OK Ghost Towns

Towns of Oklahoma's Past

Washita County Ghost Towns

It looks as if I have my work cut out for me in researching Washita County alone. I was reading a book description about Washita County and it list that there are 44 ghost towns alone in the county.

From the book Washita County (OK) (Images of America):

Created from part of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Indian reservation, 1,008 square miles of rich agricultural land became home to over 5,000 homesteaders with a run at high noon on April 19, 1892. The county has a rich heritage as about 55 communities and over 100 school districts were established during the first 10 years. As Oklahoma was a territory at the time, only Congress could establish a county seat, and it named Cloud Chief, with a population of about 20 or 30, as the county seat. According to history, Cloud Chief, located in the southeast corner of the county, had several businesses established by midafternoon and a population of over 3,000 that first night. In 1900, the people of Washita County, by a vote of 1,349 in favor to 282 in opposition, illegally moved the courthouse under gunfire to Cordell, which was located in the exact center of the county. Today Washita County has 44 ghost towns, which had a post office or a community store that no longer exist.

I knew of about 10 or so towns that are considered ghost towns in the county. Now to find out about the other 34.

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posted by James in Washita County and have View Comments

Mayes County

I have been looking for some information on ghost towns that exists in Mayes County in Northeastern Oklahoma.  I haven’t found any in publications I have been looking at.  Surely this can’t be.  There is bound to be at least one town in Mayes County that no longer exists.  I will even take a mining camp, just to have some information on the historical record of this county.

If you know of anything or have anything, please share!

posted by James in Mayes County and have View Comments

Strong City

I am looking for anyone who has information on Strong City.  This town lies NE of Cheyenne and in years past had been a prominent town in Roger Mills County.  Today not much remains but a few house and ruins of the business district.  I am interested in the history of this town and pictures from its past.

Some of stories I have heard deal with fights Strong City had with Cheyenne over the railroad and to be the county seat.  These would be of particular interest for the research project.

posted by James in Roger Mills and have Comments Off