Cookson, Oklahoma
19 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1898 and the latest in 1978. It stands in the East Cherokee census division. It lies in ZIP code area 74427. It stands on Sixshooter Branch. The Survey maps it on the Cookson quadrangle. 826 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 902 feet above sea level.
Topographic sheets covering this place
9 surveys from 19 printed sheetsMatched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.
- 1898 USGS Tahlequah quadrangle1:125000
- 1901 USGS Tahlequah quadrangle1:125000, 8 printings
- 1905 USGS Tahlequah quadrangle1:125000
- 1946 USGS Fort Smith quadrangle1:250000
- 1965 USGS Fort Smith quadrangle1:250000
- 1967 USGS Fort Smith quadrangle1:250000
- 1972 USGS Cookson quadrangle1:24000, 3 printings
- 1978 USGS Fort Smith quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1978 USGS Stilwell quadrangle1:100000
Fires near this place
338 since 1992Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 338 fires within 5 miles of Cookson between 1992 and 2020, burning about 10,591 acres in total. 12 started naturally. 143 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Arson/incendiarism | 143 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 90 |
| Debris and open burning | 64 |
| Natural | 12 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 8 |
| Smoking | 5 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 5 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 5 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 3 |
| Other causes | 2 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 1 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 September 2013 | Arson/incendiarism | 2.0 acres | Oklahoma Division of Forestry | not named |
| 7 September 2013 | Arson/incendiarism | 5.0 acres | Oklahoma Division of Forestry | not named |
| 4 September 2013 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 2.0 acres | Oklahoma Division of Forestry | not named |
| 4 September 2000 | Misuse of fire by a minor | 18 acres | Oklahoma Division of Forestry | not named |
| 30 September 2000 | Arson/incendiarism | under an acre | Oklahoma Division of Forestry | not named |
| 29 September 2000 | Natural | 1.0 acres | Oklahoma Division of Forestry | not named |
| 26 September 2016 | Debris and open burning | 32 acres | Oklahoma Division of Forestry | not named |
| 20 September 2000 | Natural | 1.0 acres | Oklahoma Division of Forestry | not named |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
5 within 5 milesRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 5 workings within 5 miles of Cookson: 4 past producers, 1 producer. 1 still produces. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Clay, Stone, Crushed/Broken. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown Limestone Pit | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown Gravel Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown Gravel Pits | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown Shale Pit | Clay | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown Shale Pits | Clay | Producer |
Storms near this place
60 of 70 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Cookson in 70 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 37 hail, 31 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood, 1 tornado. The reports record 5 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| August 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cookson | $10,000 | Thunderstorm winds estimated at 80 miles an hour destroyed a boat dock and blew down sixteen trees. |
| May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cookson | $5,000 | Strong thunderstorm wind blew down multiple large trees and power lines. |
| July 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cookson | $5,000 | Thunderstorm wind estimated in excess of 70 miles an hour damage a boat dock. |
| May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cookson | $5,000 | no account filed |
| August 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cookson | $2,000 | Strong thunderstorm wind blew down four large trees, and blew down power lines. |
| May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cookson | $2,000 | Strong thunderstorm wind blew down large trees and damaged the awning of a store. |
| May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cookson | $1,000 | Thunderstorms winds estimated at 60 miles an hour blew down large tree limbs and a few power lines. |
| November 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cookson | $500 | Trees were blown down over a road in southeast Cherokee County. |
| February 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cookson | $100 | Thunderstorm winds blew down trees. |
| March 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cookson | $100 | Thunderstorm winds blew a tree down onto Highway 82 near Cookson. |
| May 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cookson | $100 | Thunderstorms winds blew down several large tree limbs near Snake Creek Marina. |
| December 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cookson | $100 | Thunderstorm winds blew several large tree limbs down. |
| June 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cookson | $100 | no account filed |
| May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cookson | - | A trained storm spotter measured thunderstorm wind gusts to 82 mph. |
| April 2017 | Flash Flood | Cookson | - | Cato Creek Road was closed near Lake Tenkiller due to flooding. |
| April 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cookson | - | Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 miles an hour blew down large tree limbs. |
| April 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cookson | - | Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew down a tree. The tree fell on a highway. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cookson | - | Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew down several large trees and large tree limbs. |
| June 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cookson | - | Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 miles an hour blew down large tree limbs. |
| October 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cookson | - | Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew down trees and large tree limbs near Snake Creek Wilderness Lodge. |
| September 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cookson | - | Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 miles an hour blew down numerous large tree limbs. |
| July 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cookson | - | Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew down several trees. |
| June 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cookson | - | Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 miles an hour blew down numerous trees. |
| September 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cookson | - | Location: Blue Top Cafe |
| June 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cookson | - | Severe thunderstorms moved across northeast Oklahoma during the morning of June 29th. Strong thunderstorm winds in Broken Arrow downed trees near 129th East Avenue between 111th Street South and 121st Street South, and large tree limbs were also blown down in the same area. Large trees were blown down in Muskogee, and a large tree was snapped and several small trees were broken by strong winds at Cherokee Landing State Park five miles north of Cookson. Strong thunderstorm winds downed several large tree limbs in Osage, four miles west of Sand Springs, two miles north of Bixby, and two miles north of Oneta, and dime-size hail fell in Claremore. Very heavy rainfall from the thunderstorms also resulted in flash flooding. Street flooding occurred in Sand Springs, and major street flooding occurred in the city of Tulsa, where water covered roads to a depth of three feet near the intersection of 61st Street South and Mingo Road. A bridge was also under water near the intersection of 101st Street South and Mingo Road in Tulsa, and one foot of water covered State Highway 20, four miles west of Claremore. The high water knocked fences down along State Highway 20 west of Claremore. Roads were flooded in Tahlequah, and high water flooded roads at Cherokee Landing State Park five miles north of Cookson. |
| March 2017 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| March 2009 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| August 2009 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| March 2008 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| May 2006 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| May 2006 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| May 2006 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| April 2006 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| August 2006 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| January 2005 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| May 2005 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| April 2004 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| April 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| April 2004 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| March 2004 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| March 2004 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| March 2004 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| March 2004 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| August 2003 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| July 2003 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| December 2003 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| May 2003 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| June 2003 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| August 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| October 2000 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| May 1999 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| May 1998 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| April 1998 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| April 1997 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| April 1997 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| May 1997 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| April 1996 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| April 1996 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
| April 1996 | Hail | Cookson | - | no account filed |
Nearest settlements
The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.
| Map | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Creek | 3.1 miles | 17 | |
| Pettit Bay | 3.1 miles | 18 | |
| Wildcat Point | 3.7 miles | 18 | |
| Caney Ridge | 4.2 miles | 18 | |
| Barber | 4.2 miles | 18 | |
| Pettit | 4.4 miles | 18 | |
| White Oak | 5.9 miles | 19 | |
| Carters Landing | 6.0 miles | 18 |
Elsewhere
Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.
| Wikipedia article on Cookson | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q5167197 | The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0). |
Provenance
This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 1100317. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
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.








