History of Pryor Creek facts for kids
The history of Pryor Creek tells the story of the area where the city of Pryor Creek, Oklahoma, in the United States, is located today. Before it became an official city, this place was known as Coo-y-yah in what was called Indian Territory. Later, it was renamed Pryor Creek. In 1951, people living there voted to approve the city's rules, which set up a government run by a mayor-council. In 2010, about 9,539 people lived in Pryor Creek.
Early Days: The 1800s
The Osage people lived in the northeastern part of what is now Oklahoma a long time ago, even as early as 1750. Later, new towns were often built where Osage villages used to be, because the land was already cleared and trails were already made.
In the early 1800s, agreements with the Cherokee, Osage, and Choctaw tribes gave them land in Indian Territory, which is now Oklahoma.
Captain Nathaniel Hale Pryor was one of the first people to settle in northeastern Oklahoma. He was married to an Osage woman and worked with the Osage people. He set up a trading post near the Grand River. The first school, church, and white cemetery in present-day Oklahoma were part of the Union Mission, started in 1820, about 5 miles southeast of what is now Chouteau.
Over many years, pioneers and explorers created a path through this area called the Texas or Old Military Road. It ran north and south, close to what is now U.S. Highway 69.
In 1839, the United States government made the Osage tribes leave Oklahoma to stop fights between different tribes. They were later moved from Kansas back to Oklahoma in 1871.
In 1870, the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad began building tracks through the Cherokee Nation, heading towards Texas. By June 1871, the railroad reached the spot where Pryor Creek is now. This railroad, now known as the Union Pacific, is still very important for businesses in the area.
A post office was set up, and the town was named Coo-y-yah, which is a Cherokee word for "huckleberry." On April 23, 1887, Coo-y-yah was changed to Pryor Creek. The "Creek" part was dropped by the post office on January 26, 1909. However, the city government's official name is still Pryor Creek.
Pryor Creek's first mayor was James Lee Mills, a Cherokee man. He served from 1894 to 1896. Mills was a businessman, who published a newspaper, and also worked as a lawman.
Modern Times: The 20th Century
In 1951, voters approved the city's current government system, which is a mayor-council government. This system allows for the election of a mayor, a clerk, a treasurer, a police chief, and eight council members. This plan also created boards to manage the city's cemetery, park, library, and its water, gas, electricity, and sewer systems.
The Whitaker Orphan's Home was started in 1897 by W.T. and Stacy Whitaker. It provided a home for white orphan children in Indian Territory. In 1908, it became a state-run home for orphans and other children who needed help. In 1982, the state closed the home and gave the property to the Oklahoma Military Department. Today, it's called the Whitaker Education and Training Center and is home to the Thunderbird Youth Academy. This academy runs a special program for 16- to 18-year-old high school students who are struggling. It helps them improve their schoolwork, feel better about themselves, and learn important life skills to prepare them for jobs and healthy family lives.
On April 27, 1942, a powerful tornado hit Pryor Creek at 4:45 p.m. It destroyed the city's downtown business area. The damage was over $2,000,000, and 454 people were hurt, with 52 deaths. The F4 tornado swept through the city, causing widespread damage to homes and businesses. Both of Pryor Creek's hospitals were ruined, and the city lost its water, electricity, and phone services. The governor declared martial law, and state troopers, soldiers, and medical teams from nearby cities rushed to help rescue victims and maintain order.
During World War II, the U.S. War Department built an ammunition plant called the Oklahoma Ordinance Works, which was run by the DuPont Company. There was also a Prisoner of War Camp nearby, mostly holding German soldiers. This area later became the Mid-America Industrial Park, which is the largest manufacturing park in Oklahoma. The businesses in this park provide many jobs for families in and around Mayes County. For example, a large Gatorade plant owned by PepsiCo was built there. Other long-standing employers include Red Devil, Georgia-Pacific, and the Grand River Dam Authority.
Pryor and Mayes County also have a large farming economy. This includes growing crops, raising beef cattle, horses, and dairy cows. Until recently, Mayes County was the second-largest dairy producing county in the state.
In 1991, Lucy Schultz was elected as the city's 31st mayor. She was the first and only woman to serve as mayor of Pryor Creek.
