Cherokee County, Oklahoma

84 topographic sheets and 11 fire insurance atlases across 2 places.

Research this county

From the record

20 National Register listings published here, 1 of them a National Historic Landmark.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Oklahoma within the United States

Cherokee County within Oklahoma

What the record shows

2 places in this county were surveyed for fire insurance: Tahlequah, Park Hill, between 1894 and 1949.
11 fire insurance atlases survive for the county. Topographic coverage is national; fire insurance survey reached only incorporated places with something worth insuring.
776 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
20 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 16 buildings, 3 sites and 1 district.
7 of the 20 listings were added during the 1970s.
The Geographic Names Information System records 42 populated places in this county; 42 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Photographs

15 photographs, 1939 to 2020

Taken for the Office of War Information and the Farm Security Administration, who photographed the country between 1935 and 1944. Works of United States government photographers, with no known restriction on use. Each opens its catalogue record.

The city armory and municipal center in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, which was the capital of the Cherokee Nation established in the 19th Century after the forcible relocation to what was then "Indian Territory" from their original homelands in eastern U.S. states
Highsmith, Carol M, 2020. Library of Congress

The old Cherokee National Prison in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, which was the capital of the Cherokee Nation established in the 19th Century after the forcible relocation to what was then "Indian Territory" from their original homelands in eastern U.S. states
Highsmith, Carol M, 2020. Library of Congress

Campus view at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, which was the capital of the Cherokee Nation established in the 19th Century after the forcible relocation to what was then "Indian Territory" from their original homelands in eastern U.S. states
Highsmith, Carol M, 2020. Library of Congress

The Cherokee National History Museum in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, which was the capital of the Cherokee Nation established in the 19th Century after the forcible relocation to what was then "Indian Territory" from their original homelands in eastern U.S. states
Highsmith, Carol M, 2020. Library of Congress

The W. Roger Webb Educational Technology Center, named at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, which was the capital of the Cherokee Nation established in the 19th Century after the forcible relocation to what was then "Indian Territory" from their original homelands in eastern U.S. states
Highsmith, Carol M, 2020. Library of Congress

Shoe store sign in downtown Tahlequah, Oklahoma, which was the capital of the Cherokee Nation established in the 19th Century after the forcible relocation to what was then "Indian Territory" from their original homelands in eastern U.S. states
Highsmith, Carol M, 2020. Library of Congress

Artist Francis Jansen's "Transformation Through Forgiveness" sculpture at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Highsmith, Carol M, 2020. Library of Congress

Prizewinning stallion bought with Farm Services Administration loan to serve cooperative group in Cherokee County, Oklahoma
Lee, Russell, 1939. Library of Congress

Dr. Irvin D. Leoser Log Cabin, 119 West Smith Street, Tahlequah, Cherokee County, OK
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress

Cherokee National Penitentiary, 124 East Choctaw Street, Tahlequah, Cherokee County, OK
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress

Cherokee Supreme Court Building, 130 East Keetoowah Street, Tahlequah, Cherokee County, OK
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress

First Cherokee Female Seminary, Tsa-La-Gi, Cherokee Cultural Center, 1 mile south of Tahlequah, Park Hill, Cherokee County, OK
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress

Cherokee National Capitol Building, 101-29 South Muskogee Avenue, Tahlequah, Cherokee County, OK
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress

Cherokee Female Seminary, Northeastern Oklahoma State University Campus, Tahlequah, Cherokee County, OK
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress

George M. Murrell House, Murrell Road, at junction of Willis Road, Park Hill, Cherokee County, OK
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress

Places on the National Register

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Property	Type	Listed	Reference
Alston-Bedwell House	building	2005	05001002
American Baptist Home Mission House	building	2010	10000621
American Legion Hut	building	2006	06000798
Cherokee Female Seminary	building	1973	73001558
Cherokee National Jail	building	1974	74001656
Cherokee Supreme Court Building	building	1974	74001657
First Cherokee Female Seminary Site	site	1974	74001658
M.E. Franklin House	building	2006	06000791
French-Parks House	building	1985	85000618
Illinois Campground	site	2004	04001330
Indian University of Tahlequah	building	1976	76001557
Dr. Irwin D. Loeser Log Cabin	building	1978	78002221
Leonard M. Logan House	building	2005	05001165
Murrell Home	building	1970	70000530
Park Hill Mission Cemetery	site	2006	06001113
Rosamund	building	2006	06000793
Ross Cemetery	district	2002	02000170
Tahlequah Armory	building	1994	94000488
Tahlequah Carnegie Library	building	2003	03000516
Joseph M. Thompson House	building	1993	93000155

Photographs from libraries nationwide

13 of 14 shown

Selected from the Digital Public Library of America's 14 image records catalogued for this county. Every one shown here carries a public-domain status or a licence that permits reuse on a site that carries advertising; non-commercial, share-alike and restricted images are excluded. The selection is spread across the county's towns (at most eight per town), so no single institution's bulk upload crowds out the rest. Each opens the holding library's record, and the complete set at the Digital Public Library of America is one click away.

The green corn dance, Boston Public Library - undated — The green corn dance. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.

A Cherokee woman, Boston Public Library - undated — A Cherokee woman. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.

Pottery making at Tsa-la-gi, Boston Public Library - undated — Pottery making at Tsa-la-gi. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.

Entrance to the theatre at Tsa-la-gi, Boston Public Library - undated — Entrance to the theatre at Tsa-la-gi. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.

Seating area, theatre at Tsa-la-gi, Boston Public Library - undated — Seating area, theatre at Tsa-la-gi. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.

A Cherokee medicine man or Dida:hnvwi:sg (I), Boston Public Library - undated — A Cherokee medicine man or Dida:hnvwi:sg (I). Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.

"Booger" masks, Boston Public Library - undated — "Booger" masks. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.

The county from the air

19 shown

Flown by the U.S. Geological Survey between 1937 and 1989, the Aerial Photo Single Frames collection is the definitive mid-century view of the land: fields, roads and rivers as the camera saw them. The Survey holds 543 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 19 frames below were taken over the county itself, chosen across the decades of flights (at most four a year from that rectangle), so one flight cannot crowd out the rest. The full set is free to browse and download at EarthExplorer under the dataset Aerial Photo Single Frames.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1968-02-05, scale 1:61500 — 1968-02-05, scale 1:61500. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1970-02-03, scale 1:74000 — 1970-02-03, scale 1:74000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-02-14, scale 1:29000 — 1971-02-14, scale 1:29000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-12-22, scale 1:80000 — 1972-12-22, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-02-20, scale 1:24000 — 1973-02-20, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

Weather records

9 stations, 4 gages

The thermometers that kept this county's weather, and the gages that measured the flow of its streams, as the federal records hold them. The extremes below are measured values from those records, not estimates.

TAHLEQUAH 1900 to 2008, hottest 47.8 C, coldest -30.6 C
SEQUOYAH O T S 1943 to 1948
TAHLEQUAH 3.5 SSW 2012 to 2021
TAHLEQUAH 7.3 N 2012 to 2015
HULBERT 6.2 WNW 2018 to 2023
TAHLEQUAH 6.9 ENE 2019 to 2020
TAHLEQUAH 2.2 SSW 2020 to 2021
HULBERT 3.9 N 2020 to 2026
PARK HILL 4.9 SSE 2021 to 2022

Illinois River near Tahlequah, OK 1935 to 2026
Baron Fork at Eldon, OK 1948 to 2026
Neosho River blw Ft Gibson Lake nr Ft Gibson, OK 1950 to 1989
Caney Creek near Barber, OK 1997 to 2026

The 1950 census, district by district

25 districts

Who lived here in 1950, one enumeration district at a time, as the Census Bureau described each district. Each row opens its official National Archives result, with Population Schedules and ED Maps available there.

11-1Briggs township
11-2Cookson township: Cookson township - That part southeast of Illinois River
11-3Cookson township - That part northwest of Illinois River and east and southeast of Unnamed road from north township line through Qualls to west county line
11-4Cookson township - That part west and northwest of Unnamed road from north township line through Qualls to west county line
11-5Crittenden township
11-6Grandview township: Grandview township - That part east of Unnamed road from Tahlequah to north township line, outside Tahlequah city
11-7Grandview township - That part west of Unnamed road from Tahlequah to north township line, outside Tahlequah city
11-8Hulbert township: Hulbert township - That part north and east of State Highway 51
11-9Hulbert township - That part south and west of State Highway 51, northwest of Badger and Ranger creeks and north of Fort Gibson Dam
11-10Hulbert township - That part southeast of Badger and Ranger creeks and south of Fort Gibson Dam
11-11Moodys township: Moodys township - That part northwest of State Highway 10 and east and north of Unnamed road from State Highway 10 through Lowery and across Spring Creek to north county line
11-12Moodys township - That part west and south of Unnamed road across Spring Creek and through Lowery to State Highway 10, northwest of State Highway 10 and north of Unnamed road from State Highway 10 to west township line
11-13Moodys township - That part west of State Highway 10 and south of Unnamed road from State Highway 10 to west township line
11-14Moodys township - That part southeast and east of State Highway 10
11-15Park Hill township: Park Hill township - That part southeast of St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad and east of Illinois River
11-16Park Hill township - That part northwest of St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad, west of Illinois River and east and southeast of U. S. Highway 62, outside Tahlequah city
11-17Park Hill township - That part west and northwest of U. S. Highway 62, outside Tahlequah city
11-18Peggs town
11-19Peggs township: Peggs township - That part east and north of Unnamed road from south township line across Fourteenmile Creek to west County line, outside Peggs town
11-20Peggs township - That part west and south of Unnamed road from south township line across Fourteenmile Creek to west county line
11-21Tahlequah city: Tahlequah city - That part comprising Ward 1 Bounded by City limits; City limits; Fuller, Ward line, Delaware; Muskogee Ave., Valley Ave, Grand Ave., City limits
11-22Tahlequah city - That part comprising Ward 2 Bounded by Delavare, Ward line, Fuller; City limits; City limits; Muskogee Ave.
11-23Tahlequah city - That part comprising Ward 3 Bounded by Delaware; Muskogee Ave.; City limits; City limits
11-24BTahlequah city - That part of Ward 4 Bounded by City limits, Morgan, Cherokee Ave., Morgan; College Ave.; Shawnee; City limits
11-24ATahlequah city - That part of Ward 4 Bounded by City limits; Grand Ave., Valley Ave., Muskogee Ave.; Delaware; City limits, Shawnee, College Ave., Morgan, Cherokee Ave., Morgan, City limits

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

3,934 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 3,934 of them, burning about 142,234 acres. 131 started naturally and 1,627 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause	Fires
Arson/incendiarism	1627
Missing data/not specified/undetermined	990
Debris and open burning	740
Equipment and vehicle use	167
Natural	131
Recreation and ceremony	84
Smoking	78
Misuse of fire by a minor	72
Railroad operations and maintenance	30
Power generation/transmission/distribution	10
Other causes	5

The five largest, by the area the report gives. Five of them were set deliberately.

Date	Cause	Size	Reported by	Name on the report
19 March 2001	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	4,050 acres	Oklahoma Division of Forestry	LIBERTY FIRE
20 March 2017	Arson/incendiarism	3,700 acres	Oklahoma Division of Forestry	not named
20 December 2010	Arson/incendiarism	3,200 acres	Oklahoma Division of Forestry	30613
22 December 2010	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	3,200 acres	Oklahoma Division of Forestry	HUTCHISON RD
13 February 2017	Arson/incendiarism	2,500 acres	Oklahoma Division of Forestry	not named
21 March 1995	Arson/incendiarism	2,310 acres	Cherokee Nation Tribe	F128
23 March 2009	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	2,000 acres	Oklahoma Division of Forestry	BLACK HOLLOW ROAD
9 March 2009	Arson/incendiarism	2,000 acres	Oklahoma Division of Forestry	30450

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1955 to 2026

60 of 755 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 755 reports for this county, causing 9 deaths, 19 injuries and about $9,994,830 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event	Reports
Thunderstorm Wind	309
Hail	275
Flash Flood	71
Tornado	52
Flood	44
Lightning	4

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

When	Event	Place named	Harm	What the report says
September 1996	Flash Flood	Countywide	4 killed	no account filed
June 1999	Tornado (F3)	Hulbert	2 killed, 5 hurt, $1,500,000	A strong tornado, rated an F3, touched down in far western Cherokee County, possibly as a waterspout on Fort Gibson Lake. The tornado moved south onshore and through the rural Amber Hills housing area, crossing OK Hwy 51, and lifting after tracking through much of the Sequoyah State Park.In the Amber Hills and Hammer Hill Road areas, a total of 68 homes sustained some form of damage. Of that, 17 single family dwellings and 13 mobile homes were destroyed. Eight single family dwellings sustained major damage and 11 others had minor damage. One mobile home sustained minor damage. Fourteen other single family dwellings and four other mobile homes were affected. In one of the destroyed mobile homes, an elderly man and woman were inside. The woman was killed immediately, and the man was seriously injured, dying one week later in a hospital of tornado-related complications. This becomes eastern Oklahoma's first killer tornado since the April 1994 Catoosa tornado.Across OK Hwy 51 in Sequoyah State Park, between 400 and 500 trees were lost to the tornado. The carport at the park manager's residence was destroyed, and an RV was turned on its side. Fortunately, most Memorial Day campers had cleared out, therefore there were no injuries in the park.
March 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Scraper	1 killed, 1 hurt, $30,000	Strong thunderstorm wind blew down a tree onto a camper on the east side of the Illinois River. Two occupants of the trailer were trapped. One of the two occupants died from injuries sustained in the event, and the other was rescued by first responders.
July 2002	Lightning	Hulbert	1 killed, 1 hurt	Lightning struck a 32 year old woman and her 14 year old daughter while they were standing under a tree. They were in Wildwood Park on the shores of Ft. Gibson Lake near Hulbert. Both were taken by Lifeflight helicopter to Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa. The daughter fully recovered. The woman died at 530 am CDT the next morning.
March 2008	Flash Flood	Peggs	1 killed	Heavy rain caused Highway 82 to be flooded at Peggs and several rural roads to be flooded across the northern part of Cherokee County. A woman drove a vehicle into a flooded low water crossing and the vehicle became stranded. A two year old girl was washed downstream and drowned as the mother tried to get her out of the vehicle.
November 2018	Tornado (EF2)	Cookson	5 hurt, $1,500,000	This is the second segment of a six segment tornado. This long-track tornado moved into Cherokee County near an inlet of Lake Tenkiller, where boat docks, lake homes, boats, and outbuildings were destroyed, and trees and power poles were snapped. The tornado moved north-northeast along the eastern shores of Lake Tenkiller, passing through Cookson and Cherokee Landing State Park. Numerous homes were damaged or destroyed, numerous boat docks were destroyed, many boats were destroyed, outbuildings were destroyed, many trees and power poles were snapped, and hangars at the airport west of Cookson were destroyed. From Lake Tenkiller, the tornado continued to move north-northeast across less populated areas of southeastern Cherokee County where a few homes were damaged, outbuildings were destroyed, and trees were snapped or uprooted. The tornado moved into Adair County to the east-northeast of Welling. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in this segment of the tornado was 115 to 125 mph.
July 1996	Lightning	Tahlequah	2 hurt	no account filed
May 2019	Tornado (EF2)	Peggs	1 hurt, $800,000	This is the first segment of a two-segment tornado. This large tornado developed southwest of the intersection of the N 420 Road and the W 660 Road. It moved northeast snapping and uprooting trees, and destroying outbuildings when it crossed those roads. Significant tree damage occurred as the tornado crossed the W 650 Road and approached Highway 82, where homes and businesses were severely damaged and numerous trees were snapped in Peggs. After moving through Peggs, the tornado continued to move northeast across mainly rural, rugged terrain where significant tree damage was noted for several miles. It crossed the N 495 Road snapping trees, damaging homes, and destroying outbuildings, and then moved into Delaware County. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in this segment of the tornado was 110 to 120 mph.
May 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Qualls	1 hurt, $250,000	Strong thunderstorm wind destroyed docks at the Snake Creek Marina. An RV was overturned at the Snake Creek RV park, resulting in an injury.
October 1998	Flash Flood	Countywide	1 hurt, $149,000	A family of four had to be rescued when their van started floating near Teresita. One of the rescuers, a member of the Oaks Fire Department, broke his arm when the van unexpectedly started floating away as the rescuers were approaching the vehicle. OK Hwy 80 was closed by flooding between Hulbert and Fort Gibson. In Tahlequah, six streets were closed by high water. Near Peggs, OK Hwy 82 was closed when waters from Blackbird Creek flowed over the road. Five locations along Shilo Road north of Gideon were washed away. Littlefield Bridge north of Peggs was washed away, and another road was washed out just south of Teresita.
May 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Tahlequah	1 hurt, $50,000	Strong thunderstorm wind blew down a tree onto a vehicle and travel trailer at Diamond Head Floats Resort, northeast of Tahlequah. A person was injured by this storm.
August 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Tahlequah	1 hurt, $25,000	Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew down several trees. A few of the trees fell on homes. One person was injured. In addition, the metal roof of the sanitation plant was damaged.
June 2000	Flash Flood	Countywide	$500,000	Heavy thunderstorm rains caused numerous rural roads around the county to be flooded. The flooding caused substantial damage to gravel roads and bridges. One of the major roads which was flooded was Highway 82 north of Tahlequah. Street flooding was also reported in Tahlequah. In addition to the flooding or roads, one mobile home was flooded just east of Tahlequah.
April 1995	Tornado (F2)	NR Qualls to	$500,000	no account filed
March 2004	Flash Flood	North Portion	$479,000	Heavy thunderstorm rains caused extensive flash flooding over the northern part of Cherokee County during the evening and overnight hours. Rainfall totals in this area were in the 3 to 4 inch range with a total of 3.99 inches at Kansas in a neighboring part of Delaware County. Numerous roads were flooded and damaged. One stream on which the flooding was particularly bad was Spring Creek. On it a bridge near Teresita was washed out.
July 2004	Flash Flood	Countywide	$277,000	Heavy thunderstorm rains which totaled 3.08 inches at Tahlequah caused extensive flooding of county roads. The flooding was so severe $277,000 damage was done to infrastructure.
March 1984	Tornado (F1)	not stated	$250,000	no account filed
April 1966	Tornado (F2)	not stated	$250,000	no account filed
July 1995	Thunderstorm Wind	Countywide	$200,000	no account filed
October 1995	Tornado (F0)	Tahlequah	$200,000	no account filed
April 2026	Tornado (EF1)	Zeb	$150,000	This tornado developed west of the S 490 Road and south of the W 830 Road. It moved northeast toward Park Hill, crossed Highway 82 and Murrel Road. The tornado uprooted numerous trees, damaged outbuildings, snapped numerous large tree limbs, and blew down power poles. A few trees were uprooted as it moved across Willis Road, then crossed the Illinois River and dissipated after producing more tree damage on the E 785 Road. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in the tornado was 95 to 105 mph.
April 2016	Tornado (EF1)	Qualls	$150,000	This tornado destroyed outbuildings, destroyed a boat dock on Lake Tenkiller, damaged homes, and snapped or uprooted numerous trees. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in the tornado was 100 to 110 mph.
May 2005	Flash Flood	Tahlequah	$100,000	Heavy rains caused flooding in Tahlequah. A few inches of water entered ten business. Four people had to be rescued after their car stalled in a low water crossing.
July 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Tahlequah	$100,000	Thunderstorm winds estimated at 80 miles an hour caused extensive damage in a one square mile area in the city of Tahlequah. Twelve homes and one shed were damaged. Numerous trees and large tree limbs were blown down.
July 1995	Thunderstorm Wind	Tahlequah	$100,000	no account filed
June 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Hulbert	$91,000	Thunderstorm wind resulted in at least $91,000 in damage to the utility infrastructure across the county during this severe thunderstorm.
November 2024	Tornado (EF1)	Barber	$80,000	This is the first segment of a four-segment tornado. The tornado developed southwest of Tenkiller and moved northeast, crossing into Adair County north of Caney Creek and south of the E 813 Road. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted in its path, and outbuildings were destroyed. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in this segment of the tornado was 100 to 110 mph.
April 2022	Hail	Tahlequah	$75,000	Golf ball size hail damaged homes, businesses, and vehicles.
July 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Melvin	$75,000	Strong thunderstorm wind blew down numerous trees and damaged buildings at Sequoyah State Park. Campgrounds around Fort Gibson State Park also sustained considerable tree damage.
May 2011	Tornado (EF1)	Peggs	$70,000	A tornado destroyed a mobile home, damaged the roof of a permanent home, and snapped or uprooted large trees. Maximum estimated wind in the tornado based on this damage was about 110 mph.
May 2025	Tornado (EF1)	Cookson Tenkiller Ar	$50,000	This is the first segment of a two segment tornado. The tornado developed south of the 920 Road, where numerous trees were snapped and uprooted, a couple homes were damaged, an outbuilding was destroyed, and power poles were snapped. The tornado moved northeast snapping and uprooting numerous trees and snapping large tree limbs as it moved through rugged terrain into Adair County. It produced a tornadic debris signature from the KSRX WSR-88D. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in this segment of the tornado was 105 to 110 mph.
June 2025	Tornado (EF1)	Tahlequah Arpt	$50,000	This tornado developed north of Burchett Road and west of Bryant Road. It moved east-southeast across the northern portion of Tahlequah, and then crossed Highway 10 and the Illinois River east of town. The tornado snapped and uprooted numerous trees along its path, some of which fell onto homes. This tornado produced a tornadic debris signature from the KINX and KSRX WSR-88Ds. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in the tornado was 105 to 110 mph.
June 2025	Tornado (EF1)	Robbins	$50,000	This is the first segment of a two segment tornado. The tornado developed north of Highway 62 and west of the 742 Road. It moved east through the 580 Road, and then turned more southeast, crossing Highway 62, and then moved into Adair County. The tornado uprooted and snapped numerous trees, some of the trees fell onto homes. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in this segment of the tornado was 95 to 105 mph.
February 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Scraper	$50,000	Strong thunderstorm wind damaged outbuildings and the roofs of homes, and blew down trees and power lines in a broad swath from Old Toll Gate Road to south of Oaks.
January 2020	Tornado (EF1)	Pettit	$50,000	This tornado damaged the roof of a permanent home and the roofs of two mobile homes, uprooted a number of trees, and damaged outbuildings. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in the tornado was 90 to 100 mph.
October 2014	Hail	Tahlequah	$50,000	Hail larger than baseball size damaged vehicles and the roofs of homes.
August 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Qualls	$50,000	Strong thunderstorm wind flipped a boat dock and overturned three pontoon boats. Several large trees were also blown down.
April 2011	Flood	Eldon	$50,000	The Baron Fork River near Eldon rose above its flood stage of 18 feet at 5:45 pm CDT on April 25th. The river crested at 28.51 feet at 10:30 pm CDT on the 25th, resulting in record flooding. Cabins at Camp Egan were flooded and significant areas of the campground were also under water. The river fell below flood stage at 5:45 am CDT on the 26th.
September 2010	Flash Flood	Barber	$50,000	Several county roads were damaged by flooding in the southern portion of the county.
May 2009	Flash Flood	Peggs	$50,000	Heavy rain caused numerous roads and some homes to be flooded across the northern part of Cherokee County. Some water rescues had to be performed.
March 2006	Tornado (F1)	Peggs	$50,000	Thunderstorms developed ahead of a dry line late in the afternoon on the 12th. The atmosphere ahead of the dry line was highly unstable and had strong low level wind shear. The combination of the instability and wind shear promoted the development of supercell thunderstorms, which moved east-northeast across northeastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas during the evening. The southernmost supercell produced four tornadoes. The tornadoes were on the ground for a combined 65 miles.The first tornado touched down in northwestern Cherokee County and moved east-northeast producing up to F1 damage in the county as assessed by a survey team. In Cherokee County, several homes received minor damage, outbuildings were destroyed, power lines were downed, and numerous trees were snapped or uprooted.This tornado continued into southern Delaware County about 2 miles south of Leach and eventually produced damage that was rated F3 on the Fujita Scale.
June 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Tahlequah	$50,000	Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour damaged a hangar and some planes at the airport near Tahlequah.
May 2003	Flash Flood	Tahlequah	$50,000	Heavy thunderstorm rains estimated at a rate of over an inch an hour caused severe street flooding. A few streets had to be closed and a car on one street was half submerged. The water on Main Street was so high that it flowed into several businesses.
May 2011	Hail	Peggs	$50,000	no account filed
April 2009	Hail	Tahlequah	$50,000	no account filed
April 1995	Tornado (F1)	Peggs	$50,000	no account filed
May 1999	Tornado (F1)	Hulbert	$35,000	An F1 tornado cut a swath through Cherokee County to the north and west of Hulbert. One mile north of OK Hwy 51 at a point two miles west of Hulbert, a house trailer was damaged, and trees and power lines were blown down. Three miles north of Hulbert near Blackbird Hill, numerous trees were uprooted, several sheds were destroyed, a mobile home was damaged, and roofs were torn off of several barns.
April 2012	Tornado (EF1)	Standing Rock	$30,000	A tornado damaged homes and destroyed several sheds and barns. It also snapped hardwood trees. Maximum estimated wind in the tornado based on this damage was 85 to 95 mph. The tornado continued into Adair County, Oklahoma.
November 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Melvin	$30,000	Strong thunderstorm wind damaged boat docks on the south end of Fort Gibson Lake, just east of the dam.
May 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Tahlequah	$30,000	Thunderstorm winds destroyed a 100 foot by 30 foot storage building, blew down 5 business signs and blew out the windows of 6 cars.
May 1999	Lightning	Tahlequah	$30,000	Lightning struck a home in Tahlequah, starting a fire and destroying appliances in nearby homes.
May 1999	Thunderstorm Wind	Tahlequah	$30,000	Numerous trees and tree limbs were blown over throughout Cherokee County, including Tahlequah. Many trees were blown into electrical lines. Strong winds also caused heavy damage to the county's north solid waste transfer station.
May 2022	Hail	Barber	$25,000	Hen egg size hail damaged homes and vehicles.
July 2020	Hail	Tahlequah	$25,000	Ping pong ball size hail damaged vehicles and homes.
February 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	Barber	$25,000	Strong thunderstorm winds uprooted trees, damaged the roof of a home, and destroyed outbuildings.
February 2018	Flood	Tahlequah	$25,000	A creek flooded cropland and a basement of a home.
July 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Tahlequah	$25,000	Strong thunderstorm wind blew down a tree onto home.
January 2008	Tornado (EF0)	Moodys	$25,000	An NWS survey team determined that a tornado damaged two barns, damaged the roofs of several houses, and uprooted a number of trees.
April 2004	Flash Flood	Countywide	$25,000	Heavy thunderstorm rains caused flash flooding across Cherokee county. Numerous roads were flooded at one time or another including Highway 62 near the junction of Highway 51. In addition, a structure at Eagle Bluffs Resort was flooded.
April 2011	Hail	Tahlequah	$25,000	no account filed

Mines and quarries

35 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 35 workings inside this county. 6 still produce and 29 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity	Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction	19
Stone, Crushed/Broken	11
Clay	4
Silica	1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Site	Commodity	Status
Charley Ryals Chert Pit	Silica	Past Producer
Unknown Shale Pit	Clay	Past Producer
Unknown Shale Pit	Clay	Past Producer
Unknown Shale Pit	Clay	Past Producer
Unknown Shale Pits	Clay	Producer
Arkhola #1	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Producer
Arkhola Roberts Quarry	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Producer
Arkhola Sand & Gravel Limestone Pit	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Producer
Arkhola Sand & Gravel Limestone Pit	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Producer
Unknown Limestone Pit	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Unknown Limestone Pit	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Unknown Limestone Pit	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Unknown Limestone Pit	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Unknown Limestone Pit	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Unknown Limestone Pit	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Unknown Limestone Pit	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Unknown Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
Unknown Gravel Pits	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Gravel Pits	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Gravel Pits	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Gravel Pits	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Gravel Pits	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer

Every populated place in the county

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on. The 2 places that were also surveyed for fire insurance come first, with the number of atlases and photographs held for them.

Park Hill

South Cherokee census division · 74464 · On Goodman Branch · Park Hill quadrangle

18 sheets, 1898 to 1978

Fire insurance: 2 atlases
Tahlequah

Tahlequah census division · 74464 · On Ross Branch · Tahlequah quadrangle

19 sheets, 1898 to 1978

Fire insurance: 9 atlases
Barber

East Cherokee census division · 74471 · On Caney Creek · Tailholt quadrangle

18 sheets, 1898 to 1978
Briggs

East Cherokee census division · 74464 · Near Eldon Mountain · Proctor quadrangle

18 sheets, 1898 to 1978
Caney Ridge

East Cherokee census division · 74471 · On Caney Creek · Park Hill quadrangle

18 sheets, 1898 to 1978
Carters Landing

South Cherokee census division · 74451 · Near Mahaney Mountain · Park Hill quadrangle

18 sheets, 1898 to 1978
Cookson

East Cherokee census division · 74427 · On Sixshooter Branch · Cookson quadrangle

19 sheets, 1898 to 1978
Dry Creek

East Cherokee census division · 74451 · Near Hopper Flat · Bunch quadrangle

17 sheets, 1898 to 1978
Eldon

East Cherokee census division · 74464 · On Eldon Mountain · Proctor quadrangle

18 sheets, 1898 to 1978
Eli

Hulbert census division · 74441 · Near Hinton Hollow · Hulbert quadrangle

20 sheets, 1901 to 1978
Ellerville

East Cherokee census division · 74457 · Near Telamay Hollow · Moodys quadrangle

18 sheets, 1899 to 1979
Etta

East Cherokee census division · 74471 · Near Sugar Mountain · Park Hill quadrangle

18 sheets, 1898 to 1978
Gabriel

Tahlequah census division · 74464 · Near Keener Knob · Thompson Corner quadrangle

20 sheets, 1901 to 1978
Gideon

North Cherokee census division · 74464 · On Blackbird Creek · Peggs quadrangle

15 sheets, 1896 to 1985
Green Country Estates

Tahlequah census division · 74464 · On Goodman Branch · Park Hill quadrangle

18 sheets, 1898 to 1978
Hulbert

Hulbert census division · 74441 · Near Waford Mountain · Hulbert quadrangle

20 sheets, 1901 to 1978
Indian Meadows

Tahlequah census division · 74464 · On Tahlequah Creek · Park Hill quadrangle

18 sheets, 1898 to 1978
Keys

South Cherokee census division · 74451 · Park Hill quadrangle

18 sheets, 1898 to 1978
Liberty

North Cherokee census division · 74464 · Moodys quadrangle

18 sheets, 1899 to 1979
Lost City

Hulbert census division · 74441 · Hulbert quadrangle

20 sheets, 1901 to 1978
Lowrey

North Cherokee census division · 74464 · Moodys quadrangle

18 sheets, 1899 to 1979
Manard

Tahlequah census division · 74434 · On Fire Branch · Zeb quadrangle

20 sheets, 1901 to 1978
Metory

Tahlequah census division · 74464 · Near Bob Warren Mountain · Zeb quadrangle

20 sheets, 1901 to 1978
Moodys

North Cherokee census division · 74464 · Moodys quadrangle

18 sheets, 1899 to 1979
New Spring Place

74457 · Proctor quadrangle

18 sheets, 1898 to 1978

No longer a settlement
Norwood

Hulbert census division · 74441 · Near Cedar Hollow · Fort Gibson Dam quadrangle

20 sheets, 1901 to 1978
Peggs

North Cherokee census division · 74441 · Near Dry Hollow · Peggs quadrangle

15 sheets, 1896 to 1985
Pettit

South Cherokee census division · 74451 · On Pettit Creek · Park Hill quadrangle

18 sheets, 1898 to 1978
Pettit Bay

South Cherokee census division · 74451 · On Pettit Creek · Park Hill quadrangle

18 sheets, 1898 to 1978
Qualls

South Cherokee census division · 74451 · Near Sellers Mountain · Qualls quadrangle

19 sheets, 1901 to 1978
Scraper

North Cherokee census division · 74464 · Near Kirk Springs Hollow · Chewey quadrangle

18 sheets, 1899 to 1979
Shady Grove

Hulbert census division · 74464 · Near Keener Knob · Thompson Corner quadrangle

20 sheets, 1901 to 1978
Tailholt

East Cherokee census division · 74471 · Near Sugar Mountain · Tailholt quadrangle

18 sheets, 1898 to 1978
Tenkiller

East Cherokee census division · 74471 · Near Negro Jake Hollow · Tailholt quadrangle

18 sheets, 1898 to 1978
Teresita

North Cherokee census division · 74364 · On Double Spring Creek · Moodys quadrangle

18 sheets, 1899 to 1979
Thompson Corner

Tahlequah census division · 74464 · Near Brown Mountain · Thompson Corner quadrangle

20 sheets, 1901 to 1978
Tsa La Gi Indian Village

South Cherokee census division · 74464 · On Goodman Branch · Park Hill quadrangle

18 sheets, 1898 to 1978
Welling

East Cherokee census division · 74471 · Near Minning Camp Hollow · Tahlequah quadrangle

19 sheets, 1898 to 1978
White Oak

South Cherokee census division · 74451 · Near Sellers Mountain · Qualls quadrangle

19 sheets, 1901 to 1978
Wildcat Point

South Cherokee census division · 74451 · Near Big Hollow · Park Hill quadrangle

18 sheets, 1898 to 1978
Woodall

Tahlequah census division · 74464 · On Bobtail Creek · Zeb quadrangle

20 sheets, 1901 to 1978
Zeb

Tahlequah census division · 74464 · Near Bob Warren Mountain · Zeb quadrangle

20 sheets, 1901 to 1978

The vanished settlements of Cherokee County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

Recorded here

Tahlequah, Oklahoma

19 topographic sheets and 9 fire insurance atlases, 1894 to 1949

Park Hill, Oklahoma

18 topographic sheets and 2 fire insurance atlases, 1919

Everything this county holds

The complete index, with nothing left out. Each of these is a separate record with its own page: a federal survey report, or the case file that argued a property on to the National Register. Both are public domain and reproduced word for word.

Surveyed structures

7 structures

The vanished settlements of Cherokee County, the places these records name that are no longer on the map.

Provenance

Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.