County: Cimarron
Region: Northwest
2000 County Population: 3,148
Labor Force within 30 Miles: 3,300

Cimarron County was formed at statehood and named for the Cimarron River. The name Cimarron is a Mexican-Apache word meaning "wanderer."
For many years, present-day Cimarron County was a part of "No Man's Land," an area populated with few settlers and regulated by virtually no law. Sheep and cattle ranchers entered this area long before it was opened to homesteaders, and today, farming and ranching constitute the economic base of the county.
In 1943, Boise City, the county seat, was accidentally bombed by U.S. servicemen from Dalhart Army Base. Cimarron County is also the site of Black Mesa, the highest point in Oklahoma. The county also holds the distinction of being the only one in the United States to be bordered by four other states -- Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, and Texas. The Santa Fe Trail is the major tourist attraction of the county and is the theme of a four-day festival held each June.
Cimarron County was once home to Hollywood stars Vera Miles and Jack Hoxie. The Tracks We Followed and Edna Farber's Cimarron serve as county history books. For more county information, call the county clerk's office at 580-544-2251.

Location: Cimarron County is located at the western edge of the Oklahoma panhandle and is bordered by Colorado and Kansas on the north, New Mexico on the west and Texas on the south. The only county in the United States to be bordered by four different states.
Climate: The average precipitation is 20.3 inches yearly in this area. January's average temperature is 38.1 degrees Fahrenheit and July's average is 77.7 degrees Fahrenheit.
County Seat: Boise City - population 1,483 (2000 census data)
Distances: Boise City to: Guymon - 62 miles Woodward - 187 miles Oklahoma City - 327 miles.
Land Area: 1,840 square miles of rolling hills and bluffs highlighted by the highest elevation in Oklahoma.

POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS

The population density of the county is 1.8 persons per square mile. The median age of all persons in the county is 37.2, the female median age is 38.7 and the male median age is 35.9.

UTILITIES

Utility services are provided primarily by the following carriers:

Southwestern Public Service Company
Southern Union Gas Company
General Telephone Co. of the Southwest

LABOR FORCE

The Cimarron County labor force was 1,630 in 1997. Participation rate in the county labor force constitutes 78.10% of males and 51.67% of females. An average annual unemployment rate of 2.9% was recorded by the county in 1998. The per capita personal income for this county is $14,555 for 1997.

TRANSPORTATION

Cimarron County, like other counties in Oklahoma, has the benefit of modern, quality transportation systems, facilities and services. Major highways in this county are U.S. 56, U.S. 64 and U.S. 287.

HOUSING

The county has 1,690 housing units and 74.5% of which are owner occupied. The median home value in the county is $29,000, the median housing rental contract is $137.00 per month and statewide housing units number 1,406,499 and 68.1% of these are owner occupied. The statewide median home value is $48,100.

TAX STRUCTURE

The county tax in Cimarron County is 1% and 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%.

EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES

In Cimarron County 71.0% of persons over 25 years of age have a high school diploma and 15.1% 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.

Revised May, 2000
Oklahoma Department of Commerce,
Information Management

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