Oklahoma
Oklahoma has one of the oldest records of human occupation. Its abundant resources attracted early hunting and gathering peoples known as the Clovis and Folsom cultures by about 9500 BCE. Beginning about 700 CE, people in what is now eastern Oklahoma developed a variety of exquisite pottery, textiles, sculpture, and metalware. These members of the Mississippian culture engaged in farming, hunting, fishing, and the gathering of wild plant foods and were part of a system of trade and communication that included most of southeastern North America. The Plains Villagers built their hamlets and villages along rivers and streams to take advantage of the more easily tilled earth found in bottom lands. The broad grasslands supported large herds of bison as well as other animals; both the Plains Villagers to the east and Pueblo Indians to the west visited the region on hunting expeditions. Sometime in the last millennium, probably between 1100 and 1500, people began to settle on the plains permanently
The descendants of all of these groups were still living in the area in the late 15th century, but their communities were for the most part destroyed by the violence and epidemic diseases brought by European colonization.
At the time of the expedition of Francisco Vazquez de Coronado in 1541, the region’s population included representatives of at least three major Native American language groups. Coronado claimed the area for Spain, but it became little more than a highway for wide-ranging Spanish explorers. In 1714 Louis Juchereau de Saint-Denis visited Oklahoma, and other Frenchmen subsequently established a fur trade with the Native Americans. France and Spain struggled for control until 1763, leaving only the natives to contest Spanish authority until the return of the French flag in 1800. Three years later, through the Louisiana Purchase, Oklahoma was acquired by the United States.
U.S. Congress in 1828 reserved Oklahoma for Native Americans and required all others to withdraw. By 1880 more than 60 tribes from other areas of the country had been forcibly removed to Indian Territory. Among both the original inhabitants and the newcomers, some were sedentary, peaceful, agricultural, and Europeanized while others were migratory and eager to fight in defense of their land and other interests. The newly defined Indian Territory consisted of five republics, or nations, with fixed boundaries, written constitutions, courts, and other governmental apparatus similar to those of the Eastern states. The major difference was that in each republic all land was held jointly or in severalty by an individual tribe.
The territory’s oil boom began in earnest in the early 20th century and was to last until mid-century. Railroads seeking revenue and American settlers seeking property coveted the land of the Native Americans. By 1879 organized bands, who came to be known as “Boomers,” so named because of the economic boom that obtained in the 1870s and ’80s across most of the country, were moving in despite federal law. Although most were ejected, pressure continued until Congress opened some 3,100 square miles (8,100 square km) of western Indian Territory, bringing on a famous land run that began with the signal from a cavalry bugle at noon on April 22, 1889. Known as Oklahoma Territory, the new area came to include, through further land runs, about half of the former Indian domain. Then its settlers, many of whom earned the name “Sooner” for entering the area before receiving official permission, sought union of the two territories in statehood. The remaining Indian Territory, most of it opened to U.S. settlers by 1893, was dissolved by assignment of lands to the various tribes, and the tribal governments were pressured to approve the constitution of the proposed state in 1907.
The drought years of the 1930s blighted many rural areas of Oklahoma and created the Dust Bowl that drove thousands of farmers, the so-called “Okies,” into long migrations in search of some form of livelihood. The economic boom of World War II, however, allowed the economy to diversify. This diversification was marked by the growth of the oil and natural gas industry, which suffered setbacks in the 1980s. The major political development of the late 20th century was the growing strength and assertiveness of Oklahoma’s Native American population, whose tribal leaders increasingly pressed for compensation for lost lands.
The descendants of all of these groups were still living in the area in the late 15th century, but their communities were for the most part destroyed by the violence and epidemic diseases brought by European colonization.
At the time of the expedition of Francisco Vazquez de Coronado in 1541, the region’s population included representatives of at least three major Native American language groups. Coronado claimed the area for Spain, but it became little more than a highway for wide-ranging Spanish explorers. In 1714 Louis Juchereau de Saint-Denis visited Oklahoma, and other Frenchmen subsequently established a fur trade with the Native Americans. France and Spain struggled for control until 1763, leaving only the natives to contest Spanish authority until the return of the French flag in 1800. Three years later, through the Louisiana Purchase, Oklahoma was acquired by the United States.
U.S. Congress in 1828 reserved Oklahoma for Native Americans and required all others to withdraw. By 1880 more than 60 tribes from other areas of the country had been forcibly removed to Indian Territory. Among both the original inhabitants and the newcomers, some were sedentary, peaceful, agricultural, and Europeanized while others were migratory and eager to fight in defense of their land and other interests. The newly defined Indian Territory consisted of five republics, or nations, with fixed boundaries, written constitutions, courts, and other governmental apparatus similar to those of the Eastern states. The major difference was that in each republic all land was held jointly or in severalty by an individual tribe.
The territory’s oil boom began in earnest in the early 20th century and was to last until mid-century. Railroads seeking revenue and American settlers seeking property coveted the land of the Native Americans. By 1879 organized bands, who came to be known as “Boomers,” so named because of the economic boom that obtained in the 1870s and ’80s across most of the country, were moving in despite federal law. Although most were ejected, pressure continued until Congress opened some 3,100 square miles (8,100 square km) of western Indian Territory, bringing on a famous land run that began with the signal from a cavalry bugle at noon on April 22, 1889. Known as Oklahoma Territory, the new area came to include, through further land runs, about half of the former Indian domain. Then its settlers, many of whom earned the name “Sooner” for entering the area before receiving official permission, sought union of the two territories in statehood. The remaining Indian Territory, most of it opened to U.S. settlers by 1893, was dissolved by assignment of lands to the various tribes, and the tribal governments were pressured to approve the constitution of the proposed state in 1907.
The drought years of the 1930s blighted many rural areas of Oklahoma and created the Dust Bowl that drove thousands of farmers, the so-called “Okies,” into long migrations in search of some form of livelihood. The economic boom of World War II, however, allowed the economy to diversify. This diversification was marked by the growth of the oil and natural gas industry, which suffered setbacks in the 1980s. The major political development of the late 20th century was the growing strength and assertiveness of Oklahoma’s Native American population, whose tribal leaders increasingly pressed for compensation for lost lands.
Broken Bow
The town was incorporated and the post office established on September 23, 1911. Although Broken Bow was located on land previously owned by Choctaw, it did not receive its name from its local American Indian roots. Instead, it was named after Broken Bow, Nebraska, the home of Herman and Fred Dierks, who had moved to southeastern Oklahoma to establish the Choctaw Lumber Company. The area platted for Broken Bow was at the eastern terminus of the Texas, Oklahoma and Eastern Railroad. The small, shack-and-tent community of Newtown had already sprung up to support the workers moving in to work for the Dierks's lumber company. The land on the north side of the tracks was designated for residences, schools, churches, and retailers. The land south of the tracks was reserved for the lumber mill, employee housing, and other parts of the Choctaw Lumber Company.
Beaver's Bend State Park
Local history says that the park was named after pioneer settler John Beavers or after a bend in the Mountain Fork River. The river bend area became the hunting grounds for members of the Choctaw Nation before 1907. Local businessmen bought 1,300 acres from Choctaw Lumber Co. in the 1920s with the hopes of developing a state park. During the Great Depression in the 1930s, members of the Civilian Conservation Corps began to build roads and trails. Thirteen cabins were built from raw cut lumber and by 1937, a park was born. Over the years, more cabins were built, along with several campgrounds offering electrical and water hookups for those of us who bring our homes on wheels. Mountain Fork River got a dam in the 1970s, forming Broken Bow Lake, which brought more recreational activity to the area. A nine-hole golf course was added along with a hotel complex. Suddenly, a park became a resort, and Texans were everywhere. |
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Sulphur
Sulphur, named for the numerous sulfur wells and springs, was first discovered by the indigenous peoples of the southern plains, and was known as a place of healing waters. The Vendome Well is the largest artesian well in Oklahoma. Noah Lael built the first house in 1878 in the area of the Pavilion Springs. Fame of the curative powers of the mineral springs spread and people came as the influx of white settlers in the Chickasaw Nation mounted in the 1880's and 1890's. In 1902 the U.S. Government and the Chickasaw Nation agreed the springs would be preserved and the area became know as The Sulphur Springs Reservation, renamed Platt National Park, later renamed Chickasaw National Recreational Area. The people and buildings had to move. Some moved west across Rock Creek and others moved to the hill north of the springs. Again in 1904 the government added 200 more acres to the reservation and those living in the area had to move again. This event created the “East Sulphur” and “West Sulphur” communities with each side vying for dominance. Violent confrontations ensued until the Washington Bridge was built across Rock Creek in 1909 where a hatchet for peace and a horseshoe for prosperity were buried in the bridge. In reconciliation, the community decided to build the city hall on the east side and the court house on the west side
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Chickasaw Cultural Center
After more than 20 years of dreaming and planning, the Chickasaw Cultural Center now serves as a cultural home and an embodiment of our people’s legacy. Offering a Smithsonian-caliber experience, this world-class destination is dedicated to helping people of all ages and backgrounds share in and celebrate Chickasaw history and culture. Through beautiful scenery, natural architecture and interactive exhibits, the Chickasaw Cultural Center tells a story of the individuals and families who have struggled, fought and thrived across generations to make Chickasaws the united and unconquerable people we are today. |