{"id":1404,"date":"2026-06-29T21:32:44","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T21:32:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globaloutsourcecenters.com\/black-towns-project\/?p=1404"},"modified":"2026-07-16T17:25:44","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T17:25:44","slug":"the-town-of-summit-oklahoma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globaloutsourcecenters.com\/black-towns-project\/the-town-of-summit-oklahoma\/","title":{"rendered":"The Town Of Summit, Oklahoma"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The Town Of Summit - Oklahoma<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Summit, Oklahoma: A Historic Black Town Built on Faith, Commerce, and Community<\/h2>

Located just south of Muskogee in eastern Oklahoma, Summit, Oklahoma<\/strong>, is one of the thirteen surviving historic Black towns in the state and a community whose history reflects the determination, faith, and entrepreneurial spirit of African Americans during Oklahoma’s territorial years. Though small in size today, Summit once served as a bustling commercial center where churches, schools, rail transportation, and locally owned businesses created opportunities for generations of Black families.<\/p>

Founded in the early twentieth century, Summit remains a living reminder of the remarkable legacy left by Oklahoma’s historic Black communities.<\/p>

The Birth of Summit<\/h2>

Summit was established in 1903<\/strong> and was originally platted as South Muskogee<\/strong>. Its location along the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad (M.K.& T., commonly known as the Katy Railroad)<\/strong> gave the young community an immediate advantage. The railroad depot allowed local farmers and merchants to ship cotton, livestock, lumber, and other products throughout Indian Territory while bringing new residents and commerce into town.<\/p>

Like many of Oklahoma’s historic Black towns, Summit attracted African American families seeking economic independence, land ownership, and the opportunity to build their own community during a time when segregation limited opportunities elsewhere in the United States.<\/p>

Although the town would not officially incorporate until 1980<\/strong>, residents governed themselves through churches, civic organizations, and community leadership for decades before formal incorporation. This tradition of local self-governance helped shape Summit’s close-knit identity and strong community spirit.<\/p>

Faith as the Foundation<\/h2>

Religion played a central role in Summit’s development.<\/p>

One of the town’s earliest and most influential leaders was Reverend L. W. Thomas<\/strong>, who founded the St. Thomas Primitive Baptist Church<\/strong> and became its first pastor. The church quickly became much more than a place of worship. It served as a meeting place for community decisions, educational activities, social gatherings, and mutual support among residents.<\/p>

Today, St. Thomas Primitive Baptist Church<\/strong> is recognized on Oklahoma’s Landmark Inventory<\/strong>, honoring its importance as one of the oldest surviving historic structures associated with Oklahoma’s Black Town movement.<\/p>

For generations, churches like St. Thomas provided spiritual guidance while also preserving traditions, strengthening families, and fostering community leadership that extended far beyond Sunday services.<\/p>

A Thriving Business District<\/h2>

Before World War II, Summit enjoyed a period of steady economic growth.<\/p>

The railroad depot helped support numerous locally owned businesses that served both town residents and surrounding farming communities. Historical records show that Summit was home to a cotton gin<\/strong>, general grocery store<\/strong>, filling station<\/strong>, garage<\/strong>, and several small businesses that made the community largely self-sufficient.<\/p>

Agriculture remained the backbone of the local economy, with cotton serving as one of the area’s primary cash crops. Farmers could haul their harvest to Summit, where the cotton gin prepared it for shipment via the railroad. Local merchants supplied families with groceries, hardware, clothing, and essential goods, creating an active commercial district that reflected the optimism of the era.<\/p>

Like many rural Oklahoma communities, however, mechanization in agriculture and changing transportation patterns following World War II gradually reduced the town’s commercial activity.<\/p>

The Legacy of W.E.B. DuBois School<\/h2>

Education has always been one of Summit’s greatest contributions to Oklahoma history.<\/p>

The community’s most significant educational landmark was the W.E.B. DuBois School<\/strong>, named in honor of the renowned African American scholar, author, and civil rights leader. For decades, the school educated Black children from Summit and neighboring communities during segregation, providing academic instruction while serving as a center for athletic events, community celebrations, and cultural programs.<\/p>

Recognizing its historical importance, the school was listed on the National Register of Historic Places<\/strong>. Tragically, the building was destroyed by fire in 1991<\/strong>, ending the physical presence of one of Oklahoma’s most important historic African American schools. Although the structure no longer stands, its legacy continues through local historical preservation efforts and the memories of former students and families who attended the school.<\/p>

Preserving a Historic Community<\/h2>

Despite its modest population, Summit has continued to preserve its identity as one of Oklahoma’s surviving historic Black towns.<\/p>

The 1990 U.S. Census<\/strong> recorded 162 residents<\/strong>, reflecting the population decline experienced by many rural communities throughout Oklahoma during the twentieth century. Yet the town’s historical significance extends far beyond its size.<\/p>

Summit remains part of Oklahoma’s nationally recognized network of historic Black towns\u2014communities established by African Americans seeking freedom, self-government, education, and economic opportunity following Reconstruction and the opening of Indian Territory.<\/p>

Today, historians, educators, and heritage travelers visit Summit to better understand the remarkable story of these pioneering communities.<\/p>

A Lasting Symbol of Resilience<\/h2>

Summit’s history is one of perseverance, faith, and community pride. From its beginnings as South Muskogee in 1903 to its growth as a thriving railroad town, Summit demonstrated how determination and cooperation could build lasting institutions.<\/p>

Its churches nurtured generations of families, its businesses supported local prosperity, and its schools prepared young people for brighter futures despite the challenges of segregation.<\/p>

Although quieter today than during its early decades, Summit continues to stand as an enduring symbol of Oklahoma’s extraordinary Black Town heritage. Together with communities such as Boley, Langston, Taft, Rentiesville, and Tullahassee, Summit reminds us that these towns were not merely places on a map\u2014they were thriving centers of leadership, education, entrepreneurship, and hope whose legacy continues to inspire future generations.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Boley was founded by T. M. Haynes on land owned by Abigal Barnett, a Creek \u201cFreedman.\u201d Lake Moore, <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1411,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1404","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-historic-black-towns"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/globaloutsourcecenters.com\/black-towns-project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1404","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/globaloutsourcecenters.com\/black-towns-project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/globaloutsourcecenters.com\/black-towns-project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globaloutsourcecenters.com\/black-towns-project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globaloutsourcecenters.com\/black-towns-project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1404"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/globaloutsourcecenters.com\/black-towns-project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1404\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1637,"href":"https:\/\/globaloutsourcecenters.com\/black-towns-project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1404\/revisions\/1637"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globaloutsourcecenters.com\/black-towns-project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1411"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/globaloutsourcecenters.com\/black-towns-project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1404"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globaloutsourcecenters.com\/black-towns-project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1404"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globaloutsourcecenters.com\/black-towns-project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1404"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}