Independence, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Independence, Oklahoma
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 Independence, Oklahoma
Location in Oklahoma
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Custer |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
Independence is a ghost town located in Custer County, Oklahoma, in the United States. A ghost town is a place where people used to live and work, but now very few or no people live there. Independence was once a busy community, but today, its land is mostly used for farming.
Contents
Early Days of Independence
Independence was one of the first towns to be created on the lands that belonged to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Native American tribes. These lands were opened up for new settlers in 1892. This means that people who were not part of the tribes could move there and start new communities.
A New Community Forms
The town of Independence quickly grew. It even had its own post office, which opened on October 5, 1892. This was a very important service for any new town. It allowed people to send and receive mail, connecting them to the rest of the world. The post office served the community for many years, finally closing on July 15, 1922.
Local News and Life
At its busiest time, Independence was a lively place. It had two local newspapers: the Independence Herald and the Independence Courier. Newspapers were a big part of daily life back then. They shared local news, stories, and advertisements. Having two newspapers shows that there were enough people in Independence to support both of them. This suggests the town was quite active and growing.
Why Independence Became a Ghost Town
Many towns in the past grew or disappeared depending on where railroads were built. Railroads were like the highways of their time. They were crucial for moving goods and people.
The Railroad's Impact
Unfortunately for Independence, the main railroad lines were built to bypass it. This meant that trains did not stop in Independence. Instead, they went to other nearby towns. When a town was not on a railroad line, it became harder for businesses to get their products to market. It also made it difficult for people to travel to and from the town.
Decline and Disappearance
Because the railroads went elsewhere, Independence slowly started to lose its importance. People and businesses moved to towns that were connected by the railway. Over time, fewer and fewer people lived in Independence. Eventually, the town faded away, becoming a ghost town. Today, the land where Independence once stood is used for farming, with little left to show that a bustling community once existed there.
