Custer County is a county in Oklahoma, United States, in the west-central part of the state. It had a population of 28,513 at the 2020 census and covers 1,002 square miles (2,600 km2) centred near 35°38′N 99°01′W.
Arapaho is the county seat, and its postal code is 73620. The county has three incorporated cities, two incorporated towns and several unincorporated communities. It sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Custer County
Custer County has a small handful of incorporated places along Interstate 40 and the Washita River valley, plus scattered rural crossroads communities. Weatherford is the largest city and the seat of Southwestern Oklahoma State University; Arapaho, the county seat, and Custer City are incorporated towns. Below, CDP and Unincorp. mark unincorporated communities.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weatherford | City | — | 73096 |
| Clinton | City | — | 73601 |
| Thomas | Town | — | 73669 |
| Arapaho | Town · seat | — | 73620 |
| Custer City | Town | — | 73639 |
| Butler | Unincorp. | — | 73625 |
| Cody | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dead Women Crossing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| East Junction | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Foley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Independence | Unincorp. | — | — |
| McClure | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Moorewood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ralph | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sunset | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stafford | Unincorp. | — | — |
Hammon, which appears on some county lists, sits mostly across the county line in Roger Mills County and is not counted here. Two names from older records — Anthon and Parkersburg — and one, Indianapolis, could not be independently corroborated as extant Custer County places and are omitted; see notes.
ZIP Codes
- 73096 — Weatherford
- 73601 — Clinton (also serves the county’s small share of Washita County line communities)
- 73669 — Thomas
- 73620 — Arapaho
- 73639 — Custer City
- 73625 — Butler
The county’s smaller rural communities are served by the nearest post-office ZIP above rather than a code of their own.
Geography
Custer County lies in west-central Oklahoma, straddling the Washita River, which crosses the county roughly west to east and has shaped both farmland and the county’s low, rolling terrain. Of the county’s 1,002 square miles, 989 square miles are land and 13 square miles are water.
Custer County borders Dewey County to the north, Blaine County to the east, Caddo County to the southeast, Washita County to the south, Beckham County to the southwest, and Roger Mills County to the west.
Demographics
Custer County had 28,513 residents at the 2020 census, spread across roughly 28 people per square mile of land. Weatherford is by far the largest community, followed by Clinton and Thomas. Household income in the county runs below the Oklahoma median of $62,138, reflecting the mix of agricultural and small-city employment typical of the region.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture — wheat, cattle and oil-and-gas production — anchors the rural economy, while Weatherford’s economy is built around Southwestern Oklahoma State University and its role as a regional retail and healthcare hub along Interstate 40. Clinton, the county’s second city, has long served as a Route 66 and rail town and hosts the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum.
History
The area that became Custer County opened to non-Native settlement in the Cheyenne–Arapaho land run of April 19, 1892, and the county was first organized as “G County” before being renamed Custer County on November 6, 1896, in honor of Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer. Arapaho was chosen as the county seat in the early territorial years, and Weatherford grew rapidly after the railroad and, later, Route 66 and I-40 routed through it.
Getting There
Interstate 40 crosses the county east–west through Weatherford, with U.S. Route 183 and State Highways 33, 44, 47, 54 and 73 serving the smaller towns.
- Weatherford — the county’s largest city, on I-40
- Clinton — about 15 miles west of Weatherford on I-40
- Arapaho — about 8 miles west of Weatherford, off I-40
- Thomas — about 12 miles north of Weatherford on US-183
The nearest commercial airport is Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, roughly 90 miles east.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Custer County, Oklahoma?
It is in west-central Oklahoma, along Interstate 40 between Oklahoma City and the Texas Panhandle.
What is the population of Custer County?
28,513 at the 2020 census.
How big is Custer County?
1,002 square miles (2,600 km2), including 13 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Custer County?
Arapaho is the county seat.
How many towns are in Custer County?
Three incorporated cities (Weatherford, Clinton and Thomas) and two incorporated towns (Arapaho and Custer City), plus a number of unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Custer County?
73096 (Weatherford), 73601 (Clinton), 73669 (Thomas), 73620 (Arapaho), 73639 (Custer City) and 73625 (Butler).
Why is Custer County named that?
It honors Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer; the county was originally organized as “G County” in 1891 before being renamed in 1896.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Oklahoma.