Latimer County

Latimer County is located in the mountains of southeastern Oklahoma, and was created at statehood and named for James S. Latimer, a member of the Constitutional Convention. The Butterfield Overland Mail Route, extending from St. Louis to San Francisco, cut through the county with four stops which are now open to visitors. Shortly after the Civil War, outlaws, including Belle Starr, Cole Younger and Frank and Jesse James used the secluded cliffs, caves, and natural corrals as hide–outs from justice. In 1875, Isaac Parker, a Federal Judge at Fort Smith, Arkansas, became known as the hanging judge because of his efforts to restore order. Latimer County has five reservoirs and is rich in minerals as well as forests, ranch land and recreational opportunities.

Things To See and Do

Robbers Cave State Park is in the area in which the outlaws make their hideouts. Treasure hunters, looking for loot from stagecoach and bank robberies have almost closed the cave, but amateur geologists, mountain climbers, and young and old still find themselves unable to resist climbing the huge rock formation.

Lake Wayne Wallace is a well–known bass hot–spot and Carlton Lake is stocked with rainbow trout December through March. Both lakes are in the Robbers Cave State Park where there is camping, equestrian camping, cabins, miniature golf, paddle boats, hiking, fishing and tours of nature center and nature trails.

The Haley–Ola Company House, east of Wilburton has been restored with period furniture and contains hundreds of artifacts, mining records and photographs from the area’s mining days.

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