Enid–Pond Creek Railroad War facts for kids
Map of "L" and "O" counties in 1894.
|
|
| Date | 1893–1894 |
|---|---|
| Location | Oklahoma, United States |
The Enid–Pond Creek Railroad War was a big disagreement that happened in Oklahoma Territory between 1893 and 1894. It was a fight between the people living in two important towns, chosen by the United States government, and a powerful company called the Rock Island Railroad.
Contents
Why Did the Railroad War Start?
Building Railroads in Oklahoma
In the late 1880s, the Rock Island Railroad company began building a train track. This track went into an area then known as Indian Territory. It entered near a town called Caldwell, Kansas. The new railway followed an old path called the Chisholm Trail.
New Train Stations Cause Trouble
As the railroad built its tracks, it also set up train stations. These stations were placed near some existing stops along the Chisholm Trail. Two of these original stations became very important in this conflict.
- One station was called Round Pond. It was built at a place known as Pond Stage Stand, near Round Pond Creek.
- The other was Skeleton Station. This station was located in North Enid, Oklahoma, close to the Skeleton Ranch headquarters. It was later known as Enid station.
These two stations became part of a big argument. The argument involved the railroad company, the new county seats (important towns chosen by the government), and the Department of the Interior.
What Happened After the Conflict?
Changes for Pond Creek
After the railroad war, the train station town called Railroad Pond Creek was renamed Jefferson. It was also moved to higher ground. The government-chosen town of Pond Creek (which the Rock Island often called Round Pond) stayed where it was. However, the main town for Grant County (which used to be called "L" County) was eventually moved to Medford.
Changes for Enid
The train station town called Railroad Enid became North Enid. The government-chosen town of Enid, also known as South Enid, simply became Enid. This town became the main town for Garfield County (which used to be called "O" County).
