Nashoba County, Indian Territory facts for kids

Nashoba County was a special area, like a county, within the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. This nation was a self-governing Native American territory. Nashoba County was part of the Nation's Apukshunnubbee District, which was one of three main regions. Later, this land became part of the state of Oklahoma.

What Was Nashoba County?

Nashoba County got its name from Neshoba County, Mississippi. This was a place where many Choctaw people lived a long time ago. The word Nashoba means "wolf" in the Choctaw language. Sometimes people called it Wolf County, but its Choctaw name was used most often.

After the Trail of Tears, when many Native Americans were forced to move west, some Choctaw families from Neshoba County, Mississippi, settled in the new Nashoba County in the Choctaw Nation. This move was part of an agreement among their leaders.

Where Was Nashoba County Located?

Like all Choctaw Nation counties, Nashoba County's borders were set using natural landmarks that were easy to spot.

• The Kiamichi River valley was its northern border.
• The Little River formed its western border.
• To its east was Arkansas, which became a state in 1836.
• Its southern border was a line from Arkansas to the Little River. This southern line seemed to follow a chain of mountains called the Seven Devils Mountains, which were known as a tough natural barrier.

Four other counties bordered Nashoba County:

• Wade County to the north.
• Cedar County to the west.
• Bok Tuklo County and Eagle County to the south.

The main meeting place for the county was called Nashoba Court House. It was located in what is now McCurtain County, Oklahoma. The county was also home to Alikchi, which was the capital of the Apukshunnubbee District. Today, the town of Rattan is located west of where Alikchi used to be.

How Was Nashoba County Governed?

Nashoba County was important for local government and elections. It was a place where people voted for members of the National Council. The county had elected officers who served for two years. These officers included:

• A county judge, who managed the county's daily operations.
• A sheriff, who collected taxes, watched for people illegally entering the territory (often white Americans), and counted the population.
• A ranger, who helped find and sell lost farm animals.

Becoming Part of Oklahoma

When Oklahoma was getting ready to become a state, leaders met to plan the new state's counties. The Choctaw Nation's counties were well-designed for their own purposes. However, the new state leaders decided these counties might not work well as separate economic areas. Many county seats were just places for court and had not grown into big towns.

In 1905, Native American leaders had also met to propose their own state called State of Sequoyah. They also suggested a new county system that would get rid of the old Choctaw counties. In their plan, Nashoba County would have been split mainly into Pushmataha, McCurtain, and Wade counties.

Two years later, when Oklahoma became a state, its leaders used some of these ideas. The land that was once Nashoba County now mostly falls within McCurtain and Pushmataha counties in Oklahoma.

Nashoba County officially stopped existing when Oklahoma became a state on November 16, 1907.