The agency established at Fort Supply the previous year was moved to a more accessible location for the tribes.

The state briefly used the site as a drug rehabilitation center before designating it for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's main bird hatchery and research station.

Fort Reno was established near the Darlington Agency in 1874, at the insistence of Agent John Miles, to pacify the Arapaho and Cheyenne who had already settled there.

At first, Buffalo Soldiers of the 10th Cavalry were dispatched from Fort Sill to establish an installation called “Camp Near the Cheyenne Agency.” They were reassigned to the Wichita Agency, 30 miles (48 km) south of Darlington, because of Indian unrest in that area.

Neil was authorized to select a site on the south side of the North Canadian River, build corrals and a wagon yard, dig wells, and set up a sawmill for the military post.

Galpin noted that the school was in excellent condition, and that "... the furniture of which is as yet without a scratch made wantonly..."[4] In 1877, Dull Knife and 900 other Cheyenne were escorted by US troops to Darlington to be interned.

Troops from the fort were also used to protect the Native Americans, as they removed Boomers and ranchers who illegally trespassed or grazed cattle on reservation property.

The state briefly used the site as a drug rehabilitation center before designating it for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's main bird hatchery and research station.