Oklahoma Populated Before 1889

The land called the Indian Territory was not a wilderness in 1889. To the east of the Unassigned Lands were the Five Civilized Tribes, the Osages, and other tribes moved from previous frontiers. To the west were reservations for the Plains Tribes. In both directions were towns, railroads, newspapers, stagecoach routes, schools, and even telephone lines. It was a land with a rich legacy, a blend of many cultures and the dreams of may people. The land run 9f 1889 was only one chapter in the dramatic history of Oklahoma.