Editing Elmore City, Oklahoma (section)

== History ==
The first business in Elmore City was opened by Jasper N. Black in an area just northeast of what is now Elmore City. Historians state that after Black opened his supply store in 1890 on Rock Creek, the number of settlers quickly grew and a community was formed called Banner. Banner quickly spread to the southwest and a post office was established and the name changed to Elmore for J. O. Elmore, another prominent business man. The word city was added to Elmore after the name was confused with [[Elmer, Oklahoma|Elmer]] in [[Jackson County, Oklahoma|Jackson County]]. The city was incorporated as a community in 1898.<ref>Mike Tower: ''[https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=EL011 Elmore City]''. In: ''The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'', Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved March 8, 2019.</ref>

At the time of its founding, Elmore City was located in [[Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation]].<ref>Charles Goins, ''Historical Atlas of Oklahoma'' (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2006), plate 105.</ref>

The film ''[[Footloose (1984 film)|Footloose]]'' was loosely based on events that took place in the town.<ref>{{cite journal|first=Kent |last=Demaret |date=May 18, 1980 |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20076503,00.html |title=You Got Trouble in Elmore City: That's Spelled with a "t," Which Rhymes with "d" and That Stands for Dancing |work=[[People (magazine)|People]] |volume=13 |issue=20 |access-date=May 12, 2009}}</ref><ref>Brandy McDonnell, Sheila Stogsdill: ''[https://newsok.com/article/3454315/elmore-city-re-creates-prom-that-inspired-footloose-film Elmore City re-creates prom that inspired ‚Footloose‘ film]'', [[NewsOK.com]], April 16, 2010. Retrieved March 7, 2019.</ref>  Elmore City had a ban, dating from before statehood, on public dancing within town limits.<ref name=Footloose>{{cite web|url= https://tulsaworld.com/life-entertainment/local/movies-tv/footloose-at-40-heres-the-story-of-oklahoma-town-that-inspired-iconic-movie/article_0887f08c-c114-11ee-b715-8f2960a79e1d.html |title= 'Footloose' at 40: Here's the story of Oklahoma town that inspired iconic movie|publisher=Jimmie Tramel, Tulsa World, February 11, 2024|accessdate=February 11, 2024}}</ref> High school students during the 1979-1980 class year began lobbying for the right to hold a school prom with dancing.<ref name=Footloose/>  However, during the first town meeting on the issue, perhaps three-quarters of the crowd was against the idea, led by local church leaders.<ref name=Footloose/>  The controversy was picked up by local newspapers, went national, and ended up as a small item in a San Francisco paper.<ref name=Footloose/>  This was where songwriter/screenwriter [[Dean Pitchford]], who was looking for a movie musical idea, ran across it.<ref name=Footloose/>  The eventual result was the 1984 movie.<ref name=Footloose/>  As to the prom, the town mayor sided with the kids, declaring that a high school function was not a “public” event.<ref name=Footloose/>  The school board then authorized the prom, which proceeded and received national coverage.<ref name=Footloose/>