Honobia, Oklahoma facts for kids

Honobia (pronounced “Hoe-nubby”) is a small, quiet community in Oklahoma, United States. It sits right on the border between LeFlore County and Pushmataha County. It's about 15 miles southeast of Talihina.

Honobia's Past

How Honobia Got Its Name

Honobia is named after a Choctaw Indian person called O-no-bi-a. The Choctaw people have a long history in this area.

Early Days and the Choctaw Nation

A United States Post Office was first opened in Honobia on August 30, 1919. Sometimes, this post office has been located in Pushmataha County.

After the Choctaw Indians were moved to this area on the Trail of Tears, Honobia became a home for a Choctaw settlement. Before Oklahoma became a state, this area was part of the Wade County in the Apukshunnubbee District of the Choctaw Nation. Even though the Choctaw Nation's capital was only 32 miles away at Tuskahoma, Honobia was (and still is) a very isolated place.

Honobia's Location and Scenery

Honobia is located near the Little River. It's close to where Honobia Creek and Rock Creek join the river. This part of the Little River valley is very beautiful. The river here is a fast-moving mountain stream. Its narrow valley is surrounded by steep mountains on both sides. These mountains reach heights of 1,600 to 1,800 feet. They are part of the Kiamichi Mountains.

Getting Around Honobia

Oklahoma State Highway 144 connects Honobia to other small communities like Fewell, Nolia, and Nashoba to the west. It also connects to U.S. Highway 271 at Nashoba. To the east, it connects to the even smaller community of Octavia, and then to U.S. Highway 259.

In recent years, the Choctaw Nation has made travel in the Honobia area much better. They built a paved road over the mountains. This road goes from U.S. Highway 271 near Albion south to Honobia. Local people call this the "Indian Highway." This highway winds its way up and down the mountains in a series of turns, offering amazing views.

Honobia's Economy

Most of the land around Honobia is covered by huge tree farms. These are owned by timber companies. This means the areas are mostly wild and cover many square miles. Logging, which is cutting down trees for wood, provides important jobs for the people who live here.

The Bigfoot Festival

People in Honobia also host an annual Bigfoot Festival and Conference. This event is all about the mysterious creature known as Bigfoot. It became popular locally after a supposed sighting in 2000, known as "The Siege of Honobia." This festival is one of the main ways Honobia's local economy gets a boost.

Images for kids

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  A Choctaw village in 1869. The women are making baskets. Honobia's Choctaw settlement would have looked similar.