Elk City

History

In 1541, Francisco Vásquez de Coronado became the first known European to pass through the area. The Spanish conquistador was traveling northeast across the prairie in search of a place called Quivira, a city said to be fabulously wealthy with gold. Elk City's history dates back to the days immediately following the opening of the Cheyenne-Arapaho reservation in western Oklahoma Territory on April 19, 1892, when the first white settlers made their appearance. Prior to this time, many early ranchers had driven cattle over the Great Western Cattle Trail from Texas to Dodge City, Kansas; Elk City lies on the route of that trail. The creation of Elk City was an idea conceived by land promoters from Weatherford, Oklahoma, when they learned that the Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad (CO & G) was coming to the area (in 1898, the CO & G Railroad completed its western route to Weatherford; beginning in 1901, it continued building west). They formed the Choctaw Townsite and Development Company. These men with great foresight determined that the area at the source of Elk Creek would be an ideal location for a town, so they came to the area to purchase lands from the homesteaders who had claims along the railroad. Probably the most important day in Elk City's history is March 20, 1901, the date the first lots were sold by the Choctaw Townsite and Development Company. By this time, hundreds of prospective purchasers had built a tent city. On that day, the townsite company sold $32,000 worth of property (about $870,000 in 2012 dollars) and continued doing a good business for some time thereafter. There is some confusion about how Elk City got its name. Elk City was so named because it is located at the head of Elk Creek, which in turn was named by U.S. Army Captain Randolph…

Geography

Elk City is located in northeastern Beckham County. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and , or 1.37%, is water. |source 2 = National Weather Service }}

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• ELK CITY ES
  Elementary · Elk City · 753 students · 17.5:1 ratio
• MERRITT ES
  Elementary · Elk City · 634 students · 17.1:1 ratio
• ELK CITY HS
  High · Elk City · 615 students · 17.6:1 ratio
• ELK CITY IES
  Middle · Elk City · 434 students · 16.1:1 ratio
• ELK CITY MS
  Middle · Elk City · 306 students · 15.3:1 ratio
• MERRITT HS
  High · Elk City · 187 students · 17:1 ratio