Alfalfa County is a county in Oklahoma, United States, on the Kansas state line in the north-central part of the state. It had a population of 5,699 at the 2020 census and covers 881 square miles (2,280 km2) centred near 36°44′N 98°19′W.
Cherokee is the county seat, and its postal code is 73728. The county has one city, eight towns, one census-designated place, and several unincorporated communities. It sits in the Central time zone and carries FIPS county code 003.
Towns & Villages in Alfalfa County
Alfalfa County has 14 named places on the map: one city, eight incorporated towns, one census-designated place (CDP), and four unincorporated communities. Unincorporated places have no local government of their own and are listed here for reference only.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee | City · seat | — | 73728 |
| Aline | Town | — | 73716 |
| Amorita | Town | — | 73719 |
| Burlington | Town | — | 73722 |
| Byron | Town | — | — |
| Carmen | Town | — | 73726 |
| Goltry | Town | — | 73739 |
| Helena | Town | — | 73741 |
| Jet | Town | — | 73749 |
| Lambert | Town | — | — |
| Nescatunga | CDP | — | — |
| Ashley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Driftwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ingersoll | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Yewed | Unincorp. | — | — |
Byron and Lambert are the smallest incorporated towns in the county and both lost their local post offices, so residents use Carmen’s and Aline’s ZIP codes respectively. Nescatunga is a small census-designated place east of Cherokee, distinct from the historic Nescatunga townsite that predates it.
ZIP Codes
- 73728 — Cherokee (also serves Nescatunga and nearby rural addresses)
- 73716 — Aline (also serves Lambert)
- 73719 — Amorita
- 73722 — Burlington
- 73726 — Carmen (also serves Byron)
- 73739 — Goltry
- 73741 — Helena
- 73749 — Jet
Ashley, Driftwood and Ingersoll have no post office of their own; mail there is addressed to the nearest ZIP-code town above.
Geography
Alfalfa County lies on the northern edge of the Gypsum Hills, where rolling mixed-grass prairie gives way in the north to the white gypsum-crusted flats of the Great Salt Plains. The Salt Fork of the Arkansas River crosses the county and feeds the Great Salt Plains Reservoir along the northern border, a shallow lake known for its selenite crystal beds. Most of the county is farmed or grazed, with wheat the dominant crop on the upland soils.
The county borders Harper County, Kansas to the north; Grant County, Oklahoma to the east; Major County and Garfield County, Oklahoma to the south; and Woods County, Oklahoma to the west. Of these, Grant County and Garfield County have their own Towns & Villages profiles on this site; Major County, Woods County and the two Kansas neighbors do not yet.
Demographics
Alfalfa County had 5,699 residents at the 2020 census, continuing a slow decline typical of Oklahoma’s wheat belt. Cherokee, the county seat, is the largest community, followed by Helena. Median household income in the county runs below the Oklahoma median of $62,138, reflecting its small, agriculture-dependent tax base. Population density is about 6.5 people per square mile, among the lowest in the state.
Economy & Local Life
Wheat and cattle drive the county’s economy; Alfalfa County has ranked among Oklahoma’s top counties for winter wheat production and also produces sorghum, alfalfa hay and grain sorghum. Oil and natural gas extraction is a second pillar, with the county historically placing among the state’s leading producers of both. Grain elevators anchor the small-town economies of Cherokee, Carmen, Helena and Goltry, and the Great Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge near Jet draws hunters, birders and rockhounds who dig for hourglass selenite crystals each spring and fall.
History
Alfalfa County was created at Oklahoma statehood on November 16, 1907, carved from the eastern portion of the much larger Woods County. It is named for William H. “Alfalfa Bill” Murray, president of the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention and later the state’s ninth governor, and secondarily for the alfalfa crop already common in the area. Railroad building between 1901 and 1904 laid out most of the county’s towns along the line, and the Salt Plains area was long used by the Osage for seasonal salt-gathering and hunting before settlement.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 64 runs east-west through the county, meeting State Highways 8, 8B, 11, 38 and 45 at various points.
- Enid, Oklahoma — 30 miles southeast
- Alva, Oklahoma — 25 miles west
- Medford, Oklahoma — 20 miles east
- Wichita, Kansas — 95 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport in Wichita, Kansas; Enid Woodring Regional Airport offers general-aviation service closer to home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Alfalfa County?
It is in north-central Oklahoma, on the Kansas state line, roughly 30 miles northwest of Enid.
What is the population of Alfalfa County?
5,699 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Alfalfa County?
881 square miles (2,280 km2), of which 866 square miles are land.
What is the county seat of Alfalfa County?
Cherokee is the county seat.
How many towns are in Alfalfa County?
One city (Cherokee) and eight incorporated towns, plus one CDP and several unincorporated communities — 14 named places in all.
What ZIP codes are in Alfalfa County?
Eight ZIP codes, from 73716 (Aline) to 73749 (Jet); see the ZIP Codes section above.
Why is it called Alfalfa County?
It is named for William H. “Alfalfa Bill” Murray, who led Oklahoma’s 1906 constitutional convention and later served as governor, and for the alfalfa crop long grown there.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Oklahoma.