Enid–Pond Creek Railroad War facts for kids
Map of "L" and "O" counties in 1894.
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| Date | 1893–1894 |
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| Location | Oklahoma, United States |
The Enid–Pond Creek Railroad War occurred in Oklahoma Territory between 1893 and 1894, and pitted the citizens of two United States designated county seats against the Rock Island Railroad.
Background
In the late 1880s, the Rock Island Railroad built a rail line into Indian Territory, entering near Caldwell, Kansas, and following the Chisholm Trail. Along the infrastructure, the company established railroad stations near a couple of the existing stage stations along the trail. The original stations, Round Pond, built at Pond Stage Stand on Round Pond Creek, and Skeleton Station (later known as Enid station), located in North Enid, Oklahoma near the Skeleton Ranch headquarters, would become involved in a controversy between the railroad, the new county seats, and the Department of the Interior.
Aftermath
Railroad Pond Creek was renamed Jefferson and relocated to higher ground; government Pond Creek (often called Round Pond by the Rock Island) remained but the Grant County seat (formerly "L" County) was eventually moved to Medford. Railroad Enid became North Enid; government Enid, or South Enid, became simply Enid, the county seat of Garfield County (formerly "O" County).
