Grand, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Grand, Oklahoma
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Grand was the county seat of old Day County
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 Grand, Oklahoma
Location in Oklahoma
Grand, Oklahoma
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Ellis |
| Founded | 1892 |
| Abandoned | 1943 |
| Named for | Grandville Alcorn |
| Elevation | 2,105 ft (642 m) |
Grand is a ghost town located in Ellis County, Oklahoma, United States. A ghost town is a place that used to be a lively community but is now mostly empty. Grand was once an important place, serving as the main town, or county seat, for two different counties.
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History of Grand
Grand started as a small community called Ioland. It was meant to be the county seat for "E" County, which later became Day County. When a large area of land called the Cheyenne Arapaho reserve was opened for settlement, Ioland was moved. It crossed the Canadian River and was given a new name: Grand.
How Grand Got Its Name
The town of Grand was named after Grandville Alcorn. He was the son of Robert Alcorn, who was a county judge at the time. This shows how important families could be in naming new places.
Grand as a County Seat
Grand became the county seat for Day County. This meant it was the center of government for the area. When Oklahoma officially became a state in 1907, Day County was no longer a separate county. Grand then became the county seat for the new Ellis County.
However, Grand didn't stay the county seat for long. On August 26, 1908, the county courthouse moved to Arnett. This change meant Grand lost much of its importance.
The End of Grand
The post office in Grand operated from November 4, 1892, until September 30, 1943. After the post office closed, the town slowly faded away. Today, if you visit the site of Grand, you can still see some parts of the old courthouse. The footings, which are the foundations of the building, are still visible. You can also see the vault that once held all the important records for Day County.
There is also a cemetery in Grand, located at 36°00′47″N 99°49′05″W / 36.01305°N 99.81801°W. This is where many people from the old town were buried. In 1972, the site of Grand was recognized for its historical importance. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places as the Grand Town Site.
Notable People from Grand
Grand was the birthplace of a famous western musician named Spade Cooley. He was born there in 1910.
