Grant County is a county in Oklahoma, United States, on the state’s northern border with Kansas. It had a population of 4,169 at the 2020 census and covers 1,004 square miles (2,600 km2), centred near 36°48′N 97°47′W.
Medford is the county seat, and its postal code is 73759. The county has two cities, seven incorporated towns and three unincorporated communities. Grant County observes Central time.
Towns & Villages in Grant County
Grant County has twelve named places on record: two cities, seven incorporated towns, and three unincorporated communities without their own municipal government. Medford and Pond Creek hold city status; Lamont, Wakita, Nash, Deer Creek, Manchester, Renfrow and Jefferson are incorporated towns. Clyde, Sand Creek and Gibbon are unincorporated and carry no separate population count.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medford | City · seat | 936 | 73759 |
| Pond Creek | City | 852 | 73766 |
| Lamont | Town | 392 | 74643 |
| Wakita | Town | 329 | 73771 |
| Nash | Town | 197 | 73761 |
| Deer Creek | Town | 125 | 74636 |
| Manchester | Town | 99 | 73758 |
| Renfrow | Town | 12 | — |
| Jefferson | Town | 8 | — |
| Clyde | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sand Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gibbon | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 73759 — Medford
- 73766 — Pond Creek
- 74643 — Lamont
- 73771 — Wakita
- 73761 — Nash
- 73758 — Manchester
- 74636 — Deer Creek
Renfrow, Jefferson, Clyde, Sand Creek and Gibbon have no post office of their own; residents there use the ZIP code of the nearest listed town.
Geography
Grant County lies in the rolling wheat country of north-central Oklahoma, part of the broader Central Redbed Plains. The Salt Fork of the Arkansas River crosses the county, and Sand Creek and Deer Creek both flow toward it — the source of two of the community names above. Farmland dominates the landscape, with red-clay soil and scattered stands of native grass along the creek bottoms. Of the county’s 1,004 square miles, 1,001 square miles is land and 2.7 square miles is water.
Grant County borders six counties. Sumner County, Kansas, and Harper County, Kansas, form its northern boundary, with Harper to the northwest. Kay County is east, Garfield County is south, Alfalfa County is west, and Noble County touches the southeast corner.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 4,169 residents, a density of about 4.2 people per square mile — among the lowest in Oklahoma. Medford (936) and Pond Creek (852) are the two largest communities, together holding roughly 43 percent of the county’s population; the remaining seven towns each hold well under 400 residents. Grant County’s median household income trails the Oklahoma median of $62,138, a common pattern in the state’s sparsely populated wheat-belt counties. Like much of rural Oklahoma, Grant County’s population has declined gradually for decades as farming consolidated and young residents moved to larger towns.
Economy & Local Life
Wheat and cattle ranching remain the backbone of Grant County’s economy. Grain elevators anchor Medford, Pond Creek, Lamont and Wakita, and each town’s main street serves as a trade center for the surrounding farms. Oil and gas leasing also contributes to county revenue, as it does across much of north-central Oklahoma. Public schools in the county’s larger towns remain among the largest local employers, and county government offices in Medford employ a steady core of workers year-round.
History
The land that became Grant County was part of the Cherokee Outlet, the strip of Cherokee Nation land opened to non-Indian settlement in the land run of September 16, 1893. It was first designated County L under Oklahoma Territory, one of several counties given a letter rather than a name at opening. Voters chose the name Grant, honoring President Ulysses S. Grant, in a countywide election held November 6, 1894. Medford and Pond Creek, the county’s two cities, both trace their founding to that same 1893 land run.
Getting There
US-81 runs north-south through the county, linking Medford and Pond Creek, while state highways OK-11 and OK-15 connect the smaller towns. The nearest commercial airport is Enid Woodring Regional Airport, in neighboring Garfield County.
- Enid, Oklahoma — about 30 miles south
- Ponca City, Oklahoma — about 30 miles east
- Wichita, Kansas — about 65 miles north
- Alva, Oklahoma — about 35 miles west
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Grant County, Oklahoma?
Grant County sits on Oklahoma’s northern border with Kansas, in the north-central part of the state.
What is the population of Grant County?
Grant County had a population of 4,169 at the 2020 census.
How big is Grant County?
Grant County covers 1,004 square miles (2,600 km2), of which 1,001 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Grant County?
Medford is the county seat.
How many towns are in Grant County?
Grant County has two cities, seven incorporated towns and three unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Grant County?
Grant County’s ZIP codes include 73759 (Medford), 73766 (Pond Creek), 74643 (Lamont), 73771 (Wakita), 73761 (Nash), 73758 (Manchester) and 74636 (Deer Creek).
Why is Grant County named “Grant”?
Voters chose the name to honor President Ulysses S. Grant in a countywide election held November 6, 1894, replacing the territorial designation County L.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Oklahoma.