Editing Thackerville, Oklahoma (section)

==History==
Thackerville was founded in the mid-19th century. The community is named after Zacariah Thacker, a pioneer from [[Arkansas]].<ref name="OkGenWeb"/> It is believed that he was headed for the [[Amarillo, Texas|Amarillo]], [[Texas]] area, but he camped one night at Wolf Hollow Creek in [[Indian Territory]] and remained there until his death a few years later.<ref name="History">{{cite web | url = http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/th/read/OKLOVE/2005-11/1132413962 | title = The History of Thackerville | publisher = Michael Bratcher, Marietta (OK) Monitor | date = February 7, 1999 | access-date = April 1, 2009}}</ref> Thacker befriended some of the local Indians and together they farmed a very productive corn crop.<ref name="Oklahoma_Encyclopedia"/> Before long, many people began settling in the area.

After Thacker's death in 1887, the community relocated from its original site near where Wolf Creek enters the Red River, to its present location. The main reason behind the move was to be closer to the [[Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway]].<ref name="Oklahoma_Encyclopedia"/> A depot was constructed and the first grocery store, built by Oce McCage, opened across from it. Soon after, a school, churches, and a post office were constructed. Thackerville had a dirt main street with board walks that connected store porches.<ref name="History"/>

Court records filed in the United States Court, Southern District, in Indian Territory at [[Ardmore, Oklahoma|Ardmore]] indicate that citizens of the community petitioned to incorporate Thackerville under Arkansas law on October 15, 1898.<ref name="History"/> At that time, approximately 175 people lived in the community. On July 5, 1899, Thackerville was officially incorporated into Indian Territory by Judge Hosea Townsend.<ref name="History"/>

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

[[U.S. Route 77|U.S. Highway 77]] was established from the [[Red River of the South|Red River]] through Thackerville in 1926. At that time, the town moved to each side of the highway, which became the new "main" street in the community.<ref name="History"/> Thackerville's population fluctuated throughout the remainder of the 20th century, reaching a low of 178 in 1950 and peaking at 431 in 1980.<ref name="Oklahoma_Encyclopedia"/>

Thackerville is the location of the [[WinStar World Casino]], operated by the [[Chickasaw Nation]], which is billed as the “World’s Biggest Casino.”<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.winstar.com/videos/experience-the-worlds-biggest-casino/ |title=Experience the World’s Biggest Casino|publisher=WinStar|accessdate=March 8, 2025}}</ref>