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Our Nowhere: Panhandle Histories

Our Nowhere: The Long History of the Panhandle - No Man's Land Part 1

By Dr. Gary Girod,

Dr. Rebekah Wagenbach

Published June 6, 2025 at 8:29 AM CDT

Neutral Strip 1 - better known as "No man's land", existed in a legal limbo. Texas gave up the strip so that it could legally keep slavery, and neighboring territories such as Kansas, wanted to take the land for themselves. Cherokee, who had been forced off their land in Georgia, and traveled on the Trail of Tears, claimed the land should belong to them.

Our Nowhere: Panhandle Histories

Dr. Gary Girod

Dr. Gary Girod is a historian who received his Ph.D. in modern British & French history from the University of Houston in 2021.

See stories by Dr. Gary Girod

Dr. Rebekah Wagenbach

Dr. Rebekah Wagenbach is the Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Education, and Assistant Professor of History and Political Science at Oklahoma Panhandle State University.

See stories by Dr. Rebekah Wagenbach