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History · Oakland

Oakland dates to 1836, and 1 of its places is on the National Register

Most of Oakland was built recently: 9% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1991. Its Register listing is the Walker High School. Below: maps from 1954 on and the census since 1880.

1836founded
1on the National Register
9%homes built before 1940
2famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
Photo: Chillin662 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answers

How Oakland began

When was Oakland founded?

1836

Oakland dates its founding to 1836 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1880.

First census: 288 in 18802020 census: 462190 years
Founding year: Wikipedia. First post office: 1837.The full story ↓

What stands out about Oakland’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Oakland are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.Shrank, then grewLost a third of its people between 1890 and 1900, then more than doubled.Deep rootsEstablished in 1836: 190 years of Oakland.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Oakland’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Oakland’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
People over time

Oakland, census by census

010020030040050060018801900192019401960198020002020327 in 1890Low: 209

Lost a third of its people between 1890 and 1900, then more than doubled.

15 censuses, 1880–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Oakland’s Wikipedia page.

Timeline

Oakland, 1836 to 2000

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1836
    FoundingOakland is established
  3. 1837Post officeThe Oakland post office opens
  4. 1864Born hereDunbar Rowland is born here
  5. 20th century
  6. 1954On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  7. 1959Born hereCarol Ross is born here
  8. 21st century
  9. 2000CensusPopulation peaks at 586
The story

How Oakland came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Oakland.

Read it all →

Oakland was first settled around 1836, and was located 1.5 mi (2.4 km) east of its present location. The town moved when the Mississippi and Tennessee Railroad was built in the 1850s.

During the Civil War, the Battle of Oakland occurred on December 3, 1862, when Union Army General Cadwallader C. Washburn's 1,900 cavalrymen encountered Confederate Colonel John Summerfield Griffith's 6th Texas Cavalry Regiment at Oakland. Both sides withdrew after several hours of fighting.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

By decade

Oakland, decade by decade

Today13 recent
MS727 North2018MS727 NorthMS32 West - Oakland Sign at MS322018MS32 West - Oakland Sign at MS32The Herron House Mansion, built in 1907 and restored as a bed-and-breakfast inn, exactly one century later2016The Herron House Mansion, built in 1907 and restored …There's no longer pool to be played at this old poolroom2016There's no longer pool to be played at this old poolr…Jerome Lewis and Aaron Butler hang out2016Jerome Lewis and Aaron Butler hang outOld-time mix of agriculture and industry2016Old-time mix of agriculture and industryAn old pool (or billiards) hall2016An old pool (or billiards) hallEmpty bank building2016Empty bank buildingAbandoned Siding2016Abandoned SidingMSMap-doton-Oakland2007MSMap-doton-OaklandEnid Reservoir - panoramio - Josh Travis2007Enid Reservoir - panoramio - Josh TravisGreat Fishing Hole2005Great Fishing HoleEnid Reservoir2005Enid Reservoir
On the map

Oakland on the map, 1954 to 2000

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Oakland. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Oakland on the 1954 USGS mapOakland on the 1983 USGS mapOakland on the 2000 USGS map1954Oakland sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Oakland.

On the National Register

1 historic place in Oakland

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

place listed
1
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
3
each building in a district counts
first listed
2025
Walker High School
Buildings
All 1 listings
Walker High SchoolBuilding · listed 2025

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

Famous people

2 famous people were born in Oakland

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
C
Carol RossAmerican basketball coach · b. 1959
Dunbar RowlandAmerican attorney, archivist, and historian · b. 1864

Questions about Oakland’s history

What year was Oakland founded?

In 1836, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Oakland’s post office opened in 1837, and the census of 1880 counted 288 people here.

What is on the National Register in Oakland?

One place: the Walker High School (listed 2025).

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (7), the Library of Congress (6), the National Register of Historic Places (1), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.