Eagle County, Choctaw Nation facts for kids
Eagle County was a special part of the Choctaw Nation in Indian Territory. This was before Oklahoma became a state. It was part of a larger area called the Apukshunnubbee District, which was one of three main regions in the Nation.
History of Eagle County
The county was also known as Osi Kaunti. This name comes from the Choctaw word osi, which means "eagle." So, Eagle County was named after the bird! Its main town, or "county seat," was Eagletown. Eagletown was a very important place for trading goods. It even had a U.S. post office starting in 1834.
The leaders of the Choctaw Nation created Eagle County in 1850. It was one of the first 19 counties they made.
The borders of Eagle County were set up using easy-to-spot natural features. For example, the Little River formed its southern border. The state of Arkansas was its eastern border. Other lines were drawn from the Little River to the Arkansas state line. A group of big mountains called the Seven Devils marked its northern edge. The land south of these mountains was flatter and easier to travel through.
Eagle County shared its borders with three other counties. Red River County was to the south. Bok Tuklo County was to the west. And Nashoba County was to the north.
This county was important for a few reasons. It was a place where people voted for members of the National Council. It also helped manage local government. People in the county elected officials like a county judge, a sheriff, and a ranger. These officials served for two years. The judge made sure the county ran smoothly. The sheriff collected taxes and kept an eye out for people who weren't supposed to be there. The county ranger helped sell lost animals.
Becoming a State
When Oklahoma was about to become a state, leaders met to plan its new counties. They realized that the Choctaw Nation's counties, even though they made sense at the time, might not work well as new state counties. This was because many county seats were just for court meetings, not big towns. Eagle County was like this; it didn't have many large towns or settlements.
People who wanted to create the State of Sequoyah in 1905 also noticed this problem. They suggested a new county system that would get rid of the old Choctaw counties. Eagle County was planned to become part of a new area called McCurtain County.
Two years later, when Oklahoma was officially formed, its planners used many of these ideas. They created McCurtain County in Oklahoma. All the land that used to be Eagle County became part of McCurtain County.
Eagle County officially stopped existing when Oklahoma became a state on November 16, 1907.
