Located in northwestern Oklahoma, Harper County was named after Oscar Greene Harper, a local pioneer and clerk at the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention. Early trails used in the area included a military trail between Fort Dodge and Fort Supply and the Western Trail, also known as the Dodge City Trail. In 1912, the Wichita Falls and Northwestern Railway was constructed in the area, followed by the Buffalo and Northwestern Railroad in 1920. The over 16,000-acre Hal & Fern Cooper Wildlife Management Area offers recreational activities like hunting and fishing and five designated camping areas. Also located in the area, the Buffalo Museum features artifacts from the area and a furnished sod house.
In 2000, census records showed 3,562 people living in Harper County. Countless assets exist for tracing genealogy in Harper County including legal records and cemetery records. Valuable resources for researching genealogy in Harper County are provided below, including a list of existing towns, the county courthouse address and a detailed map of the county.
Harper County Courthouse Information
Existing Towns in Harper County
Historic Newspaper Archives of Harper County
Add'l Genealogy Resources for Harper County
Places to Visit in Harper County
Harper County Courthouse Information
Harper County Courthouse
311 SE 1st St.
P.O. Box 369
Buffalo, OK 73834
Telephone: (580) 735-2012
Directions: On SE 1st St. between E. Elm and Maple.
Records available: Court Clerk has marriage, divorce, probate and civil court records; County Clerk has land records from 1895, school records 1912 to 1958.
Detailed Map of Harper County
Search for cemeteries, highways and scenic sites, or examine county and township lines with this detailed map of Harper County.
Existing Towns in Harper County
The following towns and cities are located in present day Harper County, Oklahoma.
Ghost Towns in Harper County
The following towns and cities either no longer exist in Harper County or are still populated, but significantly less so than in years past. These towns and cities are commonly referred to as "ghost towns."
Alto
Avis
Ballaire
Benton Flats
Bishop
Brule
Buffalo Flats
Burford
Burgor
Carroll
Charleston
Cross
Cupid
Daisy
Dunlap
Fair Store
Fern
Flat
Girard/Jarard
Gyp Valley
High Point
Hopewell
Howard
Iris
Junod
Kibby
Kimball
Kingsley
Lovedale
Lucy
McKim
Moscow Flats
Mt. Olive
Mt. Pleasant
Murray
New Charleston
Ocate
Palace
Parkman
Paruna
Pleasant Ridge
Pleasant Valley
Prairie Dell
Prevo
Readout
Rhoades
Rock
Salt Springs
Sand
Sand Creek
Saratoga
Selman
Solon
Speermoore
Spring Valley
Stockholm
Tannar
Willard
Willow Creek
Wyanet
Wyatt
Yelton
Cemeteries in Harper County
The following cemeteries are located in present day Harper County, Oklahoma.
Evergreen (AKA Gyp
Valley) Cemetery
Goldenrod (AKA Ownbey) Cemetery
Lawson Cemetery
Lone Star (AKA Eades) Cemetery
Otter Creek (AKA Pikes
Peak) Cemetery
Powders Cemetery
Stinson Cemetery
Libraries in Harper County
Buffalo Public Library
11 E. Turner
Buffalo, OK 73834
Telephone: (580) 735-2995
Laverne Delphian Municipal Library
214 W. Jane Jayroe St.
Laverne, OK 73848
Telephone: (580) 921-7323
Historic Newspaper Archives of Harper County
Places to Visit in Harper County
While researching your family history in Harper County, be sure to check out the following attractions located in the area.
