Pryor Creek

by Terry D. Lamar

Overview

Pryor Creek, originally named Coo-y-yah (Cherokee for "huckleberry"), incorporated as a city in 1894. Also known as Pryor by the US Postal Service, it is located in northeastern Oklahoma and is the seat of Mayes County. The community is rich with history that dates back to its early days as Indian Territory, where many early residents settled after suffering a grueling journey on the Trail of Tears from the old Cherokee Nation. After starting as a rural farming community, with the addition of the railroad in 1870 Pryor Creek grew to become a major industrial economic force in the region following World War II. During the war, the area was home to a massive ammunition ordnance plant, which eventually became the largest industrial park in Oklahoma. In 1942, Pryor Creek's downtown business district was destroyed by the fifth-deadliest tornado in Oklahoma history. Pryor Creek is also a "gateway" known for its regional lakes and recreational areas.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781467114875
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	03/28/2016
Series:	Images of America Series
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	1,096,902
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Terry D. Lamar was born and raised in Pryor Creek and is considered the foremost authority on the history of the area. He has been researching and archiving the city's history for over 40 years. He also writes local history features for newspapers and is a regular guest speaker for many civic groups. He also holds a degree in history education and is a career Air Force veteran.