EMMA RILEY SUTTON

                    OKLAHOMA HISTORY

Oklahoma’s recorded history began in 1541 when Coronado’s search for the “Lost City of Gold” brought him through what would later become Oklahoma.  That same land was part of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase.

The Unites States government relocated the Five Civilized Tribes to this area beginning in the 1820s. The “Trail of Tears” is the most famous forced march of the Cherokee from their homes in the southeastern United States.  In time, this become known as the “Golden Age” of Indian Territory.

Oklahoma became part of the cattle industry after the Civil War ended. This become the era of the cowboy.  Forced into giving up their collective lands, the Indians were allocated property individually.  This was in part due to “Boomers,” who wanted land opened to white settlement.

Six different land runs took place between 1889 and 1895.  Settlers from all over the United States traveled to Indian Territory to take part in the land give-away. Settlers even traveled from all over Europe for this rich land.  African-Americans, many former slaves of Indians, also participated in the land runs.

Oklahoma became the 46th state on November 16, 1907. Oil was a huge factor in Oklahoma becoming a state. People came from all over the world to the “place to strike it rich” once the word was out there was black gold under the red dirt of Oklahoma.