McIntosh County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,941. Its county seat is Eufaula. The county is named for an influential Muscogee Creek family, whose members led the migration of the Lower Towns to Indian Territory and served as leaders for generations.
Located in eastern Oklahoma, McIntosh County is surrounded by Okmulgee County on the north and west, Okfuskee and Hughes counties on the west, Muskogee County on the north and east, and Haskell and Pittsburg counties on the south. Named for the influential Creek family of McIntoshes, the county encompasses 712.48 square miles of land and water. Because of the convergence of three rivers, the Deep Fork, North Canadian, and Canadian, the area has a long history of human occupation. In 1964 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed Eufaula Dam, creating Lake Eufaula. As Oklahoma's largest-surface area lake, it dominates McIntosh County's landscape. At 1907 statehood, when the county was established, its population stood at 17,975. The county annexed part of Hughes County in 1915 but lost land to Okmulgee County in 1918. In 2010 the county's six incorporated towns were Checotah, Eufaula (the county seat), Hanna, Hitchita, Rentiesville, and Stidham. -Click here to read more
Counties are one of America's oldest forms of government, dating back to 1634 when the first county governments were established in Virginia. Ever since, county governments continue to evolve and adapt to changing responsibilities, environments and populations. Today, America's 3,069 county governments invest nearly $500 billion each year in local services and infrastructure and employ more than 3.3 million people. Most importantly, county governments are focused on the fundamental building blocks for healthy, safe, resilient and vibrant communities:
No two counties are exactly the same. County governments are diverse in the ways we are structured and how we deliver services to our communities. The basic roles and responsibilities of our county governments are established by the states, including our legal, financial, program and policy authorities. Under "Dillon" rules, counties can only carry out duties and services specifically authorized by the state. Meanwhile, home rule or charter counties have more flexibility and authority.
In general, county governments are governed by a policy board of elected officials (often called county board, commission or council). Nationally, more than 19,300 individuals serve as elected county board members and elected executives. In addition, most counties also have a series of row officers or constitutional officers that are elected to serve, such as sheriffs, clerks, treasurers, auditors, public defenders, district attorneys and coroners.
With permission. Original Source Oklahoma State University, County Training Program
Located in eastern Oklahoma, McIntosh County is surrounded by Okmulgee County on the north and west, Okfuskee and Hughes counties on the west, Muskogee County on the north and east, and Haskell and Pittsburg counties on the south. Named for the influential Creek family of McIntoshes, the county encompasses 712.48 square miles of land and water. Because of the convergence of three rivers, the Deep Fork, North Canadian, and Canadian, the area has a long history of human occupation. In 1964 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed Eufaula Dam, creating Lake Eufaula. As Oklahoma's largest-surface area lake, it dominates McIntosh County's landscape. At 1907 statehood, when the county was established, its population stood at 17,975. The county annexed part of Hughes County in 1915 but lost land to Okmulgee County in 1918. In 2010 the county's six incorporated towns were Checotah, Eufaula (the county seat), Hanna, Hitchita, Rentiesville, and Stidham. -Click here to read more