South Central Oklahoma Workforce Area Briefing May 2017
South Central Oklahoma Workforce Area Briefing May 2017 Overview The South Central Oklahoma Workforce Development Area is composed of eight Oklahoma counties: Caddo, Comanche, Cotton, Grady, Jefferson, McClain, Stephens, and Tillman. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, this combined region of Oklahoma covers 7,246 square miles, making it the third largest of the state’s workforce areas in land mass. Over 312,000 Oklahoma citizens live in the eight‐county area – approximately 8% of the state’s total population. Three cities in the area boast populations of 10,000 residents or more, including Lawton, Duncan, and Chickasha. Note that for simplicity, the South Central Oklahoma Workforce Development Area will generally be referenced throughout this report as the “Area.” Sources for all data are cited. The most common data source utilized is EMSI, data release 2017.2. Population Breakdown by County The city of Lawton, the county seat of Comanche 2016 Area Percentage of Population by County, is the largest city in County the Area with an estimated population of 97,589. Comanche County, the Stephens, 14% most populous County in the Area, is home to a total McClain, 13% of 125,003 individuals, representing 40.1% of the Grady, 18% Caddo, 9% population of the Area. Tillman, 2% Cotton County, the second smallest county Jefferson, 2% geographically with only Cotton, 2% 642 square miles, is the Comanche, 40% least populous county in the Area and home to 5,991 residents or 1.9% of the Area population. Source: EMSI 2017.2 Between 2010 and 2016, the Area experienced a nominal growth rate of 1.35%, a net increase of 4,169 residents.
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