February 10 …

The town of Grayson in Oklahoma is one of the state’s historic All-Black towns, notable for its origins in the late 19th/early 20th century and its ongoing cultural traditions that celebrate Black community life.

Originally named Wildcat, the community’s post office was established on February 10, 1902. By the time of Oklahoma’s statehood in 1907, Grayson had approximately 375 residents. The town recorded a population of 411 in the 1910 census, and figures have varied since, with 127 residents reported in the 2020 census.

The name was changed to Grayson in honor of Muscogee (Creek) chief George W. Grayson. The settlement experienced formal growth in the early 1900s as rail access and regional agriculture fostered the development of stores, a cotton gin, churches, and schools.

The founders and early inhabitants were predominantly Creek Freedmen and African American migrants who established local businesses, churches, and civic institutions. Community leaders and long-standing families supported schools and a community center, while the town historically attracted professionals — physicians, merchants, and educators — serving the surrounding rural area.

Demographically, Grayson reached its peak in the early 20th century and experienced a decline during the Great Depression and mid-century. Today, it is a small, majority-Black community that cherishes its local institutions and traditions.

Grayson’s cultural life features an annual gumbo festival that attracts visitors and highlights local culinary and communal traditions. The town is recognized as one of Oklahoma’s historic All-Black towns and is showcased in state and public history programming, as well as local preservation initiatives.

The legacy of the town of Grayson in Oklahoma encompasses Black landownership, self-governance, rural education, and community resilience — contributions that position Grayson within broader narratives of African American migration, town-building, and cultural continuity in American history.