About Craig County
Craig County was created
at statehood and named for Granville Craig, a prominent Cherokee, this area
was part of the Cherokee Nation. The area was only sparsely settled until
after the Civil War when a few scattered Cherokees made their homes in the
region.
Vinita the county seat,
was once called both Downingville and The Junction and was established in 1871 at the junction of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad (Katy) and
the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad, (later the Frisco), the first rail lines
to enter Oklahoma. In 1881 the two railroads crossed at Vinita. (see
the Short History of Craig Co. for more
info.)
Craig County has long
been a livestock producing area with cattle ranches located throughout. The
industrial base of Vinita has been expanded to include everything from the
manufacturing of towers to micro connectors. As headquarters of the Grand
River Dam Authority, Craig county is also the site of the Kansas, Arkansas,
Oklahoma Electric Power Distributor, and the Northeast Oklahoma Electric
Cooperative. Eastern State Mental Hospital has been in operation since
1913, more information about
Eastern State
Hospital.
Annual events include
the original Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo in August, the Calf Fry Festival
in June and Oktoberfest in October.
Location: Craig County
borders Kansas and is located in northeastern Oklahoma. Climate: The
average precipitation is 45.6 inches yearly in this area. Januarys
average temperature is 40.6 degrees Fahrenheit and Julys average is
79.6 degrees Fahrenheit. County Seat: Vinita
Land Area: 762 square
miles of agricultural land on rolling hills and level
plains.