Muskogee County

Muskogee County created at statehood, named for Muscogee, or Creek Indians.

Aligan: In Muskogee County, five miles east of Keefeton. A post office from Feb. 18, 1902, to May 14, 1904.
Bacone: In Muskogee County, immediately northeast of Muskogee. Post office established March 7, 1888. Named for Almon C. Bacone, Baptist missionary.
Bayou Manard: A branch of the Arkansas River, three miles south of Fort Gibson. Site of Civil War battle on July 27, 1862, fought six miles south of Fort Gibson. Named for Pierre Menard, missionary.
Beland: Formerly Chase. Eight miles southwest of Muskogee. Post office name changed to Beland, June 19, 1908, and discontinued Oct. 30, 1926.
Bennett: Four miles southwest of Warner. Post office June 4, 1895, to July 30, 1904. Named for Leo E. Bennett, editor of the “Muskogee Phoenix.”
Boynton: Post office established Sept. 10, 1902. Named for E.W. Boynton, chief engineer of the Missouri Coal and Railway Co., Shawnee.
Braggs: Formerly Patrick, 12 miles southeast of Muskogee. Post office name changed to Braggs Sept. 10, 1888. Named for Solomon Braggs, local landowner.
Briartown: Seven miles northwest of Stigler. The railroad name for the town was McMurray. Post office established May 15, 1882.
Byllesby: Three miles east of Muskogee. It was named for H.M. Byllesby of Chicago, who assisted in the financing of the nearby OG&E; generating plant.
Camp Gruber: Military encampment dedicated July 19, 1942. Named for Brigadier Gen. E.L. Gruber, who died May 30, 1941.
Cantonment Gibson: Original name four the post office at Fort Gibson, which was established Feb. 27, 1827. Its name was changed to Fort Gibson Sept. 14, 1842.
Chase: Eight miles southwest of Muskogee. Post office established April 9, 1903. Name changed to Beland June 19, 1908.
Council Hill: Post office established July 3, 1905. Took its named from a well-known land feature, five miles west, Council Hill, used by the Creek Indians for ceremonial purposes.
Creek Agency: Northwest of Muskogee. A post office from June 7, 1843, to Oct. 16, 1872, serving the Creek Indian Agency. On Jan. 21, 1852, the post office was moved to the south side of the Arkansas River, about five miles southwest of the previous location.
Creekola: Six miles south of Muskogee. Post office from July 18, 1907, to Feb. 15, 1921. The name was coined from the words Creek and Oklahoma.
Fort Blunt: The name applied to Fort Gibson by the Union troops garrisoned there in 1863. Named for Maj. Gen. J.G. Blunt.
Fort Davis: Near present-day Bacone College. Established in 1861 by Brig. Gen. Albert Pike as Confederate military headquarters for Indian Territory. Destroyed by Union forces under Col. W.A. Phillips on Dec. 27, 1862. Named for President Jefferson Davis.
Fort Gibson: Military outpost established April 21, 1824, and occupied continuously until 1857; again used as a military post during the Civil War. Finally abandoned as a military post in 1890. First known as Cantonment Gibson. Changed to Fort Gibson Sept. 14, 1842. Named for Col. George Gibson, head of the Army Commissary Department.
Grandview: Six miles south of Muskogee. Post office established May 5, 1906. Name changed to Creekola, July 18, 1907.
Gritts: Four miles southwest of Webbers Falls. Post office from March 21, 1896, to Oct. 30, 1909. Named for Franklin Gritts, local merchant.
Hereford: Now Warner. Post office established April 1, 1903. Name changed to Warner April 22, 1905. Took its name from well-known Hereford cattle sales conducted locally by Campbell Russell, prominent rancher and cattleman.
Jamesville: Community 13 miles west of Muskogee. On Oct. 15, 1908, a post office named Ridge had been discontinued at approximately this location. Named for Warren James, Haskell resident.
Martin: Six miles north of Warner. Named for John A. Martin, local resident.
Muskogee: Record Town for Recording District no. 10, Indian Territory. Post office established Jan. 18, 1872. Official spelling changed from Muscogee on July 19, 1900. Named for the Creek Indians or the Muskogean language they spoke.
Nicholson: Six miles east of Muskogee. Post office from July 6, 1907, to Oct. 15, 1913.
Oktaha: Post office established Aug. 6, 1900. named for Oktahasars Harjo, or Sands, well-known Creek chief of the Civil War period who pursued a neutral or pro-Northern tribal policy.
Patrick: Present Braggs. Post office established May 26, 1886, and name changed to Braggs Sept. 10, 1888. Named for John J. Patrick, first postmaster.
Porum: Ten miles south of Warner. Post office established march 25, 1890. Named for J. Porum Davis, usually known as Dave Porum, prominent Indian leader.
Rabbit Ford: A well-known crossing on the Arkansas River, five miles east of Muskogee. Named for William Rabbit, a Negro slave of William S. Coodey, early-day resident.
Ridge: Seven miles west of Taft. Post office from Dec. 29, 1884, to Oct. 15, 1908. Its name comes from the high terrain on which the site was located.
Starvilla: Three miles northeast of Porum. Post office from Jan. 16, 1895, to June 30, 1905. Named for Fannie Starr, early-day local resident.
Summit: Six miles southwest of Muskogee. Post office from may 18, 1896, to Nov. 15, 1915. Site is the highest point on the Katy Railroad between the Arkansas and North Canadian rivers.
Taft: Eight miles west of Muskogee. Formerly Twine. Post office name changed to Taft Nov. 18, 1904. Named for William H. Taft, secretary of war and later president.
Vann: Six miles south of Porum. Post office from July 11, 1894, to Sept. 7, 1898. Named for Herman Vann, Cherokee jurist.
Wainwright: Eighteen miles east of Okmulgee. Post office established Oct. 20, 1905. Named for W.H. Wainwright, local banker.
Warner: Formerly Hereford. Post office name changed to Warner April 22, 1905. Named for William Warner, United States senator from Missouri.
Webbers Falls: Post office established July 15, 1856. Named for Walter Webber, Cherokee chief.
Webster: Three miles northeast of Taft. Post office from Sept. 26, 1908, to Nov. 15, 1926. Named for Charles Webster, first postmaster.
Wybark: Four miles north of Muskogee. Post office from Jan. 18, 1890, to June 30, 1940. Name is a modification of Verdark, the railroad name for the town that was coined from the names of the Verdigris and Arkansas rivers.



Cherokee County

Cherokee County: Took its name from the Cherokee Nation.

Ahniwake: Four miles west of Tahlequah. A post office from June 16, 1904, to Feb. 28, 1911, named for Ahniwake Hastings, daughter of W.W. Hastings, prominent local resident. The railroad name for this post office was Hastings. The post office was re-established under the name of Gabriel on May 13, 1911.
Barber: 14 miles southwest of Stilwell. Post office from Sept. 16, 1909, to Feb. 15, 1954.
Briggs: Community six miles east of Tahlequah. Named for John Briggs, local merchant.
Cherokee Agency: Two miles northwest of Tahlequah. Post office from Jan. 23, 1840, to May 23, 1849, during which time it was the location of the Cherokee Indian Agency.
Chronister: Nine miles southeast of Tahlequah. Post office from May 31, 1919, to Sept. 14, 1929.
Crittenden: Five miles west of Tahlequah. Post office from Oct. 8, 1896, to Nov. 30, 1900. Named for Martha Crittenden, townsite allottee.
Eldon: Seven miles east of Tahlequah. Post office from March 20, 1911, to May 30, 1936. Name comes from Eldon, Ill.
Ell: Near Hulbert. Post office from Oct. 5, 1911, to July 31, 1916. Named for Elias B. Dunaway, first postmaster.
Ellerville: Nine miles northeast of Tahlequah. Post office from March 25, 1914, to Dec. 31, 1954. Named for David Eller, early-day resident.
Etta: Five miles southeast of Welling. Post office from April 5, 1905, to Dec. 15, 1922. Named for Etta Willis, wife of prominent early-day resident.
Gabriel: Four miles west of Tahlequah. Post office from May 13, 1911, to Jan. 11, 1921. On Feb. 238, 1911, a post office named Ahniwake had been discontinued at this same site.
Garfield: Six miles east of Braggs. Post office from Dec. 16, 1881, to Feb. 13, 1889. Names for President James A. Garfield.
Gideon: Eight miles northwest of Tahlequah. Post office from June 13, 1920, to Oct. 14, 1954. Named for Gideon Morgan, wildlife enthusiast.
Greenleaf: Seven miles east of Braggs. Post office from Dec. 8, 1910, to Feb. 28, 1925. It took its name from nearby Greenleaf Creek, a tributary of the Arkansas River.
Hadley: Fifteen miles northwest of Tahlequah. Post office from July 20, 1903, to Nov. 15, 1915.
Hulbert: Post office established May 4, 1903. Named for Ben H. Hulbert, prominent Cherokee.
Kee-too-wah: Post office from Aug. 8, 1882, to Feb. 7, 1884. It took its name from a political society organized in 1859 by Northern sympathizers among the Cherokees.
Lowrey: Ten miles northeast of Tahlequah. Post office from July 20, 1903, to Dec. 31, 1929. Named for George Lowrey, Cherokee chief.
Luckey: Three miles northeast of Peggs. Post office from Oct. 11, 1913, to Nov. 15, 1922. Named for Dan Luckey, local sawmill proprietor.
McBride: Six miles north of Fort Gibson. Post office from Oct. 11, 1911, to April 30, 1936. Named for Dr. George A. McBride, long-time resident.
Manard: Seven miles east of Fort Gibson. Post office from Aug. 23, 1883, to Sept. 30, 1913. Named from nearby Bayou Manard, which had been named for Pierre Menard, missionary.
Melvin: Eleven miles west of Tahlequah. Post office from March 2, 1894, to Oct. 31, 1919.
Metory; Five miles southwest of Tahlequah. Post office from Feb. 13, 1906, to June 15, 1914. Name coined from the initial letter of the last names of six local families.
Moodys: Seven miles north of Tahlequah. Post office established March 21, 1896. Took its name from nearby Moody’s Springs, which was named for William Moody, pioneer settler.
Park Hill: Three miles south of Tahlequah. Original post office established May 18, 1838; post office and name changed to Tahlequah, May 6, 1847. On April 22, 1892, another post office named park hill was established at the original location. Park Hill was the location of the Cherokee Female Seminary and for many years was the center of culture among the Cherokees. Took its name from Park Hill mission, established in 1829.
Peggs: Fifteen miles northwest of Tahlequah. Post office established Dec. 6, 1899. named for Thomas Pegg, acting principal chief of the Cherokee Nation during the absence of John Ross during the Civil War period.
Pettit: Ten miles south of Tahlequah. Post office from May 11, 1913, to Nov. 10, 1933. Named for Mark and Eliza Pettit, townsite allottees.
Pitts: Nine miles west of Tahlequah. Post office from Oct. 9, 1908, to July 31, 1916. Named for James W. Pitts, first postmaster.
Qualls: Ten miles northeast of Braggs. Post office from Jan. 20, 1909, to Aug. 31`, 1942. named for William A. Qualls, first postmaster.
Ray: Fifteen miles west of Tahlequah. Post office from Sept. 30, 1904, to Nov. 30, 1927. Named for Ray Huston, local resident.
Red Bird: Five miles southeast of Coweta. Post office established June 20, 1902.
Scraper: Thirteen miles northeast of Tahlequah. Named for Capt. Archibald Scraper of the Union Indian brigade of the Civil War.
Sleeper: Eight miles northeast of Wagoner. Post office from May 10, 1904, to Sept. 30, 1916. Named for Gid Sleeper, rancher and cattleman.
Tahlequah: County seat of Cherokee County. Record Town for Recording District No. 6, Indian Territory. Post office moved from Park Hill and name changed to Tahlequah may 6, 1847. The name is a Cherokee word, Talikwa or Tellico, an old Cherokee town.
Teresita: Eleven miles southeast of Locust Grove. Post office Nov. 6, 1911, to July 15, 1954. Name comes from Teresita, N.C.
Welling: Five miles southeast of Tahlequah. Post office established April 19, 1899. Named for Mrs. L.E. Welling, sister of Margaret McCarrell, prominent Park Hill resident.
Whitmire: Seven miles south of Oaks. Post office from Sept. 23, 1897, to Sept. 30, 1913. Named for J.R. Whitmire, proprietor of an early-day general store.
Zeb: Ten miles southwest of Tahlequah. Post office from July 13, 1918, to Oct. 31, 1929. Named for Zeb Keshea, local resident.



McIntosh County

McIntosh County: Created at statehood. Named for the well-known Creek family, a number of whose members were prominent tribal chiefs.

Brushhill: Seven miles southwest of Checotah. Post office from Feb. 6, 1894, to Dec. 31, 1915. Took its name from a nearby land feature.
Burney: Five miles west of Pierce. Post office from July 29, 1896 to Nov. 30, 1907.
Cathay: Six miles north of Eufaula. Post office from April 18, 1903, to June a5, 1914. The name is the poetic word for China.
Checotah: Post office established June 17, 1886. Named for Samuel Checote, Creek chief.
Clara: Near Checotah. Post office from April 21, 1910, to March 15, 1916.
Eufaula: County seat. Record Town for Recording District No. 12, Indian Territory. Post office established Feb. 6, 1874. Name comes from an old Creek town on the west bank of the Chattahoochee River in Alabama, Called Yufala, meaning “they split up here and went to other places.”
Fame: Five miles northwest of Eufaula. Post office from June 9, 1894, to July 2, 1965. Name selected by local residents for the surrounding “famous bottom land” of the valley of the North Canadian River.
Fawn: Eight miles southeast of Checotah. Post office from Feb. 11, 1898 to Oct. 31, 1916.
Fishertown: Five miles northeast of Eufaula. Post office from July 10, 1883, to April 25, 1893. Named for William and George Fisher, brothers, early-day merchants.
Hanna: Formerly Hasson. Eighteen miles southwest of Eufaula. Post office name changed to Anna Aug. 24, 1904. Named for Hanna Bullett, daughter of long-time local resident.
Hillabee: Near present Stidham. Post office from Oct. 9, 1882, to Oct. 21, 1884. Took its name from a Creek town in Alabama.
Hitchita: Post office established April 23, 1901. Named for a small Indian band at Muskhogean stock living in Georgia and absorbed into the Creek tribe.
Honey Springs: One mile north of Rentiesville. On July 17, 1863, it was the site of the most important Civil War battle fought in Indian Territory, resulting in a northern victory.
Huttonville: Five miles northwest of Eufaula. Post office established Oct. 19, 1896. Name changed to Nerotown Feb. 28, 1911. Named for A.J. Hutton, first postmaster.
Irby: Eight miles north of Eufaula. Sometimes known as Bond. Post office established Jan. 4, 1907. Name changed to Onapa, Feb. 5, 1909.
Lenna: Thirteen miles north of Eufaula. Post office established Jan. 4, 1902. Named for Lenna Moore, local Creek Indian.
Mellette: Ten miles southwest of Eufaula. Post office from May 1, 1901, to July 14, 1934. Named for William Mellette of Muskogee, United States district attorney.
Micco: Two miles east of Eufaula. An important settlement before the Civil War, usually known as North Fork Town. Post office from Aug. 4, 1853, to march 30, 1886. The name is Creek word for chief.
North Fork Town: Two miles east of Eufaula. An important Creek settlement prior to Civil War. Often known as Micco.
Onapa: Eight miles north of Eufaula. Formerly Irby. Post office name changed to Onapa, Feb. 5, 1909, and discontinued June 30, 1914. The name is a Creek word meaning “above.”
Pierce: Eleven miles west of Checotah. Post office from March 26, 1907, to Nov. 19, 1965. named for Homer Pierce Lee, first postmaster.
Proctor: Twelve miles southwest of Eufaula. Post office from April 2, 1892, to May 31, 1901.
Raiford: Fifteen miles southwest of Eufaula. Post office from June 17, 1905, to may 15, 1926. Named for Mrs. Jeannetta Thomas Raiford, rancher and landowner.
Rentiesville: Five miles north of Checotah. Post office established May 11, 1904. Immediately north of Rentiesville in the site of the Battle of Honey Springs, fought July 17, 1863.
Richardville: Nine miles west of Checotah. The community is usually known as Richardsville. Post office from Nov. 7, 1917, to Oct. 15, 1919. Named for Eastman Richard, planter and gin operator.
Salem: Five miles southwest of Henryetta. Post office from Oct. 3, 1908, to April 27, 1918.
Stidham: Eight miles northwest of Eufuala. Post office established Jan. 30, 1897. named for George W. Stidham, prominent Creek leader.
Tom: Extreme southeastern portion of county. Post office established Aug. 15, 1916. Named for Tom Stewart, early-day settler.
Texanna: Nine miles northeast of Eufuala. Post office from June 27, 1888 to July 16, 1940. Named coined in reference to a nearby settlement of Texas Cherokees.
Vernon: 10 miles southeast of Dustin. Post office established March 20, 1912. On April 13, 1914, post office was moved five miles east. Named for Bishop William T. Vernon, registrar of the treasury.
Vivian: Eight miles west of Eufaula. Post office from Jan. 13, 1910, to Sept. 30, 1947. Named for Vivian Wilhite, local resident.



Wagoner County

Wagoner County: Created at statehood. Took its name from the city of Wagoner.

Choska: Nine miles south of Coweta. Post office from Jan. 27, 1890, to Oct. 31, 1913. The word means “post oak.” The town was named for Polly Postoak, townsite owner.
Clarksville: Eight miles east of Haskell. Post office from March 1, 1894, to Sept. 30, 1916. Named for Gus C. Clark, first postmaster.
Concharty: Several miles north of Stonebluff. Post office from Nov. 6, 1894, to Sept. 9, 1896. Named for Concharty Micco, a Creek leader and delegate to the Dawes Commission.
Coretta: Six miles north of Muskogee. Post office from Feb. 7, 1891, to Jan. 9, 1893. On Nov. 16, 1900, post office named Rex was established at this site.
Coweta: Post office established May 24, 1897. It took its name from Koweta Mission, established by the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions in 1843 as a school for the Creek Indians. The name is from a Creek town on the Chattahoochee River in Alabama.
Evans: Three miles east of Broken Arrow. Post office from Nov. 28, 1904, to Feb. 28, 1911. Names for A. Grant Evans, president of Henry Kendall College at Muskogee.
Gatesville: Five miles west of Clarksville. Post office from Aug. 2, 1901, to Nov. 30, 1913. Named for Alfred Gates, first postmaster.
Gibson Station: Three miles north of Okay. Post office from March 29, 1872, to Aug. 15, 1933. It took its name from nearby Fort Gibson.
Haynes: Five miles north of Muskogee. Post office from Jan. 5, 1904, to May 15, 1914.
Heywood: Southeastern portion of county. Post office from Jan. 30, 1882, to April 14, 1884. Named for Daniel M. Heywood, first postmaster.
Lometa: Ten miles northeast of Wagoner. Post office from Nov. 5, 1904, to Jan. 15, 1910. Took its name from nearby Lometa Ranch.
Neodesha: Six miles north of Wagoner. Post office from Aug. 1, 1905, to July 15, 1937. Railroad name was Ross. Name comes from Neodesha, Kan.
Neosho River: An important drainage system in northeastern Oklahoma. Also known as Grand River, it empties into the Arkansas River at the Three Forks. The name is an Osage word meaning “clear water.”
North Muskogee: Formerly Rex, present Okay. In 1891 Coretta post office at approximately the same site was discontinued. Name changed to North Muskogee May 1, 1911, and changed to Okay Oct. 18, 1919.
Okay: Post office name changed from North Muskogee to Okay Oct. 18, 1919. Took its name from the OK Truck Manufacturing Co., a local industry.
Oneta: Five miles southeast of Broken Arrow. Post office from July 7, 1905, to Nov. 30, 1922.
Porter: Ten miles southwest of Wagoner. Post office established June 1, 1903. Named for Pleasant Porter, Creek chief.
Rex: Present Okay. Post office established Nov. 16, 1900 and name changed to north Muskogee May 1, 1911.
Stone Bluff: Six miles northwest of Haskell. Post office from May 28, 1987, to Aug. 31, 1955. Took its name from nearby stone bluffs formed by the north face of Conjada Mountain, overlooking the Arkansas river.
Tullahassee: Five miles northwest of Muskogee. Post office established Jan. 16, 1899. Took its name from the nearby Tullahassee Mission. The name is a Creek word meaning “old town.”
Turner: Fifteen miles east of Broken Arrow. Post office from April 23, 1901, to Oct. 15, 1908. Named for Clarence W. Turner, hardware dealer and rancher.
Vance: Seven miles northeast of Broken Arrow. Post office March 28, 1902 to April 30, 1904. It was named for Malinda Vance, first postmaster.
Wagoner: Record Town for Recording District No. 7, Indian Territory. Post office established Feb. 25, 1888. Named for Henry “Bigfoot” Wagoner, a Katy railroad dispatcher in Parsons, Kan.
Wigwam Neosho: Two miles south of Okay. The name of a trading post operated by Sam Houston from 1829 to 1838.
Yonkers: Ten miles south of Locust Grove. Post office from Jan. 31, 1913, to Sept. 30, 1953. The area was deannexed from Cherokee County and annexed to Wagoner County in 1924. The town was named by William Kenefic, railroad developer, for Yonkers, New York.

"From George H. Shirk's Oklahoma Place Names. Copyright (c) 1965 by the University of Oklahoma Press. Reprinted by permission of the publisher. No further copying permitted.

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