NOBLE COUNTY, OK HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

*None Listed

Noble County, Oklahoma: A Genealogical Overview

Located in the heart of north-central Oklahoma’s “red bed plains,” Noble County is a land whose history was written in a single, dramatic day. Born from the great Cherokee Outlet Land Run of 1893, its story is a quintessential Oklahoma tale of pioneer settlement, agricultural endurance, and the transformative impact of the oil boom. For genealogists, tracing roots in Noble County means engaging with the unique records of the land run, homesteading, and the sovereign Native American nations who call the region home.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Noble County was not carved from a previous county but was created directly from lands purchased by the U.S. government from a Native American nation.

  • 1893: County Formed: The land that comprises Noble County was opened to non-Indian settlement at noon on September 16, 1893. The county was officially organized shortly thereafter as part of the Oklahoma Territory.
  • Parent Entity: It was formed entirely from the lands of the Cherokee Outlet, often called the Cherokee Strip. Research into this area prior to the 1893 land run involves federal records pertaining to the Cherokee Nation and other resident tribes, not the records of a parent county.
  • Subsequent Formations: The county’s boundaries have remained consistent since its formation.
  • Original and Current Name: Prior to the land run, the federal government designated the area as “County P”. After settlement, it was named Noble County in honor of John W. Noble, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior at the time.
  • County Seat History: During the land run, a fierce competition for the county seat designation occurred between several newly founded townsites. Perry, which had been designated as the official site of the federal land office for the district, quickly secured the title and has remained the county seat throughout the county’s history.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The region was traditional hunting ground for Plains Indian tribes. Following removal policies, the U.S. government relocated the Otoe-Missouria, Tonkawa, and Pawnee tribes to reservations within or adjacent to the county’s present-day boundaries. The headquarters for the Otoe-Missouria and Tonkawa tribes are located within Noble County today.
  • The Cherokee Outlet Land Run: The county’s defining moment was the Land Run of 1893, one of the largest competitive land events in history. An estimated 100,000 participants raced to claim 160-acre homesteads. The city of Perry sprang into existence in a single afternoon, growing from a patch of prairie to a tent city of over 25,000 people.
  • Key Historical Events:
    • Agricultural Foundation: After the run, the county’s economy was built almost exclusively on agriculture, with wheat and cotton as the primary cash crops.
    • Oil Boom: The discovery of major oil fields, such as the Tonkawa Field, in the 1910s and 1920s dramatically altered the county’s economy. It brought a massive influx of investment, oil field workers, and new wealth, shifting the focus from farming to energy production.
    • Industrial Innovation: In the post-World War II era, the founding of the Charles Machine Works in Perry, the maker of Ditch Witch trenching equipment, provided a stable industrial base that made the company and the town internationally known.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

Research in Noble County often begins with federal land records before moving to the county courthouse in Perry.

  • County Courthouse: The Noble County Courthouse, 300 Covey St, Perry, OK 73077, is the central repository for local records created after the 1893 land run.
    • County Clerk: This office holds all land records (deeds, mortgages, mineral rights) from 1893 to the present. The first deed books documenting the original homestead patents are a vital genealogical resource.
    • Court Clerk: This office maintains all court filings, including civil and criminal cases, divorces, and critically for genealogists, probate records (wills, estates) and marriage records from 1893.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Oklahoma did not require statewide registration of births and deaths until late 1908. For records after that date, contact the Oklahoma State Department of Health. No official county-level registers exist prior to that time.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage licenses and affidavits from 1893 to the present are held by the Noble County Court Clerk.
  • Federal and State Records:
    • Bureau of Land Management (BLM), General Land Office (GLO) Records: These online records are essential for any Noble County research. They contain the tract books and patent details for the original homesteaders who made a claim in the 1893 land run.
    • National Archives (NARA) at Fort Worth, TX: Holds federal records related to the Oklahoma Territory, Indian Territory, and the specific tribal agencies for the Otoe-Missouria, Tonkawa, and Pawnee peoples.
    • Oklahoma Historical Society: Located in Oklahoma City, this is the premier statewide resource for newspapers on microfilm, manuscript collections, photographs, and historical records for all Oklahoma counties.
  • Libraries and Museums:
    • Cherokee Strip Museum: Located in Perry, this museum is an excellent resource for understanding the history of the 1893 land run and pioneer life in Noble County.
    • Noble County Genealogical Society: A local organization that can provide assistance and specialized resources for family history research in the area.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Kay County (north)
    • Osage County (northeast)
    • Pawnee County (east)
    • Payne County (south)
    • Logan County (southwest)
    • Garfield County (west)

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