Chris and I have loaded the big cargo van with about as much yarn as it can hold and tomorrow morning we drive down our lane off the farm onto the gravel road beyond, thus beginning our trip to Chicago for Stitches Mid-west and the Mid-Ohio Fiber Fair in Newark.
The name Lost City Knits will occasionally raise an eyebrow and spur people we meet to ask if such a place as Lost City really exists or if is it fictional. The answer is that Lost City, Oklahoma is real, and located in Northeast Oklahoma in the part of the state called Green Country.
Our farm is rural, and to be completely honest Lost City proper is about six miles from where we live. It’s the closest four-way stop, though, so we feel fine claiming it as our town. Our mailing address is for the next town down the road, which has a post office but not as poetical a name.
Here are a few census facts about Lost City, Oklahoma.
According to the 2010 census 770 people lived in Lost City. Which was just over 200 families, 44% of which listed their race as Native American only. 5% of the inhabitants were under the age of 5, but the largest age demographic was 18-64 which was just over 60%. Of course, that’s a broad age range so take that as you’d like. The gender gap isn’t much 51% male, 49% female.
Another interesting fact I found is that 23% of Lost City folks use wood for heat. As a household we use wood primarily, but we have an electric HVAC unit and when we’re feeling luxurious we can heat the floors.
In 2008 Lost City School was closed. It’s located near the four-way stop along with the cemetery. Portions of Lost City School were built in 1902, that’s five years before Oklahoma statehood.
In March 2010 I saw that Lost City School had finally been put up for sale. If you’d like to read that blog post it can be foundHERE.
We mainly keep to ourselves here, and only a few people know that the little grey building seen from the gravel road houses silk, merino, and alpaca yarns. Many of my yarn colors, and even some of the yarn line names, have been inspired by this place. It’s not perfect, but it is awfully good and I’m lucky.
Hmm, that’s more people than I would have expected. I just checked up on my hometown and apparently there’s 94 more people living in Brooten, MN than there were in 2000 (That’s a 14.5% increase) I have no idea where they came from.
Have fun! And if you get lost near I-57, give a call. (Sadly, I looked up your likely routes and it seems I’m in the middle of “hard to get there from here”)
I was more than a little surprised about the population too. Especially when the census for the town down the road, which is larger and has the post office is 590. Definitely some overlapping going on.
Be safe on the road and good luck with the show$.
The gate’s closed, keeping me in and them out. Sanctuary isn’t perfect but damn near and we’re both lucky. Nice evocative post.
Thanks for the history. I told you that there is a Lost City near Sallisaw, too. My husband says that is incorrect and there is only the one near you! Have a great time in Chicago. Eat some Pizza for all of us Okies that love Chicago style. Weather should be great for you.
That’s cool Jan, I had looked and couldn’t find the second Lost City.
Pizza maybe tomorrow night!
Just wanted to say that I was at Stitches Midwest this weekend to scout out new yarns that I want to keep in mind, and your yarns totally stood out from the crowd. Gorgeous! I love your philosophy and that you are keeping things small-batch, and I really appreciate that you try to source wool from local farms. I believe this absolutely contributes to a higher quality and depth of character of the finished yarn. I look forward to knitting with your yarn in the future!
Met y’all at Mid-Ohio Fiber Fair. I love my ‘Swamp Gas’ and ‘Pot Bellied Stove’ yarn! The colors are totally different than I would normally choose and I think that is why I love it. I also liked the Cyclone colorway, but wanted something a little more subtle.
It was very nice meeting you and I will keep Lost City Knits at the top of my ‘must have’ yarns. I appreciate your ‘shop local/ shop independent’ attitude. Would much rather have something totally unique than mass produced.
Pamela, I’ve had Swamp Gas and Pot Bellied Stove together for a project in my mind for some time. I can’t wait to see how your project turns out!