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Please add profiles of those who were born, lived or died in Carter County, Oklahoma.
Official Website
History
Prior to statehood, the present Carter County, Oklahoma, was part of Pickens County in the Chickasaw Nation of Indian Territory. The county is named for Captain Ben W. Carter, a Cherokee who lived among the Chickasaw. After the Civil War, the government of the United States forced the Chickasaw government to allow railroads built across its territory. The Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway (controlled by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, AT&SF) built a line north from Texas to Purcell.
In 1901-1903 the Arkansas and Choctaw Railway (acquired by the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway in 1907) built a line from Arkansas to Ardmore. Oil production spurred further railroad development. In 1913-14, the Oklahoma, New Mexico and Pacific Railway constructed a line from Ardmore west to Ringling. In 1916, the Ringling and Oil Fields Railway laid tracks north from Ringling Junction to Healdton. These last two rail lines were abandoned in 1976.
Oil and gas production began very early in the 20th century. The Healdton field opened in 1913, and led to the development of Ardmore as a major oil production center. However, a disastrous fire occurred in Ardmore in 1915, when a railroad car exploded, killing 43 people and destroying much of the downtown. Ardmore and the local oil industry recovered, and the city also became a manufacturing center. Akron Tire and Rubber Company built and operated a plant in Ardmore as early as 1915. In 1970, Uniroyal built a tire plant there. It was acquired by Michelin North America in 1990. By the start of the 21st century, manufacturing was the largest component of the county economy.
Adjacent Counties
- Garvin County
- Murray County
- Johnston County
- Marshall County
- Love County
- Jefferson County
- Stephens County
Cities, Towns & Communities
Alpers | Ardmore (County Seat) | Baum | Brock | Caldwell Hill | Cheek | Clemscott | Countyline | Dickson | Dillard | Dripping Springs | Dundee | Durwood | Fox | Gene Autry | Glenn | Graham | Healdton | Hewitt | Lone Grove | Milo | Newport | Oil City | Old Scott | Pooleville | Post Oak | Provence | Pruitt City | Ratliff City | Reck | Rexroat | Springer | Tatums | Tussy | Wilson | Woodford | Zaneis
Links
National Register of Historic Places
Greater Southwest Historical Museum
