Beckham County, located in southwestern Oklahoma, was created in 1907. Historic trails in the area, such as the Great Spanish Trail and the Western Trail, were routes used for travel prior to the railroad lines of the early 1900s. The Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad and the Wichita Falls and Northwestern Railway made transportation easier, and travel was further improved in 1928 when Route 66 was constructed across the county. Today, the National Route 66 & Transportation Museum can be found along Route 66 in Elk City, while the Beckham County Courthouse located in Sayre, the county seat of Beckham County, is famous for being featured in the 1940s film “The Grapes of Wrath.”
In 2000, census records showed 19,799 people living in Beckham County. Countless assets exist for tracing genealogy in Beckham County including legal records, cemetery records and a local genealogical society. Valuable resources for researching genealogy in Beckham County are provided below, including a list of existing towns, the county courthouse address and a detailed map of the county.
Beckham County Courthouse Information
Detailed Map of Beckham County
Existing Towns in Beckham County
Newspaper Archives of Beckham County
Add'l Resources for Beckham County
Places to Visit in Beckham County
Beckham County Courthouse Information
Beckham County Courthouse
302 E. Main St.
P.O. Box 520
Sayre, OK 73662
Telephone: (580) 928-3383
Directions: On N. 3rd St. and E. Main St.
Beckham County Website: http://beckham.okcounties.org/
Detailed Map of Beckham County
Search for cemeteries, highways and scenic sites, or examine county and township lines with this detailed map of Beckham County.
Existing Towns in Beckham County
While researching your family history in Beckham County, be sure to visit Elk City and Sayre, which are city hubs located in the area. The following towns are located in present day Beckham County, Oklahoma.
Ghost Towns in Beckham County
The following towns and cities either no longer exist in Beckham County or are still populated, but significantly less so than in years past. These towns and cities are commonly referred to as "ghost towns."
Delhi
Mayfield
Prentiss
Doxey
Merritt
Moravia
Hocker
New Liberty
Taylor
Cemeteries in Beckham County
The following cemeteries are located in present day Beckham County, Oklahoma.
Libraries in Beckham County
Elk City Carnegie Library
221 W. Broadway
Elk City, OK 73644
Telephone: (580) 225-0136
Erick Community Library
200 S. Sheb Wooley
Erick, OK 73645
Telephone: (580) 526-3425
Sayre Public Library
113 E. Poplar
Sayre, OK 73662
Telephone: (580) 928-2641
Historic Newspaper Archives of Beckham County
The Sayre Daily, Headlight-Journal
Additional Genealogy Resources for Beckham County
Beckham County on OKGenWeb: Oklahoma Genealogy & History
Southwest Oklahoma Genealogical Society
Places to Visit in Beckham County
While researching your family history in Beckham County, be sure to check out the following attractions located in the area.
