A secluded enclave with deep ties to white supremacy and a controversial history of extremism.
Elohim City, located in Adair County, Oklahoma, is a private community founded in 1973 by Robert G. Millar. This 400-acre rural retreat has been at the center of various controversies due to its associations with right-wing extremism and the Christian Identity movement. The Christian Identity theology, embraced by the community, posits white Anglo-Saxons as God’s chosen people, relegating Jews and nonwhites to inferior statuses. Elohim City has been linked to several violent extremists and acts, including the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, and has been under surveillance by law enforcement due to these associations.
The community operates with a board of directors known as “elders” and adheres to practices such as polygamy and white supremacism. Elohim City’s income is reportedly derived from a small sawmill and trucking enterprise on its property. Religious services play a significant role in community life, with daily gatherings that include singing and dancing. Despite the controversies, Elohim City’s leaders assert that the community is committed to its religious beliefs and has been unfairly maligned due to the actions of individuals merely passing through.
Elohim City has seen its share of infamous residents and visitors, including Timothy McVeigh, who phoned the compound two weeks before the Oklahoma City bombing, and Chevie Kehoe, a convicted murderer with ties to the white supremacist movement. The enclave has been described as a stop-off point for extremists within the white supremacist movement, with numerous individuals connected to violent acts having stayed or visited.
Despite allegations and suspicions, community leaders John and David Millar, sons of founder Robert Millar, maintain that Elohim City is a peaceful, religious community and deny any involvement in terrorism or violent activities. They acknowledge that some individuals with radical views have passed through but claim the community does not espouse terrorism. The Millars describe Elohim City as “white separatist” rather than racist, emphasizing their preference for a lifestyle aligned with their interpretation of Christian Identity teachings.
image via Center for Public Secrets
