1832Culture
Pierre Durant and his four sons, all of French-Choctaw origin, made the journey up the Trail of Tears on the way to the southeastern part of the Choctaw Nation in 1832.
1855History
In 1855, the Choctaw and Chickasaws formally divided their land into two separate nations, with Durant remaining in Choctaw territory on the east.
1872History
Durant, 1872–1990 (Durant, Okla.: Bryan County Heritage Association Inc., 1990).
1873Government
He established the first store selling general merchandise in 1873, around the time of the 1872 creation of the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad (Katy Railroad) siding at Durant, ...
1879Architecture
The first post office, also named as Durant Station, Indian Territory, opened February 20, 1879, but closed on July 11, 1881.
1882Infrastructure
The Missouri-Kansas and Texas Railway (also known as the MKT or "Katy") had already laid a line through the area that would become Durant by November 1882.
1890History
Chickasaw land extended west to the boundary that would divide Indian Territory from Oklahoma Territory after passage of the Oklahoma Organic Act in 1890.
1894Education
Calvin Institute was opened in 1894, representing the first institute of higher education in the immediate area, which was an outgrowth of Presbyterian mission work among the Ch...
1895Disaster
In 1895, a fire destroyed the original business district, which had spread along the Katy tracks.
1899History
By 1899, it had attracted an enrollment of 300.
1900History
He lost to McKinley again in 1900, and to William H.
1901Education
Its success led it being reopened as a larger school, Durant Presbyterian College in 1901, later renamed as Oklahoma Presbyterian College.
1902History
In the 1902-1903 timeframe, the St.
1904Military
In 1904, Durant was named in a grand jury instruction as a sundown town where a notice had been posted warning African Americans not to stay after dark.
1905History
A memorable event in Durant's rail history occurred on April 5, 1905.
1907History
It became the county seat of Bryan County in 1907 after Oklahoma statehood.
1908Government
In 1908, a special election ratified this choice over three other candidates for the honor: Bokchito, Blue, and Sterrett (later renamed Calera).
1909Education
Southeastern Oklahoma State University Since 1909, Vol.
1910History
He later revisited the community in 1910, staying in the downtown Bryan Hotel, while on a hunting trip in the area.
1911Crime
=== 1911 lynching ===
John Lee was an African American man who was lynched on August 12, 1911, in Durant, Oklahoma.
1913History
Woodrow Wilson appointed the county's namesake as United States Secretary of State in 1913.
1917Architecture
The Bryan County Courthouse in downtown Durant was completed in 1917.
1919Disaster
Eleven people were killed in Durant by a tornado in April 1919.
1921Education
This school was renamed Southeastern State Teachers College in 1921, and renamed again in 1974 as the present Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
1937Civil Rights
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited the community, speaking on March 20, 1937, for Senior Day at Southeastern Teachers College, as it was known at the time.
1946History
A Story of Durant: "Queen of Three Valleys" (Durant, Okla.: Democrat Printing Co., 1946).
1953History
In 1953, actor José Ferrer and actress/singer Rosemary Clooney were married in Durant while Jose was performing in the musical Kiss Me, Kate in Dallas.
1973Culture
Dedicated in 1973, it includes a time capsule that contains historic and legal documents, which was unearthed in 2023.
1975Government
Chief Clark David Gardner established the Choctaw Nation administrative offices at the old Oklahoma Presbyterian College Building in 1975.
1976Architecture
In 1976, in cooperation with the Durant Chamber of Commerce and the owners of the buildings, the Red River Valley Historical Association, title was transferred to the federal go...
1986History
1 (Durant, Okla.: Mesa Publishing Co., 1986).
1987Architecture
Built in 1987, the medical center replaced the Bryan Memorial Hospital.
1993Government
The Oklahoma Legislature proclaimed Durant as the "Magnolia Capital of the World" in 1993.
1999Culture
Since 1999, the Durant Economic Development Department, the Durant Industrial Authority and the City of Durant have developed over $600,000,000 in new investments to the city.
2000Education
In 2000, the baseball team won the Division II college world series.
2004History
== Economy ==
Durant was ranked as the fastest growing rural city in Oklahoma in 2004, having the fastest growth rate outside of the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metropolitan areas.
2006History
The city has a pull factor of 1.8–2.1 times its population and was named an All-America City finalist for 2006.
2008Culture
Indian Nation Wholesale, also headquartered in Durant, was the 15th largest wholesaler in the United States as of 2008.
2010History
=== 2010 census ===
As of the census of 2010, there were 15,856 people and 3,651 families residing in the city.
2011Crime
Criminal Minds – In the 2011 episode "Proof," the team of investigators are led to a case in Durant involving two young women who were found murdered and sexually assaulted.
2013Culture
Bonnie & Clyde – In this 2013 mini-series, Durant, Oklahoma is referenced in a newspaper article that appears on screen.
2014History
In 2014, the President designated five areas in the United States as Promised Zones, including the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
2015Education
On July 15, 2015, President Barack Obama visited the city to address the nation from Durant High School on his "Promised Zone" initiative.
2016Sports
On August 26, 2016, Ryan Nazari, an Oklahoma City Thunder fan, created a petition to change the city's name to "Westbrook" because Kevin Durant left the team for the Golden Stat...
2017History
According to papers from the FBI released during the drop of Kennedy documents released in 2017, Jack Ruby went to Durant to look at purchasing a motel just north of town in 1960.
2018History
The Democrat was purchased by Graystone Media Group LLC, a group of local businessmen, in 2018.
2020History
Durant is the principal city of the Durant Micropolitan Statistical Area, which had a population of 46,067 in 2020.
2028History
ISBN 978-0-8061-2028-7.