Editing Picher, Oklahoma

{{Short description|Town in Oklahoma, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Picher, Oklahoma
|settlement_type          = [[List of ghost towns in Oklahoma|Ghost town]]
|nickname                 = 
|image_skyline            = Picherconnell.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = A view looking north along Connell Ave, which was the main business district, 2007. The Picher Water Tower stands in the background.
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = 
|image_map                = Ottawa County Oklahoma incorporated and unincorporated areas Picher highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 260px
|map_caption              = Location within [[Ottawa County, Oklahoma|Ottawa County]] showing former municipal boundaries
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Oklahoma]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Oklahoma|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Ottawa County, Oklahoma|Ottawa]]
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = 
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 5.8
|area_land_km2            = 5.8
|area_water_km2           = 0.0
|area_total_sq_mi         = 2.2
|area_land_sq_mi          = 2.2
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.0
|population_as_of         = [[2010 United States Census|2010]]
|population_total         = 20
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census2010">{{cite web|title=2010 City Population and Housing Occupancy Status|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL2.ST13&prodType=table|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=March 26, 2012}}{{dead link|bot=medic|date=April 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
|population_density_sq_mi = auto 
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name="GR3"/>
|elevation_m              = 
|elevation_ft             = 823
|coordinates              = {{coord|36|58|58|N|94|49|58|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 74360
|area_code                = [[area codes 539 and 918|539/918]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 40-58550<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1096611<ref name="GR3">{{GNIS|1096611}}</ref>
}}

[[File:Picherchat.jpg|thumb|The mining waste was located very near neighborhoods in the town.<br>South Treece Street, 2008]]

'''Picher''' is a [[ghost town]] and former city in [[Ottawa County, Oklahoma|Ottawa County]], northeastern [[Oklahoma]], United States. It was a major national center of [[lead]] and [[zinc]] mining for more than 100 years in the heart of the [[Tri-State district|Tri-State Mining District]].

Decades of unrestricted subsurface excavation dangerously undermined most of Picher's town buildings and left giant piles of [[toxic metal]]-contaminated [[mine tailings]] (known as [[Chat (mining)|chat]]) heaped throughout the area. The discovery of cave-in risks, groundwater contamination and health effects associated with the chat piles and subsurface shafts resulted in the site being included in 1983 in the [[Tar Creek Superfund site]] by the US [[Environmental Protection Agency]].

The state collaborated on mitigation and remediation measures, but a 1994 study found that 34% of the children in Picher suffered from [[lead poisoning]] due to these environmental effects, which could result in lifelong neurological problems.<ref name="nytimes1">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/14/us/14kansas.html|title=Welcome to Our Town. Wish We Weren't Here|first=Susan|last=Saulny|work=The New York Times|date=September 13, 2009|access-date=July 11, 2021|url-access=limited}}</ref> Eventually, the EPA and the state of Oklahoma agreed to a mandatory [[Emergency evacuation|evacuation]] and buyout of the entire township.

A 2006 [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|Army Corps of Engineers]] study showed 86% of Picher's buildings (including the town school) were badly undermined and subject to collapse at any time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.environment.ok.gov/documents/TarCkLICRAT/Other_PicherSubsidenceRpt_Rv14.pdf |title=Archived copy |website=www.environment.ok.gov |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205074031/http://www.environment.ok.gov/documents/TarCkLICRAT/Other_PicherSubsidenceRpt_Rv14.pdf |archive-date=5 December 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The destruction in [[Tornado outbreak sequence of May 7–11, 2008|May 2008]] of 150 homes by [[2008 Picher–Neosho tornado|an EF4 tornado]] accelerated the exodus of the remaining population.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.weather.gov/tsa/weather-event_may10_2008pichertornado|title=Picher Tornado May 10, 2008|last=Service|first=US Department of Commerce, NOAA, National Weather|website=weather.gov|language=EN-US|access-date=2018-04-20}}</ref>

On September 1, 2009, the state of Oklahoma officially dis-incorporated the city of Picher, which ceased official operations on that day. The population plummeted from 1,640 at the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] to 20 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]]. The federal government proceeded to conduct buyouts of remaining properties. As of January 2011, six homes and one business remained, their owners having refused to leave at any price. Except for some [[National Register of Historic Places|historic]] structures, the rest of the town's buildings were scheduled to be demolished by the end of the year. One of the last vacant buildings, which had housed the former Picher mining museum, was destroyed by arson in April 2015. Its historical archives and artifacts had already been shipped to the [http://www.dobsonmuseum.com/picher.php Dobson Museum] in [[Miami, Oklahoma]] by that point.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}

Picher is among a small number of locations in the world (such as [[Gilman, Colorado]]; [[Centralia, Pennsylvania]]; and [[Wittenoom, Western Australia]]) to be evacuated and declared uninhabitable due to environmental and health damage caused by mining.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}

The closest towns to Picher, other than nearby fellow ghost towns [[Cardin, Oklahoma|Cardin]], [[Treece, Kansas|Treece]] and [[Douthat, Oklahoma|Douthat]], are [[Commerce, Oklahoma|Commerce]], [[Quapaw, Oklahoma|Quapaw]] (the headquarters of the federally recognized Native American nation by that name), and [[Miami, Oklahoma]].

==History==

=== Mining origins ===
In 1913, as the [[Tri-State district]] expanded, lead and zinc were discovered on Harry Crawfish's claim, and mining began. A townsite developed overnight around the new workings and was named Picher in honor of O. S. Picher, owner of [[Eagle-Picher|Picher Lead Company]]. The city was incorporated in 1918, and by 1920, Picher had a population of 9,726. Peak population occurred in 1926 with 14,252 residents.<ref name="OSU">{{cite web |title=Tri-State Lead and Zinc District &#124; The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture |url=https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=TR014 |website=www.okhistory.org}}</ref>

The Picher area became the most productive lead-zinc mining field in the Tri-State district, producing over $20 billion worth of ore between 1917 and 1947. More than fifty percent of the lead and zinc used during [[World War I]] was extracted from the Picher district. At its peak more than 14,000 miners worked the mines and another 4,000 worked in mining services. Many workers commuted by an extensive [[interurban]] [[Northeast Oklahoma Railroad|trolley system]] from as far away as [[Joplin, Missouri|Joplin]] and [[Carthage, Missouri]].<ref name="OSU" />

=== Decline and pollution problems ===
The population entered a steady decline after the peak in 1926 due to the decrease in mining activity, leaving Picher with only 2,553 by 1960.<ref name="OSU" /> Mining ceased in 1967 and water pumping from the mines ceased. The contaminated water from 14,000 abandoned mine shafts, 70 million tons of mine tailings, and 36 million tons of mill sand and sludge remained as a huge environmental cleanup problem.<ref name="OSU" /> As a result of national legislation to identify and remediate such environmentally hazardous sites, in 1983 the area was designated as part of the Tar Creek Superfund site, along with the similarly contaminated satellite towns of [[Treece, Kansas]], and [[Cardin, Oklahoma]].

In 1994, [[Indian Health Service]] test results concerning the blood lead levels of Indian children living on the Site indicated that approximately 35 percent of the children tested had concentrations of lead in their blood exceeding 10 micrograms per deciliter, the level of lead in the blood the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention|Centers for Disease Control]] considers to be a health concern. In August 1994, to address the threat of lead exposure to children, EPA began sampling soils at high-access areas, such as day cares, schoolyards, and other areas where children congregate. The sampling detected significant concentrations of lead, cadmium, and other heavy metals in surface soils.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}} Eventually, the EPA and the state of Oklahoma agreed to a mandatory [[Emergency evacuation|evacuation]] and buyout of the entire township.

While some remediation took place in the following quarter century, contamination and other environmental hazards were found to be so severe that the government decided to close Picher and relocate its residents, as reported on April 24, 2006, by [[Reuters]]. Due in large part to the removal of large amounts of subsurface material during mining operations, many of the city's structures have been deemed in imminent danger of caving in.<ref name="GillamC-2006-04-24">Gillam, Carey. - [https://web.archive.org/web/20080514234517/http://today.reuters.com/news/articlebusiness.aspx?type=naturalResources&storyID=nN23131359&from=business "FEATURE-Slow death consumes Oklahoma mining town"] - [[Reuters]] - April 24, 2006</ref>

===Tornado===
{{Main|2008 Picher–Neosho tornado}}
On May 10, 2008, Picher was struck by an [[EF4]] [[tornado]].<ref name=":0" /> There were six confirmed deaths, possibly including one child, and many other people injured. The tornado first touched down near the [[Kansas]]–Oklahoma border in Oklahoma southwest of [[Chetopa, Kansas]], and tracked eastward. It struck Picher, causing extensive damage to 20 blocks of the city, with houses and businesses destroyed or flattened.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |publisher=KTUL| access-date=2008-05-11 | url=http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/0508/518665.html| title=Six Dead, 150 Injured After Tornado Levels Town Of Picher |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080514113249/http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/0508/518665.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2008-05-14}}</ref> At least 150 people were injured in Picher alone. The tornado continued eastward, passing just north of [[Quapaw, Oklahoma|Quapaw]] and [[Peoria, Oklahoma|Peoria]] before crossing [[Interstate 44]] into [[Missouri]]. [[Governor of Oklahoma|Oklahoma Governor]] [[Brad Henry]] sent [[National Guard of the United States|National Guard]] troops as well as emergency personnel to assist the hardest hit area in Picher.<ref name="KOTV-2008-05-12">[http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=8306515&nav=menu682_2 "Tornado Death Toll Increases In Picher"]. - KOTV.com - May 12, 2008</ref> Loss of power from the tornado forced the city to go on a boiled water notice. Staff from the [[Rural Water|Oklahoma Rural Water Association]] arrived to assist, since the utility's testing equipment was destroyed by the storm. With an emergency generator to supply power, rural water staff had the system running normally only two days after the tornado struck.<ref>{{cite web |year=2008 |title=Rural Water assists Picher after tornado strikes |url=http://nrwa.org/NRWAupdates/2008%2006%20June/Picher%20Tornado.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102181711/http://nrwa.org/NRWAupdates/2008%2006%20June/Picher%20Tornado.htm |archive-date=2011-01-02 |access-date=2008-05-23 |publisher=[[National Rural Water Association]]}}</ref>

Given the existing plan to vacate the city, the federal government decided against aid to rebuild homes, and the buyouts continued as previously scheduled, with people being assisted in relocation.<ref name="EvansM-AP-2008-05-13">Evans, Murry. - Weather: [https://web.archive.org/web/20140806133648/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/24603128/ "Rebuilding unlikely in Okla. town"]. - [[Associated Press]]. - (c/o NBC News) - May 13, 2008</ref>

=== Closure ===
The city's [[post office]] was scheduled to close in July 2009, and the city ceased operations as a municipality on September 1, 2009.<ref>Sheila Stogsdill, [http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090623_11_A1_PICHER590927 "Picher projects its end as official municipality"], ''[[Tulsa World]]'', June 23, 2009.</ref> By June 29, 2009, all of the residents had been given federal checks to enable them to relocate from Picher permanently. The city is considered to be too toxic to be habitable. On the last day, all the final residents met at the school auditorium to say goodbye.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/06/30/oklahoma.toxic.town/index.html#cnnSTCText | work=CNN | title='Last man standing' at wake for a toxic town - CNN.com | access-date=May 22, 2010 | date=June 30, 2009}}</ref> As of November 2010, it was reported that Picher still had "one business and six occupied houses."<ref name="zero">Sheila Stogsdill, [http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20101117_12_A1_ULNSiu895664 "Cardin population drops to 0 as buyout completed"], ''[[Tulsa World]]'', November 17, 2010.</ref>

Starting in January 2011, almost all remaining commercial structures were scheduled to be demolished. Gary Linderman, owner of the Ole Miners Pharmacy, said he would stay until the last resident left.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/video/crews-set-demolish-final-picher-173500123.html|title=Crews Set To Demolish Final Picher Buildings|website=news.yahoo.com|date=January 25, 2011 }}</ref>

The municipality of Picher was officially dissolved on November 26, 2013.<ref>[http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2013/12/04/Two-Oklahoma-towns-officially-dissolved-after-federal-buyout/UPI-21531386187942/][[UPI]], December 4, 2013.</ref> By March 2014, standing abandoned buildings included the Picher-Cardin High School building, a Christian church, the mining museum, and a handful of mercantile buildings, as well as numerous abandoned houses.

[[Image:Pichermuseum.jpg|thumb|left|alt=A large gray building serving as a museum.|The former Tri State Zinc and Lead Ore Producers Association Office was on the [[National Register of Historic Places]], 2008.<ref>Oklahoma State Historical Society National Register Listing, http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/P/PI002.html</ref> The building was destroyed by arson in April 2015.<ref name="fire">[http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/state/fire-destroys-picher-mining-field-museum/article_9653dffb-db99-57c4-a644-30bc86ff9102.html Stogsdill, Linda. "Fire destroys Picher Mining Field Museum." ''Tulsa World''. April 26, 2015.] Accessed December 25, 2015.</ref>]]

The Picher Mining Field Museum, which had been housed in the former Tri-State Zinc and Lead Ore Producers Association building, was destroyed by arson in April 2015. The museum archives had previously been sent to [[Pittsburg State University]], and other artifacts had been sent to the [[Baxter Springs, Kansas]] Heritage Center and Museum.<ref name="fire"/> In March 2017 the often-photographed Christian church, which was originally a one-room schoolhouse, was also destroyed by fire.

Gary Linderman, owner of the Ole Miners Pharmacy, was featured in the May 28, 2007, issue of ''[[People Magazine|People]]'' magazine in the ''Heroes Among Us'' article: "Prescription for Kindness". He vowed to stay as long as there was anyone left who needed him and to be the last one out of the city.<ref name=People-2007-05-28>Heroes Among Us: "Prescription for Kindness" - ''People Magazine'' - May 28, 2007</ref> He died on June 9, 2015, at the age of 60 from a sudden illness.<ref name='linderman_latimes'>{{cite web| url=http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-ln-gary-linderman-dies-last-man-standing-in-toxic-town-60-20150610-story.html| title=Gary Linderman dies at 60; 'last man standing' in toxic Oklahoma town| last=Marble| first=Steve| date=June 10, 2015| website=[[Los Angeles Times]]| access-date=June 12, 2015| quote="Linderman, the owner and proprietor of the Ole Miner Pharmacy, came to be known as "the last man standing" or "Lights Out Linderman" for his pledge to stay, or at least turn off the lights if he were to leave town. Linderman died Saturday at his home due to a "sudden illness," according to the Thomas Funeral Home in nearby Welch. He was 60."}}</ref>

Meanwhile, the cleanup continues. On September 17, 2019, the EPA, in cooperation with the state of Oklahoma and the Quapaw Nation, released the Final Tar Creek Strategic Plan to advance the cleanup of the Tar Creek Superfund site. The EPA indicated while great progress had been made, much work was yet to be done, and the Plan was a commitment to accelerate the cleanup.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-releases-final-tar-creek-strategic-plan-improve-cleanup-progress |title=EPA Releases Final Tar Creek Strategic Plan to Improve Cleanup Progress|date=17 September 2019 |publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency|access-date=July 25, 2020}}</ref>

Since 2015, former residents have held Christmas parades in Picher.<ref>Nielsen, C. (12/05/2019). "Picher comes back to life for Christmas parade" The Miami News-Record. https://www.miamiok.com/news/20191205/picher-comes-back-to-life-for-christmas-parade</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:U.S. Rte 69 at East 1st St, Picher, Oklahoma, looking south, August 2023.jpg|alt=U.S. Rte 69 at East 1st St, Picher, Oklahoma, looking south, August 2023.|thumb|[[U.S. Route 69 in Oklahoma|US 69]] at East 1st St looking south, August 2023.]]
Picher is {{convert|8|miles|km}} north of Miami, the county seat.<ref name="EOHC-Picher">[http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=PI002 C. Allen Matthews and Frank D. Wood, "Picher," ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture''.] Accessed May 6, 2015.</ref> According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city had a total area of {{convert|2.2|sqmi|km2}}, all of it land.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|deleted=yes
|1920=9676
|1930=7773
|1940=5848
|1950=3951
|1960=2553
|1970=2363
|1980=2180
|1990=1714
|2000=1640
|2010=20
|estyear=2019
|estimate=0
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=[https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]
}}

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 1,640 people, 621 households, and 417 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|734.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 708 housing units at an average density of {{convert|316.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 77.13% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 13.78% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.18% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.12% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.06% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 8.72% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.40% of the population.

There were 621 households, out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the city the population was spread out, with 27.1% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $19,722, and the median income for a family was $25,950. Males had a median income of $22,321 versus $15,947 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $10,938. About 21.1% of families and 25.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 27.4% of those under age 18 and 30.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
[[File:Statue of Picher High School Gorillas, Picher, Oklahoma.jpg|alt=Statue of Picher Gorllas mascot. The gorilla statue is now part of the official Picher-Cardin Memorial.|thumb|Statue of Picher Gorillas mascot. The gorilla statue is now part of the official Picher-Cardin Memorial.]][[Image:Picherstadium.jpg|thumb|right|Picher-Cardin High School stadium, 2008]]The city was served by the [[Picher-Cardin Public Schools]], which closed in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gillham|first1=Omer|last2=Stogsdill|first2=Sheila|url=https://oklahoman.com/article/3370168/picher-school-says-farewell-to-last-11|title=Picher school says farewell to last 11|newspaper=[[The Oklahoman]]|date=2009-05-17|access-date=2021-03-29}}</ref> At that time the municipality was placed in the [[Quapaw Public Schools]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st40_ok/c40115_ottawa/DC10SD_C40115_001.pdf|title=SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Ottawa County, OK|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2021-03-29}}</ref> In April 2009, residents voted 55&ndash;6 to dissolve the Picher-Cardin school district; it graduated its final class of 11 in May.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090704195505/http://www.kswo.com/Global/story.asp?S=10242602 Final graduation set for Picher-Cardin schools ]</ref> By 2009 the district's enrollment had dropped to a total of 49 students from approximately 343 students years prior. Remaining students were assigned to attend Commerce and Quapaw school districts.<ref>{{cite web |title=In brief: Vote marks end for Picher school |url=http://newsok.com/in-brief-vote-marks-end-for-picher-school/article/3359873 |access-date=December 19, 2012 |publisher=NewsOK.com}}</ref>

=== 1984 Oklahoma Class A champions ===
In 1984, the local High school football team, the Gorillas, won the Oklahoma Class A Championship.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sherman |first=Mike |title=Win Not Picher Perfect, But Gorillas "A' Champs |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1984/12/15/win-not-picher-perfect-but-gorillas-a-champs/62780385007/ |access-date=2023-12-24 |website=The Oklahoman |language=en-US}}</ref> A statue of a Gorilla was dedicated as the Picher-Cardin Memorial, Home of the Gorillas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Picher, OK - Lonely Gorilla in Modern-Day Ghost Town |url=https://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/42466 |access-date=2023-12-24 |website=www.roadsideamerica.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Representation in media==
Picher was featured in the [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] [[Independent Lens]] film ''The Creek Runs Red,'' which discussed the connection of the people and their desire to leave or stay in the city.<ref>[https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/creekrunsred/index.html "The Creek Runs Red"] - ''Independent Lens'' - PBS</ref> Picher was also featured in the Jump the Fence Productions film titled ''[[Tar Creek (film)|Tar Creek]]'' (2009). The film was written, directed, and narrated by Matt Myers.<ref>[http://tarcreekfilm.com/ "Tar Creek"] - ''Jump the Fence Productions''</ref>

Picher was featured in an episode of ''[[Life After People: The Series]]'' on the [[History (U.S. TV channel)|History Channel]].<ref name="LifeAfterPeople">{{cite web  | last = Kennedy  | first = Wally  | title = Filmmakers find stories in Picher  | work = The Joplin Globe  | date = January 11, 2010  | url = http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/local_story_011215208.html  | access-date = January 13, 2010  | url-status = dead  | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130128234105/http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/local_story_011215208.html  | archive-date = January 28, 2013  }}</ref> The aforementioned tornado was also featured on an episode of the [[Weather Channel|Weather Channel's]] ''[[Storm Stories]]''.

Picher was also featured in the premiere episode of ''Forgotten Planet: Abandoned America'' on the [[Discovery Channel]] (along with [[Pripyat|Pripyat, Ukraine]]) in a story of two cities abandoned due to industrial disasters.<ref name="ForgottenPlanet">{{cite web | title = Forgotten Planet | url = http://press.discovery.com/us/3n/programs/forgotten-planet/  | access-date = July 5, 2014}}</ref>

In April 2015, Picher was featured in a segment on the National Geographic Channel called "The Watch", in which one of a handful of holdouts still resides and watches over what is left of the town.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150401173056/http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/the-watch/ "The Watch"], National Geographic Channel, April 2015</ref>

Police investigating the [[Welch, Oklahoma]] murders of Danny and Kathy Freemen and the [[murders of Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman]] filed charges containing statements from numerous witnesses and alleged accomplices who stated they had heard rumors that Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman were in a pit or mineshaft in Picher, or had been threatened by Warren Philip Welch, lead suspect in the crimes, who told them they would "end up in a pit in Picher like those two girls." Their bodies have never been found, though suspected accomplice Ronnie Dean Busick was arrested in April 2018 for his involvement in the crimes.<ref>[http://www.tulsaworld.com/charges-and-affidavit-in-welch-cast/pdf_252c6011-44f9-5d30-afef-9c543c9c1e99.html/ "Charges and affidavit in Welch cast"], Tulsa World, April 23, 2018</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Stogsdill|first1=Sheila|title=18 years later, finally answers: How investigators solved the murders of 2 Welch girls|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/homepagelatest/years-later-finally-answers-how-investigators-solved-the-murders-of/article_b848a994-ef09-50df-83c6-7193ee3e928a.html|website=Tulsa World|date=April 23, 2018 |access-date=April 23, 2018}}</ref> Busick pleaded guilty July 15, 2020 to being an accessory to first-degree murder in the deaths of Danny and Kathy Freeman, the torching of their home near Welch, Oklahoma, and the abduction and presumed slayings of the two girls.<ref name=Joplin>{{cite web|url=https://www.joplinglobe.com/news/local_news/updated-busick-sentenced-in-freeman-bible-murder-case/article_4846f870-eb9e-11ea-a040-ff37aca805d6.html |title= Busick sentenced in Freeman-Bible murder case |date= August 31, 2020 |publisher=Jeff Lehr, The Joplin Globe, August 31, 2020|access-date=December 6, 2020}}</ref> He admitted having withheld information about the involvement of Warren "Phil" Welch and David Pennington, both of whom have since died without ever having been charged.<ref name=Joplin/> He was sentenced to 15 years for the crime, with 10 of the years to be spent in lockup.<ref name=Joplin/>

The [[Oklahoma City]] [[sludge metal]] band, [[Chat Pile (band)|Chat Pile]], takes their name from the chat piles in the city.

There is a musical in the process of being created based on the real story of the town.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Madia |first1=Quentin |last2=Pelaia |first2=Lauren |title=The Picher Project |url=https://www.thepicherproject.com/ |website=THE PICHER PROJECT |access-date=27 April 2023}}</ref> Titled ''The Picher Project'', the story combines real life people, such as Tar Creek waterkeeper Rebecca Jim and Picher-native, and previous Mayor, Orvile "Hoppy" Ray as well as fictional characters based on actual people in order to properly tell the story of the town and the people who lived there, as well as the [[Quapaw]] nation. The show was conceptualized and is being created by Quentin Madia, Lauren Pelaia, and Alex Knezevic, with Knezevic eventually leaving the production on good terms to pursue independent ventures.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Knezevic |first1=Alex |title=Message from Alex Knezevic |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CVz6168BAF6/ |website=Instagram |access-date=27 April 2023}}</ref> Prior to the formal creation and writing of the script and music, the production team visited the town of Picher and were toured around by Rebecca Jim.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Madia |first1=Quentin |last2=Pelaia |first2=Lauren |title=The Picher Project - The Trip |url=https://www.thepicherproject.com/the-trip |website=THE PICHER PROJECT |access-date=27 April 2023}}</ref> They also interviewed several former citizens of the town, such as Orville Ray's son. The musical has had workshop performances at Dixon Place, BarnArts, and [[54 Below]], as well as a virtual performance of a of couple songs using the non-profit theatre company ''The Dare Tactic'' to promote the songs and gain feedback on the show. On April 30, 2023, Media and Pelaia directed a workshop of the show at The College of New Jersey with members of the college's musical theatre organization performing the most recent version of the script for an invite-only audience. Beginning on September 28, 2023, and ending the following month on October 21 the production saw its first full residency, returning to Dixon Place.<ref>https://dixonplace.org/performances/the-picher-project/</ref> ''The Picher Project'' has been featured in multiple news articles, including two from [[The Joplin Globe]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Barker |first1=Kimberly |title=New York Artists Visit Oklahoma to Create Musical About Picher |url=https://www.joplinglobe.com/news/local_news/new-york-artists-visit-oklahoma-to-create-musical-about-picher/article_a2111de1-d7ec-5da1-8ea2-d9c3756bd072.html |access-date=28 April 2023 |work=Joplin Globe |publisher=Joplin Globe |date=21 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Barker |first1=Kimberly |title=The Picher Project Musical to Debut in New York City |url=https://www.joplinglobe.com/news/local_news/the-picher-project-musical-to-debut-in-new-york-city/article_43449cec-0f55-561c-821b-e3d7b5d21063.html |access-date=28 April 2023 |work=Joplin Globe |publisher=Joplin Globa |date=22 October 2019}}</ref> [[KOAM-TV]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kelley |first1=Kate |title=Musical pays tribute to Picher, Oklahoma |url=https://www.koamnewsnow.com/entertainment/musical-pays-tribute-to-picher-oklahoma/article_5459fc85-92ce-5228-a2ca-3fde9b6c0cd2.html |access-date=28 April 2023 |work=KOAM News |publisher=KOAM NEWS |date=12 December 2022}}</ref> ''Four States News'',<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bracey |first1=Autumn |title=The history of Picher will be turned into a musical |url=https://www.fourstateshomepage.com/news/the-history-of-picher-will-be-turned-into-a-musical/1864726678/ |access-date=28 April 2023 |work=Four States News |publisher=Four States News}}</ref> ''E & E News'',<ref>{{cite news |last1=Figueroa |first1=Ariana |title=Musical about 'most toxic town' makes Off-Broadway debut |url=https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eenews/1061365397 |access-date=28 April 2023 |work=Greenwire |publisher=E & E News |date=24 October 2019}}</ref> and [[BroadwayWorld]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Musbach |first1=Julie |title=THE PICHER PROJECT Comes to Feinstein's/54 Below |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/cabaret/article/THE-PICHER-PROJECT-Comes-to-Feinsteins54-Below-20190910 |access-date=28 April 2023 |work=BroadwayWorld |publisher=BroadwayWorld |date=10 September 2019}}</ref><!-- shorten, citations should also be incorporated in the text and not just listed in the end -->

==Notable people==
* {{annotated link|Joe Don Rooney}}<ref name="Oklahoma Terrain">{{cite web | url=http://music.aol.com/artist/joe-don-rooney/biography/1435362 | title=Joe Don Rooney Biography | work=AOL | publisher=AOL Music | access-date=2008-05-16 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090708142706/http://music.aol.com/artist/joe-don-rooney/biography/1435362 | archive-date=2009-07-08 }}</ref>
<!-- *** INSTRUCTIONS FOR NOTABLE PEOPLE SECTIONS ***
When you add a name in this section, it's YOUR responsibility to ensure all of the following for each person:
 1) Insert person into list sorted by last name (surname).
 2) Each person MUST meet [[Wikipedia:Bio]] requirements to ensure notability (see [[Wikipedia:Notability]]).
 3) Each person MUST meet [[Wikipedia:Verifiability]] requirements to verify their notability and prove they resided in the city.
 4) If the person has a Wikipedia article, then wikilink the persons name to the correct wikipedia article, otherwise add citation reference(s) to prove notability and attended the school (see [[Wikipedia:Citing sources]]).
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==See also==
* {{annotated link|ASARCO}}
* {{annotated link|National Register of Historic Places listings in Ottawa County, Oklahoma}}
* {{annotated link|Treece, Kansas}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite web  | title = Pollution brings end to Oklahoma mining town   | work = NBC News  | publisher = Microsoft  | date = May 12, 2008  | url = https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna24555711  | access-date = October 7, 2009}}
* {{cite web  | title = EPA/HUD Joint Statement on the Picher, Oklahoma, Housing Authority   | publisher = Environmental Protection Agency  | date = January 26, 2009  | url = http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/a883dc3da7094f97852572a00065d7d8/c999d2489fe3207b8525754a0077c530!OpenDocument  | access-date = October 7, 2009}}
* Robertson, David, ''Hard as the Rock Itself: Place and Identity in the American Mining Town'', {{ISBN|978-0-87081-850-9}} (hardcover:alk.paper) {{ISBN|0-87081-850-3}} HD 95483t65r632006 307376'60973-dc22, The University Press of Colorado 55890 Arapahoe Avenue, Suite 206c, Boulder, Colorado 80303
* [http://www.upcolorado.com/bookdetail.asp?isbn=978-0-87081-850-9]
* ''[http://www.tarcreekfilm.com Tar Creek]'' documentary website
* {{cite magazine|last=Paynter|first=Ben|title=Welcome to Armageddon, USA: A Tour of America's Most Toxic Town|url=https://www.wired.com/2010/08/ff-madmaxtown/|magazine=Wired Magazine|access-date=9 Jan 2024|date=August 30, 2010}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Picher, Oklahoma}}
* [http://www.geospectra.net/kite/picher/picher.htm Picher Aerial Photos]
* [http://watch.ktwu.org/video/2365124638/ "Mined Lands" video]
* [http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/maps/county/map_co_58-ottawa.pdf Ottawa County Map]

{{Ottawa County, Oklahoma}}
{{Oklahoma}}

[[Category:Populated places disestablished in 2009]]
[[Category:Geography of Ottawa County, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Ghost towns in Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Environmental disasters in the United States]]
[[Category:Pollution in the United States]]
[[Category:Former municipalities in Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Environmental disaster ghost towns]]
[[Category:2009 in the environment]]
[[Category:2009 in the United States]]
[[Category:2009 in Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Environmental racism in the United States]]