Cowden School Building – Ghost Town

I was recently meandering my way back from working in Altus and like usual, was traveling back roads, often gravel covered or paved secondary roads. As luck would have it I ran across a town that I had not heard of and that was not in my “Ghost Towns of Oklahoma” book -Cowden. Located south of Mountain View and north of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, Cowden is a small town that began in 1893. A school and church was organized on December 4, 1893 and Cowden became an independent school district C-2 when it was consolidated with schools from Valley View, Bunker Hill and Caddo schools. Cowden remained a school from 1911 to 1968. Today only the school gymnasium remains. At one time the small community of Cowden housed a post office, gas station, blacksmith shop, general store, cotton gin, barber shop, doctors, and a cream station and cafe. Now all that remains is a monument and the old school gymnasium.

GPS Coordinates: 35.2475598048,-98.7088907696

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The Cowden high school gymnasium is all that is left of the school buildings.
The Cowden high school gymnasium is all that is left of the school buildings.
This monument, erected by prior students, is a nice place to take a break and enjoy the nearby scenery.
This monument, erected by prior students, is a nice place to take a break and enjoy the nearby scenery.
Past students of Cowden Independent School District erected this monument.
Past students of Cowden Independent School District erected this monument.
A small fence and park surround the Cowden Independent School District monument, which includes benches and tables.
A small fence and park surround the Cowden Independent School District monument, which includes benches and tables.

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Responses

  1. Enjoyed your article but Cowden is North of Mtn. View. I am a previous Cowden resident and went to Grade School at Cowden.

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