Woods County, located in northwestern Oklahoma, is named for Sam Wood, a Kansas populist. A misprint of his name in a report led to the addition of the “s.” George C. Sibley was the first American to explore the area in 1811. Later, the Dodge City and Red Fork Trail, a branch of the Chisholm Trail, ran through Woods County. The Southern Kansas Railway built a line through the county in 1887. In Alva, the Cherokee Strip Museum displays exhibits of the history of Alva and the Cherokee Strip. The Freedom Museum in Freedom offers a special archaeology exhibit. Little Sahara State Park features unique sand dunes for dune buggy riding with campsites available in the park. The Waynoka History Museum features historical artifacts, photos and art from the area.
In 2000, census records showed 9,089 people living in Woods County. Countless assets exist for tracing genealogy in Woods County including legal records, cemetery records and a local historical society. Valuable resources for researching genealogy in Woods County are provided below, including a list of existing towns and a list of cemeteries located within the county.
Woods County Courthouse Information
Existing Towns in Woods County
Historic Newspaper Archives of Woods County
Add'l Genealogy Resources for Woods County
Places to Visit in Woods County
Woods County Courthouse Information
Woods County Clerk
P.O. Box 386
Alva, OK 73717
Telephone: (580) 327-3119
Directions: On the square at Flynn St. & College Ave.
Records available: County Clerk has marriage records from 1894, divorce, civil court, land records from 1893, probate records from 1901 and school records.
Detailed Map of Woods County
Search for cemeteries, highways and scenic sites, or examine county and township lines with this detailed map of Woods County.
Existing Towns in Woods County
The following towns and cities are located in present day Woods County, Oklahoma.
Ghost Towns in Woods County
The following towns and cities either no longer exist in Woods County or are still populated, but significantly less so than in years past. These towns and cities are commonly referred to as "ghost towns."
Fairvalley
Hopeton
Tegarden
Cemeteries in Woods County
The following cemeteries are located in present day Woods County, Oklahoma.
Prairieview/Harrington Cemetery
Libraries in Woods County
Alva Public Library
504 7th St.
Alva, OK 73717
Telephone: (580) 327-1833
Waynoka Public Library
1659 Cecil
Waynoka, OK 73860
Telephone: (580) 824-6181
Historic Newspaper Archives of Woods County
Additional Genealogy Resources for Woods County
Woods County on OKGenWeb: Oklahoma Genealogy & History
Woods County Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 234
Alva, OK 73717
Waynoka Historical Society
1383 Cleveland St.
P.O. Box 193
Waynoka, OK 73860
Places to Visit in Woods County
While researching your family history in Woods County, be sure to check out the following attractions located in the area.
