Murray County is a county in Oklahoma, United States, home to the Chickasaw National Recreation Area and Turner Falls Park. It had a population of 13,904 at the 2020 census and covers 425 square miles (1,100 km2) centred near 34°29′N 97°04′W.
Sulphur is the county seat, and its postal code is 73086. The county has 2 incorporated cities, 2 incorporated towns, and 16 unincorporated communities. Murray County observes Central Time and has no organized civil townships.
Towns & Villages in Murray County
Murray County has 20 named places on record: 4 incorporated (2 cities, 2 towns) and 16 unincorporated communities, several of them former rail sidings, mining camps, or church-camp sites that never grew beyond a store and a post office. CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no separate census count.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sulphur | City · seat | 5,065 | 73086 |
| Davis | City | — | 73030 |
| Dougherty | Town | — | 73032 |
| Hickory | Town | — | — |
| Cedar Village | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Chigley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Crusher | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Denny | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Drake | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Falls Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hennepin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Iona | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jollyville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Joy | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Nebo | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oak Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rayford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Scullin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Washita | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Winrock Farms | Unincorp. | — | — |
Falls Creek is the site of Falls Creek Assembly, a large Baptist youth-camp complex on the Chickasaw National Recreation Area’s edge rather than a residential settlement. Hennepin sits on Lake of the Arbuckles’ east shore and is sometimes listed under neighboring Garvin County records, but its post-office history places it in Murray County.
ZIP Codes
- 73086 — Sulphur (also serves Falls Creek and the Chickasaw National Recreation Area)
- 73030 — Davis
- 73032 — Dougherty
The remaining unincorporated communities, including Hickory, Hennepin, and Oak Grove, use the ZIP code of the nearest post-office town rather than one of their own.
Geography
Murray County sits at the western edge of the Ozark-Ouachita uplift, where the Arbuckle Mountains’ limestone ridges give way to the plains of south-central Oklahoma. The Washita River crosses the county’s north, and Rock Creek and Travertine Creek feed Lake of the Arbuckles, a reservoir shared with the Chickasaw National Recreation Area. Land use is a mix of cattle ranching, hay pasture, and limestone quarrying, most notably the Dolese Brothers operation near Davis.
Murray County borders Garvin County to the north, Pontotoc County to the northeast, Johnston County to the southeast, and Carter County to the southwest.
Demographics
Murray County’s population was 13,904 at the 2020 census. Sulphur, with 5,065 residents, and Davis are the two largest communities, together holding well over half the county’s people. The county’s median household income runs below the Oklahoma median of $62,138, reflecting its rural, agriculture- and tourism-based economy. Population density is about 33 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Tourism tied to the Chickasaw National Recreation Area and Turner Falls Park is a major employer, drawing visitors to swim, camp, and hike along Travertine Creek and the Washita River. Limestone quarrying, led by the Dolese Brothers company near Davis, and cattle ranching remain the county’s traditional industries. The Oklahoma School for the Deaf, founded in Sulphur in 1907, is one of the county’s oldest institutions. Falls Creek Baptist Assembly, one of the largest youth-camp operations in the country, brings tens of thousands of visitors to the county each summer.
History
Murray County was created at Oklahoma statehood in 1907, carved from land that had belonged to the Chickasaw Nation, and named for William H. Murray, a president of the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention who later served as the state’s ninth governor. Sulphur grew up around mineral springs that were later protected as Platt National Park, one of the smallest units ever created in the U.S. national park system; in 1976 Platt was merged with the surrounding federal recreation land to form the Chickasaw National Recreation Area. Turner Falls, on Honey Creek near Davis, has drawn visitors since the 1920s and remains one of Oklahoma’s most-visited waterfalls.
Getting There
Interstate 35 runs north-south through the county, with U.S. Routes 77 and 177 and the Chickasaw Turnpike providing additional access; State Highways 1, 7, and 110 connect the smaller communities.
- Ardmore — 25 miles south
- Ada — 25 miles east
- Pauls Valley — 20 miles north
- Oklahoma City — 85 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Murray County, Oklahoma?
It is in south-central Oklahoma, along Interstate 35 between Ardmore and Pauls Valley, and is home to the Chickasaw National Recreation Area.
What is the population of Murray County?
Murray County had a population of 13,904 at the 2020 census.
How big is Murray County?
The county covers 425 square miles (1,100 km2), of which about 8.6 square miles is water.
What is the county seat of Murray County?
Sulphur is the county seat.
How many towns are in Murray County?
The county has 4 incorporated places — the cities of Sulphur and Davis, and the towns of Dougherty and Hickory — plus 16 unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Murray County?
The main ZIP codes are 73086 (Sulphur), 73030 (Davis), and 73032 (Dougherty).
What is Murray County known for?
It is known for the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Turner Falls Park, and Falls Creek Baptist Assembly, one of the largest youth camps in the country.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Oklahoma.