Boley, OK

Boley is a town in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma, United States. The 2020 census counted 1,091 residents. Boley was incorporated in 1905 as a predominantly Black pioneer town with persons having Native American ancestry among its citizens. Of the 50 identifiable Black towns established in Oklahoma between 1865 to 1920, Boley is one of only 13 still in existence. A tradition since 1903, the Boley Rodeo is the longest-running Black rodeo in the United States. The event, which typically takes place around Memorial Day weekend every year, embodies a celebration of Boley's rich history and culture.

That mix gives Boley a clear local shape within Oklahoma, with older layers still visible in current places. The local scoop is a place whose streets, landmarks, and institutions keep its earlier story close to the present. Boley is currently home to barbeque equipment maker, Smokaroma, Inc, and the John Lilley Correctional Center. Lake Moore, a white speculator, contributed the initial $500 investment needed to lease Barnett's land for five years. Boley is located approximately 13 miles east of Prague and 11 miles west of Okemah on US Highway 62.