Coal, Oklahoma

Coal is a city in and the county seat of Latimer County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,937 at the 2010 census. The city is home to the headquarters of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

The town was established in 1872 when the Choctaw Nation moved its capital from Doaksville to Stringtown in order to be closer to the new railroad line being built through Indian Territory. The name " Coal" comes from coal deposits found near the original town site. Coal was incorporated as a city in 1898.

The discovery of coal deposits in Latimer County led to a small mining boom in the early 20th century. The coal mines were mostly located north of Coal, near Wilburton. Mining continued into the 1970s, but had declined significantly by 1980. The last mine closed in 1994.

Today, Coal is a small town with a population that has remained steady for several decades. The Choctaw Nation headquarters are located here, and there are several businesses catering to tourists who come to visit nearby Lake Wister State Park or Robbers Cave State Park.