Woods County is a county in Oklahoma, United States, tucked into the state’s northwest corner along the Kansas border. It had a population of 8,624 at the 2020 census, and it covers 1,290 square miles (3,300 km2) of wheat and cattle country centred near 36°46′N 98°52′W.
Alva is the county seat, and its postal code is 73717. The county holds three incorporated cities, two incorporated towns, and a scatter of unincorporated crossroads communities. Woods County sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Woods County
Alva anchors the county as its largest city and home to Northwestern Oklahoma State University. The rest of the county is farm country, dotted with small former rail-stop communities, most now unincorporated.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alva | City · seat | 5,028 | 73717 |
| Waynoka | City | — | — |
| Freedom | City | — | — |
| Capron | Town | — | — |
| Dacoma | Town | — | — |
| Avard | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Brink | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cora | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Edith | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fairvalley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Heman | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hopeton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Noel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Plainview | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tegarden | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Winchester | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 73717 — Alva (also serves the surrounding rural county seat area)
Waynoka, Freedom, Dacoma, and Capron each have their own post office, but this page does not publish their specific ZIP codes without an independently verified source; the smaller unincorporated communities do not carry their own post offices, and mail there routes through a nearby town.
Geography
Woods County lies in Oklahoma’s Gypsum Hills country, a rolling mix of red-dirt rangeland, wheat fields, and gypsum-capped buttes north and west of Alva. Most of the county drains toward the Cimarron River, which crosses the southern portion. Almost all of the land area is dry ground; only a small share is water.
Woods County borders six counties, two of them across the state line:
- North — Comanche County, Kansas, and Barber County, Kansas
- East — Alfalfa County, Oklahoma
- South — Major County, Oklahoma
- Southwest — Woodward County, Oklahoma
- West — Harper County, Oklahoma
Demographics
Woods County counted 8,624 residents at the 2020 census. Alva, with 5,028 people, is by far the largest community and home to more than half the county’s population; Waynoka is the second-largest town. Oklahoma’s 2023 ACS median household income was $62,138 — Woods County, with its mix of university jobs and agriculture, runs close to that state figure. Outside Alva, the county is sparsely settled, giving an overall density of well under 10 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Wheat and cattle drive the rural economy, with grain elevators anchoring most of the small towns along the old rail lines. In Alva, Northwestern Oklahoma State University is the county’s largest single employer, joined by a frozen-dough manufacturing cooperative and a small aeronautics supplier making aircraft interior parts. Alva hosts NWOSU’s Ranger athletics each fall, drawing regional crowds for football season.
History
The land that became Woods County opened to settlement in the 1893 Cherokee Outlet land run. It was first organized as “M County” and renamed Woods County on November 6, 1894, after Samuel Newitt Wood, a Kansas populist politician and newspaper editor. Alva, founded the same year as the land run, grew around the rail line and became the seat. During the Second World War, a camp near Alva held German prisoners of war, including officers and Gestapo personnel, until 1945.
Getting There
U.S. Route 64 and U.S. Route 281 cross through Alva, with State Highways 11, 14, 34, and 45 connecting the smaller towns. Approximate distances from Alva:
- Woodward — 30 miles southwest
- Enid — 60 miles southeast
- Wichita, Kansas — 95 miles north
- Oklahoma City — 145 miles south
The nearest commercial airport service is at Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport in Kansas; Amtrak does not serve Woods County, with the closest station in Newton, Kansas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Woods County, Oklahoma?
It sits in the state’s far northwest corner, bordering Kansas.
What is the Alva postcode?
73717.
What is the population of Woods County?
8,624, per the 2020 census.
What town is the county seat?
Alva is the county seat.
Where does the county name come from?
It honors Samuel Newitt Wood, a Kansas populist politician.
What is the largest employer in Woods County?
Northwestern Oklahoma State University, in Alva.
What counties border Woods County?
Alfalfa, Major, Woodward, and Harper counties in Oklahoma, plus Comanche and Barber counties in Kansas.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Oklahoma.