Historians state that after Black opened his supply store in 1890 on Rock Creek, the number of settlers quickly grew and a community was formed called Banner.

The word city was added to Elmore after the name was confused with Elmer in Jackson County.

[6] At the time of its founding, Elmore City was located in Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation.

[8][9] Elmore City had a ban, dating from before statehood, on public dancing within town limits.

[10] However, during the first town meeting on the issue, perhaps three-quarters of the crowd was against the idea, led by local church leaders.

[10] The controversy was picked up by local newspapers, went national, and ended up as a small item in a San Francisco paper.

[10] As to the prom, the town mayor sided with the kids, declaring that a high school function was not a “public” event.

[10] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2), all land.