Dunbar, Oklahoma facts for kids

Dunbar is a small community located in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma, in the United States. It's about 17 miles north of a town called Antlers. For many years, from 1925 to 1956, Dunbar even had its own United States Post Office. In its earliest days, Dunbar was known as a busy sawmill town, helping to process wood from the forests in what was then called the Indian Territory.

A Railroad Town

In the 1880s, a very important railroad, the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway, often called the "Frisco" railroad, was built through this area. This railroad connected Fort Smith, Arkansas in the north with Paris, Texas in the south. It ran right alongside the Kiamichi River for much of its path through Pushmataha County.

Why Dunbar Was Chosen

Train stations were built every few miles along the railroad. These stations helped open up the land and were important stops for trains. Dunbar was chosen as a station site because it was very close to the Kiamichi River, which provided plenty of water for the steam trains. Other nearby stations were Stanley to the north and Wadena to the south.

Life Along the Tracks

These stations also had special "section houses." These were homes for supervisors who managed their specific parts of the railroad tracks. They made sure the tracks were in good condition and safe for trains.

Transportation and Community

At that time, this area was part of Jack’s Fork County within the Choctaw Nation. It was a quiet place, mostly home to Choctaw Indians who farmed or lived off the land. There weren't many roads or trails, so the Frisco Railroad was the main way to travel.

The Railroad's Importance

The Frisco Railroad was very busy, running six passenger trains every day—three going north and three going south. This made it much easier for people to travel and for goods to be moved.

Changes Over Time

However, in the late 1950s, the railroad stopped carrying passengers. It continued to move freight (goods) until 1981, when it closed completely, and its tracks were removed. The end of passenger train service happened around the same time that Oklahoma State Highway 2 was built, offering a new way for people to travel by car.

Natural Beauty

Dunbar is located in one of Oklahoma's most beautiful valleys. It's surrounded by nature, with Dunbar Mountain to the east and Bull Creek Mountain to the west, creating a very scenic landscape.