Townapedia
Idabel, OK, City Hall IMG 8503
Idabel, OK, City Hall IMG 8503 · Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0
Idabel August 2018 11 (Jesus Church)
Idabel August 2018 11 (Jesus Church) · Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
Idabel August 2018 10 (Idabel Middle School)
Idabel August 2018 10 (Idabel Middle School) · Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
Idabel August 2018 09 (Idabel Masonic Lodge)
Idabel August 2018 09 (Idabel Masonic Lodge) · Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
Idabel August 2018 02 (White Family Funeral Home)
Idabel August 2018 02 (White Family Funeral Home) · Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
Idabel August 2018 13 (Bus Barn - Idabel Armory)
Idabel August 2018 13 (Bus Barn - Idabel Armory) · Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0

Idabel, Oklahoma

Idabel is a city of 6,987 people in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, founded in 1902.

Plan a trip
Loading the weather...
Population6,987 +0.9% since 2019
CountyMcCurtain County
Elevation472 ft 144 m
Founded1902
Land area16.7 sq mi
ZIP code74745
Nearest airportCox Field (PRX) 40 mi

Why visit Idabel

Townapedia lists 4 museums and landmarks, 1 park or trail, 14 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.

Highlights include McCurtain Cinema, Frisco Station, Idabel Armory and Idabel Country Club.

August is the warmest month, with average highs of 94°F; January lows average 29°F.

About Idabel

Idabel is a city in and the county seat of McCurtain County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 6,961. It is located in Oklahoma's southeast corner, a tourist region known as Choctaw Country.

From the Wikipedia article Idabel, Oklahoma (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Things to do1

McCurtain Cinema

Cinema and theater · 3.1 mi

3300 Northeast Lincoln Road, Idabel

Open in Google Maps

Museums and landmarks4

Frisco StationCC BY-SA 4.0

Frisco Station

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi

Railway station in Idabel, Oklahoma, on the National Register of Historic Places

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Idabel Armory

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi

Historic building in Oklahoma

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Museum of the Red River

Museum · 1.9 mi

812 East Lincoln Road, Idabel

Mo-Sa 10:00-17:00; Su 09:45-15:00; PH off

Open in Google Maps

McCurtain County Veterans Memorial Museum

Museum · 0.8 mi

Open in Google Maps

Parks, trails and playgrounds1

Idabel Country Club

Golf course · 2.2 mi

2301 East Lincoln Road, Idabel

Open in Google Maps · +1 580 286 7545

Advertisement

Restaurants and cafes14

Daniel Beard's Catfish King

Restaurant · American, Seafood · 2.1 mi

2501 Southeast Washington Street, Idabel

Mo-Th 11:00-21:00, Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00, Su 11:00-15:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-580-286-3387

Punkins Coffee House and Eatery

Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.0 mi

103 Southeast North Avenue, Idabel

Mo-Th 07:00-15:30; Fr 07:00-17:30; Sa 07:00-14:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-580-245-6888

Roma Italian Restaurant

Restaurant · Italian, Pizza, Seafood · 2.1 mi

500 Northeast Lincoln Road, Idabel

Open in Google Maps · +1-580-286-3400

Cielito Lindo Mexican Resaurant

Restaurant · Mexican, Tex-Mex · 3.1 mi

3104 Northeast Lincoln Road, Idabel

Open in Google Maps · +1-580-286-1127

Guacamole Brothers Mexican Restaurant

Restaurant · Mexican · 2.2 mi

502 Northeast Lincoln Road, Idabel

Open in Google Maps · +1-580-612-4822

Bethany Anne's Cafe

Cafe · 1.0 mi

1431

Open in Google Maps

Lin Cuisine

Restaurant · Chinese · 1.4 mi

Open in Google Maps

Milano's Pizza

Restaurant · 1.7 mi

Open in Google Maps

Braum's

Fast food · Ice Cream · 0.8 mi

801 Southeast Washington Street, Idabel

Mo-Su 06:00-21:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-580-286-5500

Domino's

Fast food · Pizza · 1.6 mi

2019 Southeast Washington Street, Idabel

Mo-Th 10:30-24:00; Fr-Sa 10:30-01:00; Su 10:30-24:00

Open in Google Maps · +1 580-376-4040

Subway

Fast food · Sandwich · 1.6 mi

2100 Southeast Washington Street, Idabel

Mo-We 08:30-21:00; Th-Fr 08:30-22:00; Sa-Su 09:00-21:00

Open in Google Maps · +1 580-286-7114

McDonald's

Fast food · Burger · 2.0 mi

Open in Google Maps

2 more on the map.

History

Idabel was established in 1902 as a station by the Arkansas and Choctaw Railway. (This was later part of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway, and the line is now operated by the Kiamichi Railroad).

The city was first named Purnell, after Isaac Purnell, a railroad official. When postal officials rejected that designation, the name was changed to Mitchell, honoring another railroad company officer. Postal officials rejected that name because another post office of the same name already existed elsewhere in the territory. They named the post office Bokhoma (a Choctaw word meaning Red River); it opened December 15, 1902.

Railroad officials then chose the name Idabel, a compound of the names of Isaac Purnell's two daughters, Ida and Bell. The post office was renamed as Idabel.

At the time of its founding, Idabel was located in Bok Tuklo County, a part of the Apukshunubbee District of the Choctaw Nation, within what was known as Indian Territory.

For the first four years, Idabel local government was conducted by the Choctaw tribe for its people. The federal government had legal jurisdiction in most matters over non-Choctaws. In 1906, the citizens elected their first mayor and established a mayor-council form of government.

From the History section of Idabel, Oklahoma on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay2

Churches and places of worship12

Advertisement

Shopping2

Gas and EV charging3

Schools, colleges and libraries13

Advertisement

Healthcare2

Map of Idabel

54 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Climate by month

40°60°80°100°January: 3.8 in of rainFebruary: 4.1 in of rainMarch: 5.0 in of rainApril: 5.4 in of rainMay: 6.3 in of rainJune: 4.1 in of rainJuly: 3.6 in of rainAugust: 3.0 in of rainSeptember: 4.3 in of rainOctober: 5.2 in of rainNovember: 4.7 in of rainDecember: 5.0 in of rainJanuary: 54°FFebruary: 59°FMarch: 67°FApril: 75°FMay: 82°FJune: 89°FJuly: 94°FAugust: 94°FSeptember: 87°FOctober: 77°FNovember: 65°FDecember: 57°FJanuary: 29°FFebruary: 34°FMarch: 41°FApril: 48°FMay: 59°FJune: 66°FJuly: 70°FAugust: 69°FSeptember: 61°FOctober: 49°FNovember: 39°FDecember: 32°FJFMAMJJASOND
Average high Average low Rain
Monthly table
MonthHighLowRainSnow
Jan54°F29°F3.8 in0.6 in
Feb59°F34°F4.1 in0.9 in
Mar67°F41°F5.0 in0.2 in
Apr75°F48°F5.4 in0.0 in
May82°F59°F6.3 in0.0 in
Jun89°F66°F4.1 in0.0 in
Jul94°F70°F3.6 in0.0 in
Aug94°F69°F3.0 in0.0 in
Sep87°F61°F4.3 in0.0 in
Oct77°F49°F5.2 in0.0 in
Nov65°F39°F4.7 in0.0 in
Dec57°F32°F5.0 in0.3 in

U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Idabel (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.

People and cost of living

$43,295median household income
$134,800median home value
$702median monthly rent
33.0median age
16.7%of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
54.8%of homes are owner-occupied
19.6 minaverage commute
Age of residents
Under 1830%18 to 3423%35 to 6430%65 and over17%

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.

Disaster history

McCurtain County has had 20 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.

  • 2023-07-19: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes (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)
  • 2016-02-10: Severe Winter Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)

OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.

Getting there and nearby towns

Cox Field (PRX) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 40 miles away.

  • Broken Bow 10 mi northeast, about 15 min by car
  • Wright City 15 mi northwest, about 25 min by car
  • Valliant 16 mi northwest, about 26 min by car
  • Eagletown 17 mi northeast, about 28 min by car
  • Annona 23 mi south, about 37 min by car
  • Clarksville 25 mi southwest, about 39 min by car
  • Paris 45 mi west, about 1 h 15 min by car
  • Antlers 51 mi northwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
  • Texarkana 53 mi southeast, about 1 h 30 min by car
  • Mount Pleasant 53 mi south, about 1 h 30 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

Loading what members have shared...

Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.