Agawam, Oklahoma

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}

{{Infobox settlement

|name = Agawam, Oklahoma

|settlement_type = Ghost town

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|image_skyline =Agawam OK Houses 3-2025.jpg

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|image_caption = Old Houses at Agawam in March 2025

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|pushpin_map = Oklahoma#USA

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|subdivision_type = Country

|subdivision_name = United States

|subdivision_type1 = State

|subdivision_name1 = Oklahoma

|subdivision_type2 = County

|subdivision_name2 = Grady

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|unit_pref = Imperial

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|timezone = Central (CST)

|utc_offset = -6

|timezone_DST = CDT

|utc_offset_DST = -5

|elevation_footnotes =

|elevation_ft = 1240

| population_total = 35{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Oklahoma |encyclopedia=World Book Encyclopedia |publisher=Field Enterprises Educational Corporation |date=1960 |volume=N-O |page=544}}

| population_as_of = 1960

| coordinates = {{coord|34|52|24|N|97|56|46|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}

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|blank_name = GNIS feature ID

|blank_info = 1093811{{GNIS|1089548}}

}}

Agawam is a ghost town in Grady County, Oklahoma.

Geography

Agawam is located adjacent to US Highway 81,{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_dvbbqNyv6sC&pg=PA23&dq=agawam+ok+location&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwissKOY79GNAxUyJkQIHUo8CyMQ6AF6BAgFEAM#v=onepage&q=agawam&f=false | title=Oklahoma: Index to Topographic and Other Map Coverage | work=USGS | accessdate=1 June 2025 | pages=23}} near the junction with County Road 1490.{{cite map | title=Google Maps | url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Agawam,+OK+73067/@34.8734019,-97.9564521,2349m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x87ad79f0da66c5dd:0xb039ba51dfbb71e!8m2!3d34.8734028!4d-97.9461523!16s%2Fm%2F04bhwk1?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDUyOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D | date=2025 | accessdate=1 June 2025}}

History

Agawam was founded around 1909, when its post office was built. Agawam was named after a Native American village in New England.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y34B0sb3ZmoC&pg=PA83&dq=agawam+ok+location&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwissKOY79GNAxUyJkQIHUo8CyMQ6AF6BAgHEAM#v=onepage&q=agawam%20ok%20location&f=false | title=Exploring Oklahoma Highways: Trip Trivia | publisher=Travel Organization Network Exchange, Inc. | author=Heim, Michael | year=2006 | location=Wabasha, MN | pages=83 | isbn=0-9777301-2-3}} The community was located on the main line of the Rock Island Railroad.

On 19 October 1915, two Rock Island Railroad trains collided head-on here, a southbound passenger train and a northbound freight train, resulting in seven fatalities and numerous injuries; engineer William Powell was blamed for the accident.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80646327/train-collision-at-agawam/ |title=Seven Killed When R.I. Trains Meet |date=20 October 1915 |newspaper=Waco Morning News |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=January 8, 2022 |access-date=July 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108012007/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80646327/train-collision-at-agawam/ |url-status=live }} {{open access}}

The Agawam post office closed in 1918.{{Cite web |title=Grady County, Oklahoma Genealogy Trails Towns and Townships |url=http://genealogytrails.com/oka/grady/towns.html |access-date=2021-06-29 |website=genealogytrails.com |archive-date=November 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127234459/http://genealogytrails.com/oka/grady/towns.html |url-status=live }}

In October 1922, it was announced that Agawam, located on the main line of the Rock Island Railroad, would become a shipping point for a gas field in Grady County, due to its location: four miles from the Oklahoma Gas Company's pumping station.{{Cite news |date=5 October 1922 |title=Agawam Will Be Shipping Point |page=8 |work=The Chickasha Daily Express |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80143369/agawam/ |access-date=29 June 2021 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=January 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108012011/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80143369/agawam/ |url-status=live }} {{open access}} Agawam was described as a "new oil town" in 1923, when an auction of town lots was held.{{Cite news |date=1923-01-31 |title=N/A |pages=8 |work=The Chickasha Daily Express |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80143484/agawam/ |access-date=2021-06-29 |archive-date=January 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108234438/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80143484/agawam/ |url-status=live }}

A gymnasium was completed in 1935. In 1955, Agawam had a grade school with a "small enrollment", but it was large enough to field a very good girls' basketball team that, over the course of three years, had amassed 90 wins against four losses, despite usually only having seven players.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80742386/agawam-girls-basketball-team/ |title=Agawam Girls Season Good |date=17 March 1955 |newspaper=Chickasaw Daily Express |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=January 8, 2022 |access-date=July 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108012013/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80742386/agawam-girls-basketball-team/ |url-status=live }} {{open access}}

See also

{{Portal|Oklahoma}}

References

{{reflist}}