Osage County, located in northeastern Oklahoma, is the largest county in the state and is named after the Osage tribe. Explorers traveled through the county in the early 1800s, and by the mid-1800s, a branch of the Shawnee Trail ran through Osage County. In 1861, during the Civil War, the Battle of Chustenahlah took place northwest of present-day Skiatook. The first oil well in Osage County was drilled in 1897, leading to more oil exploration in the county and wealth within the Osage tribe.
The Osage Nation Museum is located in Pawhuska and features artifacts from the Osage tribe, as well as displays and archives documenting their history and culture. Also in Pawhuska, the Osage County Historical Society Museum is located in a train depot and features exhibits of early pioneer and Native American life. Osage Hills State Park offers camping, cabins and fishing.
In 2020, census records showed 45,818 people living in Osage County. Countless resources exist for tracing genealogy in Osage County including cemetery records and a local genealogy society. For more information about genealogy in Osage County, resources are provided below.
Osage County Courthouse Information
Osage County Clerk
P.O. Box 87
Pawhuska, OK 74056
Telephone: (918) 287-3136
Directions: Main & Granview St.
Records available: County Clerk has land records from 1907.
Detailed Map of Osage County
Search for cemeteries, highways and scenic sites, or examine county and township lines with this detailed map of Osage County.
Existing Towns in Osage County
While researching your family history in Osage County, be sure to visit Pawhuska, the largest town in the county. The following towns and cities are located in present day Osage County, Oklahoma.
Ghost Towns in Osage County
The following towns and cities either no longer exist in Osage County or are still populated, but significantly less so than in years past. These towns and cities are commonly referred to as "ghost towns."
Apperson
Bigheart
Blackland
Cooper
Denoya
Herd
Little Chief
Lyman
Nelagony
Okesa
Pearsonia
Pershing
Prue
Remington
Strohm
Tallant
Whippoorwill
Wild Horse
Wolco
Cemeteries in Osage County
The following cemeteries are located in present day Osage County, Oklahoma.
Albert Cemetery
Bighorse Cemetery
Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery
Canville Cemetery
Chouteau Cemetery
Hominy Indian Village
Cemetery
Jones Cemetery
Morrell Family Cemetery
Oilton Christ Fellowship
Church Cemetery
Red Eagle Cemetery
Riddle Cemetery
Ridge Family Cemetery
Saint Johns Cemetery
Saint Louis Catholic School Cemetery
Sho-Kah-Mo-Lah Grave
Strikeaxe Cemetery
Toothman Cemetery
Wheeler Cemetery
Whitehorn Cemetery
Historic Schools in Osage County
The following historic schools, academies and schoolhouses were located in Osage County, Oklahoma.
Libraries in Osage County
Ethel Briggs Memorial Library
410 S. 5th
Barnsdall, OK 74002
Telephone: (918) 847-2118
Fairfax Public Library
158 E. Elm
Fairfax, OK 74637
Telephone: (918) 642-5535
Hominy Public Library
121 W. Main
Hominy, OK 74035
Telephone: (918) 885-4486
Pawhuska Public Library
1801 Lynn Ave.
Pawhuska, OK 74056
Telephone: (918) 287-3989
Shidler Public Library
N. 4th & Cosden
Shidler, OK 74652
Telephone: (918) 793-4171
Historic Newspaper Archives of Osage County
Tribal Nations in Osage County
Osage Nation
627 Grandview
P.O. Box 779
Pawhuska, OK 74056
Telephone: (918) 287-5398
Additional Genealogy Resources for Osage County
Pawhuska Genealogy Society
301 E. 6th
Pawhuska, OK 74056
Places to Visit in Osage County
While researching your family history in Osage County, be sure to check out the following attractions located in the area.
Chief Lookout Memorial & Lookout
Mountain
Marland Service Station Wall of
Memories
Osage County Historical Society
Museum
