September 26 …

The town of Boley in Oklahoma is one of the most prominent of the historic All-Black towns in the United States, founded as a self-sustaining African American community in the early 20th century.

Boley officially opened for settlement on September 26, 1903, with Thomas M. Haynes serving as the principal organizer and town manager. Incorporated on May 10, 1905, the initial financial support came from white investor Lake Moore, who helped lease land from Abigail Barnett, the daughter of Creek freedman James Barnett. The town was named in honor of J.B. Boley, an official of the Fort Smith & Western Railroad who established a depot there.

The Boley Progress newspaper, launched in 1905, actively promoted migration by promoting Boley as the “Haven of the Negro.” By 1911, the town’s population and commercial activity had surged, with figures nearing 4,000 residents at times.

Boley boasted two banks (including a nationally chartered Black-owned bank), three cotton gins, its own electric plant, water system, hotels, professional offices, and schools. Notable early leaders and residents included Thomas M. Haynes, businessman and town organizer David J. Turner (who served as banker and mayor), and entrepreneurs like Hilliard Taylor.

Booker T. Washington visited Boley and commended it as an exemplary Black town. The community was primarily composed of Creek Freedmen and Southern migrants, including former slaves and their descendants.

Boley’s demographic peak occurred in the early 1900s, experiencing a decline during the Great Depression and mid-20th century, but it has continued to fluctuate since then. Recent census data indicate a population of around 1000, reflecting the town’s resilience despite its ups and downs.

Historically, residents enjoyed local economic autonomy, land ownership, and vibrant institutions — such as churches, schools, and fraternal lodges — that provided civic engagement and professional opportunities often unavailable elsewhere.

Boley’s historic downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and in 1975, the town was designated a National Historic Landmark District. It is also known for hosting the oldest African American community-based rodeo in the nation every Memorial Day weekend.

Despite economic challenges — including the loss of the railroad and the impacts of the Great Depression — the legacy of Black self-governance, entrepreneurship, and cultural institutions of the town of Boley in Oklahoma remains significant in conversations about African American migration, community development, and rural Black town life in U.S. history.