Located on the Oklahoma-Arkansas border,
Delaware County takes pride in its lakes and recreation areas. Grove,
situated on the northern edge of the Old Cherokee Nation, is a resort
center for the eastern shore of Grand Lake, which covers 46,500 acres, and
includes 1,300 miles of shoreline.
Cattle ranches are abundant, although the
principal industry is tourism. Har-Ber Village, west of Grove, is a
reconstructed, authentic village of the past. Honey Creek, a popular
resort area just south of Grove, has all types of water sports, and
excellent crappie fishing. Jay, the county seat of Delaware County, was
named for Jay Washburn, the grandson of an early-day missionary. The
principal industry is the raising and processing of chickens. Green beans
and soybeans are raised throughout the area, as well as cattle. East of
Jay is the Oak Hill Indian Center, where Cherokees weave blankets and
other articles on hand looms.
Beck's Mill, northeast of the town of
Kansas, supplied meal for whites and Indians, and was built in 1835. It
was once used as a Union prison camp.
Annual events in Delaware County include
the Pelican Festival held in Grove every autumn, and the Huckleberry
Festival located in Jay during July.
For more county information, call the
county clerk's office at 918/253-4520. County narrative provided courtesy
of the
Oklahoma
Department of Libraries from the "2002-2004 Oklahoma Almanac."
