Fort Gibson, Oklahoma
Fort Gibson is a town of 3,808 people in Cherokee County, Oklahoma, founded in April 21, 1824.
Why visit Fort Gibson
Townapedia lists 8 museums and landmarks, 3 parks and trails, 11 places to eat and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Fort Gibson, Commandant's Quarters and Fort Gibson Splash Pad and Skate Park.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 93°F; January lows average 26°F.
Weather in Fort Gibson
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Fort Gibson
Fort Gibson is a town in Muskogee County in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A small portion extends north into Cherokee County. The town population was 3,814 as of the 2020 census, down from 4,154 in 2010. It is the location of Fort Gibson Historical Site and Fort Gibson National Cemetery and is located near the end of the Cherokees' Trail of Tears at Tahlequah.
From the Wikipedia article Fort Gibson, Oklahoma (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks8
Fort Gibson
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Fort in Oklahoma
Commandant's Quarters
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Listed on the NRHP in Oklahoma
Rio Grande Ranch Headquarters Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.7 mi
Building in Oklahoma, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds3
Restaurants and cafes11
La Isla Mexican Grill
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.0 mi
1517 South Lee Street, Fort Gibson
McDonald's
Fast food · Burger · 1.2 mi
1509 South Ross Street, Fort Gibson
Su-Th 05:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 05:00-24:00
Sonic
Fast food · Burger · 1.1 mi
1598 South Lee, Fort Gibson
Mo-Th 07:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 07:00-22:30; Su 08:00-22:00
Simple Simon's Pizza
Fast food · Pizza · 1.0 mi
1551 South Lee Street, Fort Gibson
History
Fort Gibson was originally established as a military garrison, Cantonment Gibson, in April 1824. The camp was set up to facilitate U.S. government policies of westward expansion and Indian removal. After the founding of Fort Gibson in 1824, military families, Indians desiring military protection, and free African Americans settled near the fort, forming a town. After the Army abandoned Fort Gibson in 1857, the Cherokee Nation took over the military stockade and renamed the town Keetoowah.
The Army reoccupied Fort Gibson during the American Civil War and renamed it Fort Blunt from 1862 to 1865, for Major General James G. Blunt. The town again prospered as refugees from fighting elsewhere fled to the relative safety of the fort. By the spring of 1863, soldiers in the Indian Home Guard occupied the fort. For several months, the Federal-supported garrison had to fight off raids by Stand Watie and his Confederate-backed Cherokee horsemen. Aside from Confederate raids, the garrison also suffered from outbreaks of cholera and smallpox. Sonuk Mikko, an officer in the Indian Home Guard, contracted smallpox while stationed at the fort and succumbed to the illness.
On May 20, 1898, the Articles of Incorporation for the town of Fort Gibson were established under the Arkansas Statutes, placing all of the densely settled areas under one jurisdiction.
From the History section of Fort Gibson, Oklahoma on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship6
New Hope Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · 3.1 mi
1501 North 43rd Street East, Muskogee
Shopping4
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries16
Map of Fort Gibson
52 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49°F | 26°F | 1.9 in | 0.9 in |
| Feb | 54°F | 30°F | 2.4 in | 0.3 in |
| Mar | 63°F | 39°F | 3.1 in | 0.5 in |
| Apr | 72°F | 48°F | 4.9 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 79°F | 59°F | 5.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 88°F | 67°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 93°F | 72°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 93°F | 70°F | 3.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 85°F | 62°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 74°F | 49°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 62°F | 38°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 52°F | 30°F | 2.6 in | 0.9 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Muskogee Hcn (4 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Cherokee County has had 24 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2022-06-29: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2021-02-24: Severe Winter Storms (Severe Ice Storm)
- 2021-02-17: Severe Winter Storm (Severe Ice Storm)
- 2020-04-05: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-06-01: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Muskogee-Davis Regional Airport (MKO) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 11 miles away.
- Muskogee 6 mi southwest, about 10 min by car
- Norwood 7 mi northeast, about 12 min by car
- Toppers 14 mi north, about 22 min by car
- Tahlequah 18 mi northeast, about 29 min by car
- Gore 19 mi southeast, about 30 min by car
- Grandview 19 mi northeast, about 31 min by car
- Briggs 23 mi northeast, about 38 min by car
- Haskell 24 mi west, about 38 min by car
- Checotah 25 mi southwest, about 41 min by car
- Coweta 26 mi northwest, about 41 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Fort Gibson Commandant's Quarters, Fred Q. Casler, Public domain
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