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List of ghost towns in Oklahoma

Updated: Wikipedia source

List of ghost towns in Oklahoma

The U . state of Oklahoma has an estimated two thousand ghost towns. These towns began for a number of reasons, often as liquor towns, boomtowns, or mining towns, with some pre-dating statehood. The population and activity later declined in these locations due to the exhaustion of natural resources, manmade or natural disasters, urbanization, the creation of a water source, or after being bypassed by highways and interstates. These places vary in their current states with some having completely disappeared while others still have small communities. A small number have also gained notability for other reasons, such as being part of the Tar Creek Superfund site, for existing in an unusual location, or for crimes. The earliest known ghost town in the state was said to have been one by 1839 while the latest were evacuated in 2010.

Tables

List of ghost towns in Oklahoma · List of ghost towns
Dissolved
Dissolved
Town
Incorporated
Other name(s)
Dissolved
Armstrong Academy, Chahta Tamaha
Armstrong Academy, Chahta Tamaha
Town
Academy
Other name(s)
Armstrong Academy, Chahta Tamaha
County
Bryan
Existed
1844
Existed
c. 1921
Current remnants/status
Foundations and cemetery
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Acme
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Grady
Existed
1911
Existed
1930
Current remnants/status
Residences and ruins
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Adamson
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Pittsburg
Existed
c. early 1900s
Existed
1950
Current remnants/status
Residences and grocery stores
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Addington
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Jefferson
Existed
1901
Existed
c. 1930s
Current remnants/status
Businesses and abandoned structures
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Afton
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Ottawa
Existed
1886
Existed
1997
Current remnants/status
Small community and abandoned structures
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Akins
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Sequoyah
Existed
1894
Existed
1943
Current remnants/status
Few residents in an agricultural community
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Aline
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Alfalfa
Existed
1894
Existed
2000
Current remnants/status
Small community and abandoned structures
Lightning Creek
Lightning Creek
Town
Alluwe
Other name(s)
Lightning Creek
County
Nowata
Existed
c. 1880s
Existed
c. 1950s
Current remnants/status
Current site of Oologah Lake
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Alpha
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Kingfisher
Existed
1893
Existed
1902
Current remnants/status
None
—N/a
—N/a
Town
America
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
McCurtain
Existed
1907
Existed
1944
Current remnants/status
Current site of the Ouachita National Forest
Newburg
Newburg
Town
Atwood
Other name(s)
Newburg
County
Hughes
Existed
1897
Existed
1967
Current remnants/status
Small community and abandoned structures
Virginia City
Virginia City
Town
Autwine
Other name(s)
Virginia City
County
Kay
Existed
1899
Existed
1930
Current remnants/status
None
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Avard
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Woods
Existed
1904
Existed
2010
Current remnants/status
Restaurant, grain elevator, and abandoned structures
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Avery
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Lincoln
Existed
1902
Existed
1957
Current remnants/status
Residences and abandoned structures
White City
White City
Town
Beer City
Other name(s)
White City
County
Texas
Existed
1888
Existed
1890
Current remnants/status
Agricultural use
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Benton
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Beaver
Existed
c. early 1880s
Existed
1920
Current remnants/status
Agricultural use
Needmore
Needmore
Town
Bernice
Other name(s)
Needmore
County
Delaware
Existed
c. late 1880s
Existed
1941
Current remnants/status
Current site of Grand Lake o' the Cherokees
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Bessie
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Washita
Existed
1903
Existed
1950s
Current remnants/status
Small community
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Bickford
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Blaine
Existed
1904
Existed
1929
Current remnants/status
Current site of Roman Nose State Park
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Bigheart
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Osage
Existed
1905
Existed
1921
Current remnants/status
Few structures
Bigcedar
Bigcedar
Town
Big Cedar
Other name(s)
Bigcedar
County
LeFlore
Existed
1903
Existed
1943
Current remnants/status
Gas stations and John F. Kennedy monument
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Blackburn
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Pawnee
Existed
1893
Existed
1960
Current remnants/status
Churches and abandoned structures
Old Boggy Depot
Old Boggy Depot
Town
Boggy Depot
Other name(s)
Old Boggy Depot
County
Atoka
Existed
1837
Existed
1883
Current remnants/status
Cemetery
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Bridgeport
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Caddo
Existed
1893
Existed
1909
Current remnants/status
Grocery store
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Brinkman
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Greer
Existed
1910
Existed
1974
Current remnants/status
None
Juanita, Zenobia
Juanita, Zenobia
Town
Bromide
Other name(s)
Juanita, Zenobia
County
Coal
Existed
c. early 1900s
Existed
1930
Current remnants/status
Grocery store
Lelian, Sewell
Lelian, Sewell
Town
Brooksville
Other name(s)
Lelian, Sewell
County
Pottawatomie
Existed
1909
Existed
1955
Current remnants/status
Residents and abandoned structures
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Burke City
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Okfuskee
Existed
1901
Existed
c. 1903
Current remnants/status
None, flooded by North Canadian River
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Byars
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
McClain
Existed
1902
Existed
1964
Current remnants/status
Residences and abandoned buildings
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Caney
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Atoka
Existed
1879
Existed
1960
Current remnants/status
Small community
Tar River
Tar River
Town
Cardin
Other name(s)
Tar River
County
Ottawa
Existed
1913
Existed
1938
Current remnants/status
Abandoned
2010
2010
Town
1983
Other name(s)
2010
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Carter
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Beckham
Existed
1900
Existed
2002
Current remnants/status
Small community
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Catesby
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Ellis
Existed
1902
Existed
1970
Current remnants/status
Church
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Cayuga
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Delaware
Existed
1884
Existed
1913
Current remnants/status
Structures
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Center
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Pontotoc
Existed
c. mid 1880s
Existed
1900
Current remnants/status
Vacant structures
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Centralia
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Craig
Existed
c. mid 1890s
Existed
c. 1930s
Current remnants/status
Store, post office, and abandoned structures
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Cestos
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Dewey
Existed
1892
Existed
c. early 1920s
Current remnants/status
Store and abandoned structures
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Cherokee Town
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Garvin
Existed
1874
Existed
c. mid 1880s
Current remnants/status
Agricultural use
Abelincoln, Lincoln
Abelincoln, Lincoln
Town
Clearview
Other name(s)
Abelincoln, Lincoln
County
Okfuskee
Existed
1889
Existed
1992
Current remnants/status
Residences and abandoned structures
Tacola
Tacola
Town
Cloud Chief
Other name(s)
Tacola
County
Washita
Existed
1892
Existed
1913
Current remnants/status
Church and abandoned structures
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Cold Springs
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Kiowa
Existed
1901
Existed
c. 1903
Current remnants/status
None, cleared for West Otter Creek
Seger's Colony
Seger's Colony
Town
Colony
Other name(s)
Seger's Colony
County
Washita
Existed
1886
Existed
1941
Current remnants/status
Abandoned structures
Cooper
Cooper
Town
Cooperton
Other name(s)
Cooper
County
Kiowa
Existed
1899
Existed
c. 1970s
Current remnants/status
Small community, population of 3
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Corbett
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Cleveland
Existed
1893
Existed
1930
Current remnants/status
Church and abandoned structures
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Crawford
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Roger Mills
Existed
1910
Existed
1930
Current remnants/status
Small community and abandoned structures
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Cromwell
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Seminole
Existed
1923
Existed
1930
Current remnants/status
Small community
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Cross
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Kay
Existed
1893
Existed
1894
Current remnants/status
Unknown
Whizbang
Whizbang
Town
Denoya
Other name(s)
Whizbang
County
Osage
Existed
1921
Existed
c. 1930s
Current remnants/status
Oil rigs and foundations
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Depew
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Creek
Existed
1901
Existed
Unkown
Current remnants/status
Small community
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Devol
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Cotton
Existed
1907
Existed
1959
Current remnants/status
Small community
Fort Towson
Fort Towson
Town
Doaksville
Other name(s)
Fort Towson
County
Choctaw
Existed
1820
Existed
c. early 1900s
Current remnants/status
Cemetery
Bellaire
Bellaire
Town
Doby Springs
Other name(s)
Bellaire
County
Harper
Existed
1907
Existed
1912
Current remnants/status
City of Buffalo park and water source
Henderson Flat, Strawberry Flat
Henderson Flat, Strawberry Flat
Town
Dougherty
Other name(s)
Henderson Flat, Strawberry Flat
County
Murray
Existed
1887
Existed
1993
Current remnants/status
Small community and abandoned structures
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Douglas City
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Oklahoma
Existed
c. 1890s
Existed
c. 1900s
Current remnants/status
Barren, wooded area
Century
Century
Town
Douthat
Other name(s)
Century
County
Ottawa
Existed
1916
Existed
1970
Current remnants/status
Abandoned
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Downs
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Kingfisher
Existed
1889
Existed
1900
Current remnants/status
Agricultural use
Dillon
Dillon
Town
Eagle City
Other name(s)
Dillon
County
Blaine
Existed
1902
Existed
1960s
Current remnants/status
Small community and abandoned structures
Eagle, Eagle Town
Eagle, Eagle Town
Town
Eagletown
Other name(s)
Eagle, Eagle Town
County
McCurtain
Existed
1832
Existed
1920
Current remnants/status
Abandoned structures, new eponymous townsite still inhabited
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Earlsboro
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Pottawatomie
Existed
1891
Existed
1940
Current remnants/status
Businesses and abandoned structures
Eschite
Eschite
Town
Eschiti
Other name(s)
Eschite
County
Tillman
Existed
1907
Existed
1909
Current remnants/status
Cemetery, agricultural use
Mission
Mission
Town
Fallis
Other name(s)
Mission
County
Lincoln
Existed
1892
Existed
1970
Current remnants/status
Residences and abandoned structures
Slogan
Slogan
Town
Faxon
Other name(s)
Slogan
County
Comanche
Existed
1902
Existed
1995
Current remnants/status
Abandoned structures
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Fay
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Dewey
Existed
1894
Existed
1969
Current remnants/status
Small community and abandoned structures
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Fleetwood
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Jefferson
Existed
1885
Existed
1961
Current remnants/status
Farms and abandoned structures
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Foraker
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Osage
Existed
1905
Existed
c. 1930s
Current remnants/status
Few residences
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Foss
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Washita
Existed
c. 1890s
Existed
1977
Current remnants/status
Grocery store, gas station, and abandoned structures
Newton
Newton
Town
Francis
Other name(s)
Newton
County
Pontotoc
Existed
1894
Existed
1940
Current remnants/status
Businesses and abandoned structures
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Frazer
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Jackson
Existed
1886
Existed
1891
Current remnants/status
Agricultural use
Veteran City
Veteran City
Town
Frisco
Other name(s)
Veteran City
County
Canadian
Existed
1889
Existed
1905
Current remnants/status
Only cemetery remains
Berwyn, Dresden, Lou
Berwyn, Dresden, Lou
Town
Gene Autry
Other name(s)
Berwyn, Dresden, Lou
County
Carter
Existed
1883
Existed
1975
Current remnants/status
Small community
Guertie, Raydon
Guertie, Raydon
Town
Gerty
Other name(s)
Guertie, Raydon
County
Hughes
Existed
1893
Existed
1965
Current remnants/status
Abandoned buildings remain
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Gotebo
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Kiowa
Existed
1904
Existed
1990
Current remnants/status
Small community and abandoned structures
Gibson
Gibson
Town
Gould
Other name(s)
Gibson
County
Harmon
Existed
1917
Existed
1990
Current remnants/status
Small community and abandoned structures
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Grand
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Ellis
Existed
1892
Existed
1908
Current remnants/status
Landscaping and abandoned structures
Wildcat
Wildcat
Town
Grayson
Other name(s)
Wildcat
County
Okmulgee
Existed
1897
Existed
1967
Current remnants/status
Churches and community building
—N/a
—N/a
Town
Gray Horse
Other name(s)
—N/a
County
Osage
Existed
1884
Existed
1931
Current remnants/status
Residences and abandoned structures
Town
Other name(s)
County
Existed
Current remnants/status
Ref(s).
Incorporated
Dissolved
Academy
Armstrong Academy, Chahta Tamaha
Bryan
1844
c. 1921
Foundations and cemetery
Acme
—N/a
Grady
1911
1930
Residences and ruins
Adamson
—N/a
Pittsburg
c. early 1900s
1950
Residences and grocery stores
Addington
—N/a
Jefferson
1901
c. 1930s
Businesses and abandoned structures
Afton
—N/a
Ottawa
1886
1997
Small community and abandoned structures
Akins
—N/a
Sequoyah
1894
1943
Few residents in an agricultural community
Aline
—N/a
Alfalfa
1894
2000
Small community and abandoned structures
Alluwe
Lightning Creek
Nowata
c. 1880s
c. 1950s
Current site of Oologah Lake
Alpha
—N/a
Kingfisher
1893
1902
None
America
—N/a
McCurtain
1907
1944
Current site of the Ouachita National Forest
Atwood
Newburg
Hughes
1897
1967
Small community and abandoned structures
Autwine
Virginia City
Kay
1899
1930
None
Avard
—N/a
Woods
1904
2010
Restaurant, grain elevator, and abandoned structures
Avery
—N/a
Lincoln
1902
1957
Residences and abandoned structures
Beer City
White City
Texas
1888
1890
Agricultural use
Benton
—N/a
Beaver
c. early 1880s
1920
Agricultural use
Bernice
Needmore
Delaware
c. late 1880s
1941
Current site of Grand Lake o' the Cherokees
Bessie
—N/a
Washita
1903
1950s
Small community
Bickford
—N/a
Blaine
1904
1929
Current site of Roman Nose State Park
Bigheart
—N/a
Osage
1905
1921
Few structures
Big Cedar
Bigcedar
LeFlore
1903
1943
Gas stations and John F. Kennedy monument
Blackburn
—N/a
Pawnee
1893
1960
Churches and abandoned structures
Boggy Depot
Old Boggy Depot
Atoka
1837
1883
Cemetery
Bridgeport
—N/a
Caddo
1893
1909
Grocery store
Brinkman
—N/a
Greer
1910
1974
None
Bromide
Juanita, Zenobia
Coal
c. early 1900s
1930
Grocery store
Johnston
Brooksville
Lelian, Sewell
Pottawatomie
1909
1955
Residents and abandoned structures
Burke City
—N/a
Okfuskee
1901
c. 1903
None, flooded by North Canadian River
Byars
—N/a
McClain
1902
1964
Residences and abandoned buildings
Caney
—N/a
Atoka
1879
1960
Small community
Cardin
Tar River
Ottawa
1913
1938
Abandoned
1983
2010
Carter
—N/a
Beckham
1900
2002
Small community
Catesby
—N/a
Ellis
1902
1970
Church
Cayuga
—N/a
Delaware
1884
1913
Structures
Center
—N/a
Pontotoc
c. mid 1880s
1900
Vacant structures
Centralia
—N/a
Craig
c. mid 1890s
c. 1930s
Store, post office, and abandoned structures
Cestos
—N/a
Dewey
1892
c. early 1920s
Store and abandoned structures
Cherokee Town
—N/a
Garvin
1874
c. mid 1880s
Agricultural use
Clearview
Abelincoln, Lincoln
Okfuskee
1889
1992
Residences and abandoned structures
Cloud Chief
Tacola
Washita
1892
1913
Church and abandoned structures
Cold Springs
—N/a
Kiowa
1901
c. 1903
None, cleared for West Otter Creek
Colony
Seger's Colony
Washita
1886
1941
Abandoned structures
Cooperton
Cooper
Kiowa
1899
c. 1970s
Small community, population of 3
Corbett
—N/a
Cleveland
1893
1930
Church and abandoned structures
Crawford
—N/a
Roger Mills
1910
1930
Small community and abandoned structures
Cromwell
—N/a
Seminole
1923
1930
Small community

References

  1. Attributed to multiple references:
  2. Although Oklahoma has an estimated 2,000 ghost towns, the following list only contains entries for locations that can be
  3. The year that the town was officially established or dissolved is listed when available. Some communities were never for
  4. Former city limits annexed by Barnsdall
  5. Part of the Tar Creek Superfund site
  6. After being incorporated in 1913, Cardin was officially dissolved for the first time in 1938. The residents re-incorpora
  7. Former city limits annexed by Ponca City
  8. Former city limits annexed by Buffalo
  9. Consolidated with the nearby town of New Lima
  10. By 1975
  11. Not to be confused with the Texoma region of Northeast Texas and Southeast Oklahoma.
  12. Whitefield is said to have begun declining during the Great Depression.
  13. Former city limits annexed by Healdton
  14. Not to be confused with Berlin, Roger Mills County, Oklahoma
  15. Not to be confused with St. Louis, Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma
  16. WorldAtlas
    https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/when-was-the-us-state-of-oklahoma-founded.html
  17. The Daily Oklahoman
    https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1983/11/13/oklahomas-ghost-towns-make-for-interesting-outings/62824697007/
  18. Morris 1978, pp. 3–9.
  19. Schmidt 2024, pp. 1–20.
  20. The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture
    https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=GH002
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