth=20em}} * Alderson * Ashland * Canadian * Carlton Landing * Crowder * Indianola * Kiowa * Pittsburg * Quinton * Savanna {{div col end}}

===Census-designated places=== {{Div col|colwidth=20em}} * Adamson * Arpelar * Bache * Blanco * Bug Tussle * Canadian Shores * Haywood * Longtown * Scipio {{div col end}}

===Other unincorporated places=== * Blocker * Cabaniss<ref>https://roadsidethoughts.com/ok/cabaniss-xx-pittsburg-profile.htm Roadside Thoughts: Cabaniss, Pittsburg County, OK. Accessed May 8, 2022.</ref> – located near the intersection of "Cabiness" Road, US Highway 270 and Twisted Creek Road. * Ti

==Education== School districts include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40121_pittsburg/DC20SD_C40121.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40121_pittsburg/DC20SD_C40121.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Pittsburg County, OK|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=July 21, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st40_ok/schooldistrict_maps/c40121_pittsburg/DC20SD_C40121_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

K-12: * Canadian Public Schools * Clayton Public Schools * Crowder Public Schools * Haileyville Public Schools * Hartshorne Public Schools * Indianola Public Schools * Kiowa Public Schools * McAlester Public Schools * Pittsburg Public Schools * Quinton Public Schools * Savanna Public Schools * Stuart Public Schools

Elementary only: * Frink-Chambers Public School * Haywood Public School * Krebs Public School * Tannehill Public School

There is a Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)-affiliated school and boarding facility, Jones Academy (education for grades 1–6, boarding only for grades 7–12)

==NRHP sites== {{Main|National Register of Historic Places listings in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma}} The following sites in Pittsburg County are listed on the National Register of Historic Places: {{colbegin}} * Aldridge Hotel, McAlester * Blackburn's Station Site, Pittsburg * Busby Office Building, McAlester * Busby Theatre, McAlester * Canadian Jail and Livery Stable, Canadian * Choate Cabin, Indianola * Cole Chapel School, Hartshorne * Federal Building and US Courthouse, McAlester * First Presbyterian Church, McAlester * Hokey's Drugstore, Krebs * Jeff Lee Park Bath House and Pool, McAlester * Mass Grave of the Mexican Miners, McAlester * McAlester Armory, McAlester * McAlester DX, McAlester * McAlester House, McAlester * McAlester Scottish Rite Temple, McAlester * Mine Rescue Station Building, McAlester * New State School, McAlester * OKLA Theater, McAlester * Perryville, McAlester * Pittsburg County Courthouse, McAlester * Pittsburg School and Gymnasium, Pittsburg * Southern Ice and Cold Storage Company, Pittsburg * St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Krebs * Tipton Ridge School, Blocker {{colend}}

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

{{Geographic location | Centre = Pittsburg County | North = McIntosh County | Northeast = Haskell County | East = Latimer County | Southeast = Pushmataha County | South = Atoka County | Southwest = Coal County | West = Hughes County | Northwest = }}

{{coord|34.93|-95.75|type:adm2nd_region:US-OK_source:UScensus1990|display=title}}

Category:Pittsburg County, Oklahoma Category:1907 establishments in Oklahoma Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1907