Latimer county, created at statehood in 1907 and is named for J.S. Latimer, the Representative to the Constitutional Congress from this area, is located in southeastern Oklahoma just west of the Ouachita National Forest with Wilburton serving as the county seat.
The major recreation areas in the county are the northern section of Sardis Lake in the southern portion of the county and Robbers Cave State Park in the north. In addition, the Sansbois Mountains straddle the county line with Haskell County.
Higher education is available at Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilburton.
History in the county can be revisited through trips to the Colony Park Pavilion, the Great Western Coal and Coke Company Building and Mitchell Hall on the EOSC campus, all in Wilburton.
The county population on July 1, 1999, was 10,204, a decrease of 129 over the 1990 census.
