How a railway station named for two daughters became an Oklahoma county seat

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

In short: Established in 1902 as a railway stop, Idabel, Oklahoma, survived multiple name changes and economic shifts to become the seat of McCurtain County. From its early days in the Choctaw Nation to its modern identity, the city reflects the complex history of the American Southeast corner.

Idabel was founded in 1902 by the Arkansas and Choctaw Railway. Its naming process was surprisingly difficult; officials rejected the initial choice, Purnell, and a subsequent attempt, Mitchell, because a post office by that name already existed. Eventually, the town was named Idabel, a compound derived from the names of Ida and Bell, the daughters of railroad official Isaac Purnell. At the time of its founding, the site sat within the Apukshunubbee District of the Choctaw Nation in what was then Indian Territory.

The local economy has undergone radical transformations. Initially driven by timber, the area shifted toward cotton production as forests were cleared. By 1930, six cotton gins operated in the city. However, a combination of the Great Depression, soil depletion, and destructive pests crippled the industry. Landowners subsequently pivoted to beef production, chicken farming, and pine plantations. Today, the city serves as a regional hub, housing the McCurtain County government and hosting landmarks like the Museum of the Red River, which displays the state dinosaur, Acrocanthosaurus atokensis.

The city's geography is defined by its proximity to major waterways, situated between the Little River and the Red River. While the region is known for its humid subtropical climate, it is also subject to severe weather; in November 2022, the city was struck by a destructive EF4 tornado. Despite these challenges, Idabel maintains a distinct cultural and historical footprint, preserved through sites like the 1912 Barnes-Stevenson House and a diverse local legacy that includes notable figures like jazz drummer Sunny Murray and Larzette Hale-Wilson, the first Black female CPA in Georgia.

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