Fairview

History

The first permanent settlers arrived in the area of the present town at the time of the Cherokee Outlet land opening on September 16, 1893. The town received its name from Adam Bower, an early settler, because of its scenic location along the Cimarron River. The Bower family built a wooden building in which they opened a post office on April 18, 1894. One of Adam's sons, Clifford, served as the first postmaster. The Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway (later part of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad), built a track through Fairview. The first train arrived on August 20, 1903. The railroad soon established machine shops, a roundhouse, and a division office in the town. The town site was originally within territorial Woods County, but became part of Major County upon its creation at statehood. It was designated as the county seat of Major County, which became permanent after an election December 22, 1908. It beat three competing communities that vied for the title: Cleo Springs, Orienta, and Ringwood. Fairview had 887 residents at statehood, increasing to 2,020 in 1910.

Geography

Fairview is situated east of the geographic center of Major County. U.S. Route 60 passes through the city as Main Street then departs to the west as Cedar Springs Road. US-60 leads north and east to Enid and west-southwest to Seiling. State Highway 58 leads south out of Fairview, and State Highway 8 leads to the north; the two highways combine to lead east out of Fairview. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city of Fairview has a total area of , of which , or 0.50%, are water. Sand Creek passes through the southeast part of the city, flowing to the Cimarron River northeast of the city limits.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• CORNELSEN ES
  Elementary · Fairview · 377 students · 14.5:1 ratio
• FAIRVIEW HS
  High · Fairview · 211 students · 13.2:1 ratio
• CHAMBERLAIN MS
  Middle · Fairview · 167 students · 15.2:1 ratio
• ALINE-CLEO ES
  Elementary · Cleo Springs · 73 students · 8.1:1 ratio