Rodney, Oklahoma facts for kids
Rodney was a small community that used to exist in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma, in the United States. It was located about five miles north of the town of Antlers.
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What Was Rodney?
Rodney was a community that existed for a short time in the late 1800s. It was named after an early resident called Rodney Moyer. The community was built near a special place called Rodney Crossing. This was a shallow part of the Kiamichi River where people could easily cross.
A Busy Crossroads
Rodney was important because of its location. It was right next to the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway, which was a train track. It was also at Rodney Crossing, which was a key spot for people traveling north and south across the Kiamichi River. This made Rodney a busy place for travel and trade.
Post Office and Early Days
A United States Post Office opened in Rodney, which was then part of the Indian Territory, on June 30, 1890. This meant people could send and receive mail there. However, the post office closed just a few years later, on July 5, 1899. During its short life, Rodney was located in Jack’s Fork County, which was part of the Choctaw Nation.
Rodney Mountain
There is a local landmark nearby called Rodney Mountain. It stands about 767 feet tall. This mountain was also named after Rodney Moyer, the same person the community was named for.
Why Rodney Disappeared
Rodney was known as a "sawmill town." This means its main purpose was to support a sawmill. A sawmill is a factory that cuts down trees and turns them into lumber. The town's businesses and daily life revolved around this sawmill.
The Sawmill Moves On
As the sawmill cut down trees from the nearby mountains, it eventually ran out of timber in that area. So, the sawmill had to move deeper into the mountains to find more trees. Rodney did not have any other major industries or a large population that stayed after the sawmill left. Because of this, the community slowly faded away and no longer exists today.
What Happened to Rodney Moyer?
Rodney Moyer, the person the town was named after, left the area around the time the community disappeared. He went to Alaska to join the Klondike gold rush. This was a time when many people rushed to Alaska hoping to find gold. What happened to Rodney Moyer after that is not known.
