Neutral Strip (Oklahoma)
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The Neutral Strip refers to the land that became what is now the Panhandle of Oklahoma in the United States. The strip was never officially named but appeared on various maps as Neutral Strip, Neutral Land, Public Land Strip, or Public Land; it was also known as No Man's Land. It was some 167 miles (269 km) long and about 34.5 miles (55.5 km) wide. It totaled more than 3,500,000 acres (14,163 km²). Contrary to popular opinion, the name No Man's Land referred to its unclaimed status, not to any lawlessness.
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[edit] Origin
During its early history, the area contained no permanent settlements. With the arrival of horses from Spain in the 16th century, nomadic Indian tribes were able to increase their use of the area for hunting, and for traveling from summer to winter quarters. The Cimarron Cut-Off for the Santa Fe Trail passed through the area soon after the trade route was established in 1826 between the Spanish in Santa Fe and the Americans in St. Louis. Travel along the route increased considerably after 1849 with the discovery of gold in California.
[edit] After 1819
The Transcontinental Treaty (Adams-Onís Treaty) of 1819 between Spain and United States set the western boundary of this portion of the Louisiana Purchase at the 100th meridian. With Mexican independence in 1821, these lands became part of Mexico. With the formation of the Texas Republic, it became part of Texas. When Texas joined the U.S. in 1846, the strip again became part of the United States.
Under the Compromise of 1850, Texas surrendered its lands north of 36°30' latitude, and No Man's Land became unattached to any state or territory. The Compromise of 1850 also established the eastern boundary of New Mexico Territory at the 103rd meridian, thus setting the western boundary of the strip.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 set the southern border of Kansas Territory as the 37th parallel. This became the northern boundary of No Man's Land. When Kansas joined the Union in 1861, the western part of Kansas Territory was assigned to Colorado Territory, but did not change the boundary.
[edit] After the Civil War
After the Civil War cattlemen moved into the area. Gradually they organized themselves into ranches and established their own rules for arranging their land and adjudicating their disputes. There was still confusion over the status of the strip and some attempts were made to arrange rent with the Cherokees. This despite the fact that the Outlet ended at the 100th meridian. However, in 1886, Interior Secretary L. Q. C. Lamar, declared the area to be Public Land.
The strip was not yet surveyed, and as that was one of the requirements of the Homestead Act of 1862, the land could not be officially settled. But settlers by the thousands flooded in to assert their "squatter's rights" anyway. They surveyed their own land and by September had organized a government which they named the Cimarron Territory. A bill was introduced to Congress that same year to recognize the territory, but it failed to pass.
[edit] Settlement and assimilation
In 1889, the Unassigned Lands were opened for settlement and most of the newer residents left for there. In 1891 the government completed the survey and the remaining squatters were finally able to secure their homesteads under the Homestead Act.
The Organic Act of 1890 placed No Man's Land in the new Oklahoma Territory. No Man's Land became Beaver County. When Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory joined the Union in 1907 as the single state of Oklahoma, Beaver County was divided into Beaver, Texas, and Cimarron counties.
[edit] Further reading
- Christman, Harry E. (editor-original manuscript by Jim Herron). Fifty Years on the Owl Hoot Trail: The First Sheriff of No Man's Land, Oklahoma Territory. Sage Books: Chicago, 1969.
[edit] Sources
- Wardell, Morris L. "The History of No-Man's Land, or Old Beaver County", Chronicles of Oklahoma 1:1 (January 1921) 60-89 (retrieved August 16, 2006).
