About Cimarron
County
Source: The
Oklahoma Historical Society
Covering a total land and water area of 1,842.2 square
miles, Cimarron County is the farthest west of the three
Oklahoma Panhandle counties. Black Mesa, in the
northeastern corner of the county, is the highest point
in Oklahoma, rising to 4,972.97 feet above sea level. In
the county's northern portion the Cimarron River flows
eastward turning north into Kansas, while the North
Canadian, or Beaver River, traverses the county's
southern section. Cimarron is the only county in the
United States that touches five states: Kansas, Colorado,
New Mexico, Texas, and its own, Oklahoma. Kenton, in the
far northwestern corner, is the only Oklahoma community
on Mountain Time. The county is served by U.S. Highways
56/65/412 east and west and 287/385 north and
south.
Prior to the Oklahoma Organic Act of May 2, 1890, there
was no law in No Man's Land, also called the Public Land
Strip (now known as the Oklahoma Panhandle), and scant
population in what later became Cimarron County.
In 1890 the entire Public Land Strip became Beaver
County, Oklahoma Territory, and in that year the United
States conducted the first census. Only two communities
in the area, Carrizo (just over the line, in New Mexico
Territory) and Mineral City, had enough residents to
bother enumerating. Carrizo claimed eighty-three
inhabitants and Mineral City ninety-eight.
At 1907 statehood Cimarron County was created, and within
it were twenty post offices and fifty-six schools. Until
the county seat election of June 11, 1908, Kenton, which
had previously been named the temporary county seat, held
the county records. Boise City won a runoff election over
Doby to capture the designation.
Agriculture and cattle ranching remained the economic
base throughout the twentieth century. Wheat and grain
sorghum were important crops. After the area recovered
from the 1930s devastating dust storms that centered in
the Panhandle, the wheat harvest rose to a high of 4.7
million bushels in 1980; grain sorghum also peaked in
1980 at 4.6 million bushels. There were 481 farms in
2000, involving 1,077,004 acres of land.
In the 1950s the county earnestly commenced natural gas
and oil extraction, with 7,411,981 barrels of oil and
1,316,791,103 cubic feet of natural gas produced between
1979 and 1993. In 1959 a large extraction plant at Keyes
began taking advantage of rich helium gas deposits
beneath the area.
In 1907 the population stood at 5,927. Census counts have
varied since statehood, generally trending lower, with
4,553 in 1910, 3,436 in 1920, 5,408 in 1930, 4,589 in
1950, 4,145 in 1970, 3,301 in 1990 and 3,148 in 2000. In
1930 the populations of the existing towns included Boise
City, 746, Keyes, 252, Felt, 136, and Kenton, 96. During
World War II 428 men and women from Cimarron County
served their country.
Historical and natural points of interest attract
tourists to Cimarron County. Traces of the Santa Fe Trail
can be seen at many locations. The remnants of Camp
Nichols, a historic military site, is listed in the
National Register of Historic Places (NR 66000628) and is
a National Historic Landmark. Col. Christopher
"Kit" Carson established the camp in 1865 to
protect the Cimarron Cutoff. The lack of law enforcement
in No Man's Land attracted several outlaws, and one such
group, led by William Coe, reportedly built a rock
building on top of a strategically situated mesa that
became known as Robbers' Roost. Lake Carl Etling, inside
the Black Mesa State Park, Rita Blanca National
Grassland, and numerous mesas attract many hikers and
outdoors enthusiasts to the area. The Cimarron Heritage
House in Boise City interprets the county's history.
Actor Vera Miles was born in Boise City, and western
movie hero Jack Hoxie moved to Keyes after he retired
from the film industry.
Norma Gene Young
© Oklahoma Historical Society
For an expanded history of Cimarron County including
early photograghs,
please visit the Oklahoma Historical Society website.
|
Neighboring Counties 
