Centralia, Oklahoma facts for kids

Centralia is a very small place in Craig County, Oklahoma, United States. It is an unincorporated community, which means it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town does.

What Happened to Centralia?

Centralia was once a busy community, but over time, most people moved away. Today, only a few people live there.

How Centralia Started

Centralia was founded in 1898 by a person named J. H. Hargrove. He named it after another town called Centralia, Missouri. The community grew and did well between 1907 and 1915.

The first post office opened on April 11, 1899, and J. H. Hargrove was the first postmaster. Over the next few years, many businesses opened. Most of these businesses were in wooden buildings built around a town square.

Fires and Challenges

Centralia faced some tough times. On January 11, 1907, a big fire destroyed most of the business area. Another fire on July 22, 1917, burned down about one-third of the businesses.

Who Lived in Centralia?

Centralia's population changed a lot over the years.

Changes Over Time

By 1915, Centralia had its largest population, with about 750 residents. There were even two banks in the community. However, both banks closed around 1929.

The fires, along with a tough economic time called the Great Depression, caused many people to leave Centralia. Also, a planned railroad that would have connected Vinita to Coffeyville was never built, which hurt the community's growth.

By 1980, only 43 people lived there. By 2010, the number had dropped even more, with only about seven or eight people remaining in the area.