National Register Listing

Walters Rock Island Depot

220 W. Nevada, Walters, OK
The Walters Rock Island Depot is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion A and Criterion C. The depot is significant within the context of transportation and architecture in Walters, Oklahoma. Located in the county seat of Cotton County, the depot is the only remaining building associated with rail transportation from the first half of the twentieth century in Walters and Cotton County. Under Criterion c, the building is architecturally significant as the only extant depot in Walters and Cotton County and as an excellent example of a brick and stucco Rock Island railroad depot.
Local significance of the building:
Transportation; Architecture

Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

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.

transportation architecture
Audiobooks about the history of Oklahoma.
The world's first installed parking meter was in Oklahoma City on July 16, 1935. The parking meter was invented by Carl C. Magee, a journalist and entrepreneur, who wanted to solve the problem of cars taking up too much space on the city's streets.
Oklahoma random facts
Cotton County, Oklahoma, located in the southern part of the state, has a rich history that dates back centuries. Before European settlement, the land was inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Kiowa and Comanche. These tribes relied on the vast prairies and fertile soil for hunting and agriculture.

In the 19th century, the area that is now Cotton County was part of the Indian Territory. After the Civil War, the region experienced significant growth as settlers arrived, attracted by the promise of cheap land and opportunities for farming. The area saw the establishment of small communities and towns, including Randlett, Walters, and Temple.

Cotton County got its name from the cotton industry, which became a major economic force in the area during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Cotton production boomed, and the county quickly became one of the leading cotton-producing regions in Oklahoma.

The early 20th century brought both prosperity and challenges to the county. The discovery of oil in nearby Stephens County in 1918 brought an economic boom to the region, but also led to environmental and social changes. The Great Depression hit the county hard, as it did the rest of the country, but resilience and hard work allowed the county to recover in the following years. Today, Cotton County remains an agricultural hub, with farming and ranching continuing to be vital to its economy.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Cotton County, Oklahoma.

  • 1901 - Cotton County is established on November 16
  • 1902 - The county government is organized and Temple is designated as the county seat
  • 1903 - The Missouri, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway extends through the county
  • 1904 - The town of Walters is incorporated, becoming the second largest town in the county
  • 1910 - Cotton County's population reaches over 12,000
  • 1913 - The town of Randlett is established
  • 1925 - Electricity is introduced to Cotton County
  • 1935 - The Civilian Conservation Corps establishes a work camp in the county
  • 1941 - The Oklahoma Ordnance Works is built near Cotton County during World War II
  • 1953 - The town of Devol is incorporated
  • 1976 - The Cotton County Courthouse is added to the National Register of Historic Places
  • 1986 - The Chisholm Trail Anniversary Celebration is held in Cotton County
  • 1990 - The county's population declines to around 7,500
  • 2007 - The town of Temple celebrates its centennial