Jackson is a county in Oklahoma, United States, along the Red River on the Texas border, in the southwestern part of the state. It had a population of 24,785 at the 2020 census and covers 803 square miles (2,080 km2) of land, centred near 34°35′N 99°25′W.
Altus is the county seat, and its postal code is 73521. The county has one city, eight towns and several unincorporated communities, all in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Jackson County
Jackson County has one incorporated city — Altus, the seat — and eight incorporated towns. The rest of the list below is unincorporated communities and rural place-names, several of them former post office stops that no longer appear on current maps. "Unincorp." marks places with no city government of their own.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altus | City · seat | 18,729 | 73521 |
| Blair | Town | — | 73526 |
| Duke | Town | — | 73532 |
| Eldorado | Town | — | 73537 |
| Elmer | Town | — | 73538 |
| Friendship | Town | — | — |
| Headrick | Town | — | 73549 |
| Martha | Town | — | — |
| Olustee | Town | — | 73560 |
| Creta | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hess | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Humphreys | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Victory | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hightower | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lincoln | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ozark | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Prairie Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Warren | Unincorp. | — | — |
The old county list carried both "Creata" and "Creta" as separate entries; these are the same rural community near Elk Creek, and only Creta is kept here. It also listed "East Duke town" alongside "Duke" and "Marty" alongside "Martha" — East Duke was an early-1900s railroad townsite absorbed into the town of Duke, and Marty appears to be a misspelling of Martha, so both duplicates are dropped.
ZIP Codes
- 73521 — Altus (also serves Martha and the surrounding rural routes)
- 73526 — Blair
- 73532 — Duke
- 73537 — Eldorado
- 73538 — Elmer
- 73549 — Headrick
- 73560 — Olustee
Friendship, Creta, Hess, Humphreys, Victory and the smaller rural place-names have no ZIP code of their own and receive mail through the nearest incorporated town.
Geography
Jackson County sits on the Rolling Red Plains of southwestern Oklahoma, mostly flat to gently rolling farmland broken by the North Fork Red River, which crosses the county’s north side, and the Red River itself, which forms the entire southern county line with Texas. The Lugert-Altus Irrigation District, fed by Lake Altus-Lugert upstream in Kiowa and Greer counties, carries irrigation water into the county’s cotton and wheat fields.
Jackson County borders Greer County to the north, Kiowa County to the northeast, Tillman County to the east, and Harmon County to the west. Across the Red River to the south lie Wilbarger County and Hardeman County, Texas.
Demographics
Jackson County had 24,785 residents at the 2020 census, a density of about 31 people per square mile. Altus, the county seat, is by far the largest place at 18,729; Blair and Eldorado are the next-largest incorporated towns, though the Census Bureau does not publish separate 2020 counts for them. Jackson County’s median household income runs well below the Oklahoma median of $62,138, reflecting the county’s agricultural and military-town economy.
Economy & Local Life
Altus Air Force Base, home to aircrew training for the C-17 Globemaster III and KC-46 Pegasus, is the county’s largest employer and shapes much of Altus’s economy and population. Outside the base, farming and ranching still anchor the county: cotton, wheat and cattle are the primary agricultural products, irrigated in large part through the Lugert-Altus district’s canal system. Western Oklahoma State College, a two-year public college, is based in Altus.
History
Jackson County was created at Oklahoma statehood in 1907, carved from the disputed territory once claimed as Greer County, Texas until an 1896 U.S. Supreme Court ruling placed the land in Oklahoma Territory instead. According to the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, the county’s name honors two historical figures — President Andrew Jackson and Confederate General Stonewall Jackson — though sources differ on which Jackson the naming committee actually intended. Altus grew up around the Frisco Railroad’s arrival in the area at the turn of the 20th century and was chosen as county seat.
Getting There
U.S. Highways 62 and 283 cross Jackson County, along with State Highways 5, 6, 19 and 34.
- Lawton, Oklahoma — about 73 miles east
- Vernon, Texas — about 30 miles south
- Elk City, Oklahoma — about 60 miles north
- Wichita Falls, Texas — about 90 miles southeast
The nearest commercial airport is Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport, about 57 miles east of Altus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Jackson County, Oklahoma?
It is in the southwestern corner of Oklahoma, along the Red River on the Texas state line, roughly 73 miles west of Lawton.
What is the population of Jackson County?
Jackson County had a population of 24,785 at the 2020 census.
How big is Jackson County?
The county covers 803 square miles (2,080 km2) of land.
What is the Jackson County seat?
Altus is the county seat and largest city, with a 2020 population of 18,729.
How many towns are in Jackson County?
The county has one city and eight incorporated towns — Blair, Duke, Eldorado, Elmer, Friendship, Headrick, Martha and Olustee — plus several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Jackson County?
Main ZIP codes include 73521 (Altus), 73526 (Blair), 73532 (Duke), 73537 (Eldorado), 73538 (Elmer), 73549 (Headrick) and 73560 (Olustee).
What is Altus Air Force Base?
It is a U.S. Air Force installation on the edge of Altus that trains aircrews for the C-17 Globemaster III and KC-46 Pegasus tanker, and it is the county’s largest employer.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Oklahoma.