United States Post Office Watonga

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.

From the record

“The United States Post Office Watonga, in Watonga, Oklahoma, is a Colonial Revival-style building built in 1936. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.”
Wikipedia article United States Post Office Watonga, CC BY-SA 4.0.

One of 18 National Register listings published here for Blaine County · listed in 2009 · category: Building.

Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service

The listing

What is counted as historic. The nomination lists 1 building as contributing to the listing.
Address. 121 N. Noble Ave., Watonga, 73772
When was it listed? April 2009
Category. building
Also known as. Oklahoma Post Offices with Section Art MPS
Census division. Watonga
National Register reference number. 09000213 - the number the National Park Service assigned this property when it was listed, and the key its nomination file is catalogued under at the National Archives.

Fires near this property

39 since 1996

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 39 fires within 5 miles of United States Post Office Watonga between 1996 and 2019, burning about 1,426 acres in total. None started naturally. 3 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
Missing data/not specified/undetermined	12
Equipment and vehicle use	10
Debris and open burning	7
Arson/incendiarism	3
Misuse of fire by a minor	2
Fireworks	2
Railroad operations and maintenance	1
Recreation and ceremony	1
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
5 July 2013	Fireworks	under an acre	Concho Field Office	BANG
4 July 2011	Fireworks	under an acre	Concho Field Office	FEATHER WARRIOR
1 July 1996	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	5.0 acres	Concho Field Office	BACON
23 June 2009	Equipment and vehicle use	10 acres	Concho Field Office	RINEHEART
2 June 2008	Debris and open burning	40 acres	Concho Field Office	HITCHCOCK
5 May 1996	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	20 acres	Concho Field Office	TROJON
3 May 1996	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	25 acres	Concho Field Office	CLUB
24 May 2012	Equipment and vehicle use	30 acres	Concho Field Office	POTTER

Every fire recorded in Blaine County

Mines and quarries near this property

10 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 10 workings within 5 miles of United States Post Office Watonga: 8 past producers, 2 producers. 2 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Gypsum-Anhydrite. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Site	Commodity	Status
Atlas Gypsum Pit	Gypsum-Anhydrite	Producer
Unknown Gypsum Pit	Gypsum-Anhydrite	Past Producer
Boon Pit & Plant	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
Unknown Sand and Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand and Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand and Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand and Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand and Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand and Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Siltstone Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer

Every working recorded in Blaine County

Storms near this property

60 of 123 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Watonga, the town this property stands in, in 123 storm reports between 1993 and 2026: 53 hail, 52 thunderstorm wind, 5 tornado, 4 flash flood. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. 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
August 2007	Flash Flood	Watonga	$1,000,000	Heavy rain and high winds pounded most areas in Blaine county. Rainfall amounts of 5 to 8 inches resulted in widespread flash flooding. In Watonga, the American Horse Road was washed out by the Hal Geyner Farm. One hundred and twenty four residences had minor flood damage, 21 suffered major damage, and five homes were destroyed. At Greenfield, 13 residences had minor flood damage and two had major damage. At Hitchcock, one residence had minor damage. Numerous city and county roads had to be closed due to widespread flash flooding. Monetary damages were estimated.
August 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	$500,000	Widespread wind damage was reported in and near Watonga. Prolonged high winds and numerous severe gusts occurred in and around Watonga from 1 am until around 415 am. 82 mph winds were reported at Watonga airport at 254 am before weather instruments stopped reporting. One open hangar and 2 T-hangars were completely destroyed.\|Six planes were damaged, some severely. Windows were blown out of numerous businesses. Numerous trees, power poles, and power lines were blown down. A train car was on its side after being blown off the track. Two light towers at the baseball field collapsed and one was bent. Monetary damages were estimated.
November 2024	Tornado (EF1)	Watonga	$50,000	This tornado developed south of Watonga and moved due north just west of US-270 and then SH-8 through the west side of Watonga. At least five homes and a two outbuildings were damaged, along with trees and power poles. One large tree fell onto a vehicle, and a large tree branch fell onto another.
October 1998	Tornado (F2)	Watonga	$50,000	no account filed
May 1995	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	$50,000	no account filed
July 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	$20,000	Numerous power poles blown down near the intersection of North 2630 Road and East 820 Road. Time is radar estimated.
June 2000	Lightning	Watonga	$15,000	Lightning struck a herd of 5 cattle, killing them.
September 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	$10,000	A strong wind gust blew the steeple off of the Watonga Christian Church. A large tree was also uprooted. Many tree limbs and fences were downed across town.
October 2000	Lightning	Watonga	$10,000	Lightning struck a utility pole causing damage to wiring and electrical appliances at a nearby house.
October 1998	Lightning	Watonga	$8,000	no account filed
March 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	$7,000	A barn was destroyed. Trees and power poles were downed, and a garage was damaged.
May 1999	Tornado (F1)	Watonga	$5,000	Tornado E2 (Blaine County portion). See summary at end of May 3rd storm reports.
August 1997	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	$5,000	Severe thunderstorm winds bent road signs over on Highway 33.
May 1999	Lightning	Watonga	$1,000	no account filed
July 1996	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	$1,000	no account filed
March 1997	Tornado (F0)	Watonga	$550	A brief tornado, probably a landspout, struck a barn just northeast of Watonga. Nearby witnesses described a white funnel that touched down for about 5 seconds and threw tin from the barn into the air. The barn lost its roof and two of its sides. A long piece of pipe that had been in the barn was thrown about a hundred feet and speared about 5 feet into the ground. Another piece of metal was blown through the roof and ceiling of a nearby house.The landspout formed in a small, weak, unorganized thunderstorm. Nearby witnesses, including the residents of the damaged farm, described a blue sky and only a few sprinkles with the brief storm.
March 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	$500	A metal shed was damaged on Taylor Road, and fences and tree limbs were downed.
July 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	$500	Trees and power lines were downed.
May 1999	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	$500	no account filed
May 1996	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	$10	no account filed
April 2026	Hail	Watonga	-	The report was relayed through mPING. The event time was adjusted based on radar observations.
April 2026	Hail	Watonga	-	The report was relayed through mPING. The event time was adjusted based on radar observations.
March 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	-	Watonga (WATO) Mesonet observation.
June 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	-	Watonga Regional Airport (KJWG) observation.
June 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	-	Watonga (WATO) Mesonet observation.
June 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	-	Watonga (WATO) Mesonet observation.
June 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	-	Watonga Regional Airport (KJWG) observation.
June 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	-	Watonga (WATO) Mesonet observation.
June 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	-	Watonga (WATO) Mesonet observation.
June 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	-	Watonga (WATO) Mesonet observation.
June 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	-	Watonga Report Airport (KJWG) observation.
August 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	-	Watonga (WATO) Mesonet observation.
August 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	-	Watonga (WATO) Mesonet observation.
August 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	-	Watonga Airport (KJWG) observation.
May 2019	Flood	Watonga	-	Standing water in low lying areas. Picture of Laing Ave. Shared via twitter.
February 2019	Hail	Watonga	-	Reported through Mping.
April 2017	Flash Flood	Watonga	-	Water was six to eight inches deep on residential streets.
June 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	-	No damage reported.
May 2016	Hail	Watonga	-	This report was relayed via Twitter.
May 2015	Hail	Watonga	-	No damage reported.
July 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	-	No damage was reported with the wind gust.
October 2009	Heavy Rain	Watonga	-	The total rainfall accumulation was 2.66 inches.
May 2008	Hail	Watonga	-	The hail was reported near Highway 8.
July 2008	Heavy Rain	Watonga	-	One hour rainfall totals were at least 1.80 inches.
August 2007	Heavy Rain	Watonga	-	A total of 9.11 inches of rainfall was recorded between 7 AM on the 18th and 7 AM on the 19th.
June 2007	Flash Flood	Watonga	-	Noble avenue in front of the Post Office were flooded and impassable.
August 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	-	The wind gust was measured at KJWG.
August 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	-	The wind gust was measured at Watonga Airport.
June 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	-	Wind was measured by the Oklahoma mesonet.
April 2004	Hail	Watonga	-	Hail was reported at Roman Nose State Park.
August 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	-	Wind was measured by the Oklahoma mesonet.
August 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	-	Wind was measured by the Oklahoma mesonet.
May 2001	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	-	Wind was measured by Oklahoma mesonet.
June 1998	Hail	Watonga	-	Quarter size hail covered the ground.
May 1997	Thunderstorm Wind	Watonga	-	measured at the Oklahoma Mesonet site
August 1997	Flash Flood	Watonga	-	After 4.92 inches of rain in only a few hours, several homes in town were flooded.
September 2023	Hail	Watonga	-	no account filed
April 2023	Hail	Watonga	-	no account filed
May 2022	Hail	Watonga	-	no account filed
May 2021	Hail	Watonga	-	no account filed

Every storm recorded in Blaine County

Map coverage status

No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.

Listed places nearby

6 within 8 miles

Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.

Property	Distance	Listed
Noble Hotel	under 500 feet	1996
Blaine County Courthouse	0.1 miles	1984
Watonga Armory	0.2 miles	1994
J. H. Wagner House	0.3 miles	1983
Thompson Benton Ferguson House	0.3 miles	1973
Cronkhite Ranch House	6.7 miles	1983

Sources for this property

National Archives record	The nomination case file for reference 09000213 in Record Group 79.
Wikipedia article	Community-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA.
Blaine County	All 18 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
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.