Census › Oklahoma › Cherokee County
Cherokee County, OK
| Population | 47,942 | B01003 |
|---|---|---|
| Population, 2020 census | 47,078 | P1 |
| Median age | 37.3 | B01002 |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | B01001 |
| 65 and over | 17.8% | B01001 |
| Households | 18,698 | B11001 |
| Foreign born | 3.5% | B05002 |
| Median household income | $53,218 | B19013 |
|---|---|---|
| Median family income | $67,638 | B19113 |
| Per capita income | $29,253 | B19301 |
| Poverty rate | 18.2% | B17001 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% | B23025 |
| Civilian labor force | 21,987 | B23025 |
| Mean commute (minutes) | 23.8 | B08013 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.2% | B15003 |
|---|
| Housing units | 22,363 | B25001 |
|---|---|---|
| Owner-occupied | 65.7% | B25003 |
| Renters | 34.3% | B25003 |
| Median home value | $168,500 | B25077 |
| Median gross rent | $831 | B25064 |
| White, not Hispanic | 44.9% | B03002 |
|---|---|---|
| Black | 1.3% | B03002 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 8.0% | B03002 |
| Asian | 0.9% | B03002 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 31.0% | B03002 |
Figures from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates (table codes link to the same table for this area at data.census.gov) and the 2020 census (P1), via IPUMS NHGIS. Estimates for small areas carry wide margins of error; a tract's figures describe its residents, not any one organization.
Against the state: median household income here is 82% of Oklahoma's ($65,039); poverty 18.2% against 15.3%; 1.2% of the state's people live here.
Census tracts
Click an area for its page. Circles are FURP records at their ZIP code's center point, sized by how many. Download this map's areas with their census figures: CSV (center points) · GeoJSON (outlines), ready for Datawrapper, Mapshaper or Google My Maps. Outlines: Census TIGER/Line 2026, simplified.
Places in the county
- Tahlequah 16,935 · median household income $49,581
- Park Hill 3,237 · median household income $47,064
- Norwood 1,752 · median household income $88,661
- Grandview 1,251 · median household income $73,688
- Briggs 1,131 · median household income $47,250
- Moodys 1,108 · median household income $49,355
- Woodall 1,050 · median household income $58,571
- Keys 982 · median household income $38,600
- Cookson 921 · median household income $49,983
- Peggs 858 · median household income $61,731
- Lost City 852 · median household income $64,375
- Pettit 816 · median household income $59,054
- Welling 720 · median household income $47,135
- Zeb 522 · median household income $56,058
- Caney 467 · median household income $100,476
- Shady Grove CDP (Cherokee County) 453 · median household income $52,969
- Hulbert 444 · median household income $28,750
- Steely Hollow 342 · median household income $107,771
- Eldon 326 · median household income $-666,666,666
- Rocky Ford 290 · median household income $61,250
- Tenkiller 285 · median household income $-666,666,666
- Barber 280 · median household income $59,313
- Lowrey 264 · median household income $75,069
- Dry Creek 249 · median household income $40,500
- Gideon 219 · median household income $150,444
- Sparrowhawk 183 · median household income $-666,666,666
- Teresita 157 · median household income $53,750
- Pumpkin Hollow 148 · median household income $80,156
- Johnson Prairie 142 · median household income $48,897
- Caney Ridge 88 · median household income $38,750
- Etta 87 · median household income $35,192
FURP records in Cherokee County, OK
| Records | How many | Total | Biggest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonprofits | 390 | $172,542,377 revenue (latest return) | LAKE REGION ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INC ($81,633,914) |
| Nonprofit contractors | 3 | $30,386,389 paid by nonprofits | TAHLEQUAH MEDICAL GROUP ($20,823,821) |
| Colleges and schools | 1 | 6,466 enrollment | Northeastern State University (6,466) |
| Form D issuers | 2 | $30,300,000 amount sold | Think Box Capital Group LLC ($30,000,000) |
| Political committees | 18 | JASON NICHOLS FOR CONGRESS | |
| Form 5500 plan sponsors | 48 | 54 plans | GREENLEAF NURSERY CO. (4) |
| Open Payments recipients | 295 | $2,109,868 industry payments | NATHAN R. LIGHTHIZER ($1,022,726) |
| Food recall firms | 1 | 1 recalls | Ozturk Gardens (1) |
| Patent and trademark owners | 40 | 97 patents and marks | Greenleaf Nursery Co. (50) |
| Federal award recipients | 2,390 | $12,967,631,205 federal awards | CHEROKEE NATION ($8,249,766,316) |
| State business registrations | 55 | CHEROKEE NATION HOME HEALTH |
Cross-reference: 390 nonprofits for 47,942 residents is 81.3 per 10,000 people; their latest-year revenue of $172,542,377 is $3,599 per resident, 17.3% of all household income here (households at the median income).
Highest-paid people on nonprofit returns here
| # | Name | Title | Organization | Pay | Year | Times the median household income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LEISA WALKER | DIR FINANCE | LAKE REGION ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INC | $622,111 | 2025 | 11.7x |
| 2 | CRYSTAL STEED | COO | NEOHEALTH TAHLEQUAH INC | $507,495 | 2024 | 9.5x |
| 3 | LEAH HUMPHREY | PHYSICIAN | NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS INC | $460,000 | 2021 | 8.6x |
| 4 | JOHN LEE | CEO | LAKE REGION ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INC | $389,371 | 2024 | 7.3x |
| 5 | LEA HUMPHREY | PHYSICIAN | NEOHEALTH TAHLEQUAH INC | $367,500 | 2024 | 6.9x |
| 6 | HAMID VAHDATIPOUR | INTERIM CEO | LAKE REGION ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INC | $353,193 | 2025 | 6.6x |
| 7 | WENDELL WELCH | SR DIR IT & | LAKE REGION ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INC | $343,728 | 2025 | 6.5x |
| 8 | GLEN CLARK | CEO | LAKE REGION ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INC | $336,768 | 2025 | 6.3x |
| 9 | SCOTT ROSENTHAL | CEO | NEOHEALTH TAHLEQUAH INC | $320,997 | 2024 | 6.0x |
| 10 | LOGAN PLEASANT | DIR OF OPERA | LAKE REGION ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INC | $316,670 | 2024 | 6.0x |
Each person's latest year on a 990 at a nonprofit placed here (reported pay including related organizations and other compensation); people paid under $50,000 are left out. The median household income here is $53,218.
Nonprofits: biggest by revenue (latest return)
- LAKE REGION ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INC Hulbert, OK · $81,633,914
- NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS INC Hulbert, OK · $29,609,910
- NORTHEASTERN STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC Tahlequah, OK · $23,732,321
- GO YE VILLAGE INC Tahlequah, OK · $6,309,818
- AMERICAN INDIAN RESOURCE CENTER INC Tahlequah, OK · $4,696,981
- OKLAHOMA PRODUCTION CENTER FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED INC Tahlequah, OK · $2,560,382
- WRAP INC Tahlequah, OK · $2,126,844
- HELP IN CRISIS Tahlequah, OK · $2,042,213
- TAHLEQUAH HOSPITAL FOUNDATION INC Tahlequah, OK · $1,462,734
- NEOHEALTH TAHLEQUAH INC Hulbert, OK · $1,459,785
Nonprofit contractors: biggest by paid by nonprofits
- TAHLEQUAH MEDICAL GROUP Tahlequah, OK · $20,823,821
- CHEROKEE NATION Tahlequah, OK · $8,400,947
- DAVIS POWERLINE CONSTRUCTION Tahlequah, OK · $1,161,621
Colleges and schools: biggest by enrollment
- Northeastern State University Tahlequah, OK · 6,466
Form D issuers: biggest by amount sold
- Think Box Capital Group LLC Hulbert, OK · $30,000,000
- Blue Buffalo Car Wash, LLC Tahlequah, OK · $300,000
Political committees
- CARROLL FOR SENATE Tahlequah, OK
- CHARLES THOMPSON FOR CONGRESS Hulbert, OK
- CHEROKEE COUNTY FEDERATED WOMEN''S DEMOCRAT CLUB Tahlequah, OK
- CHEROKEE NATION Tahlequah, OK
- COMMITTEE TO ELECT CLINT JOHNSON TO US CONGRESS Tahlequah, OK
- CPAC (CHEROKEE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE) Tahlequah, OK
- ELIJAH MCINTOSH FOR CONGRESS Tahlequah, OK
- HARRIS-TILL 4 CONGRESS Tahlequah, OK
- IRA PHILLIPS FOR CONGRESS Tahlequah, OK
- JASON NICHOLS FOR CONGRESS Tahlequah, OK
Form 5500 plan sponsors: biggest by plans
- GREENLEAF NURSERY CO. Park Hill, OK · 4
- BAXTER ELECTRIC, HEATING, & AIR CONDITIONING Cookson, OK · 2
- BERRY & BERRY ACQUISITION Tahlequah, OK · 2
- SOUTHERN PLAINS ORTHOPAEDIC & SPORTS MEDICINE INSTITUTE Tahlequah, OK · 2
- AKIA SERVICES CO Welling, OK · 1
- BARRETT SPINAL CARE PC Tahlequah, OK · 1
- BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA Tahlequah, OK · 1
- BRANT ROUSE, DDS, PLC Tahlequah, OK · 1
- CAKE, INC Tahlequah, OK · 1
- CHEROKEE NATION COMPREHENSIVE Tahlequah, OK · 1
Open Payments recipients: biggest by industry payments
- NATHAN R. LIGHTHIZER Tahlequah, OK · $1,022,726
- CHEROKEE NATION Tahlequah, OK · $467,209
- CHEROKEE NATION WW HASTINGS INDIAN HOSPITAL CHEROKEE NATION HEALTH SERVICES Tahlequah, OK · $72,982
- Jeffrey Miller Tahlequah, OK · $66,969
- Cherokee Nation WW Hastings Indian Hospital/Cherokee Nation Health Services Tahlequah, OK · $52,325
- Charles Whittle Tahlequah, OK · $28,007
- HENRY JAKE WHITENER Tahlequah, OK · $28,004
- LATRICIA D PACK Tahlequah, OK · $25,253
- Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry Tahlequah, OK · $23,600
- Shalu Pal Tahlequah, OK · $20,842
Food recall firms: biggest by recalls
- Ozturk Gardens Park Hill, OK · 1
Patent and trademark owners: biggest by patents and marks
- Greenleaf Nursery Co. Park Hill, OK · 50
- United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma Tahlequah, OK · 3
- Burlington Welding, LLC Tahlequah, OK · 2
- Cherokee Nation Tahlequah, OK · 2
- Finish Line Fuels, L.L.C. Tahlequah, OK · 2
- Health Essentials LLC Tahlequah, OK · 2
- REASOR'S, INC. Tahlequah, OK · 2
- RJBRE LLC Tahlequah, OK · 2
- AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTAL FABRICATION & SUPPLY LLC Hulbert, OK · 1
- American Loans LLC Park Hill, OK · 1
Federal award recipients: biggest by federal awards
- CHEROKEE NATION Tahlequah, OK · $8,249,766,316
- CHEROKEE NATION Tahlequah, OK · $3,506,555,321
- NORTHEASTERN STATE UNIVERSITY Tahlequah, OK · $393,819,331
- UNITED KEETOOWAH BAND OF CHEROKEE Tahlequah, OK · $199,634,862
- CHEROKEE NATION INDUSTRIES LLC Tahlequah, OK · $66,885,516
- NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, INC. Hulbert, OK · $63,278,537
- UNITED KEETOOWAH BAND OF CHEROKEE Tahlequah, OK · $43,924,675
- AMERICAN INDIAN RESOURCE CENTER INC Tahlequah, OK · $39,275,025
- COUNTY OF CHEROKEE SCHOOL DISTRICT 35 INDEPENDENT Tahlequah, OK · $37,287,471
- DOMESTIC AWARDEES (UNDISCLOSED) Hulbert, OK · $36,579,000
All 13 tracts
Every tract with its figures is in the CSV and GeoJSON downloads.
| Tract | Population | Median household income | Poverty rate | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Census Tract 9781 | 5,911 | $61,204 | 10.6% | 28.3 |
| Census Tract 9776 | 5,495 | $63,971 | 15.8% | 44.5 |
| Census Tract 9780 | 4,126 | $39,755 | 23.0% | 38.0 |
| Census Tract 9778.02 | 4,118 | $54,191 | 15.2% | 32.8 |
| Census Tract 9779.01 | 3,792 | $49,346 | 13.1% | 32.3 |
| Census Tract 9779.02 | 3,537 | $37,917 | 26.7% | 26.4 |
| Census Tract 9777.02 | 3,442 | $43,472 | 28.9% | 38.8 |
| Census Tract 9783.01 | 3,231 | $60,695 | 17.8% | 46.2 |
| Census Tract 9777.01 | 2,965 | $69,519 | 14.5% | 41.3 |
| Census Tract 9782.02 | 2,926 | $51,389 | 14.0% | 53.7 |
| Census Tract 9782.01 | 2,865 | $54,708 | 19.0% | 39.5 |
| Census Tract 9778.01 | 2,787 | $51,167 | 22.9% | 32.5 |
| Census Tract 9783.02 | 2,747 | $57,804 | 21.9% | 28.6 |
Census figures are from IPUMS NHGIS: the American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimates (ACS table codes shown with each figure) and the 2020 decennial census (Demographic and Housing Characteristics), by state, county, place and census tract. FURP records are placed by ZIP code (the Census Bureau's 2020 ZCTA-to-county and ZCTA-to-tract relationship files: the county or tract holding most of the ZIP's land) and by city name (Census place names, normalized), so a record's tract is its ZIP's main tract, not its street's. Cite: Jonathan Schroeder, David Van Riper, Steven Manson, Grace Cooper, Zachary Krause, Tracy Kugler, Tsu Zhu, and Steven Ruggles. IPUMS National Historical Geographic Information System: Version 21.0 [dataset]. Minneapolis, MN: IPUMS. 2026. http://doi.org/10.18128/D050.V21.0