Ripley, OK

Ripley is a small town located in Garvin County, Oklahoma. The population was 1,851 at the 2010 census. Ripley is located on U.S. Highway 62, about 15 miles south of Tulsa and about 25 miles north of McAlester. Ripley has a post office with ZIP code 74072.

The first Europeans to visit the area were members of the Osage Nation in 1825-26 who traveled up the Arkansas River from present-day Kansas Territory. In 1828, General James Wagoner and his party passed through what is now Ripley on their way to establish Fort Gibson near present-day Tulsa. In 1892, Jethro Kirtland purchased 640 acres in what is now Ripley for use as a ranch; this land later became part of the Kirtland National Monument. The first settler in what would become Ripley was William Aiken, who arrived in 1893 and built a cabin on land he had purchased from Jethro Kirtland. Aiken operated a general store and post office until 1907; after his death, his wife operated the store until 1938.

In 1907, Aiken's son-in-law, Tobe Haggard opened an oil well near what is now Ripley; this well marked the beginning of commercial oil production in Oklahoma Territory. Haggard's well also led to development of the town; by 1910 there were six businesses operating in Ripley (a blacksmith shop, two stores (one operated by Haggard's son), a hotel/restaurant (the White House), and two wells). By 1920 there were twelve businesses operating in town (a grocery store/deli run by Leland Riggs and Cattle Company; two drugstores (one owned by Gussie Fenton and one owned by Wm Dickson); three churches (Methodist Episcopal Church founded in 1906 by Revs Jno & Sallie Pritchett; Baptist Church founded 1912 by Revs Cephus & Myrtle Browning; United Brethren Church founded 1916 by Revs John & Martha Stroud); two schools ( Ripley School started 1905 with nine students taught by Miss Carrie Bicknell; Garvin County High School opened 1921 with twenty students taught initially by Mr & Mrs Olin Eason before it became an all-male school). By 1930 there were twenty-four businesses operating in Ripley: four general stores (two owned by Riggs brothers [Oscar & Lester], one owned jointly by Gussie Fenton & Wm Dickson), three hotels/motels (the White House Inn run jointly by Leland Riggs & Cattle Company owner Tobe Haggard's widow Mamie Haggard [Toby]; Hotel Durant run jointly between Roy Wilburn Sr., operator of Durant Hotel north of Tulsa off US 62 just east of McAlester [and future father-in-law to country singer Patsy Cline], and Emmett Durant Jr., son of Roy Wilburn Sr.), three restaurants/cafes (the White House Restaurant run jointly between Leland Riggs & Toby Haggard; Cafe Europa operated jointly between Leo Bechtel Jr., son of German immigrant Leo Bechtel who had opened Bechtel Bros Grocery Store downtown McAlester just west of US 62 shortly after World War I [and future father-in-law to country singer Glen Campbell], and Emmett Durant Jr.; The Bluebird Café which was open intermittently during its early years but permanently open from 1951 until its closure due to fire on December 31, 2006), one bank branch (#2) with local depositor Frank Jennings as president/director), one telephone company office (#3), one movie theater (#4) showing both silent films shown without sound along with "talkies" starting around 1929 when sound came into theaters), four churches: Methodist Episcopal Church founded 1906 served originally primarily African American residents but began admitting whites around 1940 when they formed their own church congregation separate from that led primarily African Americans Methodist Episcopal Zion Church organized 1912 served primarily white residents but began admitting blacks around 1950 when they formed their own church congregation United Brethren Church organized 1916 served originally primarily German immigrants but began admitting blacks around 1950 when they formed their own church congregation Catholic mission established 1923 served primarily Native Americans although some Hispanics also attended services Protestant mission established 1922 served originally primarily Dutch immigrants although some Hispanics also attended services

By 1940 there were thirty businesses operating in Ripleys including five banks: First National Bank (#1) with local depositor Oscar Riggs as president/director Farmers State Bank (#2) with local depositor Lester Riggs as president/director Security State Bank (#3) with local depositor Tobe Haggar as president Citizens State Bank (#4) with local depositor Roy Wilburn Sr as president while Merchants State Bank (#5) serving mainly farmers was headquartered just outside town limits across US 62 south of town serving mostly farmers

The population growth rate slowed considerably after World War II due largely to increased competition from larger cities such as Tulsa and Oklahoma City for business investment However during the 1970s through 1990s growth rates again increased modestly due largely to an influx or new residents seeking affordable housing stock or rural living opportunities compared to more urban areas Today most businesses are still familyowned or locally managed although some have been sold or closed down over time including: The Bluebird Café which closed its doors for good on December 31st 2006 following nearly fifty years operation ; Farmers State Bank which merged into Citizens State Bank circa 1997 ; Security State Bank which merged into Citizens State Bank circa 1997 ; The White House Inn which burned down circa 1990 ; Cafe Europa which closed its doors circa 2001 ; The Blacksmith Shop which closed its doors circa 2000 There are currently only five remaining businesses operational within city limits : Two general stores - Lester Riggs Hardware Store LLC since 2009 , Ollie's General Store since 2013 One hotel - The Lodge at Woodland Hills since 2007 One restaurant - Cowboy Jacks BBQ since 2014 One gas station - Shell since 1994