Much of the history of Poteau can be traced through the articles that appear in the towns newspapers. The first newspaper published in Poteau was the Poteau Ledger. This paper, first published in 1895, was owned by H. J. Duke with Ed Hooker as editor. Other newspapers soon followed.
While most of these local papers ran for only a few short years, the Poteau News has remained the longest-lasting newspaper in Poteau. When it was first published in 1895, it had a subscription list of about 350. In 1896, R. S. Bridgman took over as editor and publisher. The paper was put out on Thursdays and consisted of four 18”x24” pages. Subscription cost $1 per month. In 1901, R. S. Bridgman sold the Poteau News to W.W. Denson, who ran it until Robert L. Kidd took over in 1908.
The Poteau News ran until around 1980, when it merged with the LeFlore County Sun. Today, this paper is now known as The Poteau Daily News. Currently, it is one of the most well respected newspapers in the area
Other newspapers during the 1890’s include, The Poteau Leader, The Poteau Star, and The Poteau Times. All of these papers began in 1895 and ran for only a few years.
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