Stilwell, Oklahoma
Stilwell is a city of 3,755 people in Adair County, Oklahoma, founded in 1897.
Why visit Stilwell
Townapedia lists 2 museums and landmarks, 1 park or trail, 4 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Adair County Courthouse.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 90°F; January lows average 27°F.
Weather in Stilwell
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Stilwell
Stilwell / ᏍᏗᎳᏪᎵ is a city located in the sovereign territory of the Cherokee Nation. It is the county seat of Adair County, and is home to the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma. The population was 3,700 as of the 2020 U.S. census, a decline of 6.7 percent from the 3,949 population recorded in 2010. The Oklahoma governor and legislature proclaimed Stilwell as the "Strawberry Capital of the World" in 1949, but the role of strawberries in the local economy has diminished since then.
From the Wikipedia article Stilwell, Oklahoma (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Museums and landmarks2
Adair County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Courthouse in Oklahoma, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds1
Restaurants and cafes4
Okie Joe's BBQ
Restaurant · Barbecue
210 South 2nd Street, Stilwell
History
Stilwell's history began in 1838 as an end point of the Trail of Tears, with the ethnic cleansing and forced displacement of thousands of Indigenous people to the Stilwell area. The trail was called nu na da ul tsun yi in Cherokee language, or "the place where they cried". The U.S. federal government set up a “disbandment depot” outside what is present-day Stilwell in the early months of 1839 to distribute food and supplies to the newly arrived Indigenous people. Those with resources quickly left to settle across the rest of Indian Territory, but the sickest and poorest stayed in the Stilwell area, close to the safety of the depot.
From the History section of Stilwell, Oklahoma on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay1
Churches and places of worship8
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries8
Healthcare1
Map of Stilwell
30 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49°F | 27°F | 2.9 in |
| Feb | 54°F | 32°F | 2.4 in |
| Mar | 61°F | 39°F | 4.0 in |
| Apr | 71°F | 47°F | 5.0 in |
| May | 77°F | 56°F | 5.4 in |
| Jun | 85°F | 64°F | 5.2 in |
| Jul | 90°F | 68°F | 4.3 in |
| Aug | 90°F | 66°F | 4.5 in |
| Sep | 82°F | 59°F | 4.3 in |
| Oct | 72°F | 49°F | 4.4 in |
| Nov | 62°F | 38°F | 4.5 in |
| Dec | 50°F | 30°F | 2.9 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Stilwell 5 Nnw (6 mi away), rain and snow from Lyons 2 N, 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
Adair County has had 23 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2025-03-18: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 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)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Smith Field (SLG) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 27 miles away.
- Briggs 16 mi northwest, about 25 min by car
- Park Hill 19 mi west, about 31 min by car
- Tahlequah 20 mi west, about 33 min by car
- Grandview 23 mi northwest, about 37 min by car
- West Siloam Springs 25 mi north, about 40 min by car
- Siloam Springs 26 mi north, about 42 min by car
- Sallisaw 26 mi south, about 43 min by car
- Roland 29 mi south, about 46 min by car
- Van Buren 30 mi southeast, about 48 min by car
- Fayetteville 31 mi northeast, about 51 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
- Stilwell Oklahoma train depot, Omnedon, Public domain
- Adair County Courthouse, Stilwell, Walter Smalling, Jr., Public domain
- Adair County Oklahoma courthouse, Omnedon, Public domain
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