Atoka, OK
Music connected to Atoka
About Atoka
- • Country singer Hoyt Axton, known for "Joy to the World," was born in Atoka.
- • Atoka is home to the world's first Choctaw code talkers, predating Navajo efforts.
- • The Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway (Katy) established Atoka as a trade hub.
- • A supposed Bigfoot sighting near Atoka in 2019 drew national attention.
- • The Great Depression severely impacted Atoka's cotton-based economy.
- • It was named in 1867 for Chief Atoka, meaning 'ball play ground' in Choctaw.
- • The population is around 3,200, smaller than many Oklahoma towns.
- • Sitting at 577 feet, it's noticeably higher than the surrounding plains.
- • Agriculture and ranching are mainstays of Atoka's economy.
- • Atoka evokes a sense of quiet, nostalgic, small-town charm.
- • The Oklahoma City Thunder, 100 miles north, represent the nearest pro team.
- • Atoka High School's football team won state championships in 1998 and 1999.