This Oklahoma town was built by former slaves and became America’s black Wall Street

Boley, Oklahoma

Boley began in August 1903 on land owned by Creek Freedwoman Abigail Barnett. T.M. Haynes, a Black farmer from Texas, managed the early townsite development.

J.B. Boley, a white roadmaster for the Fort Smith and Western Railway, lent his name to the settlement. He convinced railroad officials that Black citizens could govern themselves effectively.

The town grew from this bold concept, swelling to 4,200 residents within years. Boley stands today as one of just 13 surviving all-Black towns from the more than 50 established in Oklahoma.

Officially incorporated in May 1905, Boley represented a new beginning for Black Americans seeking opportunity and independence.

Creek Freedmen Establish a Haven

Former slaves of the Creek tribe changed their fortunes with the Dawes Commission allotments. Between 1898 and 1906, Creek Freedmen received 160 acres each as tribe citizens.

James Barnett, a Creek Freedman, secured land for his daughter Abigail. This plot became Boley’s foundation, centrally positioned along the new railroad.

Lake Moore, vice president of the railroad, partnered with T.M. Haynes. Both men believed Black citizens deserved a place to govern themselves.

Settlers flocked to Boley, viewing it as an escape from Jim Crow laws plaguing the South. Here they found safety and opportunity denied elsewhere.

Families arrived by trainloads, drawn by promises of land ownership and protection from the racial violence that haunted other communities.

The Boley Progress Spreads the Word

The weekly Boley Progress newspaper launched in 1905, quickly becoming the town’s voice. Editor O.H. Bradley declared Boley the “Haven of the Negro” in the debut issue.

Bradley set annual subscriptions at $1, making the paper accessible to potential settlers throughout the South. He crafted a powerful motto: “All Men Up, Not Some Down.”

News from southern states filled the pages, keeping residents connected to happenings in their former homes. The strategy worked brilliantly to attract new citizens.

In fall 1905, Joe P. Thompson from Rusk, Texas read the Progress and acted. He organized fifty Black families to pack up and move to Boley.

The newspaper painted Boley as a place where Black Americans could finally experience true freedom and prosperity.

Booker T. Washington Validates the Experiment

Booker T. Washington first visited Boley in 1905, witnessing the experiment in Black self-governance firsthand. His endorsement gave the town national credibility.

Washington proclaimed Boley “the most enterprising and in many ways the most interesting of the Negro towns in the United States.” His words attracted attention nationwide.

The respected educator and Tuskegee Institute founder saw in Boley the physical manifestation of his self-help philosophy. He returned for a second visit, cementing his connection to the town.

In 1908, Washington published an article about Boley in Outlook Magazine. The piece introduced the town to educated readers across America.

His support helped convince hesitant Black families that Boley offered genuine opportunities for advancement.

A Boomtown of Black Enterprise

Oklahoma statehood in 1907 recorded 824 Boley citizens. Within four years, that number exploded to over 4,000 as word spread of the town’s success.

Five grocery stores, five hotels, and seven restaurants served the growing population. Four cotton gins processed the region’s primary crop.

The town established the first Black-owned electric company in the nation. Boley also built its own water system and ice plant, marking complete independence from white-controlled utilities.

Two banks anchored the financial district, including the Farmers and Merchants Bank, the first nationally-chartered Black-owned bank in the country.

Three drug stores, four department stores, and numerous other businesses lined the main street. Successful Black entrepreneurs owned and operated every establishment.

The Imposing Masonic Temple Rises

The Masonic Grand Lodge, completed in 1912, dominated the Boley skyline. Locals called it “the tallest building between Okmulgee and Oklahoma City.”

Black Masons from across Oklahoma made annual pilgrimages to the temple. The grand structure symbolized Black achievement and solidarity.

Eastern Star members and other fraternal organizations regularly gathered in the building. These meetings strengthened community bonds and helped newcomers establish connections.

The temple housed meeting rooms, event spaces, and offices for Black professionals. Its construction required skilled Black craftsmen and substantial financial resources.

Standing tall in the business district, the Masonic Temple sent a clear message: Black Americans could build monuments to rival any in the nation.

Citizens Defend Their Bank Against Pretty Boy Floyd’s Gang

November 23, 1932 dawned as the first day of bird-hunting season in Boley. Citizens armed themselves with shotguns, unaware they would soon face human targets.

George Birdwell led two other members of Pretty Boy Floyd’s gang into the Farmers and Merchants Bank. Floyd himself stayed away, having warned his men against robbing the Black town.

Bank president D.J. Turner triggered the alarm despite Birdwell’s threats. The outlaw shot Turner dead with his .45-caliber pistol.

Bookkeeper H.C. McCormick grabbed a rifle from the vault and fired a single, perfect shot through Birdwell’s heart. Charles Glass, another gang member, died in a hail of bullets from armed townspeople.

McCormick received a $500 reward and an honorary major title from Governor William “Alfalfa Bill” Murray. The thieves’ entire $600 haul returned to bank coffers.

Challenges During the Great Depression Era

Oklahoma statehood in 1907 brought harsh Jim Crow laws that restricted Black rights outside town borders. Boley remained a sanctuary, but the outside world grew increasingly hostile.

Economic troubles hit in the 1920s as cotton prices plummeted. Population dropped from 4,000 to 1,154 by 1920 and fell further to 874 by 1930.

The Fort Smith and Western Railroad discontinued service during the Depression. This vital transportation link had connected Boley to markets across the region.

Many residents joined the Great Migration to northern cities. The exodus accelerated as industrial jobs opened during wartime production.

Farmers and Merchants Bank declared bankruptcy in 1939, symbolizing the economic struggles. Despite these challenges, 942 dedicated residents remained by World War II.

Bill Pickett Brings Rodeo Fame to Boley

Rodeo legend Bill Pickett chose Boley to film “The Bull-Dogger” in 1922. Pickett, credited with inventing bulldogging, showcased his skills before cameras on Boley soil.

He followed with another film, “The Crimson Skull,” also shot in town. These early silent movies documented Black cowboy culture that mainstream history often overlooked.

Pickett traveled with various Wild West shows, demonstrating the technique of grabbing steers by the horns and wrestling them to the ground. His Boley performances drew large crowds.

Local cowboys learned from Pickett, passing techniques down through generations. These skills formed the foundation for future rodeo competitions.

The films elevated Boley’s status in Black western heritage. Decades later, this connection inspired the town’s signature annual event.

Historic Recognition and Revival

Congress declared Boley a National Historic Landmark District on May 15, 1975. This designation recognized the town’s unique place in American history.

The downtown business district earned listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Preservation efforts focused on maintaining these historic structures.

Population rebounded from its 1980 low of 423 residents to 1,091 by 2020. New families discovered the town’s rich heritage and affordable living.

Smokaroma, Inc., a barbecue equipment manufacturer, established operations in Boley. The company provided much-needed jobs for local residents.

School consolidation forced the closure of Boley High School in 2007 and the elementary school in 2010. Students now attend classes in neighboring communities.

The Oklahoma Historical Society created an exhibition highlighting Boley among the “Thirteen All-Black Towns of Oklahoma” that survived into the 21st century.

Visiting Boley, Oklahoma

Find Boley in Okfuskee County on US Highway 62, between Prague and Okemah. Drive 68 miles southwest from Tulsa or 67 miles east from Oklahoma City.

The Annual Boley Rodeo runs every Memorial Day weekend at the Historic Boley Rodeo Arena.

Visit the Boley Historic District, designated a National Historic Landmark in 1975. Walk the downtown area to see original buildings from the early 1900s.

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