County Profile
Quality of Living
Location
Canadian County is located in the heart of Central Oklahoma. It is located adjacent to Oklahoma County and within the Oklahoma City MSA. Accessibility is key, with Interstate 40 running East to West directly through the county and the intersection with Interstate 35 and Interstate 44 just to the east.
Canadian County is the state's fastest-growing county, with a population exceeding 139,000 (2019). Residents enjoy the quality relaxed lifestyle, with all the amenities of a major city nearby.
Business Advantages
Economy
The county was organized in 1890 and consists of 897 square miles (2018). It provides a growing and diversified mix of business and industry, including agribusiness, manufacturing, oil and gas and retail trade. Plus it offers the added benefit of close proximity to the growing Oklahoma City market.
Canadian County offers extensive economic development opportunities, including top-ranked schools, a productive and competitive labor force, an excellent business climate and the nation's top career-technology network, Canadian Valley. The cost of living is just 80% of the national average.
Major cities include El Reno (County Seat), Mustang, and Yukon. A 3-member County Commission governs the county.
Unique History
Canadian County's history is reflective of the entire state. It has been home to various Indian Tribes, the cattle industry, frontier military experience, land runs, and land lotteries, various ethnic settlements, right agriculture and oil and gas production. The county was once part of the Cheyenne and Arapaho reservation. It was opened by the Run of '89 and the Run of '92, and by lottery in 1901. The historic Chisholm Trail passes through the county on the North/South basis. The trail, stretching from Texas to Kansas City is famous for the 10 million cattle, 1 million horses and 35 thousand cowboys that passed through in the 1800's.
The name Canadian county comes from early French explorers who named the county for the two rivers which pass through the area, the North Canadian and Canadian.
Resources
Community Data Profile
- Area: 897 square miles (2010)
- Population: 139,541 (2014); 5th most populated county in the state and fastest-growing county in the state
- Number of Households: 43,247 (2012 to 2016)
- Median Household Income: $66,664 (2012 to 2016)
- Education: 25.8% of residents 25 years and older have a bachelor's degree or higher (2012 to 2016)