Orlena: A Ghost Town Traced Through Maps, Post Records, and a Hidden Cemetery in Cooke County

Orlena was a small rural settlement in northeast Cooke County, Texas. Very little is recorded about its history, and today it is classified as a ghost town.

Historical Background

The community is known to have had a post office that opened in 1888, suggesting that Orlena was established in the late 19th century. It appeared in the Business Atlas and Shippers’ Guide of 1895, which listed post offices across the country. Beyond this, few details about its development or population have been preserved in county or state records.

Location

Orlena was located in northeastern Cooke County, in the vicinity of present-day County Road 103. It was often described as being near the area that later became associated with Lake Texoma. The settlement no longer appears on modern maps.

Remaining Evidence

The only surviving landmark is the Orlena Cemetery, which is overgrown and lies on private land near County Road 103. The cemetery contains graves that confirm the existence of a small community in the area. Local accounts note that the site is heavily covered with brush and thorny vegetation, and explorers have reported the presence of snakes such as copperheads and rattlesnakes.

Documentation

• Post Office: Established in 1888 (source: Business Atlas and Shippers’ Guide, 1895; RoadsideThoughts).

• Mapping: Appeared in 19th-century postal and business guides.

• Cemetery: Recorded by Find a Grave as “Orlena Cemetery” in Cooke County, with documented burials.

• Status: Listed on GhostTowns.com as a ghost town, with no remaining structures apart from the cemetery.