111 Peters
Poteau, Oklahoma 74953
(918) 647-4191
Fax: (918) 647-9905
Click Here - Fall Foliage In
Poteau
Poteau is in one of the most
beautiful sections of eastern Oklahoma and the county seat of LeFlore County is
a growing, bustling city with an eye upon the future and with a historical
heritage few other communities can match. Various races of men have known the
region throughout the centuries. Mound Builders, between 500 and 1300 A.D.,
built their temples and burial places in what is now the Spiro area and northern
LeFlore County, and roamed southward into the mountainous regions of south
LeFlore County. Mayan Indians pressing up from Mexico and Central and South
America, clashed with the Mound Builders hundreds of years ago.
Location:
Poteau is located about 25 miles southwest of Fort Smith, Arkansas, 130 miles southeast of Tulsa and 198 miles southeast of Oklahoma City. Poteau is almost completely surrounded by mountains. Looking eastward across the Poteau River, one can see in the distance the famous towering Sugar Loaf Mountain Peak. On the southern horizon can be seen the Winding Stair Mountain Range, the foothills of the Kiamichi's where Talimena Scenic Byway is located. Immediately on the west is Cavanal Hill the world tallest hill!
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History:
In 1719, the French explorer Bernard DeHarpe, led an
expedition to the Poteau area. The French left such an
imprint that evidence of their visits still remain; in
the names the they gave to the mountains, streams, and
towns; as in Leflore. There were none but Indian
inhabitants until about 1875. Although, there were only
five or six families located here, they had a school. It
was a small log house, with earth floors and boards laid
across the sleepers for seats. The modern Poteau,
however, has its origin in 1885, with a few houses and
Bud Tate’s general store. Incorporation of the town of
Poteau followed on October 8, 1898. This same year the
first public building, a school, was constructed of
native stone – the building having been erected through
the contributions of the Poteau residents. By 1904 more
room was needed. A small wooden building was erected on
the north side of the rock building. By 1906 still more
room was needed. This time bonds were voted and a two
story brick building more than twice the size of the
rock portion was added. This was the first free school
in the Indian Territory. The first Poteau post office
was established in 1888.
Federal court was moved to Poteau from Cameron in 1900,
and in 1903 activities of the town largely centered
around this court, The Kansas City Southern and Frisco
railroads were both running lines through the town.
December, 1905 the original government town survey
contained 640 acres. The Bank of Poteau was established
in 1901, and in 1904 was nationalized. That same year
the First Bank of Poteau was established in 1901, and in
1904 was nationalized. That same year the First Bank of
Poteau was organized and deposits of each were estimated
at about $50,000.
The Amos Handle Factory was one of the most thriving
enterprises during the early part of the 1900s while The
Poteau News, first published in 1895, had a subscription
list of about 350. The telephone company was granted a
franchise in 1904, followed shortly by electric lights
and a water works system in 1906. In 1910 one of the
first natural gas wells was discovered.
In 1903 the Witteville Coal Mine was operating near
Poteau and, although that mine was abandoned, several
others were opened and contributed large payrolls to the
community for many years. |
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