Editing Fort Coffee, Oklahoma (section)

==History==
The town of Fort Coffee traces its beginnings to 1832, when the Choctaw Indian tribe was removed from the southeastern United States and transported to land in the eastern part of [[Indian Territory]] (now in the state of Oklahoma). Most of the travel was by water, and the site of Fort Coffee became a port on the [[Arkansas River]].<ref name= "EOHC-Fort Coffee"/>

In 1834, the Choctaw Nation petitioned the U.S. War Department to construct a fort that would stop the flow of alcohol and other illegal items from flowing into their territory along the Arkansas River. The garrison succeeded in its mission and also built roads connecting [[Fort Smith, Arkansas]], [[Fort Gibson]], and [[Fort Towson]]. The army abandoned Fort Coffee in 1838 when Fort Smith was reestablished. The site of Fort Coffee was located in [[Skullyville County, Choctaw Nation|Skullyville County]], a part of the [[Moshulatubbee District]] of the [[Choctaw Nation]].<ref>Morris, John W. H''istorical Atlas of Oklahoma'' (Norman: University of Oklahoma, 1986), plate 38.</ref>

In 1843, the Choctaw nation allowed the Methodist Episcopal church to establish the Fort Coffee Choctaw Boys Academy in the buildings. This school continued until the outbreak of the Civil War, when Confederate forces commanded by General [[Stand Watie]] occupied the site. The Union Army recaptured the fort in 1863. Most of the buildings were burned during this time. Several small houses were built using the foundation stones.<ref name= "EOHC-Fort Coffee"/>

The Choctaw were required to release their slaves by the Reconstruction Treaty of 1866. Many of the freed men remained in the Choctaw Nation lands. Many of these were legally adopted into the Choctaw Nation in 1885, thus qualifying for land allotments by the Dawes Commission.<ref name= "EOHC-Fort Coffee"/>

The local economy has largely been based on agriculture. Major crops included cotton, livestock and soybeans. There was a cotton gin in Fort Coffee to handle locally grown crops.  The Fort Smith and Western Railroad and the Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railway (bought by the [[Kansas City Southern Railway]] in 1900) transported the products to outside markets.<ref name= "EOHC-Fort Coffee"/>

The town of Fort Coffee did not incorporate until 1998.<ref name= "EOHC-Fort Coffee"/>