Located in the mountains of southeastern Oklahoma, Latimer County was created at statehood and named for James S. Latimer, a member of the Constitutional Convention. The Butterfield Overland Mail Route, extending from St. Louis to San Francisco, cut through the county at four stops which are now open to visitors. During the Civil War, outlaws roamed the area, and in 1875, Isaac Parker, a Federal Judge at Fort Smith, Arkansas, became known as the hanging judge because of his efforts to restore order. A coal boom in 1870 brought a great influx of people, and by 1907 many people had settled in Wilburton. A tragic explosion in 1926 forced the mines to close and since that time cattle raising and agriculture have become the principle ways of life. Wilburton, the county seat, is the home of industry as well as Eastern Oklahoma State College, begun in 1908 as the Oklahoma School of Mines, Latimer County has five reservoirs and is rich in minerals as well as forests, ranch land and recreational opportunities. Location: Latimer County is in southeastern Oklahoma. Climate: The average precipitation is 62.3 inches yearly in this area. January's average temperature is 42.0 degrees Fahrenheit and July's average is 79.1 degrees Fahrenheit. County Seat: Wilburton Distances: Wilburton to: Muskogee - 72 miles Tulsa - 123 miles Land Area: 729 square miles of hills and bluffs
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