Foss

History

The history of Foss began when settlers from the area of the Wilson post office moved four miles north to the valley of Turkey Creek in the late 1890s. They initially wanted their new post office to be called Graham, but since that name was already taken it was named Maharg (an anagram of Graham). A flash flood on May 2, 1902, wiped out the town on Turkey Creek, destroying businesses and drowning several people. The town rebuilt on higher ground and was named Foss. The post office began operation on September 15, 1900. The town expanded rapidly. By 1905 the town had a population between 900 and 1000 residents. It also had plants to manufacture hay balers, baby carriages, and brooms. The population stabilized near 500. In the 1920s the town began to have economic problems as the nearby cities of Clinton and Elk City absorbed more and more trade. During the Great Depression more people moved away. During World War II, the town boasted a population of over 300 residents, relying primarily on Route 66 travellers (which passed half a mile south of the city) and a U.S. naval base south of the town that operated during wartime. A filling station and a café also operated in the town around that time. Though in the 1950s and 1960s there was an economic revival due to the nearby Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base at Burns Flat. When the base closed and Interstate 40 bypassed Foss the town declined further. The last bank left in September 1977. Foss had two newspapers, the Foss Enterprise and the Foss Banner. It was served by the Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad (Rock Island) railroad. The Enterprise went out of business in the 1930s.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all land. Foss is at the intersection of Interstate 40 and Oklahoma State Highway 44. Foss State Park on Foss Reservoir is about 6 miles to the north. The Washita National Wildlife Refuge is at the north end of Foss Reservoir.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• WILL ROGERS ES
  Elementary · Burns Flat · 366 students · 13.6:1 ratio
• CANUTE ES
  Elementary · Canute · 260 students · 17.3:1 ratio
• CANUTE HS
  High · Canute · 136 students · 12.4:1 ratio
• BURNS FLAT-DILL CITY HS
  High · Burns Flat · 127 students · 11.5:1 ratio