Towns

Albion (AL-bee-un)

Albion, Oklahoma is a historic railroad and sawmill town in northeastern Pushmataha County, established in the late 1880s within the Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory. Founded near the Kiamichi River, it grew around the "Frisco" railway line, officially incorporating in 1906 and serving as a regional center for logging and agriculture.

Key historical points include:

Establishment (1880s): The town began with the arrival of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway (1885–1886) and a post office in 1887.
Industry: Early economy was driven by sawmills, notably the Shine Brothers and Jerome Clayton Lumber Company.
Name Origin: John T. Bailey, an early proprietor, named the town after an ancient term for England.
Development: Initially a bustling hub, the town's prominence was cemented by the construction of the Albion State Bank in 1910.
Economic Shift: By 1927, the bank moved to Talihina, and the town shifted towards agricultural trade. Today, it is a quiet community located along U.S. Highway 271, serving as a reminder of the early railway development in Oklahoma.

Big Cedar

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Buffalo Valley

Buffalo Valley, a small community in Latimer County, Oklahoma, is located in a historically significant, hilly, and forested region of the Kiamichi Mountains, formerly within the Choctaw Nation. It has long served as a rural, unincorporated area known for its scenic beauty, including nearby Potato Hills and the historic Buffalo and Gaines creeks, which drain into the Kiamichi River.

Regional Significance: Historically part of the Choctaw Nation (starting around 1831), this region was used for pastures, with early agricultural activity.
Geographic Context: The community is situated along State Highway 63, surrounded by the Kiamichi Mountains and the Potato Hills.
1990s Character: By the late 1990s, the area was described as a quiet, small community with a school district (Buffalo Valley School District) and churches.
Cultural History: It has been described as a place with deep roots in Southeast Oklahoma, at times needing a boost to provide economic opportunities and keep young people in the area.
Not to be Confused: Note: This is separate from the town of Buffalo, Oklahoma, located in Harper County (northwest Oklahoma).

The community is historically associated with the broader development of Latimer County, which saw mining, logging, and agriculture in the early 20th century, as well as the impact of the Great Depression, during which federal programs helped develop the surrounding areas.

Latimer County History

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Clayton, OK (KLAY-tuhn) - “Clay Town”

The town was initially called Dexter and a post office was established on March 31, 1894. It’s thought to have been named for Dexter Chapman, early day resident. The name was changed to Clayton on April 5, 1907. Its name was possibly derived from Clayton, Missouri as well as after William H.H. Clayton, judge of the U.S. Court for the Central District of Indian Territory. Judge Clayton was prominent in the role to gain Oklahoma’s statehood.

Clayton is the largest town in northern Pushmataha County. It is 36 miles distance from the county seat of Antlers.

Flagpole Mountain retains a fire tower. Built of metal and several stories tall, it was once part of a network of towers, all manned, from which a fire watch was maintained. It is one of two towers remaining in Pushmataha County, although it is no longer operational. Views from the tower offer a panorama stretching for many miles in any direction. Clayton, is a regional trading center with a locally based economy. It is currently home to a public school, several churches, and numerous businesses and homes. During recent years the Clayton High School Auditorium (Oklahoma) has become recognized as an architecturally and historically significant building, and has been added to the National Register of Historic Places. The building was found to be a very unusual example of Works Progress Administration architecture—one of only two known single-use auditoriums constructed by the WPA.

~Jimmy Felihkatubbee Nichols
Pushmataha County Historical Society

Clayton Lake

Clayton Lake in Oklahoma is a 66-acre recreational lake and state park built in 1935, located in the Kiamichi Mountains near Clayton in Pushmataha County. It was developed to impound Peal Creek and is popular for fishing, camping, and hiking, offering cabins and RV sites within a heavily forested setting.

History of Clayton Lake

Construction: The lake and surrounding park were developed in the 1930s as a Civilian Conservation Corps project.
Purpose: Created to impound the waters of Peal Creek, it serves as a scenic, quiet spot for outdoor recreation in southeastern Oklahoma.
State Park System: It is managed by the State of Oklahoma and has been a designated state park since 1947.
Archaeological Sites: In 1979, excavations were conducted in the area due to the impact of the lake on pre-historic, archaeological sites, which showed evidence of occupation ranging from the late Archaic through early Caddo periods.

Key Features and Features

Location: Situated south of the town of Clayton, which itself was founded as a timber town on the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway around 1907.
Recreation: Features include 60-70 acres of water, cabins, RV sites, hiking trails, a boat ramp, and an ADA-accessible fishing dock.
Nearby Attractions: The park is located near the Ouachita National Forest and the larger, later-built Sardis Lake.

It is important to distinguish this smaller, older Clayton Lake State Park from the much larger Sardis Lake nearby, which was built in the 1980s.

Honobia (Hoe-nubby)

Honobia, Oklahoma, is a remote, historic Choctaw community in Pushmataha County, formally established with a post office on August 30, 1919, but rooted in the post-Trail of Tears settlement of the Apukshunnubbee District. Named after land allottee O-no-bi-a, it is renowned today as a focal point for Bigfoot sightings, particularly following a reported "siege" in 2000.

History & Origins

Name Origin: The community is named for O-no-bi-a, a Choctaw Indian land allottee.
Establishment: Following the Choctaw relocation, it became a Choctaw settlement, part of Wade County, Apukshunnubbee District in the Choctaw Nation before statehood.
Post Office: A US Post Office was established in the area on August 30, 1919.
Geography: It is known for its isolation in the Kiamichi Mountains, located roughly 32 miles from the Choctaw Capital at Tuskahoma.

"Siege" of Honobia (2000)

Bigfoot Reports: In January 2000, local woodsman Tim Humphreys reported that a Bigfoot creature had been terrorizing his property for two years, stealing deer meat from a freezer and tapping on windows.
The Incident: Humphreys reported firing at the creature, a story documented by the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO), which gained national attention and fueled the area’s reputation as a hotspot for Sasquatch activity.
The Oklahoman +2

Modern Day

Industry: The area is characterized by heavy logging and rural, rugged terrain.
Culture: The community embraces its reputation, sometimes hosting events related to the "Honobia Bigfoot" legend.

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