Redden, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Redden
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 Redden
Location in Oklahoma
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Atoka |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
Redden was a small town in northeastern Atoka County, Oklahoma, United States. It was located on State Highway 43, about 13 miles northeast of Stringtown. Today, Redden is known as a ghost town.
What is a Ghost Town?
A ghost town is a place that was once a busy community but is now mostly empty. People have left, and many buildings are gone or in ruins. Redden is an example of such a place. It was once a thriving community, but now only a few signs of its past remain.
Redden's Early Days
The story of Redden began with its post office. The Postal Service opened a post office here on June 1, 1903. At that time, this area was called Indian Territory, specifically Atoka County, Choctaw Nation.
The town was named after John A. Redden, who was born in 1873. He was a local person and became the first postmaster for the town. A postmaster is the person in charge of a post office.
Oklahoma officially became a state on November 16, 1907. After this, the post office continued to serve the community. However, the Redden post office closed its doors for good on October 31, 1954.
What Remains of Redden Today?
Like many ghost towns, Redden is now just a small spot on the map. Most of its buildings are gone. However, two important parts of the old town still exist.
One is the Redden Cemetery. This cemetery is fenced and well-kept, showing that people still care for the history of the town. The other is the ruins of the old schoolhouse. This building stands by the side of the road, reminding visitors of the children who once learned there. These few remains are all that tell the story of what Redden used to be.
