County: Blaine
Region: Northwest
2000 County Population: 11,976
Labor Force within 30 Miles: 54,300

Originally designated as "C" County in 1890, Blaine was adopted as the county name in November 1892, in honor of James G. Blaine, U.S. Senator, House Speaker, and Republican presidential candidate in 1884.
The county seat, Watonga, was named for Watangaa, or Black Coyote, an Arapahoe leader. The city is the site of the Watonga Cheese Factory and the annual Watonga Cheese Festival.
Blaine County is the site of the first gypsum mill in Oklahoma Territory, the Ruby Stucco Mill, Southard, located in the north central part of the county, is the site of one of the purest gypsum deposits in the United States. The U.S. Gypsum Company is the largest industrial plant in the county.
The International Association of Rattlesnake Hunters has headquarters in Okeene, which is also the site of its Jaycees Annual Rattlesnake Hunt. The Canton Lake Walleye Pike Rodeo and Fishing Derby occur annually. Roman Nose State Park is located seven miles north of Watonga. For more information, call the county clerk's office at 580-623-5890.

Location: Blaine County is in the northwest part of Oklahoma.
Climate: The average precipitation is 30.6 inches yearly in this area. January's average temperature is 41.4 degrees Fahrenheit and July's average is 80.2 degrees Fahrenheit.
County Seat: Watonga - population 4,658 (2000 census data)
Distances: Watonga to: Enid - 65 miles Oklahoma City - 70 miles
Land Area; 938 square miles with a major lake and three major stream systems.

POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS

The population density of the county is 12.4 persons per square mile. The median age of all persons in the county is 35.7, the female median age is 37.2 and the male median age is 34.3.

UTILITIES

Utility services are provided primarily by the following carriers:

Municipally Owned, (Okla. Municipal Power Auth.), Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co.
Municipally Owned, and Arkansas-Louisiana Gas Co.
Pioneer Telephone Cooperative

LABOR FORCE

The Blaine County labor force was 4,840 in 1997. Participation rate in the county labor force constitutes 70.36% of males and 47.90% of females. An average annual unemployment rate of 2.6% was recorded by the county in 1998. The per capita personal income for this county is $16,698 for 1997.

TRANSPORTATION

Blaine County, like other counties in Oklahoma, has the benefit of modern, quality transportation systems, facilities and services. Major highways in this county are SH 8 and SH 33.

HOUSING

The county has 5,729 housing units and 76.1% of these are owner occupied. The median home value in the county is $34,000, the median housing rental contract is $157.00 per month and Statewide housing units number 1,406,499 of which 68.1% are owner occupied. The statewide median home value is $48,100.

TAX STRUCTURE

There is no county tax in Blaine County. The state sales tax is 4.5%, local sales tax for cities in this county can be found in the individual community profiles and the corporate tax statewide is 6%.

GENERAL OBLIGATION LIMITED TAX BONDS

As of May, 2000 Blaine County has $317,000 available for Bond useage.

EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES

In Blaine County 71.2% of persons over 25 years of age have a high school diploma and 12.4% are college graduates. Statewide high school graduates in the same age range total 74.6% and the percent of college graduates over 25 years of age is 17.8%.

PRIMARY EMPLOYERS IN THE AREA

INDUSTRIAL SITES AND BUILDINGS

Data on Industrial and Building sites are available for this county. Please contact Information Management of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce for a current printout of this Real Estate Database. Call (405) 815-5144 in Oklahoma City.

TOURISM POINTS OF INTEREST

Recreation Area - Roman Nose State Park
Major Lake - Canton Lake
Major Stream Systems - North Canadian, Canadian, Cimarron rivers
Museums and Historic Sites - Fort Watonga (military supply fort), and T.B. Ferguson Home, Watonga

Revised May, 2000
Oklahoma Department of Commerce,
Information Management

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