Oklahoma

Kay

43,700
2020 population
1900
first census record
13
census records

About Kay

Kay, Oklahoma, first appears in the United States federal census in 1900, when it recorded a population of 22,530. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 43,700.

Its recorded population peaked at 51,042 in 1960, and has since declined by roughly 14 percent.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Cimarron Creek (1875), Turkey Springs Fight, and 65 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202043,700
201046,562
200048,080
199048,056
198049,852
197048,791
196051,042
195048,892
194047,084
193050,186
192034,907
191026,999
190022,530
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Kay

Military engagements that took place in Kay, Oklahoma.

Battle of Cimarron Creek (1875)
1875
Turkey Springs Fight
1878

Historic places in Kay

National Register of Historic Places listings in Kay, Oklahoma.

One-hundred-and-one Ranch
Ponca City
Marland, E. W., Mansion
Ponca City
Electric Park Pavilion
Blackwell
Pioneer Woman Statue
Ponca City
Marland-Paris House
Ponca City
Deer Creek Site
Newkirk
Chilocco Indian Agricultural School
Newkirk
Ponca City Milling Company Elevator
Ponca City
Santa Fe Depot
Ponca City
Poncan Theatre
Ponca City
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 Kay County, Oklahoma

This page charts the census history of Kay 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 Kay

When does Kay first appear in the US census?
Kay, Oklahoma first appears in the federal census in 1900, with a recorded population of 22,530.
What is the population of Kay?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Kay had a recorded population of 43,700.
When did Kay's population peak?
Kay's recorded population peaked at 51,042 in 1960.
Were any battles fought in Kay?
2 documented military engagements took place in Kay, including Battle of Cimarron Creek (1875), Turkey Springs Fight.
How many historic places are in Kay?
65 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Kay, Oklahoma.
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