Cherokee: Demographics & People
Census counts 1,509 people in Cherokee, in 683 households. Population grew 14.4% from 1,319 (2022) to 1,509 (2024). Median age 43.6 years. (1.0y younger than Alfalfa County; 8.4y older than Oklahoma). Children under 18 are 21% of the population. Population is 86% White (non-Hispanic) and 6% Hispanic or Latino. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.10). 66% of households are family-led. County health: 38% adult obesity, 16% smoke.
- 2.2 people per household (vs Oklahoma avg 2.6).
- 34% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Oklahoma 39%).
- 73 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Oklahoma 67).
Population & Trend
Population grew 14.4% from 1,319 (2022) to 1,509 (2024) — about 24.0× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~1,734 (extrapolated at 7.2%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 2,065.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 5,699 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 14.4% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 1,319 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 1,509 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | booming |
| Population | 1,509 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
| Population Estimate | 2,065 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 43.6y is 4.7 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 21% — near the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 43.6 years (vs Oklahoma 35.2y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 21.3% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 1,509 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 322 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 283.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 587.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 317 |
| Population under 18 | 322 |
| Median age | 43.6 years (vs Oklahoma 35.2y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 1,509 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.10 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 1,207 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 1 |
| Asian residents | 1 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 68 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 10.4% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 94.5% |
| Asian population | 0.1% (vs Oklahoma 3.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 6.5% (vs Oklahoma 12.3%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 86.5% (vs Oklahoma 57.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.4% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 2% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 904 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 572 |
| Share born in this state | 59.9% |
| Share born in another state | 40.1% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 37.9% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.4% |
| Naturalized citizens | 1.8% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 25 |
| From Europe | 11 |
| From Africa | 1 |
Households & Family Composition
683 households. Averaging 2.1 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 66% are family households — near the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 372 families, 28% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 277 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 372 |
| Married couples with children | 103 |
| Single-parent households | 18 |
| Average household size | 2.15 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 20.9% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 5 |
| Family households | 452 households (vs Oklahoma 16,590) |
| Households that are families | 66.2% (vs Oklahoma 61.1%) |
| Total households | 683 households (vs Oklahoma 23,671) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 11.6% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%.
| Moved within the county (past year) | 11.6% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 3,912 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 3,873 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 39 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 164 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 10.9% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 30 residents live in group quarters (2.0% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 30 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 3 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 40003 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 40 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 003 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Alfalfa |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 24.5% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 15.10 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 37.50 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 40003 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Alfalfa County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 86 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 40003 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Alfalfa County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 53.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 47.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 51.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 5,702 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 3.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 3 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 21.3% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 1,509, booming, established, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 1,509 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
| Town Summary · County | Alfalfa County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade