History of Moore, Oklahoma
The story of the Oklahoma City metro is one of resurgence, from the days of wagons and dirt roads to a bustling Metro-plex with a newly completed street car system and home to the Oklahoma City Thunder, National Basketball team. Moore has enjoyed as well as benefited from being a part of the new life that has swept across Oklahoma’s prairies.
It became official in 1893 with the help of the railroads and a railroad employee, Al Moore, who lived in a boxcar along the railroad and had difficulty receiving communications and mail. He decided to put his name on the side of the boxcar, thus establishing the railroad stop “Moore.” The postmaster continued to use Moore’s name as the identifier for the stop, and so Moore became Moore.
Much of Moore’s history is rooted in the trials of being in the Dust Bowl. Historical fires have destroyed areas of town on several occasions, along with battles of being a part of the “old west” and of course natural disasters such as drought, flood and tornadoes have taken their toll.
Being a rural community did not hamper the aspirations of the settlers. Most arrived from larger areas of the east coast with little more than what they could carry in their arms and/or wagons, and settled Moore with vigor and a desire to provide for their families. Farming became the mainstay for many who first settled in Moore.
Within four years of being founded, with six businesses and 20-30 homesteads, Moore residents decided to incorporate but needed to know the population. This, of course, leads to a funny story of how they came to their established population of 100, which includes counting Bud Cottrell’s jackass as a part of that population.
After sitting with little growth for 70 years, in 1963, Moore began to experience a frenzy of expansion, a year after it received its city charter. Moore’s visibility improved not only because it is nestled between Oklahoma City and Norman but also due to the completion and expansion of Interstate 35. It provided much-needed access to suburban living in Moore and commuters’ accessibility to the Oklahoma City metro. The interstate provided a new look for Moore from the meager farming community to an official suburb of Oklahoma City.
Since the beginning, Moore and its citizens have proven that they are capable of standing the test of time. From small farms to large subdivisions, from businesses being spotted here and there to major strip centers full of a variety of shopping, services and dining options, Moore has been the choice for many to stay and grow with the community or to start anew. Moore is still a place where you can wave at your neighbor and have what you need to live comfortably. – Acknowledgement/Reference: History of Moore, Oklahoma by Hugh E. Cosby