Oklahoma

Cherokee

47,078
2020 population
1910
first census record
12
census records

About Cherokee

Cherokee, Oklahoma, first appears in the United States federal census in 1910, when it recorded a population of 16,778. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 47,078.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 11 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Harlan Site Warfare Evidence, Harlan Site Conflict – Grand River Oklahoma, Skirmish at Tahlequah (Cherokee Nation — 1862 Union occupation), and 21 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202047,078
201046,987
200042,521
199034,049
198030,684
197023,174
196017,762
195018,989
194021,030
193017,470
192019,872
191016,778
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Cherokee

Military engagements that took place in Cherokee, Oklahoma.

Harlan Site Warfare Evidence
1200
Harlan Site Conflict – Grand River Oklahoma
1300
Skirmish at Tahlequah (Cherokee Nation — 1862 Union occupation)
1862
Battle of Tahlequah / Park Hill
1862
Camp Creek Fight
1863
Skirmish at Grand River (Cherokee Nation — Watie operations)
1863
Stand Watie's Raid on Park Hill (1863)
1863
Skirmish at Greenleaf Prairie (Cherokee Nation)
1863
Skirmish at Barren Fork Creek (Cherokee Nation)
1863
Stand Watie's Raid on Tahlequah (1863)
1863
Near Tahlequah Skirmish
1864

Historic places in Cherokee

National Register of Historic Places listings in Cherokee, Oklahoma.

Murrell Home
Park Hill
First Cherokee Female Seminary Site
Tahlequah
Cherokee National Jail
Tahlequah
Cherokee National Capitol
Tahlequah
Cherokee Female Seminary
Tahlequah
Browse all Oklahomahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Oklahoma

Explore census history and historic records for more Oklahoma counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Cherokee County, Oklahoma

This page charts the census history of Cherokee County, Oklahoma. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Cherokee

When does Cherokee first appear in the US census?
Cherokee, Oklahoma first appears in the federal census in 1910, with a recorded population of 16,778.
What is the population of Cherokee?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Cherokee had a recorded population of 47,078.
Were any battles fought in Cherokee?
11 documented military engagements took place in Cherokee, including Harlan Site Warfare Evidence, Harlan Site Conflict – Grand River Oklahoma, Skirmish at Tahlequah (Cherokee Nation — 1862 Union occupation).
How many historic places are in Cherokee?
21 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Cherokee, Oklahoma.
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