Coal

Formed November 16, 1907 (36^th county)

Coal County (5,270), Coalgate (1,667)

The Modern courthouse made of tan brick and concrete was built in 1968.  Architects Turnbull and Mills gave the original design to the structure.  It is located at Clay and Main (United States Highway 75) streets.  A bell replica sits in front of the courthouse.  The county was organized on November 16, 1907 as the 36^th county.  The original county courthouse was built in 1909 in Coalgate, the only county seat.  The county was originally part of Tobucksy County, Choctaw Nation.  Coal County and Coalgate were named for the coal industry, which dominated the area when the county was founded. 

Coal County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Commissioners.  Three District Court Judges serve Coal and Atoka counties.  The county is located in the southeast Oklahoma southeast of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and southwest of McAlester. Oklahoma.  The county center is 5.7 miles Northwest of Coalgate.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Hughes, Pittsburg, Atoka, Johnston, and Pontotoc counties. 

The area of the county is 518 square miles.  It is 72 out of 77 in the state.  It ranks 69 out of 77 in population in the state.  It has a density of 10.2 persons per square mile making it 59 out of 77 in the state.  Coal County has 47.3% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 75 enters from the north, Hughes County, and exits to the southeast, Atoka County.  The county is shaped like a bow tie skewed to a 45-degree angle.  Coalgate is in the southeast quarter in the county.  Coalgate is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 31.6% of the county population.