Grand, Oklahoma Explained

Grand, Oklahoma
Settlement Type:Ghost town
Pushpin Map:Oklahoma#USA
Pushpin Label:Grand
Pushpin Label Position:right
Coordinates:35.9822°N -99.7953°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Oklahoma
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Ellis
Established Title:Founded
Established Date:1892
Extinct Title:Abandoned
Extinct Date:1943
Named For:Grandville Alcorn
Unit Pref:Imperial
Elevation Ft:2105
Population Density Sq Mi:auto

Grand is a ghost town in Ellis County, Oklahoma, United States. It served as the county seat of Day County and then of Ellis County until the seat moved to Arnett in 1908.

History

Today's community of Grand was the one-time county seat of Ellis County, Oklahoma. First established as Ioland to be the county seat of "E" County (later Day County). When the Cheyenne Arapaho reserve was opened, it was moved across the Canadian River and renamed Grand. According to George Shirk, its namesake was Grandville Alcorn, the son of Robert Alcorn, county judge.[1]

When Day County was extinguished at statehood, Grand found itself in Ellis County, and was the county seat until August 26, 1908. The Ellis County courthouse moved to Arnett. The Grand post office existed from November 4, 1892, until September 30, 1943.[1] Only the footings of the courthouse and the vault that once held the Day county records remain visible at the site.

Grand contained a cemetery and a post office; the cemetery is located at 36.0131°N -99.818°W.

The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 as the Grand Town Site.[2] [3]

Notable people

Grand was the birthplace of western musician Spade Cooley in 1910.[4]

See also

External links

References

Notes and References

  1. https://books.google.com/books?id=KpAmsIFdutAC Shirk, George H. Oklahoma Place Names. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1987.
  2. Web site: Latham . K. . Exploring Oklahoma History / Grand . 25 March 2017 .
  3. Web site: Day County - The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. 25 March 2017.
  4. Encyclopedia: Donnell Clyde "Spade" Cooley (1910-1969) . . Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture . 11 May 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141102135928/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/C/CO049.html . 2 November 2014 .