West Tulsa, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
West Tulsa is a local name given to an area situated in the west section of the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma
which includes various communities to the west and south of the Arkansas River
. As development between Sand Springs and Tulsa continued in the late 19th through the early 20th centuries, the name West Tulsa was used to refer to this area west of Tulsa and north of the Arkansas River, but many people in Tulsa and those knowing of the history of Tulsa do not include this area near Sand Springs when referring to West Tulsa.
areas, so that the county areas include industrial area enclaves and lands south and west of the city limits
. Some communities are within city limits and others are not, including a large section of urban housing and commercial
and industrial development around West 23rd street, which is the most developed area of West Tulsa. Generally accepted communities of West Tulsa in city limits are Red Fork
, Carbondale, Garden City, and Turkey Mountain. Those not within Tulsa City limits are Berryhill
and Prattville
(though annexed by the city of Sand Springs in 1964). Other communities considered a part of West Tulsa but located in Creek County are Oakhurst
, Oakridge, and Allen-Bowden.
The most significant road in West Tulsa is Southwest Boulevard, which was formerly part of Route 66
. Other principal streets in West Tulsa include West 21st street, West 41st street, West 51st street, and the principal avenues are South 65th West avenue, South 57th West avenue, South 49th West avenue, South 33rd West avenue, South Union avenue, and South Elwood avenue.
West Tulsa is also home to The Oaks Country Club
, one of Tulsa's three major country clubs, Inverness Village, a large retirement community, and Camp Loughridge
, a Christian
Summer Camp
operates on 186 acres of land in West Tulsa. Goodwill Industries
is also located in this area as well as several companies supporting Tulsa's transportation industry adjacent to the BNSF Railway
'Cherokee' railyard.
Two oil refineries operate in West Tulsa. Sunoco
's Tulsa refinery opened in 1913, and is located adjacent to I-244 at the Arkansas River. A sale of this refinery to Holly Corp. of Dallas, Texas
was announced, with a planned closing date of June 1, 2009. The Sinclair
Refinery (built in 1910 by Texaco
) is located on Southwest Boulevard. Holly Corporation
of Dallas, Texas bought both the former Texaco refinery and the Sunoco refineries in 2009 and announced that it would operate both as a single refinery.
and Berryhill High School. Clinton Middle School on West 41st Street and Berryhill Junior High School are separate school districts. Eugene Field Elementary School, Robertson Elementary in Carbondale, Remington Elementary in Mountain Manor, and Park Elementary in Red Fork are in Tulsa city limits. West Tulsa Elementary schools outside city limits are Jane Addams Elementary School on South 65th West Avenue and Berryhill Elementary School on West 31st Street. These schools are south of the Arkansas river. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, which includes their College of Osteopathic Medicine, is on West 17th Street.
West Tulsa had one of the first amusement park
s in the area, having its first visitors before 1920 at a park owned by The Park Addition Company, which operated a dance hall
, concessions
, and boat rides. In 1921, the Electric Amusement Park Company took control over the site, adding the only miniature train ride in Oklahoma at the time. By 1922, the company contracted to operators of carousel
and Ferris wheel
rides, but financial problems closed the park in 1925. After changing hands, the park reopened in 1928, remodeled and renamed as Crystal City and featuring Tulsa's giant Zingo roller coaster. Operation of the park was successful until a fire in 1956 burned down the bath house
and Casa Loma dance hall, forcing its closure. Many of the rides were installed at another one of Tulsa's facilities, Lakeview Amusement Park near the Mohawk Zoo
. Investors bought the buildings and lease in September 1958 to build what became the Crystal City Shopping Center, a major shopping venue for West Tulsans, with an anchoring bowling alley called Crystal Bowl.
In June 2006, the Southwest Tulsa Main Street Committee had plans to present a request to the city of Tulsa for support of an Urban Main Street program covering Southwest Boulevard from OSU Medical Center to Crystal City. The request is the first step toward getting the area certified as part of the Oklahoma Main Street program, which should help the West Tulsa area economically.
Tulsa's Red Fork area has been selected by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to be the city's first designated Urban Main Street Community. The Red Fork Main Street encompasses two blocks on either side of Southwest Boulevard extending from the Arkansas River to 49th West Avenue. Being part of the state program provides access to technical support, planning, expertise and resources that help communities preserve historic buildings and make them economically viable.
The City Council has agreed to a three-year, $150,000 commitment to take part in the program. Matching funds have been pledged by numerous individuals and businesses..
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
which includes various communities to the west and south of the Arkansas River
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's initial basin starts in the Western United States in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas...
. As development between Sand Springs and Tulsa continued in the late 19th through the early 20th centuries, the name West Tulsa was used to refer to this area west of Tulsa and north of the Arkansas River, but many people in Tulsa and those knowing of the history of Tulsa do not include this area near Sand Springs when referring to West Tulsa.
Layout
The southwest quadrant of Tulsa is split into county and cityCity
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
areas, so that the county areas include industrial area enclaves and lands south and west of the city limits
City limits
The terms city limits and city boundary refer to the defined boundary or border of a city. The area within the city limits is sometimes called the city proper. The terms town limits/boundary and village limits/boundary mean the same as city limits/boundary, but apply to towns and villages...
. Some communities are within city limits and others are not, including a large section of urban housing and commercial
Commerce
While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
and industrial development around West 23rd street, which is the most developed area of West Tulsa. Generally accepted communities of West Tulsa in city limits are Red Fork
Red Fork, Oklahoma
Red Fork is a community in Southwest Tulsa. It was founded in 1883 as a railhead on the Arkansas River. It is famous for being the location of the first oil well in Tulsa County, the Sue A. Bland. On June 25, 1901, the first oil well in Tulsa County was completed by Drs. J.C.W. Bland and Fred S....
, Carbondale, Garden City, and Turkey Mountain. Those not within Tulsa City limits are Berryhill
Berryhill, Oklahoma
Berryhill is a small community in Tulsa County, Oklahoma, west of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and about four square miles in area. It is located south of the Arkansas River and north of W. 41st St. S., and between S. 71st W. Ave. and S. 47th W. Ave....
and Prattville
Prattville, Oklahoma
Prattville is a community in Sand Springs, Oklahoma on SH-97. Prattville is located 10 miles west of Tulsa, and can be found on the south banks of the Arkansas River.-History:...
(though annexed by the city of Sand Springs in 1964). Other communities considered a part of West Tulsa but located in Creek County are Oakhurst
Oakhurst, Oklahoma
Oakhurst is a census-designated place in Creek and Tulsa counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 2,731 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Oakhurst is located at ....
, Oakridge, and Allen-Bowden.
The most significant road in West Tulsa is Southwest Boulevard, which was formerly part of Route 66
U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. Highway System. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year...
. Other principal streets in West Tulsa include West 21st street, West 41st street, West 51st street, and the principal avenues are South 65th West avenue, South 57th West avenue, South 49th West avenue, South 33rd West avenue, South Union avenue, and South Elwood avenue.
West Tulsa is also home to The Oaks Country Club
Country club
A country club is a private club, often with a closed membership, that typically offers a variety of recreational sports facilities and is located in city outskirts or rural areas. Activities may include, for example, any of golf, tennis, swimming or polo...
, one of Tulsa's three major country clubs, Inverness Village, a large retirement community, and Camp Loughridge
Camp Loughridge
Camp Loughridge is a non-profit, non-denominational Christian camp located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Encompassing over 180 acres, the camp offers facilities for weddings, receptions, retreats, challenge courses, summer camps, banquets and other large-group events.- Mission and Vision :The mission...
, a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
Summer Camp
Summer camp
Summer camp is a supervised program for children or teenagers conducted during the summer months in some countries. Children and adolescents who attend summer camp are known as campers....
operates on 186 acres of land in West Tulsa. Goodwill Industries
Goodwill Industries
Goodwill Industries International is a not-for-profit organization that provides job training, employment placement services and other community-based programs for people who have a disability, lack education or job experience, or face employment challenges...
is also located in this area as well as several companies supporting Tulsa's transportation industry adjacent to the BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
'Cherokee' railyard.
Two oil refineries operate in West Tulsa. Sunoco
Sunoco
Sunoco Inc. is an American petroleum and petrochemical manufacturer headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, formerly known as Sun Company Inc. and Sun Oil Co. ....
's Tulsa refinery opened in 1913, and is located adjacent to I-244 at the Arkansas River. A sale of this refinery to Holly Corp. of Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
was announced, with a planned closing date of June 1, 2009. The Sinclair
Sinclair Oil
Sinclair Oil Corporation is an American petroleum corporation, founded by Harry F. Sinclair on May 1, 1916 as the Sinclair Oil & Refining Corporation by combining the assets of 11 small petroleum companies. Originally a New York corporation, Sinclair Oil reincorporated in Wyoming in 1976...
Refinery (built in 1910 by Texaco
Texaco
Texaco is the name of an American oil retail brand. Its flagship product is its fuel "Texaco with Techron". It also owns the Havoline motor oil brand....
) is located on Southwest Boulevard. Holly Corporation
Holly Corporation
The HollyFrontier Corporation is a Fortune 500 company based in Dallas, Texas. HollyFrontier is a petroleum refiner and distributor of petroleum products, from gasoline to petroleum-based lubricants and waxes. Its CEO is Matthew P. Clifton...
of Dallas, Texas bought both the former Texaco refinery and the Sunoco refineries in 2009 and announced that it would operate both as a single refinery.
Education
West Tulsa High Schools are Daniel Webster High SchoolWebster High School (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Daniel Webster High School is a high school in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It is part of the Tulsa Public Schools, and is a public school for students from grades 9 through 12. The school opened in 1938 in the West Tulsa section of the city, and is housed in a PWA-style Art Deco building designed by...
and Berryhill High School. Clinton Middle School on West 41st Street and Berryhill Junior High School are separate school districts. Eugene Field Elementary School, Robertson Elementary in Carbondale, Remington Elementary in Mountain Manor, and Park Elementary in Red Fork are in Tulsa city limits. West Tulsa Elementary schools outside city limits are Jane Addams Elementary School on South 65th West Avenue and Berryhill Elementary School on West 31st Street. These schools are south of the Arkansas river. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, which includes their College of Osteopathic Medicine, is on West 17th Street.
History
West Tulsa became an incorporated town in 1907, but was annexed by the City of Tulsa on September 7, 1909.West Tulsa had one of the first amusement park
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
s in the area, having its first visitors before 1920 at a park owned by The Park Addition Company, which operated a dance hall
Dance hall
Dance hall in its general meaning is a hall for dancing. From the earliest years of the twentieth century until the early 1960s, the dance hall was the popular forerunner of the discothèque or nightclub...
, concessions
Concession stand
A concession stand , snack kiosk or snack bar is the term used to refer to a place where patrons can purchase snacks or food at a cinema, fair, stadium, or other entertainment venue. Some events or venues contract out the right to sell food to third parties...
, and boat rides. In 1921, the Electric Amusement Park Company took control over the site, adding the only miniature train ride in Oklahoma at the time. By 1922, the company contracted to operators of carousel
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
and Ferris wheel
Ferris wheel
A Ferris wheel is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with passenger cars attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, the cars are kept upright, usually by gravity.Some of the largest and most modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on...
rides, but financial problems closed the park in 1925. After changing hands, the park reopened in 1928, remodeled and renamed as Crystal City and featuring Tulsa's giant Zingo roller coaster. Operation of the park was successful until a fire in 1956 burned down the bath house
Public bathing
Public baths originated from a communal need for cleanliness. The term public may confuse some people, as some types of public baths are restricted depending on membership, gender, religious affiliation, or other reasons. As societies have changed, public baths have been replaced as private bathing...
and Casa Loma dance hall, forcing its closure. Many of the rides were installed at another one of Tulsa's facilities, Lakeview Amusement Park near the Mohawk Zoo
Tulsa Zoo
The Tulsa Zoo and Living Museum is a zoo and living museum located in Tulsa, Oklahoma USA. The Tulsa Zoo is owned by the city of Tulsa and is part of the Tulsa Parks Department. The zoo is located in Mohawk Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the United States...
. Investors bought the buildings and lease in September 1958 to build what became the Crystal City Shopping Center, a major shopping venue for West Tulsans, with an anchoring bowling alley called Crystal Bowl.
In June 2006, the Southwest Tulsa Main Street Committee had plans to present a request to the city of Tulsa for support of an Urban Main Street program covering Southwest Boulevard from OSU Medical Center to Crystal City. The request is the first step toward getting the area certified as part of the Oklahoma Main Street program, which should help the West Tulsa area economically.
Tulsa's Red Fork area has been selected by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to be the city's first designated Urban Main Street Community. The Red Fork Main Street encompasses two blocks on either side of Southwest Boulevard extending from the Arkansas River to 49th West Avenue. Being part of the state program provides access to technical support, planning, expertise and resources that help communities preserve historic buildings and make them economically viable.
The City Council has agreed to a three-year, $150,000 commitment to take part in the program. Matching funds have been pledged by numerous individuals and businesses..