Catoosa’s History

Catoosa is located in northeastern Oklahoma, in what is referred to as “Green County”.  The city is approximately ten miles east of Tulsa and lies within the southwest corner of Rogers County.  Three Counties actually meet within the Catoosa city limits, Rogers, Wagoner and Tulsa.

The name “Catoosa” is derived from the Tsa-La-Gi (Cherokee) word “gadusi,” which means “hill” or “on the hill.”  The Community was first situated in the lowlands, northeast of its present location, and was known as “Fort Spunky”.  Due to the continuous flooding the settlers suffered each year, the town gradually moved from Fort Spunky to its present location.  That and the arrival of the railroad brought the community to its current site. During the 1800s through the early 1900s settlers moved to the area for the good ranch and farmland.  The area featured an abundance of wildlife, lush vegetation, thick forest and tall grass prairies.  Catoosa had an ample water supply from the Verdigris River, Bird Creek and Spunky Creek.  Upon settlement, treed areas were cleared to make use of the land for farming.

During Catoosa’s colorful history, she has experienced the migration of settlers to and from her land, she has seen the development of the railroad and America’s “Mother Road” U.S. Hwy. 66.  She has witnessed fatal gunfights between outlaws and hosted a U.S. President at the opening of the furthest most inland waterway.  The history of Catoosa is both thrilling and dangerous, but always a testament to the hard work and dedication of her citizens.  From a town and suffered multiple fires during the height of her growth, to a city that is now home to a major inland port, Catoosa strived to become the city she is destined to be.

1817 – The “Old Settler Cherokees” or Western Cherokees arrived in this area.  Western Cherokees were those who recognized the impending move west and left their homelands in Georgia prior to the mass relocation of the Cherokee Indians know as the Trail of Tears.  The Eastern Cherokees arrived in the spring of 1839.  Many early settlers of Catoosa were descendents of the Cherokee migration.

1874 – Catoosa’s first school was held in a log cabin at Fort Spunky.

1882 – The A&P Railroad (later the Frisco) built their line from Vinita southwest to Catoosa, where it became the end of the line.  Soon the town of Catoosa sprang up and cattle were driven here from Texas and points further west to be shipped to markets in the east.  During this time, a huge stockyard was built on the west side of the railroad tracks to hold the cattle before shipping.  Catoosa was a typical cow town during the early railroad days and had its share of wild west adventures, some of which were probably enlarged by imagination through the years.  However, the old-timers often talked of the excitement the cattle drives brought to the bustling little town.

1883 – The first post office in Catoosa was established on March 27, 1883.  John Schrinsher was the first postmaster.

1895 – The first U.S. marshal in Catoosa, George Washington “G. W,” Cochran, a full- blood Cherokee, was appointed.  He was a marshal under Judge I.C. Parker, the “Hanging Judge: of Forth Smith, Arkansas.

1902 – J. Gus Patton certified he accurately surveyed and staked out the town of Catoosa, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory.  The town site was approved June 16, 1902, by Thos Ryan, acting Secretary, Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C.

1929 – The two most catastrophic fires that destroyed Catoosa’s business district were in December of 1929 and the second in March of 1930.

1956 - January metropolitan phone service was made available to residents.  May 5th, the waster system for the Town of Catoosa was completed and on October 4th Oklahoma  Natural Gas was awarded a 25-year gas franchise by the Town.

1960s – Sewer system for Town was completed.

1971 – June 6th, 1971, the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System was dedicated.  (Tulsa Port of Catoosa) President Richard Nixon unveiled a huge plaque identifying the system and declaring. “Conceived in Dust, Cradled in Flood, Created by Man.”

 (Information compiled from “History of Catoosa” published by Catoosa Historical Society)

                      
                              For more information contact Catoosa Historical Society 918-266-6592