Ketchum

History

The town was named for James Ketchum, a Delaware Indian and Methodist minister who had relocated to Indian Territory in 1867 from Wyandotte County, Kansas. The Post Office Department established the post office on September 15, 1899, at the original townsite. Ketchum was originally located in northeastern Mayes County, on the bank of the Grand River (Neosho River). It was relocated to southeastern Craig County around 1912 when the Missouri, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad — which became the Kansas, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway (KO&G) in 1919 — was being constructed from southeastern Kansas south through the region. New Ketchum was platted in late 1912. The original townsite sat in an area that was later filled in by the creation of Grand Lake o' the Cherokees. The economy of Ketchum was based on agriculture until Pensacola Dam was built between December 30, 1938, and March 21, 1940, creating Grand Lake. Since then, the local economy has largely been dominated by tourism and other businesses related to the lake. The land on which the airport is built was officially designated "Brent Howard Field" in June 2024, named after local community leader S. Brent Howard, who was instrumental in creating the airport's managing authority and establishing it as a Title 60 Public Trust. In September 2025, the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics and the airport held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new 3,800-square-foot terminal building, a 12,000-square-foot commercial hangar, and a partial parallel taxiway, with total project costs of approximately $12.3 million.

Geography

Ketchum is located in the southeast corner of Craig County. A portion of the town extends south into Mayes County and borders a small arm of Grand Lake. Oklahoma State Highway 85 passes through Ketchum, leading west to Highway 82. Via Highways 85, 82, and U.S. 60, it is northwest to Vinita, the Craig County seat. Highway 85 leads northeast parallel to Grand Lake, to Bernice. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town of Ketchum has a total area of , of which , or 0.1%, are water.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• KETCHUM ES
  Elementary · Ketchum · 271 students · 15.1:1 ratio
• KETCHUM HS
  High · Ketchum · 167 students · 11.1:1 ratio
• KETCHUM MS
  Middle · Ketchum · 130 students · 14.4:1 ratio