Towson County, Choctaw Nation facts for kids
Towson County was a special area in the Choctaw Nation. This was before Oklahoma became a state. It was part of a larger region called the Apukshunnubbee District, which was one of three main areas in the Nation.
Contents
History of Towson County
How Towson County Got Its Name
Towson County was named after a U.S. Army officer, Colonel Nathanial Towson (1784–1854). A military base called Fort Towson was also named after him in 1824. The nearby town of Fort Towson also shares his name.
Where Towson County Was Located
The borders of Towson County were set up using natural landmarks. This was how all counties in the Choctaw Nation were defined.
- The Red River was its southern border.
- The Little River was its eastern border.
- The Kiamichi River was its western border.
- A line connecting the Little and Kiamichi rivers formed its northern border.
Neighboring Counties and County Seat
Towson County had four counties next to it:
- Cedar County was to the north.
- Bok Tuklo and Red River counties were to the east.
- Kiamitia County was to the west.
The main meeting place for the county was called Towson Court House. This place does not exist anymore.
How the County Was Run
Towson County was important for elections. People voted for members of the National Council there. It also helped manage local affairs. People elected officers for two-year terms:
- A county judge, who oversaw how the county was managed.
- A sheriff, who collected taxes, made sure people from outside the Nation didn't cause trouble, and counted the population.
- A ranger, who advertised and sold lost farm animals.
Becoming a State
Changes for Statehood
When Oklahoma was getting ready to become a state, leaders realized that the Choctaw Nation's counties, like Towson County, wouldn't work well as new state counties. Many of these counties didn't have large towns. Their county seats were mostly just for holding court.
The Idea of Sequoyah
In 1905, people met to propose a new state called State of Sequoyah. They also suggested a new county system that would get rid of the old Choctaw counties. Towson County's land was mostly going to be part of a proposed Hitchcock County in this plan.
New Counties for Oklahoma
Two years later, when Oklahoma was officially becoming a state, its leaders used some of these ideas. The land that was once Towson County was split almost equally. It became part of two new counties in Oklahoma:
Towson County officially stopped existing when Oklahoma became a state on November 16, 1907.
