Wirt, Oklahoma Explained

Wirt
Settlement Type:Unincorporated community
Pushpin Map:Oklahoma#USA
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within the state of Oklahoma
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Oklahoma
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Carter
Unit Pref:Imperial
Population As Of:2000
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Ft:965
Coordinates:34.2308°N -97.5317°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP codes
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:1099928

Wirt is an unincorporated community in Carter County, Oklahoma, United States, approximately three miles west of Healdton. First called Ragtown because of the tents the oil workers lived in when the petroleum boom started,[1] the town was formally named after Wirt Franklin, who was in the oil business[2] and drilled the first local well. The community post office began operations on December 12, 1914.[2] At its peak, the town had a school, movie theater, bank, drug store, two gas stations, two churches, and two groceries. But the town burned several times, and the population declined when the oil boom ended.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wirt . ghosttowns.com. February 14, 2020.
  2. Shirk, George H. Oklahoma Place Names, Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 1965, p.224.