Stanley, Oklahoma facts for kids
Stanley is a small community in northern Oklahoma, United States. It's not an official town with its own government, but it's a recognized place. You can find Stanley on Oklahoma State Highway 2, about seven miles southwest of Clayton. The Kiamichi River flows right past the southeast side of the community.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
How Stanley Got Its Name
A post office was opened in Stanley, Indian Territory, on August 20, 1906. It was named after William Eugene Stanley (1844–1910). He was the Governor of Kansas from 1899 to 1903. He also worked for the Dawes Commission from 1903 to 1904.
What Was the Dawes Commission?
The Dawes Commission was a group chosen by the U.S. Government. Their job was to help prepare the Choctaw Nation and other Native American tribes for Oklahoma to become a state.
The Frisco Railroad's Arrival
In the 1880s, a railroad company called the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway, or "Frisco," built a train line. This line went from north to south through the Choctaw Nation. It connected Fort Smith, Arkansas, with Paris, Texas. The railroad line followed the Kiamichi River for much of its path.
Why Were Stations Built?
Train stations were set up every few miles along the track. These stations helped open up the land for people to settle. They also served as places for "section houses." These were homes for supervisors who managed different parts of the track. Trains could also stop at these stations to get water. Stanley's location was chosen because it was close to the Kiamichi River, which had plenty of water.
Life in Early Stanley
At that time, the area was not very populated. It was known as Jack’s Fork County, part of the Choctaw Nation in the Indian Territory. Choctaw Indians lived there, farming or living off the land.
How People Traveled
There were not many roads or trails. The Frisco Railroad was the main way to travel. It offered six trains each day, three going in each direction. Passenger trains stopped running in the late 1950s. Freight trains continued until 1981, when the railroad closed completely. The tracks were then removed. The loss of passenger trains happened around the same time that Oklahoma State Highway 2 was built.
Stanley's Beautiful Surroundings
Stanley is located in one of Oklahoma's most beautiful areas. It is surrounded by the Kiamichi Mountains. To Stanley's west, some mountain tops reach about 1,600 feet high. The mountains to the east are not as tall. A relatively flat valley stretches to Stanley's northeast and southwest.
