Piney

History

Piney was established in the Arkansaw Territory, in 1824, as the head town of the Cherokee in the West. It served as the council seat (informal capital) of the Cherokee Nation–West from 1824 to 1828. The town was located on the lands of Lovely's Purchase, that straddled what was to become the Indian Territory—Arkansas state line. In 1828, the eastern border of the Indian Territory was finally drawn (running just one mile east of the settlement), and the old Arkansaw Territory was split into two. A permanent Cherokee Nation capital city was also being built in the more centrally located Tahlonteeskee (in Sequoyah County,) located deeper in the new Indian Territory. Most of the Cherokee residents of Piney soon migrated further west into their designated districts in the Indian Territory following the split. A Baptist missionary, Duncan O'Bryant, who had served in Piney for a time, remained behind. He died in 1834 and his grave is located there. Piney had a post office from November 24, 1913, to August 20, 1921. The town reached its largest size circa 1916. It had a general store (where the post office was located); a gristmill; a blacksmith's shop; and a school, which is now used as a community building. The incorporated town continued until 1940. The original settlement of Piney is now considered a ghost town, although some residents still live in the area (2011).

Geography

Piney is located in eastern Adair County, west of the Arkansas border. The Piney CDP has a total area of , of which is land and , or 1.32%, is water.

Largest nearby schools

• MARYETTA PUBLIC SCHOOL
  Elementary · Stilwell · 645 students · 14.7:1 ratio
• STILWELL HS
  High · Stilwell · 640 students · 16.4:1 ratio
• WESTVILLE ES
  Elementary · Westville · 493 students · 17:1 ratio
• STILWELL ES
  Elementary · Stilwell · 479 students · 14.5:1 ratio
• WESTVILLE HS
  High · Westville · 346 students · 12.8:1 ratio
• ZION PUBLIC SCHOOL
  Elementary · Stilwell · 285 students · 12.4:1 ratio
• STILWELL MS
  Middle · Stilwell · 275 students · 11.5:1 ratio
• WESTVILLE JHS
  Middle · Westville · 132 students · 11:1 ratio