The town of Coyle began as an agricultural community in northeastern Logan County in 1899 when the AT&SF; railway build a branch line between Cushing and Guthrie in 1899. A town site was plotted on the route and a site was selected two miles southwest of Iowa City, a town established in 1891. Since the railroad had bypassed their town, the residents of Iowa City reloaced to the new town site and applied for a post office under the name of Iowa City, but thier name choise was denied and they applied for the name of Coyle, after William Coyle, a Guthrie entpreneur who has helps plat the town site. A post office officialy opened on May 5th, 1900. Like most early towns, Coyle's economy was based on agriculture, primarily cotton. Early-day businesses included a bank, a blacksmith, cotton gins, a drug store, a furniture store, two saloons, general stores, a lumberyard, and a photographer. In the first year of Coyle's existence town leaders planted elm and maple trees along the main streets. After they matured, Coyle enjoyed the reputation of being a city with majestic trees lining its thoroughfares. Demand for cotton declined after WWI followed by the Great Depression and many farmers sold their farms. The businesses began to close the the agricultural population that supported them decline and improvements in roads allowed people to shop at larger towns. The trend continued in the following decades. Highway 33, which once ran through the town, was diverted with the construction of a new bridge across the Cimmaron river, which resulted in the further loss of business. The town still has an active school, having absorbed the school districts from nearby Meridian and Langston.

• published: 14 Sep 2014
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