Nelson, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nelson, Oklahoma
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 Nelson, Oklahoma
Location in Oklahoma
Nelson, Oklahoma
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Choctaw |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1100669 |
Nelson is a small, quiet community located in the northwestern part of Choctaw County, Oklahoma. It is an "unincorporated community." This means it is a group of homes and people living together without a formal city government. Nelson is about six miles north of a place called Soper.
Contents
A Look Back at Nelson's History
Nelson has a long and interesting history, especially with the Choctaw Nation.
Early Days and the Choctaw Nation
A very important school called Spencer Academy was once moved here. This school was a big part of the Choctaw Nation's history. A United States Post Office opened in Nelson on March 10, 1881. Back then, this area was known as Indian Territory. The post office helped people send and receive mail. It stayed open for many years, until November 30, 1954.
For a short time, until September 15, 1881, the post office was officially called Nelsons. The community of Nelson is named after Cole E. Nelson. He was a well-known Choctaw Indian and the National Attorney for the Choctaw Nation.
Nelson Before Oklahoma Became a State
Before Oklahoma officially became a state, Nelson was located in a place called Kiamitia County. This county was also known as Kiamichi County. It was part of the Apukshunnubbee District within the Choctaw Nation.
The Railroad's Impact on Nelson
Nelson was once an important center for business and people. However, things changed when the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway built its train tracks. The tracks were built east of Nelson. They passed through other communities like Antlers, Hamden, Speer, and Hugo instead.
This meant that Nelson lost some of its importance. Even though it remained a lively community for many years after the railroad was built in the 1880s, the towns along the tracks grew more successful. They took away some of Nelson's chances for big business growth.
Nelson Today
Even with these changes, Nelson continues to be home to several families. It is known as the oldest settlement in its area.
