Okfuskee County combines a diverse historical heritage with specific nature-based attractions and events. The county lies in the Sandstone Hills physiographic region. Its history stretches from Greenleaf, founded in the 1830s as a Creek tribal town, to the African American towns of Boley and Clearview. The city of Okemah contributes another part of the local cultural history through Woody Guthrie’s birthplace and the festival named in his honor.
Sandstone Hills and Waterways
The Deep Fork of the Canadian River drains the northeastern corner of Okfuskee County. To the south, the North Canadian River forms the boundary with Seminole County. The Deep Fork Wildlife Management Area covers 12,820 acres in southern Creek County and northern Okfuskee County. Its habitats include wooded floodplains, old fields, native prairies, and stands of post oak and blackjack oak. The Deep Fork of the Canadian River is home to numerous channel catfish and flathead catfish.
These landscape details highlight different aspects of the county: the Sandstone Hills as a physiographic region, waterways as defining geographic features, and the Wildlife Management Area with its several described habitat types. Visitors particularly interested in nature will find specific themes to consider when planning a trip, without reducing the landscape to a single viewpoint or activity.
History in Greenleaf, Okemah, and Boley
Greenleaf was founded in the 1830s as a Creek tribal town within what is now Okfuskee County. The Okfuskee County Courthouse also tells the story of the county: built in 1926, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Okfuskee County Historical Society & Museum is housed in a 1926 Masonic temple. It features exhibits and displays about the county’s past and includes numerous early photographs from the surrounding area.
Boley was founded in 1903 as a camp for Black railroad construction workers and is one of Oklahoma’s 13 surviving African American towns. Clearview, also one of these 13 towns, was established in 1903 along the Fort Smith and Western Railroad line. Their different founding stories give each place its own focus in local history. The Boley Historical Museum, housed in a home dating from 1929, holds numerous artifacts from Boley’s early years as an African American town.
In Boley, the history of the Farmers & Merchants Bank brings together architecture and local lore: the building was originally constructed in 1906 and rebuilt in the 1920s. Pretty Boy Floyd’s gang once tried to rob the bank but was stopped by local residents. Boley Tours offers guided tours of the area; check in advance for current dates.
WoodyFest and Other Events
Woody Guthrie was born in Okemah on July 14, 1912. Two historical markers at the Woody Guthrie memorial sign commemorate his birthplace and hometown. For more than 20 years, artists, songwriters, and folk music fans from around the world have gathered for WoodyFest around his birthday. The festival runs for four consecutive days and features live performances, activities, and community events, as well as storytelling events, spoken word, panel discussions, and workshops. Dates and programming may change; check the details for your travel year.
Another recurring event is Boley’s rodeo, held every Memorial Day weekend and considered the oldest community-based rodeo in the African American community. Okemah Pioneer Days offers another event highlight, with a rodeo and historical reenactments, as well as parades, fair activities, food trucks, and carousels. Here, too, it’s a good idea to check the specific dates and program details before making plans.
Things to Do Around Okemah
Okemah Lake has a public park offering fishing, swimming, boating, and camping. The listed facilities include 18 RV sites with water and electrical hookups, as well as several basic campsites. There are also two boat ramps and an accessible fishing pier. Since facilities and site availability may change, confirm current offerings and site availability before planning your visit.
Golf enthusiasts will find a nine-hole course at Okemah Golf Club, with bentgrass greens, Bermuda grass fairways, and three water hazards. This is a different focus from the events or lake activities: when choosing when to travel, you can first decide whether WoodyFest, Memorial Day weekend in Boley, or Okemah Lake is the deciding factor.
Discover more destinations: Okemah, Pawnee County, Tulsa, Le Flore, Caddo County, Jefferson County, Kingfisher, Marshall County.
For the broader travel overview: Oklahoma.
