The Town Files

Cherokee County, Oklahoma

47,942 people. The median home is worth $168,500 (typical Oklahoma town: $122,500) and the median household earns $53,218.

Towns in Cherokee County

Towns in Cherokee County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Tahlequah16,209$185,400$49,58129.3
Park Hill3,193$174,400$47,06426.8

People and housing

Cherokee CountyTypical Oklahoma town
Median home value$168,500$122,500
Median rent$831$830
Median household income$53,218$54,111
Median age37.337.1
Bachelor's degree or higher29.2%16.3%
Below the poverty line18.2%18.8%

Jobs and pay

17,947 jobs in 2024, average pay $49,123 a year.

Largest industries in Cherokee CountyRetail1,703 jobs · $30,641Hotels & restaurants1,467 jobs · $19,129Health care & social assistan…1,206 jobs · $43,901Construction360 jobs · $48,196Real estate348 jobs · $37,833Finance & insurance313 jobs · $58,328
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Cherokee County0%2%4%6%8%2000200420082012201620202023 3.5%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 762 storm events in Cherokee County from 1996 to 2026, with 9 deaths.

Storm events in Cherokee County by type since 1996Hail196Heat5Flood59Drought47Tornado36Wildfire22High Wind5Heavy Snow9Flash Flood73Winter Storm26
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Cherokee County has been included in 28 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
June 29, 2022Severe StormDR-4657: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding
February 24, 2021Severe Ice StormDR-4587: Severe Winter Storms
February 17, 2021Severe Ice StormEM-3555: Severe Winter Storm
April 5, 2020BiologicalDR-4530: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3462: Covid-19
June 1, 2019Severe StormDR-4438: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).