The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-11-07
Oklahoma Population By Counties
Shows Big Increase But Thirty OF
The Counties Have Shown Some Loss

that section, and the causes for the
loss in population may be sought
elsewhere
In l907-0S-O9 the Rock Island rail
way system was conducting a highly
intensive campaign TO build up the
agricultural section traversed by its
lines. particularly in western Okla
homa. Bureau headquarters We're
maintained in Chicago, and from that
city alone thousands Of clerks and
other small wage earners were in
duced to settle in Oklahoma In other
cities other thousands were induced
to move to Oklahoma and enter the
business of farming. Emigrant trains
We're operated and thousands of peo-
ole were poured into the new state.
The St Louis g. San Francisco Rail-
road Company competed with the
Rock Island railroad, and the presi-
dent of the Frisco boasted that he
would settle 100000 people in Ok
! ahoma. Indian land titles in east
| ern Oklahoma were unsettled at that
| time, and the newcomers naturally
attempted to settle in western Okla
homa where land titles were clear.
Comparatively few of the newcomers
were experienced farmers, and those
who were farmers knew nothing OF
the soil and climatical conditions
which Determine the nature Of crops
in western Oklahoma. The influx oil
newcomers reached its peak in those
years, and the 1910 census was taken
1hle they were in Oklahoma Thous-
ands of homesteads We're entered by
the new settlers and attempts al
farming made by them. The grea'
hulk of the new population in west
ern Oklahoma remained until 1871
which was a very unproductve sea-
son in most parts Of western Okla
homa, although very productive il
eastern Oklahoma. In western Okla.
homa normal annual rainfall varie:
from minimum OF seventeen inches
in Cimarron county to 81 in Co
manche. Minimum rainfall in the
same area varies from II inches II
Cimarron county to 1G in Comanche
The newcomers attempted to grow
corn and wheat i'm a section no
suitable for hose crops. They fail
ed. Those who We're able to move
sought other fields. In the meantime
powerful agricultural journals wer'
urging western Oklahoma. farmers Il
grow Indigenous crops instead o
attempting to grow wheat and corn
Those who remained, adjusted thei
methods of farming TO the climate
and soil and today are prosperous
Those who remained purchased land
vacated by the newcomers who left
and today there are fewer farms il
western oklahoma, but they are peo
pied by permanent citizens.
In eastern Oklahoma only fou
counties show a loss in population
and the geographical location Of thos
counties indicates that the loss ha
been due to the attraction on th
part Of Industrial centers.
Increase in eastern Oklahoma coun
ties has doubtless been due to thre
primary causes-development in o
fields. clearing of Indian titles an
, increase in ownership of small farms
Eastern Oklahoma counties durn
the past decade have been the seen
of tremendous industrial develop
ments. Indian land titles have bee
, divided into small farms, and sol
tc permanent citizens.
I IN eastern Oklahoma the norma
rainfall varies from 80 inches in Lin
| coin county to 80 inches in McCurtai
county.