Why a town once known as Buttermilk Station became a high-altitude namesake

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Before it was Altus, this Oklahoma city was a humble trading post called Frazer, where cowboys stopped for buttermilk. After a devastating 1891 flood forced residents to higher ground, they renamed their home Altus—the Latin word for high—marking a transformation from a creek-side settlement into a regional agricultural hub.

Founded in 1886, the original settlement of Frazer sat on Bitter Creek, serving as a vital stop along the Great Western Cattle Trail. The community earned the local nickname Buttermilk Station because cowboys frequently purchased the dairy drink from resident John McClearan. However, the settlement's geography proved perilous; a flash flood on June 4, 1891, nearly obliterated the site, prompting residents to relocate 2.5 miles east to higher elevation.

The town's new name, Altus, was suggested by W. R. Baucum to reflect its new, safer position. Its growth was later cemented by the arrival of multiple railroads in the early 20th century, including lines that connected the area to broader markets and transformed it into an agricultural center. By 1930, the city boasted eighteen wholesale businesses and multiple cotton processing facilities. This economic foundation was further bolstered by the establishment of a military airfield during World War II, which remains a key training site for aircrews today.

Altus sits within the historically contested region of Old Greer County, which was once claimed by both Texas and the Oklahoma Territory before a Supreme Court ruling settled the dispute. Today, the city occupies 18.6 square miles in the northeastern corner of Jackson County. While its climate is generally humid subtropical, it experiences extreme variability, ranging from record-breaking heat of 120 degrees Fahrenheit to rare, intense winter cold. Despite its inland location, the city remains a significant regional presence, serving as a county seat and a hub for education and military training.

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