Генриетта, Оклахома: История и современность

Henryetta is a city in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 5,640 at the 2020 census.

Hugh Henry established a ranch on Creek Nation land in 1885. He soon found a deposit of coal, which he began using to fuel the forge at his ranch. Discovery of more coal deposits in the large Henryetta Coal Formation attracted several railroads to develop these mines. A settlement named Furrs grew up around the mines. The name changed to Henryetta when a post office opened on August 28, 1900. At statehood in 1907, Henryetta had 1,051 residents. The economy was based on agriculture, coal, natural gas and oil. In 1909, the area had 14 coal mines, producing 65,000 tons per month. By 1910, the population had grown to 1,671. The town added a broom factory, several brick factories and a bottling plant during the 1920s. Henryetta's manufacturing base continued to expand. Pittsburgh Plate Glass (PPG) built a plate glass window plant in Henryetta in 1929–30, employing 900 people and claiming to be the largest west of the Mississippi River. The factory closed in 1974, but was purchased and refitted for making glass containers, and continues in operation by Anchor Glass Container. Eagle Picher placed a massive zinc smelting facility in the Spelter City area of town, which continued through the 1960’s. The company also employed more than 700 people at its plant that extracted the rare metal germanium. Henryetta Pallet, a regional wood pallet manufacturer; and, G&H Decoy, a waterfowl decoy manufacturer since 1934. On May 1, 2023, six people were killed in a mass murder in Henryetta, allegedly by Jesse McFadden.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.1 square miles (16 km2), of which 6.0 square miles (16 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0 km2) (0.66%) is water.

Henryetta has two large annual rodeos, being the Jim Shoulders Spring Roundup Rodeo in June and the Living Legends Rodeo over Labor Day Weekend.

Just south of town is Nichols Park, developed between 1938 and 1941 by the Civilian Conservation Corps and the National Park Service, which is over 300 acres in size, and includes the 17 acre Nichols Lake offering fishing opportunities. The park hosts many outdoor activities such as disc golf, baseball, all terrain vehicle off road trails, hiking trails, several playgrounds, multiple covered shelters for picnicking, primitive campsites, and large open fields for events. In June 2022, Nichol's park was the site of the town's Highway to Henryetta event. This event was a charity event planned, to bring much needed revenue to the town and Henryetta schools. Jim Hall Lake, also known as Lake Henryetta, is 450 surface acres southeast of town. Amenities include boat ramps, docks, primitive campsites, picnic areas, and outdoor grills. Lake Henryetta is the town's source of public drinking water.

The Henryetta Historical Museum is housed in what was the town's first schoolhouse, and later what was the town's first courthouse. The Henryetta Golf Course and Country Club was established in the 1920s. It is open year round and usually does not require advance tee time reservations. Both the Hugh Henry House on N. 3rd St., and Nichols Park located 1.9 miles south of the junction of Lake Rd. and Main St., are included on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma.

Both the Henryetta Free Lance and TheHenryettan. com offer news services to the community. Henryetta's school teams were known for their unusual nickname, the "Mud Hens" (later "Hens" and "Fighting Hens"), until a student petition led to a name change (to "Knights") in 1989. Henryetta is notable in its theatrical performances, most of which is done by the drama team of its local high school. A showcase of over 15 musical songs was performed in February 2023, which was labeled "a success".