Address. It established itself as a self-governing town by blacks, for blacks and boasted at one point over 5,000 citizens, Head said of Boley. Gary Johnson received more votes than Donald Trump in the precinct containing Langston University.[9]. "You get a small stipend, but it's not much. Langston Campus Tulsa Campus OKC Campus Langston Campus 1 of 5 next In spite of the railroad setback, however, townspeople successfully lobbied to have the Colored Agricultural and Normal University of Oklahoma (today Langston University) established in Langston in 1897. Dr. Francis Shelton Mayor A graduate of Boley High School in 1964, Dr. Francis Shelton has been the Mayor of Boley since 2015. And as far as I know, there were only four cases of COVID, and we have a very good immunization record.. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. It was advertised that Oklahoma () was a wonderful place with rich soil, great land, great opportunities, said Jessilyn Head. Thats beginning to change.. The Boley Rodeo is presented by Williams Ranch Boley LLC and The Boley Chamber of Commerce. Famous African American educator Booker T. Washington visited Boley on occasions and called it the most enterprising and in many ways the most interesting Negro town in the United States, according to the Oklahoma Historical Society. [a] He named the town for John Mercer Langston, a black member of the 51st United States Congress from Virginia. Boyles lives across the street from his predecessor, Sheila Stevenson, whod held the position for four years. In its prime, Clearview attracted white people to watch the towns baseball teams, which Nero said were among the best in the country., They would have games every summer just from all over the county and surrounding counties, Nero said. Because of her love for her hometown, in 1985, Dr. Shelton moved back to Boley and purchased the hardware store and worked for the Department of Human Services as a social worker for Okfuskee County DHS. [5] Forego a bottle of soda and donate its cost to us for the information you just learned, and feel good about helping to make it available to everyone. Just one day before Oklahoma became a state, an ad in The Muskogee Cimeter, a black-owned newspaper, proclaimed excitement and hope for blacks in Oklahoma, according to a magazine by the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department tilted Long Road to Liberty. 2019 Official Website for The Town of Boley, All Rights Reserved. High 64F. The town, which opened for settlement on October 22, 1890, was named for John Mercer Langston, who took office as the first black Virginian to serve in the United States House of Representatives only one month earlier. Even a town as small as ours has not avoided the wrath of the pandemic, Boyles said. Historically Black colleges: Langston University erases $4.65 million in student debt, This is a small town, and the former mayor is my neighbor, Boyles said. Thank you for your service to the citizens of Oklahoma. Thousands of our native people are land holders, and have thousands of acres of rich lands to rent and lease. The median income for a household in the town was $14,722, and the median income for a family was $26,042. View More. Between 1856 and 1920, more than 50 all-black towns were founded in Oklahoma, totaling more than anywhere else in the country and creating a mindset that Oklahoma could be a land of opportunity for black Americans. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. Weve been pretty blessed overall so far to not see much spread, Boyles said. You have permission to edit this article. The annual Rentiesville Blues Festival has brought the town modern notoriety, though its founder D.C. Minner died in 2008. You can opt-out at any time. A Langston city council member reported the news Sunday evening. 1 talking about this. We each have a special event that occurs in each town., We did do our own tours,she said. The mayor of the town of Langston, Okla., Dr. Blayne Hinds, died Sunday from natural causes at the age of 68. The populations of the towns rarely recovered, and many lost resources. He is very active in the town. This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties, The townsite was actually owned by a white man, Charles Robbins, who surveyed and filed a plat in 1891. On one side of the street you have a famous university, and on the other side of it, its as if it doesnt exist. Be among the first to get breaking news, weather, and general news updates from News 9 delivered right to your inbox! In Oklahomas all-black towns, former slaves and their children found life to be free from prejudice and brutality by not having their population mixed like other communities in the South and Midwest, according to the Oklahoma Historical Society. Clara G. Allen and Jasmine Guy performed their original pieces titled Tribute to a Fallen Soldier and Fallen, but not Forgotten, respectively. Please refer to our. Partly cloudy. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. We just purchased a welcome center for the town of Clearview with our own money. For his whole life, Boyles has lived in Langston, one of 13 historically all-Black towns in Oklahoma, all of them rural. By 1904, a two-story hotel was constructed along with a print shop. If youre really thinking about Oklahoma being a Negro state, and you want to cut off the chance of that happening, the first thing that you want to do is cut off the supply of things, Boyles said. [5][b] McCabe used traveling salesmen and African-American newspapers to advertise lots for sale in Langston, and the deeds which accompanied the sale of these lots stipulated that their re-sale could only be to other African-Americans. There were 199 households, out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 16.1% were married couples living together, 27.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 53.3% were non-families. We just know each other.. The population was 1,724 at the 2010 census, an increase of 3.2 percent from the figure of 1,670 in 2000. There were 246 housing units at an average density of 132.1 per square mile (51.1/km2). Learn about our parking rules and regulations, pay tickets online and request enforcement. High 64F. She said residents used to use cisterns to hold their water, but the community decided it was not a safe way to store water and began digging wells. About five times a year, the pair hosts an all-black towns tour to highlight the history that African Americans have in Oklahoma. To Historic Langston, a unique location with boundless possibilities, nestled nicely in Northeast Logan County. The population was 1,724 at the 2010 census, an increase of 3.2 percent from 1,670 at the 2000 census. The mayor of the town of Langston, Okla ., Dr. Blayne Hinds, died Sunday from natural causes at the age of 68. search by city, state, property name, neighborhood, or address. Lawton Mayor Stan Booker presides at meetings of the council and ensures an agenda is available for all council meetings. The City Mayor I salary range is $70,400 to $96,775 in Langston, Oklahoma. African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African American Scientists and Technicians of the Manhattan Project, Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, Foundation, Organization, and Corporate Supporters. Langston was founded on April 22, 1890, by Edward P. McCabe, an African-American political figure from Kansas. Box 1256-Langston, Oklahoma-73050-(405) 466-2271-(405) 466-9703ft Boley also holds a rodeo annually over Memorial Day weekend. Boyles said the confirmed cases were all during the pandemics height in 2020, but managed to remain pretty mild. The youngest patient was 24 years old, and the oldest patient was 60 years old, but no one in Langston died as a result of COVID-19. Langston, OK. View Address. One business remains a clothing store and there used to be only one working phone. The Neros are members of the organization, as is Matthews. However, hes not new at public speaking as he had prior experience from his time as part of the Oklahoma City Black Chamber of Commerce. The median age was 21 years. The town of Langston in Logan County is located on State Highway 33, ten miles northeast of Guthrie. O'Dell creditedthe surge of interest in the Black towns to the 100th remembrance of the Tulsa Massacre, which prompted people throughout the U.S. to research Oklahoma's African American experience. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.9 males. Stan Booker graduated in 1974 from Eisenhower Senior High in Lawton, Oklahoma, and then attended Cameron University. Boley had the first black-owned bank to receive a national charter, giving it the ability to operate on the same level as white banks. Unlike the Tulsa enclave, the 60 businesses that lined Langstons Washington Street were not physically destroyed by racism, but the effect might as well have been the same. Maeoma Williams, the Co-Founder of the Wm Conrad Veterans Memorial Gardens, speaks during Monday's Memorial Day service in Langston. Self-Care: So, How Do We Get Started With 'Connection'? Most of the all-Black towns were put in severe financial jeopardy, and racial discrimination in agriculture and banking all but sealed the fate of the towns. 37.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Horn graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in psychology. From 2007 - 2009, she was President for the Royal Residential Land of Hope. Heres the thing, though, about small towns: If they dont like what youre doing, theyll vote you out. OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY. Once when your body gives out and the time we die is the last time someone ever mentions our name.. A Langston city council member reported the news Sunday evening. Mayors across the country discuss why reparations are important and what outcomes may emerge from their collective and individual efforts. Meetings. . Its area, population and other key information are listed below. Head said each of the towns lost their public schools owing to a law that removed schools with a low population. The absence of convenient access to the rails dealt the town an economic blow and stunted its population growth potential. Theyd have to go somewhere else to purchase something that was just too high to buy, so they said, Its no way we can do this here.. Langston was founded on April 22, 1890, by Edward P. McCabe, an African-American political figure from Kansas. It is home to an undergraduate population of nearly 2,000 and a surrounding city that's growing. 1.71 2.98 /5. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.32% of the population. Jessilyn Head said the bank has been closed for nearly 25 years. Boyles said he would be happy to see more funding opportunities for Langston and his sibling cities. [5], Langston is 11 miles (18km) northeast of Guthrie, the Logan County seat, on State Highway 33.[5]. In 1897, the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature passed a law creating the Colored Agricultural and Normal University at Langston (which later became Langston University). But the curse and the blessing of a small town is that its small enough where everyone can maintain a sort of natural 6-feet-distance between each other. Pollard Funeral Home in Guthrie is in charge of arrangements. Today, the undergraduate population of Langston University is roughly the same as the population of Langston the town, according to former Mayor Alicia Sumlin. The per capita income for the town was $17,602. Keep up-to-date with everything that happens in your world. To watch or read Mayor Holt's 2022 State of the City address, click here. The City employment opportunities & position descriptions are listed here. Capt. Either way, to Boyles, the town is thriving. Sunny. The Indian Territory and Oklahoma are now a new state. During the Great Depression and Dust Bowl of the 1920s and 30s, populations in Oklahomas all-black towns began to shrink as people moved elsewhere to find jobs. However, the population has climbed back to about 1,100 people, a sign some view as a promise of new beginnings. Many remaining residents of Clearview go without electricity and running water, Nero said. Access Citys service offerings and check hours for all facilities. We each tell our own story. As of this month, no further local cases have been confirmed. Young Auditorium at Langston University. In 2000, Dr. Shelton received her Masters Degree in Adult Education and a Doctorate in 2003 from Oklahoma State University. (Tolson is also the namesake of a library in Langston.). We promise to never spam you. This was Harrills first time speaking at a Memorial Day service. Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm . Telephone and electric companies were founded as well as a steam plant, Head said. COVID-19 Get the latest information from the CDC about COVID-19. By World War II, Boley saw its population shrink to about 700 people. After graduation, she attended Langston University, an HBCU, majoring in Biology with a minor in Sociology. They are raising money and writing for grants to preserve and revitalize the towns most famous buildings. One major effort from the group now is preserving the Farmers and Merchants Bank building in Boley. The Mayor of Oklahoma City is the "Chief Executive of the City" and "President of the Council," according to the Oklahoma City Charter. The Coltrane Group, a set of volunteers focused on revitalizing and preserving the black towns of Oklahoma, has worked to bring new life to these 13 communities by holding all-black town tours for the last four years. Mayors of Oklahoma City are elected to four year terms. We prefer to rent and to lease our lands to colored people. 3 (Autumn 1974): 370-378; Norman Crockett, The Black Towns (Lawrence: The Regent Press of Kansas, 1979). (580) 581-3301. To watch Mayor Holt's remarks regarding the 25th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, click here. For every 100 females, there were 86.4 males. Animated video explains the civil rights movement. About Langston City; Mayor; Administration; Departments; FAQs; Facebook; Twitter; Instagram; LinkedIn; Open Search Window; . But then again, they dont have the infrastructure and the traffic in the college that we do, Boyles said. Early on, Clearview built a brick school and supported two churches. Only one other community has fared better: the fellow all-Black town of Boley, which has seen no confirmed cases since the pandemic began, Boley Mayor Dr. Francis Shelton said. The mayor of the town of Langston, Okla ., Dr. Blayne Hinds, died Sunday from natural causes at the age of 68. sharing the stories, pictures and loves of Oklahomans across our great state. However, the one closest to my heart is the beautiful Langston, OK. Langston is a town in Logan County, Oklahoma, United States, and is part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Statistical Area. Do you find this information helpful? People would put tubs under the spouts of the gym and collect water when it rains, Nero said. Near the end of the service, Maeoma Williams, the Co-Founder of the Wm Conrad Veterans Memorial Gardens, announced the dates for the committees Veterans Appreciation Weekend this November. Within two years, at least twenty-five businesses, from banks to ice cream parlors, were operating in town. "How Oklahoma Voted: Interactive Maps with Precinct-Level Results", From Sodom to the Promised Land: E.P. In the early 20th century, there were more than 50 of them, making Oklahoma home to the most all-Black towns in the U.S. Among those first established were several grocery stores, saloons, blacksmith shops, barbershops, a feed store, and a newspaper, the Langston City Herald, edited by McCabe. Today, the population of the town is 48, Nero said. Read More Special Meeting Details, The name honors John Mercer Langston, an African American educator and U.S. representative from Virginia. Most of these towns, even though people wanted to see these towns, didnt have the infrastructure to take advantage of this tourism, ODell said. [4] Boley was incorporated in 1905 as a predominantly Black pioneer town with persons having Native American ancestry among its citizens. The passage of Jim Crow laws afterstatehood dramatically increased segregation and racial violence, effectively ending any possibility of Oklahoma becoming a "promised land" for Black people. In these early towns, newspapers advertised throughout the south about land and opportunities, according to the Oklahoma Historical Society. The surviving Black towns include Langston, Boley, Brooksville, Clearview, Grayson, Lima, Red Bird, Rentiesville, Summit, Taft, Tatums, Tullahassee and Vernon. Find current information about construction projects and other city-wide road work impacting you. Jimmie Lewis Franklin, Journey Toward Hope (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1982); Kenneth Marvin Hamilton, Black Towns and Profit: Promotion and Development in the Trans-Appalachian West, 1877-1915 (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1991); Kenneth Marvin Hamilton, The Origins and Early Developments of Langston, Oklahoma, The Journal of Negro History, Vol. My personal belief is we owe it to them to make our lives count.. The town prospered after Lake Moore, vice president of the railroad, wanted to establish a depot there because he believed residents were capable of governing themselves, according to the Oklahoma Historical Society. Founded in 1903, Clearview sat along the same railroad as Boley to its southeast, said Shirley Nero, a town resident and historian. Home Pages Mayor Mayor Far away from the every day! Boyles said the most recent census estimated the population of Langston at a little more than 1,200, but 2019 U.S. Census Bureau data actually places the estimate at 1,860 residents. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph.. A few clouds. The civil rights movement demanded an end to segregation and expanded voting rights for Black Americans. 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