Lost City: Demographics & People
852 people call Lost City home, in 305 households. Population shrank 3.8% from 886 (2022) to 852 (2024). Median age 35.0 years. (2.3y younger than Cherokee County). Children under 18 are 27% of the population. Population is 36% White (non-Hispanic) and 16% Hispanic or Latino. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.45). 72% of households are family-led. County is gaining 1,238 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 44% adult obesity, 22% smoke.
- 2.8 people per household (vs Oklahoma avg 2.6).
- 28% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Oklahoma 39%).
- 73 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Oklahoma 67).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 3.8% from 886 (2022) to 852 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~819 (extrapolated at -1.9%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 777.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 47,078 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -3.8% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 886 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 852 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | declining |
| Population | 852 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
| Population Estimate | 777 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 35.0y is 3.9 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 27% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 35.0 years (at Oklahoma median) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 26.9% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 852 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 229 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 197.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 296.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 130 |
| Population under 18 | 229 |
| Median age | 35.0 years (at Oklahoma median) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 852 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.45 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 330 |
|---|---|
| Asian residents | 25 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 116 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 44.6% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 70.1% |
| Asian population | 1.3% (vs Oklahoma 3.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 16.3% (vs Oklahoma 12.3%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 36.0% (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 (7)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 1.4% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%.
| Residents born in this state | 630 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 210 |
| Share born in this state | 73.9% |
| Share born in another state | 26.1% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 24.6% |
| Foreign-born residents | 1.4% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 1,399 |
Households & Family Composition
305 households. Averaging 2.7 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 72% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 242 families, 28% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 222 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 242 |
| Married couples with children | 68 |
| Single-parent households | 16 |
| Average household size | 2.68 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 15.6% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 35 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 7 |
| Family households | 218 households (vs Oklahoma 16,590) |
| Households that are families | 71.5% (vs Oklahoma 61.1%) |
| Total households | 305 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. 5.0% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 1,238 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 5.0% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 39,416 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 38,178 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 1,238 |
| 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 | 103 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 13.4% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 2 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | OK-02 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 40021 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 40 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 021 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Cherokee |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 23.7% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 20.50 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 27.30 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 40021 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Cherokee County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Micropolitan |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,975 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 40021 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Cherokee County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 69.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 51.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 42.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 48,657 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 20 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 26.9% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 852, declining, family-oriented, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 852 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
| Town Summary · County | Cherokee County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade