Cimarron County lies at the western end of the Oklahoma Panhandle. It is a remote, high-plains county with a small population; according to the 2000 U.S. census it had 3,148 residents, making it then the least populous county in the state. The county is often described in relation to its county seat, Boise City, and to its place in the wider region of the Oklahoma Panhandle.

Geography and natural features

Cimarron occupies a broad, dry plateau of grassland and mesas. It contains Black Mesa, the highest point in Oklahoma, and features semiarid climate conditions with wide temperature swings and limited rainfall. Unusual among Oklahoma counties, Cimarron shares borders with four neighboring states, giving it an exposed, crossroads character in the central United States.

History and name

The county was organized as Oklahoma became a state in 1907 and takes its name from regional geographic features associated with the Cimarron name. Settlers established ranches and farms on the high plains; the area was deeply affected by the agricultural crisis and Dust Bowl of the 1930s. Indigenous peoples and later Anglo-American settlers shaped the region’s settlement patterns.

Economy and land use

Agriculture and ranching have long dominated the local economy, with cattle grazing and dryland farming adapted to limited precipitation. Energy resources—small-scale oil and gas operations—also play a role at times. Low population density and large tracts of open land mean that outdoor recreation, hunting and scenic tourism around features such as Black Mesa are notable economic and cultural assets.

Communities and notable facts

  • County seat: county seat is Boise City, a small town with historic buildings and community events.
  • Cimarron was recorded as the least populous Oklahoma county in the 2000 census and remains one of the state’s most rural counties.
  • The county is geographically distinctive for bordering multiple states and for containing Oklahoma’s highest elevation.

Cimarron County’s wide horizons, sparse settlement and mix of ranching, history and open-land recreation make it a distinct part of the High Plains landscape. For maps, demographic summaries and local government resources, consult official county and state sources or regional guides linked through county and state portals.

See local listings and further reading at county resources, regional information via the state portals, and broader context about the Oklahoma Panhandle at state-related pages.