Indianola, Pittsburg County, Oklahoma

Indianola is a town in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2020 census, the community had 148 residents.

History

Indianola probably began in 1875, when H. M. McElhany moved to the area and opened a one-room store. The store also served as a mail drop for local residents. The mail was delivered by horseback from the nearby town of Canadian, Oklahoma. McElhany stayed in business for about three years, then sold the store to Albert S. Cornelison and James H. Bynum. An actual post office was established at Indianola, Indian Territory on January 16, 1891, with Bynum being appointed as the first postmaster.

At the time of its founding, Indianola was located in Tobucksy County, Choctaw Nation.

According to the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, there are two versions of how the community acquired its name. One version says the name was on a stove in the general store. The other version says that the name honored Indianola, Mississippi.

As of the census