OKLAHOMA: Once Booming 1893 Land Rush Towns That Are Now Almost Gone

[@ArchibaldNorman-vl5ci]

Amazing content! Keep up the great work, can't wait for your next video.

[@johanndillinger1048]

Thank you for your work in making these wonderful Videos available to the public. Joe and Nic forever 🇺🇲

[@Yawndave]

Seeing the "Prairie City Days - May" mural has me wondering: when was the last one was. 1980s, maybe? The Dairy Sweet in Covington--nice to see that they're in business. (There's a Oklahoma News 4 report of the recent re-opening on youtube, pretty cool!) Congrats on the high cat count in this episode 🙂

[@YanalFanio]

I really enjoy your videos. Thanks for sharing such great work!

[@ronniekubin1992]

Good Saturday morning everyone, it's cold here this morning in Texas. These little towns in Oklahoma look very quiet and even make me feel colder. Thank you for the tour.

[@rockb]

In Germany we call these pumps 'pferdekopf pumpe', or horse head pump. Thanks Joe, for the cat sightings 😁

[@brownhatknight3473]

Ok, I´m German too, but I've never heard of this word 🤔

[@kirktinsley]

This must be what a town looks like a few days before being completely abandoned forever. It’s just desolate.

[@freddypflugbeil6]

Thanks Joe and Nic that was a awesome history trip

[@limbiclove9487]

Oklahoma has received 5.7 billion in Federal Farm Subsidies between 1995 and 2023. The towns you visited exist because of that and their populations diminished with the use of machinery that does the work of thousands of laborers. Texas is the largest recipient of Farm Subsidies because it has the most agriculture. We need to subsidize these industrial farms with Federal Funding in order to keep production and sales of exports to other countries. We have socialized farming in the economic terminology of production for here and abroad. The smaller populations in these towns are doing fairly well as a result of Farm Subsidies. It shows in the schools which look really good.

[@frederickmuhlbauer9477]

Nice weekend surprise to get home and find Joe and Nic on here

[@johnm.5848]

I'm North of Boston but it's a bummer to me that small towns that were once part of Americana's history are fading away for good. However, as always, Thank you for taking us along for the ride and explaining the history of these towns and others like them Joe.

[@KB6YAF]

Cat sightings always put a smile on my face. We travel with both of our cats in our big motorhome. They travel well. Thanks Joe for your videos. One of my favorite segments of your videos are the dinners you and Nic do at the end. Lately, I have been missing those. Safe travels to you as always and will be looking forward to your next videos. ….Russell D.

[@redrebels24]

The horse and buggy painting on the building ABSOLUTELY AWESOME

[@obrewsky]

It's 8:43 am central time. Love your road trips. Have a great weekend.

[@marjorieanderson8626]

Just a quick correction. The Cherokee never lived on the strip. It was a hunting ground only for them. Cherokee nation was in NE Oklahoma. The strip is northwest Oklahoma.

[@freddypflugbeil6]

Thanks. I'm gonna check it out

[@petekeener8943]

As you're heading south, I hope you'll hit Ardmore on your way. Also, the small town of Springer just north of here has a Very interesting history.

[@BlitzKC816]

I see several signs here. I thought Cleaning Remodeling sounded strange. Looks like it once said "CAFE (in the middle) and Open (below). It also was a sign that said Marshal Ace Andler Remodeling.

[@sarahdearborn9191]

Garber was the least desolate of the towns it looked like. And 3 cats! I never can get over the fact that people really live in these places. Thank's for showing everything, and the history of them. 😊

[@gatorgogo2742]

The Marshall kitty must be the mayor & police chief. It was definitely checking you out. lol The super wide main street is awesome! For the school in Covington to be so large and nice, it must be the consolidated school for the area. Garber has pretty murals. YAY!! Cats in Garber too!! I liked Garber best. The towns are sad to see dwindling away, but Garber seems to be holding on. Gotta hand it to Dollar General, they pop up where most needed. Thanks Joe. Looking forward to your 2025 travels.

[@patryknowicki6462]

Thanks for your great video its sad what happen in Amercia 🤝🇵🇱

[@Sixtus-y5k]

Love your channel. I especially like seeing the schools in small towns because in most small towns the schools are the center of activity. And I love seeing the football field too.

[@UncleRobsGarage]

There’s a lot of junk on the web but you guys are always very entertaining.

[@KMRamanandan]

Lot of interesting content. I enjoyed this video. Keep up the spirit of exploration.

[@iantaggart1399]

From Scotland, I could spend days wandering around Marshall, truly fantastic.

[@zoidmo3388]

As usual great travels through forgotten rural USA. Wonderful cat sighting day ! Looking forward to your international vids coming up in 2025. Be safe Joe & Nicole. 🥰

[@michaelthompson1530]

Thanks for your great videos!! Love how informative you are!!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you

[@Jody-kt9ev]

Interesting video. These small towns in Oklahoma are very similar to the small towns in Oklahoma where I grew up. In my area, the peak of the towns was around 1930 during an oil boom. They have been declining ever since. The only exceptions being the ones near Oklahoma City. One note, in the area I grew up in, the income of the people who own the still producing oil wells can be much higher than the average of the area, skewing the numbers.

[@JAMESPATTERSON-mk9sr]

At 29:51 those cats and earlier in the vid and the chickens must have someone feeding the critters . The two big modern high schools shown must be consolidated schools having all 12 grades . Keep them coming and Happy trails .

[@redrebels24]

AWESOME mural in Garber

[@virtuestreams2616]

I wonder if these towns will ever be repopulated-as always, thanks for sharing your thoughts, research and travels. ❤️🇺🇸✌🏻

[@joopkadijk690]

Whow! Nice video Joe! Always very interesting!! Greetings from Holland

[@Silarous]

Pumpjack is the correct name.

[@Vsc-yicu101]

Thank you for an excellent video. As always, sad that it’s over. Till next time. Safe travels to you!!!!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you!

[@redrebels24]

The Covington dairy sweet building is ABSOLUTELY CLUTCH

[@safepetproducts]

Most of the murals seen are probably from 1993, the 100th anniversary of the Cherokee Strip land rush. It was a big deal.

[@redrebels24]

Another cool old theater 🎥

[@kennethsmith8844]

I was raised near a small town in Ok. Dixie, there was a school there. It is gone and under Keystone Lake near Tulsa

[@jackbee204]

I'm from the UK and find these videos fascinating. We don't have anything like this in the UK.

[@achill_934]

For me as an European it is quite noticeable, how the US is still massively affected by the great Depression nearly 100 years ago. Basically, the whole Midwest demographics collapsed afterwards or at least deteriorated.

[@skeletor9121]

Not just the depression but the dust bowl which affected a lot of the Midwest.

[@grahamargent8057]

Sad to see once bustling towns like this.

[@deadpoolvondoom715]

Love your videos. Was hoping you could visit Cherokee, OK. I have family there but haven't been able to visit in more than a decade and I'm sure it's changed quite a bit. Thanks again.

[@gladysoyeabo2517]

Wow. Very interesting and impactful

[@batforcegrump]

I’m surprised you don’t find people living in these abandoned places, at least for shelter.

[@CarolFelts-g9b]

It’s so sad when you go through these small towns and you find churches that have been abandoned. I believe it’s mostly because of the lack of people and the fact that we are moving away from God, when we should be drawing closer. ❤

[@MrMilwaukee]

Thanks Joe, I have to wonder with no real tax base, how were the 2nd and 3rd towns able to build such nice schools? It’s great to see the investment in the younger generations 👍

[@jackbee204]

Again, great interesting video but truly shocking how run down these places are. We have nothing like this in the UK.

[@davidbarlow350]

With Labour in charge,give it time.

[@jackbee204]

@davidbarlow350 sadly you're not wrong

[@CornCod1]

In cases like these a lot of the blame can be placed on the gradual mechanization of agriculture. There is hope for parts of rural America; the misrule in cities in places like California and New York is causing people to move to rural areas. Rural Arkansas, my current state, is filling up with urban refugees from California fleeing high taxes and crime.

[@georgemegalis6912]

I always wonder what you would do if your car broke down in one of those middle of nowhere places you visit. Love your videos.

[@freddypflugbeil6]

I'm thinking about that also when watching the videos

[@kenkeyes8148]

The dark dreary winter ambiance, only adds to the production.

[@ustekinumab-n5h]

Great vid. Marshall, OK is exactly the kind of totally abandoned ghost business district I think your subscribers want to see, at least I do. This is a great ghost town. Stabilized a bit it would make a great movie set. I just can't see why anyone lives there anymore.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

I agree!

[@jamescanexplain]

I used to live in this area, anytime I got to return to civilization I had to drive through Covington and Garber. After being gone for 8 years, I still have nightmares that I am back in this area. Jefferson is an interesting area to go explore, can't do much by car, but by foot there is some good stuff to see.

[@Axitutl60]

It's interesting to learn about the history of the Cherokees. I believe they originally inhabited the Carolinas, but were forced out in the "Trail of Tears" (?) and resettled in Oklahoma, which was originally designated as an Indian Territory. But they picked the wrong side in the Civil War, and were forced out once again. Are there any of them left today? Although I understand that Oklahoma still has the highest proportion of Native Americans in the USA?

[@marjorieanderson8626]

The Cherokee never actually "lived" in the Cherokee strip. It was a hunting ground only. That is why the area is basically devoid of Native American population. Interestingly enough. As soon as you leave the strip and get back into the "assigned areas... there are lots of Native Americans.

[@DUMPSTERDIVINGADELAIDE123]

Thanks for the video 😊🐨🦘

[@SUPADUPA333]

Thank you from germany!!

[@ronhawkins8604]

I really enjoy watching your videos. I know you can't go everywhere but you might consider checking out Seminole county in Oklahoma. A lot of oil boom towns like Cromwell that have quite a history including gunfights in the streets in the 1920s. Look up lawman Bill Tilghman

[@armeswilli01]

Immer sehr gut ! I love it 🐰

[@onrycodger]

Cool!😎 That's Wild, Heavy, annd Far Away brother! Rock On!!!😎😹😸😼✌️

[@DavidVail-tp6gy]

That cat saw your TX plate. not even 1 sh!t given! lol

[@itemushmush]

i love you boths content

[@serokitty4068]

Too bad the Covington Dairy Sweet was closed on the day you drove through! They are definitely worth the visit if ever in the area again.

[@MyButtercup]

Wow Marshall has to be the saddest town yet. I lived in Enid and Alva, Oklahoma back in the 80's. America now has less than 1% of its population as farmers. I remember sitting at the Cattleman association and Wheat Growers meetings in the 80's, seeing that 90% of the men there were WWII veterans. I ask my husband, what is going to happen when they are gone? Now we know.

[@ronnieleemichael4973]

@19:29 that mural looks like it belongs in a drive -in, a "Let's go to the snack bar and get ourselves a treat"" ad

[@redrebels24]

Smart move avoiding the stairway to nowhere

[@Slick2462]

Three cat sightings (multiple cats) and a firehouse, makes this video a goody!

[@jeffreywhite2272]

Thanks!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you!

[@hj8607]

Joe you should put in a little bit more effort regarding statistics. That's a big part of the interest. $ 58 000 household income sounds good, BUT how many people are in THAT household ?? ( six, ten?) I mean expanding on stats would take all of five minutes home work and zilch compared to travel, filming and edit time.

[@kevinsealschott1090]

I hope you'll visit Ohio again I don't think you've been to Toledo yet

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

We will definitely be heading to Ohio this summer.

[@itemushmush]

14:00 - 14:08 wow, beautiful

[@Lil-JensStudio]

Marshall's main street looks wide enough to land a jumbo jet!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Right!

[@southernbiscuits1275]

Your documentation of small town America is fascinating but also depressing. In one town in this video there was a fairly new looking car set up on jacks with tires missing. The yard was filled with other cars as well as household appliances. I first thought of the desperation these people must experience. Then, looking at how immense the decay and trash was in this place, I wondered what comes after desperation. Acceptance? And, that must be the lethal blow.

[@J.Wesley007]

Wow nailed it. I think one of the best comments I've read on Joe's channel.

[@marllon-x9f]

Lord Spoda's channel should have more than a million subscribers! I really like the channel.

[@RebeccaAdele-r4e]

That town looks like a nightmare come true😂

[@diamondbeats2024]

Thanks

[@jimchari3697]

In rural America, if you still have a school, your town is surviving. If not, you see what happens. Unfortunately, there are those in these rural states like Iowa that are working diligently to privatize schools and eliminate public education. This will hasten the demise of small towns as well as other unwanted things.

[@foxlake6750]

The Covington Record was in business from 1916 till it looks like 1964.

[@joebehrdenver]

I think the "team of horses" method is how the main streets in SLC were laid out as well. That US flag in Marshall is in sad shape. It needs to be taken down and hopefully replaced with a new one.

[@zoidmo3388]

I noticed the tattered flag as well. Somewhat representing the state the town had become. Sad.

[@zarwalikhan8263]

My biggest concern is how we are going to survive all these financial and political crises, especially the power struggle in the US. The government has really made things difficult for its citizens and we cannot just sit by and suffer the consequences of bad governance🙏...

[@frederickmuhlbauer9477]

You must live in LA, Chicago or NY right

[@MarlinWilliams-ts5ul]

Looks like the Sooner excitement is over.

[@bgatlin5918]

It would be interesting to see~ if we turned off social media and television if these little towns would fill back up. People would go back to small business, small farms, etc. communities would support each other, without government interference.

[@redrebels24]

Where's that salary coming from in a small Garber town?

[@jeneal7600]

This was one of the sadder small town videos. These towns look so much worse than the ones I’ve been watching of you in the Northeast.

[@hrdlbrmpf2]

Aren`t there garbage dumps in America? I ask myself that question ever since watching your videos.

[@IstvanVicsai]

In those population numbers are included the peoples hoo lives on farms too i wonder?

[@Kat-tr2ig]

There is a sense of poetic justice here, that the rightfully occupied land stolen and given away is now desolate and abandoned.

[@freddypflugbeil6]

WOW. Like that

[@redrebels24]

The American flag waving in the center of an apocalyptic town kicks out hope!!!

[@Manymoneymore]

Is this America?

[@redrebels24]

477 population 😮

[@chaddoyle9009]

Did the bronco crap out on ya.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

No, the miles were getting high so we traded it in. 😀

[@buddypearson]

CAT #2!!!! 😸😸

[@DarinMullins]

Talk to the mayor if they have one .

[@ibkhansen8036]

You drive in the US I thought you were in Russia

[@GeraldValentine]

LORD SPODA #1🍻🍺🍻🍺🍺🍺🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺

[@buddypearson]

CAT!!!!! 😸❤️

[@curtiseggemeyer5681]

I was worried for a few minutes till the neighborhood Cat in Charge showed up and controlled the roadway. Thankyou Joe so pitiful to see , such nice buildings the most important thing I saw that I liked was the Barbecue pit on wheels. It won't get better with isolantion of the nation but only worse. Markets build economies.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Neighborhood Cat In Charge. I love that!

[@majorlagg9321]

Do we get to save rollover cat sighting points for future towns?

[@eccentricsmithy2746]

Cherokee can't be to mad, they stole it from other tribes as well.

[@Marvel_Polaris]

Seriously wide, my G. But it's safe to cross that's nobody's even there 😂. I'm glad you didn't go up them stairs you could've been assout if they did collapse on you 😢. Damn thats some years 1970s and 1980s definitely 💯 long gone. A 🐈‍⬛🥰

[@kenjohnson5498]

2nd cat sighting at 21:17 next to the house on right, cat #3 was at 23:56 4th group was at 29:53 lol

[@pj5017]

Hello I've been asking a couple times a question but no answer...what website do you get you're Data from?????

[@jamesg9468]

Seeing the flag of the USA flying high while surrounded by desolation on every side...it says a lot.

[@mattmaly5085]

All these towns are the same