National Register Listing

Public Water Trough

Jct. Main, Canadian, and Northeast Blvd., Geary, OK
The Public Water Trough and Well site at Northeast Boulevard and Main in Geary is the site of a significant pattern of activity in the community's development. It is historically significant within the context of Geary's community planning, commercial growth, and transportation development in the 1901-1939 period. The construction and maintenance of this public facility over this period of years reflects Geary's dependence on agriculture and agriculture-related industry, a pattern typical of rural communities throughout western Oklahoma. The trough and well site specifically reflects community planning, because the city fathers intended the facility to provide domestic water, fire protection, and stock water for east side industries. The utility was also intended to provide an essential service for farmers bringing trade into Geary. In the design of the trough and its geographical placement, it illustrates the method of commercial transportation common during the early years of the century. It is one of four well and trough sites constructed in town in 1899-1901, and it is the only one still extant.
Local significance of the structure:
Community Planning And Development; Commerce; Transportation

Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.

Audiobooks about the history of Oklahoma.
The Oklahoma City bombing, which occurred on April 19, 1995, was one of the deadliest acts of domestic terrorism in United States history. The bombing killed 168 people and injured more than 500 others.
Oklahoma random facts
Blaine County is located in the state of Oklahoma, USA, and has a rich history that dates back to its early settlement by Native American tribes. The region was originally inhabited by various groups of Native Americans, including the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes, who roamed the area for centuries before the arrival of European settlers.

In the 19th century, the land that would become Blaine County was part of the vast territory designated as Indian Territory. During this time, the United States government forcibly relocated Native American tribes from their ancestral lands in the East to the western territories, including present-day Oklahoma. The establishment of Indian Territory opened up opportunities for non-Native settlers to homestead in the area.

Blaine County was officially established on November 16, 1892, when it was carved out of several neighboring counties. It was named in honor of James G. Blaine, a prominent politician and statesman of the time. The county seat was initially located in Watonga, which had been settled in the late 1880s.

The early economy of Blaine County revolved around agriculture, with farming and ranching playing a vital role. The discovery of oil in the early 20th century brought significant changes to the county's economy. Oil wells were established, attracting new industry and boosting the local economy. Today, Blaine County continues to be an important agricultural region, as well as benefiting from industries such as oil and gas production.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Blaine County, Oklahoma.

  • 1884 - Blaine County is established as part of the Oklahoma Territory
  • 1906 - The town of Watonga becomes the county seat
  • 1912 - Longdale, Canton, and Okeene are incorporated as towns
  • 1947 - The Roman Nose State Park is established
  • 1993 - The Blaine County Museum is opened in Watonga