Little, Oklahoma

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Little
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Little
Location in Oklahoma
Coordinates: 35°20′53″N96°40′19″W / 35.34806°N 96.67194°W / 35.34806; -96.67194
Country United States
State Oklahoma
County Seminole
Elevation
968 ft (295 m)

Little is an unincorporated community in Seminole County, Oklahoma, United States, located at an elevation of 968 feet. [1] [2] It lies north of the City of Seminole and east of Shawnee, Oklahoma, near the intersection of U.S. Route 377 and Oklahoma State Highway 99A, just south of Interstate 40. [3]

Contents

History

Little was named for Thomas Little, a prominent member and second chief of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma. [4] The community developed in the early 1900s during the period of Indian Territory transition to statehood. A post office operated in Little from August 14, 1902, until November 30, 1916, serving as a hub for mail and trade in northern Seminole County. [5]

The area was historically part of the Seminole Nation lands allotted after the Dawes Act and subsequent agreements. The Seminole established schools such as Mekasukey Academy and Emahaka Academy nearby, which influenced settlement patterns. [6]

Cemetery and Present Status

The nearby Little Cemetery dates back to the 1890s and is one of the largest free cemeteries in the United States, with over 8,500 recorded burials. [7] The cemetery began as a family burial ground and expanded as the community grew. Today, Little remains a rural settlement with scattered homes, farmland, and oil lease roads. It is accessible via U.S. Route 377 and serves as a waypoint between Seminole and Shawnee.

Transportation

Little is located near major transportation routes, including Interstate 40, U.S. Route 377, and Oklahoma State Highway 99A, which connect it to regional trade centers and historic oil-field communities. [8]

See also

References

  1. "Little". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  2. "Little (in Seminole County, OK) Populated Place Profile". HomeTownLocator. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
  3. "Little, Oklahoma". Google Maps. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
  4. "Ghost Towns". The Seminole Nation. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
  5. "Post Offices". Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
  6. "Seminole County". Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
  7. "Little Cemetery History". okcemeteries.net. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
  8. "Oklahoma Petroleum History". American Oil & Gas Historical Society. Retrieved December 1, 2025.