Written by: Stacker

There's an undeniable charm that comes with pre-World War II American architecture, characterized by high ceilings, crown molding, hardwood floors, and ornate details. In fact, 12.8% of all housing units in America were built in 1939 or before, showing the popularity of the preservation of these units. Owning a piece of history can sometimes come with a cost: Many old homes come with asbestos, lead piping, knob-and-tube wiring, and other outdated building styles that can rack up a hefty price tag to modernize. However, with more and more modernized pre-war homes on the market, generally located just outside bustling downtown metros, investing in property that has withstood the test of time is an attractive prospect.

Stacker compiled a list of the counties in Oklahoma with the oldest homes using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by median year the structure was built, with ties broken by the most homes before 1939.

The country’s domestic architecture is perhaps best characterized by a rugged individualism as opposed to the hybridization of disparate architectural elements. As Maya Angelou once perceptively observed, "the ache for home lives in all of us," a phrase that has meant very different things to different people.

Modest or palatial, there is no shortage of noteworthy homes in the U.S. Log cabins constructed by industrious pioneers have dotted the landscape alongside traditional Native American dwellings ever since immigrant Swedes introduced them to the New World in 1638. The unprecedented personal fortunes amassed by the so-called "Robber Barons" at the close of the 19th century gave way to the construction of a staggering number of Gilded Age estates.

The ravages of time spared neither the sumptuous nor the humble. Stately mansions, often prohibitively costly to maintain in the modern era, were frequently neglected; simple structures were forgotten, discarded by their owners, and damaged by natural elements. However, the tireless efforts of architectural preservationists and local historical societies have saved many of these homes from demolition, leading to their inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places and thereby safeguarding them for future generations.

Keep reading to learn more about which counties in Oklahoma have the oldest homes.

#30. Stephens County

- Median year homes built: 1973

--- #1,129 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.1%

--- #2,088 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 20,710

#29. Craig County

- Median year homes built: 1973

--- #1,101 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 14.8%

--- #1,278 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 6,753

#28. Caddo County

- Median year homes built: 1973

--- #1,094 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 15.8%

--- #1,212 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 13,225

#27. Major County

- Median year homes built: 1973

--- #1,090 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 16.4%

--- #1,178 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 3,684

#26. Hughes County

- Median year homes built: 1973

--- #1,071 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 19.9%

--- #930 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 6,267

#25. Garvin County

- Median year homes built: 1972

--- #1,032 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 4.8%

--- #2,522 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 12,882

#24. Jackson County

- Median year homes built: 1972

--- #1,020 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 9.0%

--- #1,807 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 12,116

#23. Ottawa County

- Median year homes built: 1972

--- #1,015 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 11.0%

--- #1,589 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 14,063

#22. Noble County

- Median year homes built: 1972

--- #1,004 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 17.2%

--- #1,124 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 5,349

#21. Blaine County

- Median year homes built: 1972

--- #1,002 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 17.5%

--- #1,111 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 5,052

#20. Washington County

- Median year homes built: 1971

--- #950 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 9.6%

--- #1,731 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 23,740

#19. Texas County

- Median year homes built: 1971

--- #947 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 10.6%

--- #1,621 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 8,232

#18. Garfield County

- Median year homes built: 1971

--- #939 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 14.2%

--- #1,321 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 26,803

#17. Dewey County

- Median year homes built: 1971

--- #922 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 19.0%

--- #991 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 2,448

#16. Roger Mills County

- Median year homes built: 1970

--- #838 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 18.9%

--- #1,002 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 1,907

#15. Jefferson County

- Median year homes built: 1969

--- #772 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 19.7%

--- #951 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 3,398

#14. Beaver County

- Median year homes built: 1964

--- #540 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 15.5%

--- #1,230 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 2,682

#13. Cotton County

- Median year homes built: 1963

--- #492 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 16.8%

--- #1,156 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 2,998

#12. Greer County

- Median year homes built: 1963

--- #486 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 20.7%

--- #880 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 2,715

#11. Ellis County

- Median year homes built: 1963

--- #484 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 23.4%

--- #735 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 2,274

#10. Harper County

- Median year homes built: 1962

--- #444 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 23.4%

--- #734 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 1,885

#9. Woods County

- Median year homes built: 1962

--- #443 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 23.5%

--- #724 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 4,424

#8. Kay County

- Median year homes built: 1961

--- #397 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 19.4%

--- #968 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 21,515

#7. Grant County

- Median year homes built: 1961

--- #375 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 29.4%

--- #424 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 2,469

#6. Kiowa County

- Median year homes built: 1960

--- #339 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 26.9%

--- #543 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 5,148

#5. Cimarron County

- Median year homes built: 1959

--- #310 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 20.1%

--- #917 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 1,581

#4. Washita County

- Median year homes built: 1959

--- #308 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 21.4%

--- #849 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 5,404

#3. Tillman County

- Median year homes built: 1958

--- #271 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 20.7%

--- #884 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 4,007

#2. Alfalfa County

- Median year homes built: 1958

--- #264 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 30.1%

--- #390 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 2,728

#1. Harmon County

- Median year homes built: 1957

--- #240 oldest among all counties nationwide

- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 18.4%

--- #1,033 most among all counties nationwide

- Number of homes: 1,529