The Settling of the Cherokee Outlet

In the 19th century, the United States government resettled Native American tribes from all parts of the country into Indian Territory. By treaty, the northern portion of what is now Oklahoma was given to the Cherokee Nation as an outlet to hunting grounds in the west. Officially called the Cherokee Outlet; the region became widely known as the Cherokee Strip. Eventually, the federal government relocated "friendly tribes" such as the Osage, Kaw, Ponca, Pawnee, Nez Perce, Otoe-Missouri, and Tonkawa into the eastern part of the Outlet.

After the Civil War, Texas cattlemen drove cattle herds to the railheads in Kansas for shipment to northern cities. By leasing the excellent grasslands in the Outlet to the Cherokee Strip Livestock Association, the Cherokee profited from their western lands. Pressure from would be settlers "boomers" forced the Cherokee to sell the land to the federal government for $8,505,736 or about $1.40 per acre. The government then opened the area by land run for settlement.

The land opened at noon on September 16, 1893, in the largest land run in history. By horse, train, wagon, and on foot more than 100,000 land hungry pioneers raced for 40,000 homesteads and the valuable town lots –laying the foundation for the vibrant and successful region that is now Northwest Oklahoma.

Staking their claim to a piece of land on the day of the Land Run was only the beginning of a long and hard journey for those who poured over the borders. Drought, bitter winters, violent storms, and the boom and bust cycle of financial and agricultural markets tested the energy, optimism, and tenaciousness of the settlers. Through it all many persevered, driven by the American dream of building a new life and a successful future.

In the beginning, farming and cattle provided the economic base. Large herds of cattle moved on the famous Chisholm Trail through Enid and the Cherokee Strip on their way to railheads in Kansas. As many as ten railroad lines have served Enid, transporting millions of bushels of grain as well as thousands of head of cattle. In the early 20th century, oil became the new “gold” and the fuel for development of economic opportunities.

Throughout a short history of a little more than one hundred years, the pioneer families and those who later joined them exhibited an entrepreneurial spirit that built vibrant communities on the plains of Northwest Oklahoma. Today, the stories of those pioneer families, the lives they led, and the influence they continue to have on the region are told by the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center.