Cimarron County is a county in Oklahoma, United States, the westernmost county in the state’s narrow panhandle. It had a population of 2,296 at the 2020 census and covers 1,841 square miles (4,770 km2) centred near 36°44′N 102°31′W.
Boise City is the county seat, and its postal code is 73933. The county has one incorporated city, one incorporated town, two census-designated places, and four unincorporated communities. Cimarron County observes Central time, though the community of Kenton, on the Mountain time border, unofficially keeps Mountain hours.
Towns & Villages in Cimarron County
Cimarron County has eight named communities in all. Boise City is the only incorporated city; Keyes is the county’s lone incorporated town. Felt and Kenton are census-designated places, and Griggs, Mexhoma, Regnier, Sturgis, and Wheeless are unincorporated.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City | City · seat | 1,166 | 73933 |
| Keyes | Town | 276 | 73947 |
| Felt | CDP | — | 73937 |
| Kenton | CDP | — | 73946 |
| Griggs | Unincorp. | — | 73933 |
| Mexhoma | Unincorp. | — | 73933 |
| Regnier | Unincorp. | — | 73933 |
| Sturgis | Unincorp. | — | 73937 |
| Wheeless | Unincorp. | — | 73933 |
ZIP Codes
- 73933 — Boise City (also serves Griggs, Mexhoma, Regnier and Wheeless)
- 73947 — Keyes
- 73937 — Felt (also serves Sturgis)
- 73946 — Kenton
All eight communities in the county are covered by these four post offices; none of the smaller unincorporated places has its own ZIP code.
Geography
Cimarron County sits at the western tip of the Oklahoma Panhandle, on the shortgrass High Plains. The terrain rises toward Black Mesa in the northwest corner, Oklahoma’s highest point at 4,973 feet, and the Cimarron River, for which the county is named, crosses the southern part of the county. The county is famously the only one in the United States bordering four other states. It borders Baca County, Colorado to the northwest; Morton County, Kansas to the north; Union County, New Mexico to the west and southwest; and, across the Oklahoma-Texas line, Dallam County and Sherman County, Texas to the south. Within Oklahoma it borders Texas County to the east. West across the New Mexico line, Union County is also reachable via US-56/64.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 2,296 residents, making Cimarron the least-populous county in Oklahoma. Boise City and Keyes are the two largest communities. Median household income in the county runs well below the Oklahoma median of $62,138, reflecting a small, ranching-dependent population base. Population density is about 1.2 people per square mile, among the lowest of any county in the state.
Economy & Local Life
Cattle ranching and dryland wheat and grain sorghum farming have anchored the county’s economy since settlement. Oil and natural gas development expanded through the 1960s, and helium production began near Keyes in 1959, drawing on one of the region’s natural gas fields. Black Mesa State Park and the Black Mesa Nature Preserve, both near Kenton, bring in hikers aiming for Oklahoma’s high point and draw modest tourism traffic to the county’s far western end.
History
Cimarron County was organized in 1907, at Oklahoma statehood, carved from the No Man’s Land strip that had been unorganized territory through most of the 19th century. It takes its name from the Cimarron River. Boise City, platted in 1908, became the county seat and, in July 1943, the unlikely target of an accidental practice bombing by a Army Air Forces crew that mistook the town’s lit courthouse square for a training range.
Getting There
US Routes 56, 64, 287, 385, and 412 all cross the county, along with State Highways 3 and 171.
- Guymon, Oklahoma — 55 miles east
- Clayton, New Mexico — 45 miles southwest
- Dalhart, Texas — 50 miles south
- Amarillo, Texas — 120 miles south
The nearest commercial airport is Amarillo’s Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Cimarron County?
It occupies the far western tip of the Oklahoma Panhandle, the only U.S. county bordering four other states.
What is the population of Cimarron County?
2,296 residents at the 2020 census, the lowest of any Oklahoma county.
How big is Cimarron County?
1,841 square miles (4,770 km2), of which 1,835 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Cimarron County?
Boise City is the county seat.
How many towns are in Cimarron County?
Eight named communities: one city, one town, two CDPs, and four unincorporated places.
What ZIP codes are in Cimarron County?
73933 (Boise City), 73947 (Keyes), 73937 (Felt), and 73946 (Kenton).
What is Oklahoma’s highest point, and is it in Cimarron County?
Yes — Black Mesa, at 4,973 feet, sits in the county’s northwest corner.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Oklahoma.