Greer County, Oklahoma
According to the 2000 Census, Greer County, Oklahoma has a population of 6,061 people. Of those, 4,937 (81%) are White, 532 (9%) are Black, and 451 (7%) are Latino[1]. However, 913 (or 15% of the 6,061 people) are not residents by choice but are people in prison.
Even though prisoners cannot participate in the local community, the Census Bureau nevertheless counts them as residents of the county where they are incarcerated.
A more accurate description would not include the prisoners. This would give Greer County a population of 5,148 with a demographic that is 88% White, 4% Black, and 7% Latino.
| Reported in Census 2000 |
Incarcerated population |
Actual population |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 6,061 | 913 | 5,148 |
| White | 4,937 | 414 | 4,523 |
| Black | 532 | 331 | 201 |
| Latino | 451 | 69 | 382 |
Notes:
[1]The numbers for Whites, Blacks and Latinos may not add up to the total number because we have not included racial groups other than Whites and Blacks and because the Census Bureau considers "Latino" to be an ethnicity, not a race. Most of the people reported as being Latino are also counted as being White or Black.
Recommended Reading:
About the Prison Policy Initiative
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Rome NY ends prison gerrymandering, Census Bureau can do better
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Prison-based gerrymandering's historical precedent
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