Cherokee county, created from the Tahlequah District in the Cherokee Nation in 1907, is located in northeastern Oklahoma in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains and calls Tahlequah its county seat.
Recreational opportunities abound within the county lines. Lake Tenkiller, a small arm of Fort Gibson Lake, Sequoyah State Park, Cherokee Landing State Park, Greenleaf State Park, the Arkansas River and the Illinois River all contribute to the activities as well as the beauty of the county.
Higher education in the area is provided by Northeastern State University.
The county population on July 1, 1999, was 39,506, an increase of 5,457 over the 1990 census.