The topography of McCurtain County, in the southeastern corner of Oklahoma, varies from the rugged foothills of the Ouachita Mountains in the north to the fertile coastal plain in the south. The county has a unique heritage ranging from the Caddoan mound builders to the first white settlements in the early 19th century, including 75 years of Choctaw sovereignty, and finally statehood.
The county name is that of a prominent Choctaw family, several of whose members served as chiefs. The Choctaw period left such historic sites as the Wheelock Mission Church and Academy. The Dierks family developed large holdings beginning before the turn of the century, and sold the land to Weyerhaueser Company in 1969.
Weyerhaueser is the largest employer and has a paper mill in Valliant and a sawmill in Wright City. Other major employers are Tyson Foods, Inc., a poultry processing plant; Georgia-Pacific, a saw mill; SETCO, a company that builds solid tires for heavy equipment and ships worldwide; and Hagle Industries, a garment manufacturing plant. Tourism is also a major industry with Beavers Bend State Resort, Museum of the Red River, hunting, fishing, and historic sites.
For more information, call the county clerk's office at 580/286-2370. County narrative provided courtesy of the Oklahoma Department of Libraries from the 2002-2004 Oklahoma Almanac.
| Population Totals | ||
| 2006 Census | 2000 Census | |
| McCurtain | 33,527 | 34,402 |
| Median Age: | 38.0 | 36.0 |
| Median Household Income: | 30,754 | $24,162 |
Colleges and Universities
McCurtain County Higher Education Center
County Government
County Seat: Idabel
Court Clerk - Vicki Justus Garrett, D, Idabel
Clerk - Karen Bryan Conaway, D, Idabel
Sheriff - Johnny Tadlock, D, Idabel
Treasurer - JoAnn Strawn, D, Idabel
Assessor - Stan Lyles, D, Idabel
Election Board Secretary - Lue Davis, D, Idabel
Commissioners:
District 1 – Clint Bray, D, Broken Bow
District 2 – Aubrey Thompson, D, Haworth
District 3 - Jimmy Westbrook, D, Broken Bow
