King County was built on cattle ranching, and still is

King County was created in 1876 and named for William Philip King, who died at the Alamo. Settlement began after the U.S. Army removed Native peoples from the area. By 1900 the county had about 38,000 head of cattle. Major ranches — including the Four Sixes (6666), the Pitchfork, the Matador, and the SMS — shaped the land and its economy.

Guthrie, the county seat, became a ranch supply town. It has remained tiny — around 150 to 160 people — for most of the past century. The county's population peaked at 1,193 in 1929 and has been in long decline since. Oil was discovered in 1943 and added another economic layer, but ranching still defines the culture. If you plan to buy land here, understanding agricultural use and large-ranch culture is more important than knowing about suburban services.