Pontotoc County is a county in Oklahoma, United States, in the south-central part of the state, on land once part of the Chickasaw Nation. It had a population of 38,065 at the 2020 census and covers 725 square miles (1,878 km2) centred near 34°41′N 96°39′W.
Ada is the county seat, and its postal code is 74820. The county has one city and six incorporated towns, plus more than two dozen unincorporated communities. It sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Pontotoc County
Pontotoc County has one city — Ada, the county seat — six incorporated towns, and roughly two dozen unincorporated communities and rural place names. CDP stands for census-designated place, an unincorporated community the Census Bureau tracks separately; Unincorp. marks a place with no municipal government at all.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ada | City · seat | 17,244 | 74820 |
| Allen | Town | — | 74825 |
| Byng | CDP | — | 74820 |
| Fitzhugh | Town | — | 74843 |
| Francis | Town | — | 74844 |
| Roff | Town | — | 74865 |
| Stonewall | Town | — | 74871 |
| Ahloso | Unincorp. | — | 74820 |
| Bebee | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Center | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Coil | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fittstown | Unincorp. | — | 74842 |
| Franks | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Frisco | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gaar Corner | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Happyland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Harden City | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hart | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hird | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Homer | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jaydee | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jesse | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Latta | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lawrence | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Leader | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lula | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Maxwell | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oakman | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oil Center | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pickett | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Steedman | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tyrola | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Union Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Union Valley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Vanoss | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 74820 — Ada (also serves Byng and Ahloso)
- 74825 — Allen
- 74842 — Fittstown
- 74843 — Fitzhugh
- 74844 — Francis
- 74865 — Roff
- 74871 — Stonewall
Most of the smaller unincorporated places listed above share a ZIP with the nearest post-office town rather than carrying their own code.
Geography
Pontotoc County sits in the transition zone between the prairies of central Oklahoma and the hillier Arbuckle uplift to the south. The Canadian River forms the county’s entire northern boundary, and Blue River tributaries drain the eastern side of the county toward the Choctaw and Chickasaw lands beyond. Limestone outcrops around Ada support a long-running cement and quarrying industry.
Pontotoc County borders eight other Oklahoma counties: Pottawatomie County to the north, Seminole County to the northeast, Hughes County to the east, Coal County to the southeast, Johnston County to the south, Murray County to the southwest, Garvin County to the west, and McClain County to the northwest.
Demographics
Pontotoc County had 38,065 residents at the 2020 census. Ada, the seat, is by far the largest community; Byng, an unincorporated CDP just east of Ada, is the second-largest population center. About half the county’s population lives in or immediately around Ada. Median household income in Pontotoc County runs below the Oklahoma median of $62,138, reflecting the county’s rural and agricultural economic base outside the Ada micropolitan core. Population density is roughly 52 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Cattle ranching is central to the county’s identity — the area has long been nicknamed “Hereford Heaven” for its cattle-breeding operations. Limestone quarrying and cement production around Ada are major employers, alongside oil and gas production. Ada also serves as the headquarters of the Chickasaw Nation, whose tribal government, health system (the Carl Albert Indian Health Facility), and gaming operations are among the county’s largest employers. East Central University, a public university founded in 1909, is based in Ada.
History
Pontotoc County was organized in 1907, at Oklahoma statehood, from land that had been part of the Chickasaw Nation in Indian Territory. Its name comes from a Chickasaw place name, variously translated as “cattail prairie” or “land of hanging grapes,” carried west from a historic Chickasaw settlement in Mississippi. Ada, founded in 1890, grew into the county’s dominant town after three separate railroads built lines through it in the early 1900s.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 377 and State Highway 3 are the main routes through Ada, with State Highway 1 and State Highway 99 crossing the rest of the county.
- Oklahoma City — 85 miles northwest
- Tulsa — 110 miles northeast
- Shawnee — 40 miles north
- Sulphur — 30 miles southwest
Ada Regional Airport (ADH) handles general aviation; the nearest commercial airport is Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Pontotoc County, Oklahoma?
It is in south-central Oklahoma, about 85 miles southeast of Oklahoma City, bordered on the north by the Canadian River.
What is the population of Pontotoc County?
The county had 38,065 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Pontotoc County?
It covers 725 square miles (1,878 km2), most of it land.
What is the county seat of Pontotoc County?
Ada is the county seat and by far the largest city.
How many towns are in Pontotoc County?
One city (Ada) and six incorporated towns — Allen, Fitzhugh, Francis, Roff, and Stonewall — plus around two dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Pontotoc County?
Main ZIP codes include 74820 (Ada), 74825 (Allen), 74842 (Fittstown), 74843 (Fitzhugh), 74844 (Francis), 74865 (Roff), and 74871 (Stonewall).
Why is Pontotoc County called “Hereford Heaven”?
The nickname reflects the county’s long history of cattle ranching, particularly Hereford cattle breeding operations on its prairie and pastureland.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Oklahoma.