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Welcome to Canadian County, Oklahoma
Home of the Rock Island Railroad
Canadian Co., History
Sand Hills -- site of the last great Indian fight in Oklahoma, fought
by a company of soldiers in 1875 while guarding the Cheyenne and
Arapaho agency at Darlington from an Indian outbreak. Located
about a mile northwest of Darlington.
General Sheridan's Headquarters -- at Fort Reno, where he was stationed
late in the 1870's during the time he was engaged in helping round up
the renegade Indians. Moved to Adams Park on the outskirts of El
Reno.
Darlington -- named for Brinton Darlington who was sent to the site in
1869 to establish an agency for the Cheyenne and Arapahos. A
Quaker, he was much loved by the Indians but was unequal in physical
strength for the strenuous task and died in 1872. His body lies
in the Indian cemetery one mile south
of Concho.
Cheyenne Transporter -- First newspaper published in western Oklahoma
launched by Lafe Merritt at Darlington in 1879 for the population at
the Indian agency and for cattlemen who leased Indian lands for their
cattle herds in this area. The paper lasted for six years.
It carried the brands of all of the cattlemen in this section.
Caddo Springs -- presently known as Concho (named for Agent Shell), was
named for the famed springs located on the old Stage Trail from
Caldwell, Kans., through Darlington and Fort Reno to Fort Sill.
This was a favorite camping place for both Indians and freighters
in the early days due to abundance of the sparkling cold water.
The Cheyenne school was first built here in 1879
and in the 1880's the agency was moved from Darlington to this location and the name changed from Caddo Springs to Concho.
Mennonite Mission -- built in the early 1890's by the Mennonite church just east of Darlington.
Fort Reno -- established in February, 1876 to house the troops which
were frequently sent to Darlington to protect the officials of the
Indian agency and the friendly Indians. The garrison provided
police protection for the old Oklahoma area before and during the
opening of 1889. Became a regimental headquarters during
Spanish-American war. Changed to remount station in 1908 to
provide mounts for army. In World War II added training of pack
outfits and sent thousands of mules and their drivers to India.
Following the war trained and furnished thousands of mounts and
mules for Greece and Turkey.
In 1949 the military activities were abandoned and the property was turned to the Department of Agriculture.
Chisholm Trail -- The great route for running the huge cattle heads
from Texas to the nearest railroads in Kansas to be transported to the
meat hungry eastern markets. Crossed South Canadian a few miles
west of Mustang, veered northeast to west edge of present Yukon, then
across North Canadian and northwest to vicinity of Okarche. An
estimated two million cattle were driven over this route before the
first railroad penetrated the Indian country into Texas.
Ghost towns -- Frisco City and Reno City were the outstanding
municipalities platted during the opening as both had aspirations for
the county seat. Frisco City, located three miles northwest of Yukon,
settled by Union veterans, faded away when the Choctaw railway built on
the south side of the North Canadian river. Was an active
candidate for the county seat, but El
Reno won the election by devious means. Reno City, located three
miles north of El Reno, also died when the Rock Island railway built a
mile west instead of passing through it.
Land Drawing of 1901 -- Conducted at the present day site of Irving
School in El Reno when the Kiowa-Comanche lands were distributed by
lottery with 30,000 people looking on.
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