McAlester, Oklahoma
McAlester is a city of 18,111 people in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, founded in 1872.
Why visit McAlester
Townapedia lists 7 museums and landmarks, 4 parks and trails, 38 places to eat, 10 places to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Apex Cinema McAlester, Aldridge Hotel, Carl Albert Federal Building and McAlester Country Club.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 93°F; January lows average 30°F.
Weather in McAlester
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About McAlester
McAlester is a city in and the county seat of Pittsburg County, Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, McAlester had a population of 18,171. The town gets its name from James Jackson "J. J." McAlester, an early settler and businessman who later became lieutenant governor of Oklahoma.
From the Wikipedia article McAlester, Oklahoma (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do3
Museums and landmarks7
Aldridge Hotel
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Hotel building in McAlester, Oklahoma
Carl Albert Federal Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Courthouse in McAlester, Oklahoma, US
McAlester House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.2 mi
Historic house in Oklahoma, United States
McAlester Scottish Rite Temple
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Masonic temple in Oklahoma, United States of America
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
Church building in Oklahoma, United States of America
Warden's House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Historic house in Oklahoma, United States
International Temple, Supreme Assembly, Order of the Rainbow for Girls
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Parks, trails and playgrounds4
Restaurants and cafes38
Captain John’s
Restaurant · Seafood, Steak House, American · 2.2 mi
1216 South George Nigh Expressway, McAlester
Mo-Su 11:00-21:00
Pete's Place
Restaurant · Italian, Pizza, Beer · 2.8 mi
120 Southwest 8th Street, Krebs
Mo-Th 11:00-20:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-21:00; Su 11:00-20:00
Spaceship Earth Coffee
Cafe · 0.6 mi
345 East Choctaw Avenue, McAlester
Mo-Th 07:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 08:00-23:00
What About Bob's
Restaurant · Burger · 0.8 mi
610 North Main Street, McAlester
Adelita's Mexican Restaurant
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.7 mi
1710 East Carl Albert Parkway, McAlester
El Chilo's
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.7 mi
419 South George Nigh Expressway, McAlester
Modo Mio Italian Restaurant
Restaurant · Italian · 1.8 mi
1746 East Carl Albert Parkway, McAlester
26 more on the map.
History
The crossing of the east–west California Road with the north–south Texas Road formed a natural point of settlement. At the time of its founding, the site was located in Tobucksy County, a part of the Moshulatubbee District of the Choctaw Nation. Alyssia Young, who emigrated from Mississippi to the Indian Territory, first established a settlement at the intersection of the two roads in 1838. The town was named Perryville after James Perry, member of a Choctaw family, who established a trading post. At one time Perryville was the capital of the Choctaw Nation and County Seat of Tobucksy County. During the American Civil War, the Choctaw allied with the Confederate States of America (CSA) as the war reached Indian Territory.
A depot providing supplies to Confederate Forces in Indian Territory was set up at Perryville. On August 26, 1863, a force of 4,500 Union soldiers crossed the Canadian River and destroyed the Confederate munitions depot at Perryville. This became known as the Battle of Perryville, Indian Territory. Union Major General James G. Blunt, finding the Confederate supplies and realizing that Perryville was a major supply depot for Confederate forces, ordered the town burned. The town was rebuilt but never reached its prewar glory or population.
From the History section of McAlester, Oklahoma on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay10
AmericInn by Wyndham McAlester
Motel and hotel · 1.7 mi
609 South George Nigh Expressway, McAlester
Hiway Motor Inn & Suites
Motel and hotel · 1.6 mi
419 South George Nigh Expressway, McAlester
Quality Inn & Suites
Motel and hotel · 1.9 mi
400 South George Nigh Expressway, McAlester
Churches and places of worship40
First Presbyterian Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Friendship Seventh-day Adventist Church
Church · Seventh Day Adventist · 1.1 mi
300 West Jackson Avenue, McAlester
All Saints Episcopal Church
Church · Episcopal · 0.7 mi
325 East Washington Avenue, McAlester
Trinity Lutheran Church
Church · Lutheran · 2.5 mi
190 East State Highway 31, McAlester
Shopping9
Gas and EV charging14
Schools, colleges and libraries24
Healthcare9
Carl Albert Community Mental Health Center
Hospital · 1.4 mi
1100 East Monroe Avenue, McAlester
Caring Hands Healthcare Centers
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.5 mi
200 South 3rd Street, Mcalester
Map of McAlester
158 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52°F | 30°F | 2.2 in |
| Feb | 57°F | 34°F | 2.4 in |
| Mar | 65°F | 42°F | 3.4 in |
| Apr | 73°F | 50°F | 4.6 in |
| May | 80°F | 60°F | 5.3 in |
| Jun | 88°F | 68°F | 4.5 in |
| Jul | 93°F | 72°F | 3.4 in |
| Aug | 93°F | 71°F | 3.0 in |
| Sep | 86°F | 63°F | 3.7 in |
| Oct | 75°F | 52°F | 4.2 in |
| Nov | 63°F | 41°F | 3.0 in |
| Dec | 54°F | 33°F | 3.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Mcalester Rgnl Ap (3 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
Pittsburg County has had 27 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2024-04-30: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Tornado)
- 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)
- 2019-07-12: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
McAlester Regional Airport (MLC) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 3 miles away.
- Krebs 3 mi east, about 5 min by car
- Savanna 7 mi southwest, about 11 min by car
- Arpelar 10 mi west, about 16 min by car
- Haileyville 12 mi southeast, about 20 min by car
- Hartshorne 13 mi southeast, about 22 min by car
- Crowder 14 mi north, about 23 min by car
- Kiowa 16 mi southwest, about 25 min by car
- Longtown 26 mi northeast, about 42 min by car
- Okmulgee 49 mi north, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Ada 52 mi west, about 1 h 30 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
Loading what members have shared...
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
- McAlesterLibraryOK, Michael Allen from St. Louis, Missouri, USA, CC BY 2.0
- McAlester House, McAlester, OK, 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
- McAlester Scottish Rite Temple, McAlester, OK, 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
- First Presbyterian Church, McAlester, OK, 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
- St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Krebs, OK, 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Aldridge Hotel, Shiningstar1, CC BY-SA 3.0
- International Temple, Comradeayobami, CC BY-SA 4.0
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