ApexNews
Return to Main
Book

Abandoned Picher, Oklahoma: The Most Toxic Town in America

2019

Synopsis

Located in Oklahoma, Picher has been labeled "The Most Toxic Town in America." This book details how the town earned that title through the establishment of Picher as a mining town, the environmental and physical consequences from decades of excavating, and the multitude of effects that still plague the town to this day. Considered abandoned by most, currently Picher still has a small handful of remaining residents; however, what is left of the town only serves as a memento of what it used to be. Along with the town's biography is a number of photos cataloging the deterioration of many of the remaining structures over a number of years. Some structures have stood the test of time, while others crumble a little more each day. Despite Picher's devastation and decline of population over its century-long story, not all hope is lost, as efforts to remedy the problems created by industrialization are ongoing and will be until all necessary steps are completed.

Suggested Reading

Tar Creek: A History of the Quapaw Indians, the World's Largest Lead and Zinc Discovery, and The Tar Creek Superfund Site

When this book was conceived, it was intended as a straightforward recounting of the story of the world’s greatest discovery of lead and zinc located in the far northeast corner of Oklahoma. I soon realized that this 1915 discovery was strongly linked to prior as well as current events and that thos...

View Details

Picher, Oklahoma: Catastrophe, Memory, and Trauma

On May 10, 2008, a tornado struck the northeastern Oklahoma town of Picher, destroying more than one hundred homes and killing six people. It was the final blow to a onetime boomtown already staggering under the weight of its history. The lead and zinc mining that had given birth to the town had als...

View Details

We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. By continuing to browse, you accept our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.