Canadian County, Oklahoma

Canadian County is a county in Oklahoma, United States, about 20 miles west of downtown
Oklahoma City. It had a population of 154,405 at the 2020 census, an estimated 187,189 by 2025,
and covers 897 square miles (2,320 km2) centred near 35°32′N 97°59′W.

El Reno is the county seat; its postal code is 73036. The county holds 5 cities, 3 incorporated
towns and 1 census-designated place, plus unincorporated communities, and it runs on Central
Time. Its FIPS code is 40017.

Towns & Villages in Canadian County

Canadian County has 9 named places with formal Census recognition: 5 incorporated cities, 3
incorporated towns and 1 census-designated place (CDP). Several of these places straddle a
county line, with only part of their population counted in Canadian County.

Four of these places sit mostly outside Canadian County, so their table populations above
count residents elsewhere too. Piedmont’s city limits reach into Kingfisher County; Okarche
straddles the Canadian–Kingfisher line; Geary’s built-up area lies mostly in Blaine
County; and a small edge of Oklahoma City itself, whose population is overwhelmingly in
Oklahoma County, extends into Canadian County’s northeast corner. Union City is sometimes
listed under neighboring Caddo County, but its post office and the bulk of its townsite are in
Canadian County.

ZIP Codes

• 73036 — El Reno (the county seat’s main code)
• 73099 — Yukon
• 73064 — Mustang
• 73078 — Piedmont
• 73090 — Union City
• 73762 — Okarche (shared with Kingfisher County)
• 73040 — Geary (shared with Blaine County)
• 73014 — Calumet

Cedar Lake has no ZIP code of its own; mail there is delivered under Hinton’s 73047
code, across the county line in Caddo County, since Hinton is the nearest post office to the
lake community.

Geography

Canadian County sits on Oklahoma’s central plains, a mix of rolling prairie and river
bottomland on the western edge of the Oklahoma City metro area. Of its 897 square miles, 887.7
are land and 9.0 are water, about 1.0 percent. The Canadian River, which gave the county its
name, forms part of its southern border and separates it from Grady County; the North Canadian
River crosses the county through El Reno and Yukon on its way into Oklahoma City. Cedar Lake, a
reservoir in the county’s southwest corner, is the largest standing body of water.

Blaine and Kingfisher counties lie to the north, Logan County to the northeast, Oklahoma
County to the east, Cleveland County to the southeast, Grady County to the south, and Caddo
County to the southwest. Blaine
County, Kingfisher County, Logan County, Oklahoma County, Cleveland County, Grady County and Caddo County all border Canadian County
directly.

Demographics

Canadian County had a population of 154,405 at the 2020 census, and the latest estimate puts
the county near 187,189 residents by 2025 — among the fastest-growing counties in
Oklahoma. Yukon and Mustang are the two largest communities, together holding close to a
third of the county’s population, with El Reno close behind as the third largest.
Median household income runs $76,973, well above Oklahoma’s statewide figure of roughly
$62,138. Population density works out to around 174 people per square mile of land, reflecting
the county’s role as a commuter suburb ring around Oklahoma City rather than a rural farm
county.

Economy & Local Life

Agriculture remains a working part of the county’s economy in its western half —
wheat and cattle around Geary, Calumet and Okarche — while its eastern cities function as
bedroom communities for Oklahoma City commuters. El Reno’s largest employers include the
Federal Correctional Institution, a federal prison established in 1932, and Redlands Community
College, which opened in 1971. The Canadian Valley Technology Center, on El Reno’s Route
66 corridor, trains workers across the county. Yukon calls itself the “Czech Capital of
Oklahoma” for the Czech immigrants who settled there beginning around 1898, and its annual
Czech Festival each October is the county’s best-known cultural event. El Reno also claims
the fried onion burger as a local invention, celebrated at Fried Onion Burger Day each May.

History

Canadian County was organized in March 1890, one of the original counties created after the
1889 Land Run opened the Unassigned Lands to non-Indian settlement. Additional land runs in 1892
and 1901 opened the county’s western and southern reaches, including the townsites of
Calumet, Geary and Union City. El Reno grew up beside Fort Reno, an Army post established in
1874 and named for General Jesse L. Reno, a Union officer killed in the Civil War; the local
postmaster added the “El” prefix to distinguish the new town from a rival townsite
called Reno City.

The county has been repeatedly struck by severe tornadoes. An EF5 tornado hit El Reno and
Piedmont on May 24, 2011, destroying about 180 homes and killing two children in Piedmont.
On May 31, 2013, a separate tornado near El Reno grew to 2.6 miles wide, the widest tornado ever
recorded, though it caused less structural damage because it stayed mostly over open ground.

Getting There

Interstate 40 crosses the county west to east through El Reno and Yukon. US 270, US 281 and
State Highway 3 also run through the county, along with Route 66’s historic alignment
through El Reno and Yukon.

• Oklahoma City — about 20 miles east
• Chickasha — about 30 miles south
• Guthrie — about 30 miles northeast
• Watonga — about 35 miles northwest

Will Rogers World Airport, in Oklahoma City about 20 miles east of El Reno, is the nearest
major commercial airport. Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer stops at the Oklahoma City station,
the closest passenger rail service to the county.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Canadian County located?
It sits on Oklahoma’s central plains, about 20 miles west of downtown Oklahoma City,
bordered by Blaine, Kingfisher, Logan, Oklahoma, Cleveland, Grady and Caddo counties.

What is the population of Canadian County?
154,405 at the 2020 census, with an estimate near 187,189 by 2025.

How big is Canadian County?
897 square miles (2,320 km2), of which 887.7 square miles are land.

What is the county seat of Canadian County?
El Reno, built beside Fort Reno and home of Fried Onion Burger Day each May.

How many towns and cities are in Canadian County?
Five incorporated cities — Yukon, Mustang, El Reno, Piedmont and Geary — three
incorporated towns — Union City, Okarche and Calumet — and one census-designated
place, Cedar Lake.

What ZIP codes does Canadian County use?
73036 for El Reno, 73099 for Yukon, 73064 for Mustang, 73078 for Piedmont, 73090 for Union
City, 73762 for Okarche, 73040 for Geary and 73014 for Calumet.

What is Canadian County known for?
The 2013 El Reno tornado, the widest ever recorded at 2.6 miles, and Yukon’s Czech
Festival each October.

More counties in this state: Towns
and villages in Oklahoma.