Kiamitia County
Encyclopedia
Kiamitia County, also known as Kiamichi County, was a political subdivision of the Choctaw Nation
of Indian Territory
. The county formed part of the nation’s Pushmataha District
, or Third District, one of three administrative super-regions.
The county seat
of Kiamitia County was Goodland. This was the original settlement of Goodland, four miles north of present-day Hugo, Oklahoma
. A United States Post Office operated at Goodland, Indian Territory from August 21, 1871 to February 28, 1902. The community centered at the county seat no longer exists. Modern Goodland is located three miles south of Hugo. A post office calling itself Goodland, Oklahoma, located in Goodland Indian Orphanage, operated there from April 5, 1915 to July 31, 1944.
The spelling and rendering of the county’s official name appears to have been Kiamitia, reflecting the fact that the name
of the Kiamichi River
—for which it was named—was not standardized as such until the 20th century. The Choctaw Nation labeled the county as “Kiamitia” as did Angie Debo
, its preeminent historian
, who used the term in her epic 1934 work, The Rise and Fall of the Choctaw Republic. Edwin C. McReynolds, in his landmark 1965 Historical Atlas of Oklahoma, renders the spelling of the county as “Kiamichi”.
Kiamitia County’s boundaries were, as were all Choctaw counties, designated according to easily recognizable natural landmarks. Much of its northern boundary, south of Antlers, Oklahoma
was formed by Dumpling Creek. Much of its western boundary was Middle Boggy Creek. Its eastern boundary, in part, was formed by the Kiamichi River and its southern boundary was the Red River.
As Oklahoma’s statehood approached, its leading citizens, participating in the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention, realized in laying out the future state’s counties that Kiamitia County could not exist as an economically viable political subdivision. By the time of Oklahoma’s statehood in 1907 its county seat
existed generally for holding county court
, as well as for educational and religious purposes, and not as a population center. Hugo, by then the area’s largest town, was until statehood cut off from some of its natural economic hinterland
, which fell within neighboring Red River County and Towson County of the Choctaw Nation.
This conundrum was also recognized by the framers of the proposed State of Sequoyah
, who met in 1905 to propose statehood for the Indian Territory. The county structure proposed by the Sequoyah Constitutional Convention also abolished the Choctaw counties. Kiamitia County was generally kept as a unit, but was expanded to the east and west and called Hitchcock County
. The proposed county seat for Hitchcock County was Hugo.
Much of this proposition was borrowed by Oklahoma’s framers, who largely adopted the proposed boundaries for Hitchcock County but called it Choctaw County, Oklahoma
, establishing Hugo as its county seat.
Like all Choctaw counties, Kiamitia County served as an election district for members of the National Council, and as a unit of local administration. Constitutional officers, all of whom served for two-year terms and were elected by the voters, included the county judge, sheriff
, and a ranger. The judge’s duties included oversight of overall county administration. The sheriff collected taxes, monitored unlawful intrusion by intruders (usually white Americans from the United States), and conducted the census
. The county ranger advertised and sold strayed livestock
.
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is a semi-autonomous Native American homeland comprising twelve tribal districts. The Choctaw Nation maintains a special relationship with both the United States and Oklahoma governments...
of Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
. The county formed part of the nation’s Pushmataha District
Pushmataha District
Pushmataha District was one of three administrative super-regions comprising the former Choctaw Nation in the Indian Territory. Also called the Third District, it encompassed the southwestern one-third of the nation....
, or Third District, one of three administrative super-regions.
The county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Kiamitia County was Goodland. This was the original settlement of Goodland, four miles north of present-day Hugo, Oklahoma
Hugo, Oklahoma
Hugo is a city in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Oklahoma, bordering Texas. Hugo is the county seat for Choctaw County and has a population of 5,395 as of 2009 estimates. The city serves as winter quarters for some circus performers...
. A United States Post Office operated at Goodland, Indian Territory from August 21, 1871 to February 28, 1902. The community centered at the county seat no longer exists. Modern Goodland is located three miles south of Hugo. A post office calling itself Goodland, Oklahoma, located in Goodland Indian Orphanage, operated there from April 5, 1915 to July 31, 1944.
The spelling and rendering of the county’s official name appears to have been Kiamitia, reflecting the fact that the name
Name
A name is a word or term used for identification. Names can identify a class or category of things, or a single thing, either uniquely, or within a given context. A personal name identifies a specific unique and identifiable individual person, and may or may not include a middle name...
of the Kiamichi River
Kiamichi River
The Kiamichi River is a river in southeastern Oklahoma. A tributary of the Red River, its headwaters rise on Pine Mountain in the Ouachita Mountains near the Arkansas border...
—for which it was named—was not standardized as such until the 20th century. The Choctaw Nation labeled the county as “Kiamitia” as did Angie Debo
Angie Debo
Angie Elbertha Debo was an American historian who wrote 13 books and hundreds of articles about Native American and Oklahoma history...
, its preeminent historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, who used the term in her epic 1934 work, The Rise and Fall of the Choctaw Republic. Edwin C. McReynolds, in his landmark 1965 Historical Atlas of Oklahoma, renders the spelling of the county as “Kiamichi”.
Kiamitia County’s boundaries were, as were all Choctaw counties, designated according to easily recognizable natural landmarks. Much of its northern boundary, south of Antlers, Oklahoma
Antlers, Oklahoma
Antlers is a city in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma. The population was 2,552 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Pushmataha County.-Geography:Antlers is located at...
was formed by Dumpling Creek. Much of its western boundary was Middle Boggy Creek. Its eastern boundary, in part, was formed by the Kiamichi River and its southern boundary was the Red River.
As Oklahoma’s statehood approached, its leading citizens, participating in the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention, realized in laying out the future state’s counties that Kiamitia County could not exist as an economically viable political subdivision. By the time of Oklahoma’s statehood in 1907 its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
existed generally for holding county court
County Court
A county court is a court based in or with a jurisdiction covering one or more counties, which are administrative divisions within a country, not to be confused with the medieval system of county courts held by the High Sheriff of each county.-England and Wales:County Court matters can be lodged...
, as well as for educational and religious purposes, and not as a population center. Hugo, by then the area’s largest town, was until statehood cut off from some of its natural economic hinterland
Hinterland
The hinterland is the land or district behind a coast or the shoreline of a river. Specifically, by the doctrine of the hinterland, the word is applied to the inland region lying behind a port, claimed by the state that owns the coast. The area from which products are delivered to a port for...
, which fell within neighboring Red River County and Towson County of the Choctaw Nation.
This conundrum was also recognized by the framers of the proposed State of Sequoyah
State of Sequoyah
The State of Sequoyah was the proposed name for a state to be established in the eastern part of present-day Oklahoma. In 1905, faced by proposals to end their tribal governments, Native Americans of the Five Civilized Tribes in Indian Territory proposed such a state as a means to retain some...
, who met in 1905 to propose statehood for the Indian Territory. The county structure proposed by the Sequoyah Constitutional Convention also abolished the Choctaw counties. Kiamitia County was generally kept as a unit, but was expanded to the east and west and called Hitchcock County
Hitchcock County, Sequoyah
Hitchcock County was a proposed political subdivision created by the Sequoyah Constitutional Convention. The convention, meeting in Muskogee, Indian Territory in 1905, established the political and administrative layout of a prospective U.S...
. The proposed county seat for Hitchcock County was Hugo.
Much of this proposition was borrowed by Oklahoma’s framers, who largely adopted the proposed boundaries for Hitchcock County but called it Choctaw County, Oklahoma
Choctaw County, Oklahoma
Choctaw County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 15,342. Its county seat is Hugo.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and is water....
, establishing Hugo as its county seat.
Like all Choctaw counties, Kiamitia County served as an election district for members of the National Council, and as a unit of local administration. Constitutional officers, all of whom served for two-year terms and were elected by the voters, included the county judge, sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
, and a ranger. The judge’s duties included oversight of overall county administration. The sheriff collected taxes, monitored unlawful intrusion by intruders (usually white Americans from the United States), and conducted the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
. The county ranger advertised and sold strayed livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
.