Where Cookson residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Cookson, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Cookson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Cookson
Heart disease, cancer and stroke run high in Cookson
1 in 9 adults have heart disease (11.3%), vs 7.3% across Oklahoma. 1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.7%), vs 7.8% across Oklahoma. Stroke is also above the state: 5.5%, vs 3.7% across Oklahoma. In all, Cookson runs above Oklahoma on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 39% of residents are 65 or older (Oklahoma 16%), and heart disease, cancer and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Cookson, and more people treating it
51% of adults have high blood pressure (Oklahoma 38.5%), but 83.9% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.3% statewide. Checkups ↓
Cookson keeps up with checkups
It beats Oklahoma on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (83.3% vs 77.9%) and dentist visits (61.1% vs 57.1%). Checkups ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Oklahoma figure falls outside Cookson’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Cookson adults…
Cookson runs above OK on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Cookson is an older town: 39% of residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across Oklahoma. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Cookson as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Cookson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Oklahoma.
Care in and near Cookson
No hospital or community health center in Cookson itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Cookson; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with Oklahoma
Share of adults, with the Oklahoma figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Cookson adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Cookson does better than Oklahoma.
3 in 10 Cookson adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
14.4% of Cookson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.1% across Oklahoma.
Cookson and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Creek | — | — | — | — |
Dry Creek: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Cookson adults live with a disability (Oklahoma 38.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Cookson
Why doesn’t Cookson have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Cookson.
What hospital is closest to Cookson?
Cherokee Nation W W Hastings Indian Hospital in Tahlequah, 13.3 miles in a straight line from Cookson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Cookson.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Oklahoma figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.