Pushmataha County is a county in Oklahoma, United States, in the Kiamichi Mountains of the state’s southeast corner. It had a population of 10,812 at the 2020 census and covers 1,423 square miles (3,684 km2) centred near 34°25′N 95°22′W.
Antlers is the county seat, and its postal code is 74523. The county has 4 incorporated towns, 4 census-designated places and about a dozen unincorporated communities. It sits in the Central time zone. Oklahoma has no civil townships, so this profile has no township section.
Towns & Villages in Pushmataha County
Pushmataha County’s map is dominated by a handful of small towns strung along the Kiamichi River valley and the ridgelines of the Ouachita Mountains. Antlers is the only incorporated city; Albion, Clayton and Rattan are incorporated towns. Finley, Moyers, Nashoba and Tuskahoma are census-designated places (CDPs), and the rest are unincorporated communities — crossroads, former rail sidings and post-office names with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antlers | City · seat | 2,221 | 74523 |
| Clayton | Town | 555 | 74536 |
| Rattan | Town | 276 | 74562 |
| Albion | Town | — | 74521 |
| Tuskahoma | CDP | — | 74574 |
| Nashoba | CDP | — | 74558 |
| Moyers | CDP | — | 74557 |
| Finley | CDP | — | 74543 |
| Adel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Belzoni | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Big Rocks | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Burwell | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cloudy | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Corinne | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dela | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Divide | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dunbar | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ethel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Eubanks | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fewell | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Greenwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Honobia | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jumbo | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kellond | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kiamichi | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kosoma | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Miller | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Nashoba Y | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Nolia | Unincorp. | — | — |
| North Sobol | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oleta | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pine Knot Crossing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ringold | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sardis | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Snow | Unincorp. | — | 74567 |
| Sobol | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stanley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wadena | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 74523 — Antlers
- 74536 — Clayton
- 74562 — Rattan
- 74557 — Moyers
- 74558 — Nashoba
- 74543 — Finley
- 74567 — Snow
- 74574 — Tuskahoma
- 74521 — Albion (PO Box only delivery)
Most of the county’s smaller unincorporated communities have no ZIP code of their own and are served by mail from the nearest listed post office town.
Geography
Pushmataha County lies in the Kiamichi Mountains, a subrange of the Ouachitas, with ridgelines running east-northeast to west-southwest and peaks reaching about 1,650 feet. The Kiamichi River cuts a crescent-shaped valley through the county from the northeast corner down to the southwest, and Sardis Lake, formed by a dam on Jackfork Creek, sits along the county’s northern edge. Forested, hilly terrain covers most of the land, with cleared bottomland along the river used for pasture and hay.
Pushmataha County borders Latimer County to the north, Le Flore County to the northeast, McCurtain County to the east, Choctaw County to the south, Atoka County to the west and Pittsburg County to the northwest.
Demographics
The county’s 10,812 residents at the 2020 census made it one of Oklahoma’s more sparsely populated counties, with a density of roughly 7.7 people per square mile of land. Antlers and Clayton are the two largest communities. Household income here runs well below the Oklahoma median of $62,138, typical of a rural, timber- and ranching-dependent county with a small tax base.
Economy & Local Life
Timber and forestry products, cattle ranching and hay production anchor the county’s economy, alongside government employment tied to the county seat and the U.S. Forest Service’s presence in the surrounding Ouachita National Forest. Sardis Lake draws anglers and campers from across the region, and the annual Pushmataha County Free Fair in Antlers is a longstanding local event.
History
Pushmataha County was created in 1907 at Oklahoma statehood, carved from the Choctaw Nation in Indian Territory, and named for Chief Pushmataha, a Choctaw leader known for his diplomacy and his refusal to join Tecumseh’s confederacy against the United States. In April 1945, a tornado struck Antlers and killed 69 people, one of the deadliest tornadoes in Oklahoma’s history.
Getting There
The Indian Nation Turnpike and US Highway 271 run through the county, with Oklahoma Highways 2, 3, 43, 93 and 144 connecting the smaller towns.
- McAlester — 40 miles northwest
- Idabel — 55 miles southeast
- Hugo — 35 miles south
- Paris, Texas — 70 miles south
The nearest commercial airport is McAlester Regional Airport, with fuller service available at Tulsa International Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Pushmataha County?
It is in the Kiamichi Mountains of southeastern Oklahoma, bordering Latimer, Le Flore, McCurtain, Choctaw, Atoka and Pittsburg counties.
What is the population of Pushmataha County?
10,812 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Pushmataha County?
1,423 square miles (3,684 km2), most of it forested mountain terrain.
What is the Pushmataha County seat?
Antlers is the county seat.
How many towns are in Pushmataha County?
Four incorporated municipalities — Antlers, Albion, Clayton and Rattan — plus four census-designated places and roughly two dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Pushmataha County?
Nine, including 74523 (Antlers), 74536 (Clayton) and 74562 (Rattan).
Who is the county named after?
Chief Pushmataha, a Choctaw leader who negotiated with the United States government in the early 19th century.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Oklahoma.