Bessie is a town in southwestern Oklahoma, along Highway 183. The current population is about 180, but the day we arrived, downtown was bustling with construction workers as they made preparations to change out all the street lights along the curbs. We thought we would just sort of drive-thru Bessie, and ended up spending a good hour or so, visiting with the residents, and enjoying the historical mural, memorial to Ben Kiehl, and the historic Peace Lutheran Church.
Bessie's town hall is located in the one-block downtown area, in a one-story brick storefront with a wall of windows along the front. The occupants were so pleased with our visit and eager to tell us about their town. Bessie is named for the "Bess Line" - the Blackwell, Enid and Southwestern Railroad that came through the town in 1902. The area was originally part of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Nation and was opened for settlement in 1892. In 1903, the post office in nearby Stout was moved and renamed Bessie. This is an agricultural town which is very proud of itself.
The town does not have a website and no information was learned about their town government.