County: Harper
Region: Northwest
2000 County Population: 3,562
Labor Force within 30 Miles: 11,200

Part of the area opened in the Land Run of September 16, 1893, Harper County was named for Oscar G. Harper, clerk of the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention.
The mainstay of the Harper County economy is agriculture, but the production of oil and gas also plays an important economic role. Prime cattle are in evidence throughout the area and the Buffalo Feeders Feedyard feeds 32,000 cattle at a time. A modern veterinarian clinic and hospital with facilities for large animal surgery is close at hand.
Located on the old Military Trail from Fort Supply to Fort Dodge, Buffalo, the county seat, is 12 miles south of the Kansas line and approximately 30 miles from Texas.
With many of its original stone buildings still in use, Buffalo is the home of the State Highway Department's Sixth Division Headquarters. Modern schools and the Harper County Community Hospital, with the latest cardiac care equipment, and an airport, are located in Buffalo.
Famous county residents include Roy Dunn, world champion wrestler; Mel Harpe, who recommended Knute Rockne as football coach for Notre Dame; and Jane Jayroe, Miss America, 1967. Annual events include the County Fair during early fall and the Laverne Trade Show in May. For more information, call the county clerk's office, 580-735-2012.

Location: Harper County borders the Kansas state line in northwestern Oklahoma.
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: Buffalo - population 1,200 (2000 census data)
Distances: Buffalo to: Woodward - 35 miles Enid - 122 miles Oklahoma City - 175 miles.
Land Area: 1,040 square miles of wide prairie and with two main streams in the county.

POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS

The population density of the county is 3.9 persons per square mile. The median age of all persons in the county is 38.9 and the female median age is 41.8 and the male median age is 37.2.

UTILITIES

Utility services are provided primarily by the following carriers:

Northwestern Electric Cooperative, Okla. Municipal Power Auth.
Oklahoma Natural Gas Company
General Telephone Co. of the Southwest

LABOR FORCE

The Harper County labor force was 1,670 in 1997. Participation rate in the county labor force constitutes 77.18% of males and 47.04% of females. An average annual unemployment rate of 3.2% was recorded by the county in 1998 and the per capita personal income for this county is $18,747 in 1997.

TRANSPORTATION

Harper 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. 64, U.S. 183, and U.S. 283.

HOUSING

The county has 2,077 housing units and 79.0% of these are owner occupied. The median home value in the county is $29,100, the median housing rental contract is $160.00 per month. Statewide housing units number 1,406,499 of which 68.1% are owner occupied and the statewide median home value is $48,100

TAX STRUCTURE

The county tax in Harper County is 2% 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 Harper County 76.1% of persons over 25 years of age have a high school diploma and 13.6% 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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