COUNTIES WE SERVE
1. Adair County : Stilwell 2. Alfalfa County : Cherokee 3. Atoka County : Atoka 4. Beaver County : Beaver 5. Beckham County : Sayre 6. Blaine County : Watonga 7. Bryan County : Durant 8. Caddo County : Anadarko 9. Canadian County : El Reno 10. Carter County : Ardmore 11. Cherokee County : Tahlequah 12. Choctaw County : Hugo 13. Cimarron County : Boise City 14. Cleveland County : Norman 15. Coal County : Coalgate 16. Comanche County : Lawton 17. Cotton County : Walters 18. Craig County : Vinita 19. Creek County : Sapulpa 20. Custer County : Arapaho 21. Delaware County : Jay 22. Dewey County : Taloga 23. Ellis County : Arnett 24. Garfi eld County : Enid 25. Garvin County : Pauls Valley 26. Grady County : Chickasha 27. Grant County : Medford 28. Greer County : Mangum 29. Harmon County : Hollis 30. Harper County : Buff alo 31. Haskell County : Stigler 32. Hughes County : Holdenville 33. Jackson County : Altus 34. Jeff erson County : Waurika 35. Johnston County : Tishomingo 36. Kay County : Newkirk 37. Kingfi sher County : Kingfi sher 38. Kiowa County : Hobart 39. Latimer County : Wilburton 40. Le Flore County : Poteau 41. Lincoln County : Chandler 42. Logan County : Guthrie 43. Love County : Marietta 44. Major County : Fairview 45. Marshall County : Madill 46. Mayes County : Pryor 47. McClain County : Purcell 48. McCurtain County : Idabel 49. McIntosh County : Eufaula 50. Murray County : Sulphur 51. Muskogee County : Muskogee 52. Noble County : Perry 53. Nowata County : Nowata 54. Okfuskee County : Okemah 55. Oklahoma County : Oklahoma City 56. Okmulgee County : Okmulgee 57. Osage County : Pawhuska 58. Ottawa County : Miami 59. Pawnee County : Pawnee 60. Payne County : Stillwater 61. Pittsburg County : McAlester 62. Pontotoc County : Ada 63. Pottawatomie County : Shawnee 64. Pushmataha County : Antlers 65. Roger Mills County : Cheyenne 66. Rogers County : Claremore 67. Seminole County : Wewoka 68. Sequoyah County : Sallisaw 69. Stephens County : Duncan 70. Texas County : Guymon 71. Tillman County : Frederick 72. Tulsa County : Tulsa 73. Wagoner County : Wagoner 74. Washington County : Bartlesville 75. Washita County : Cordell 76. Woods County : Alva 77. Woodward County : Woodward Oklahoma Counties & County Seats Oklahoma Historical Society, 2007 www.okhistory.org
WIKI COMMONS INFORMATION ON REGION
Northwestern Oklahoma
is the geographical region of the state of Oklahoma which includes the Oklahoma Panhandle and a majority of the Cherokee Outlet, stretching to an eastern extent along Interstate 35, and its southern extent along the Canadian River to Noble County. Northwest Oklahoma is also known by its Oklahoma Department of Tourism designation, Red Carpet Country, which is named after the region's red soil and alludes to the metaphor that the panhandle is a "red carpet" into Oklahoma. The region consists of Cimarron, Texas, Beaver, Harper, Woods, Alfalfa, Grant, Kay, Ellis, Woodward, Major, Garfield, Noble, Dewey, Blaine, Kingfisher counties.
The area is anchored economically by Enid, which also contains the region's largest commercial airport. Other important cities include Guymon, Ponca City, Woodward, and Alva.
Map of Oklahoma Territory, Indian Territory and the "neutral territory"
Northwestern Oklahoma became part of the United States through the Louisiana Purchase and through the entrance of Texas into the Union in 1845 as a slave state. At the time, federal law, based on the Missouri Compromise, prohibited slavery in the region that would become the Oklahoma Panhandle. Under the Compromise of 1850, Texas surrendered its lands north of 36°30' latitude. The 170-mile strip of land, a "neutral strip", was left with no state or territorial ownership from 1850 until 1890. It was officially called the "Public Land Strip" and was commonly referred to as "No Man's Land."[1][2]
The Compromise of 1850 also established the eastern boundary of New Mexico Territory at the 103rd meridian, thus setting the western boundary of the strip. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 set the southern border of Kansas Territory as the 37th parallel. This became the northern boundary of No Man's Land.[2]
In 1889, the Unassigned Lands were opened for settlement. The passage of the Organic Act in 1890 assigned No Man's Land to the new Oklahoma Territory. No Man's Land became Seventh County under the newly organized Oklahoma Territory, land was soon renamed Beaver County.[2] Northwestern Oklahoma took its current form when Oklahoma Territoryand Indian Territory joined the Union in 1907 as the single U.S. state of Oklahoma.
Northwest Oklahoma ranges from dry and flat to an area with mountain ranges and mesas, a testament to the Southwest Tablelands ecoregion that dominates the area. Canyons and grasslands, such as the Rita Blanca National Grassland, help to give Northwest Oklahoma a distinctive Southwest-like landscape, differing from other parts of the state. Black Mesa, the state's highest peak at 4,973 feet, is part of a large range of mesas in the panhandle which stretch into New Mexico. Another mesa range, the Glass (or Gloss) Mountains, sits in the center of Northwest Oklahoma, just south of the Cimarron River along Highway 412. Great Salt Plains Lake, one of the largest inland salt lakes in the United States, is located near Alva.
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Oklahoma City (capital)
Society
Northwest Oklahoma offers an amazing variety of ecoregions and landscapes that invite you to get outdoors and enjoy the state's natural treasures. In the region, you can enjoy one of the hottest shorebird watching spots, dig for rare crystals, take a cave tour or try your hand at a wild caving adventure, hike and ride over 70-foot sand dunes and enjoy a spring-fed oasis filled with wildlife.
Situated on the plains just south of the Oklahoma/Kansas border is a jewel for nature lovers - Great Salt Plains Lake, a natural phenomenon and birding paradise. The lake, located near Jet, covers 8,690 surface acres, has 41 miles of shoreline and is about half as salty as an ocean. More than 300 species of birds have been documented in this area where 36 of the 40 shore bird species have been sighted. It is entirely reasonable to plan to see around 100 species of birds in a single day on these public lands.
Great Salt Plains Lake is part of a vast area of set-aside lands including Great Salt Plains State Park and the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge. Here you can camp, hike, fish, boat, enjoy fantastic birding opportunities and even dig for selenite crystals from April through October. There are cabins, RV and tent sites, equestrian trails with campgrounds, and picnic areas in the state park and around the lake to accommodate visitors. Fishing is popular at the Great Salt Plains Lake, where catfish, saugeye, sand bass and hybrid striper are common.
About 30 miles southwest of Great Salt Plains State Park lie the Gloss Mountains, also known as the Glass Mountains. The name has long been debated, but in either case they were named for the way they gleam in the sunlight thanks to the selenite crystals that cover them. These large red buttes rise out of the flat landscape creating a scene straight out of an old Western movie. Gloss Mountain State Park is a small park along Highway 412 where you can explore the area, even hiking up to the top of one of the mesas utilizing stairs and handrails. The view is well worth the hike and you can picnic at the park after your descent.
For the adventurous at heart, a visit to Little Sahara State Park near Waynoka is a definite must. With sand dunes ranging from 25 to 75 feet in height and over 1,600 rideable acres of desert dunes, this park is a haven for ATVers and dune buggy enthusiasts. Once on an ATV, the dunes become a natural roller coaster complete with stomach-dropping thrills as you crest the highest ridges and drop into the basins below.
Once on an ATV, the dunes become a natural roller coaster.
After your ride, you'll be clearing sand out of your ears, nostrils and other places you didn't know sand could go, but the memories are well worth it. Park amenities include picnic areas, RV campsites with hookups, tent sites, hiking trails, seasonal concessions and showers to help rinse all that sand away.
Looking for a different type of outdoor adventure? Go spelunking at Alabaster Caverns State Park near Freedom. Alabaster Cavern is the main draw at the 200-acre park where you can take a guided tour through the world's largest gypsum cave that is open to the public. The tour path through the cave is well lit with stairs and handrails to aid visitors. If you feel like more of a challenge after your tour, you can go wild caving with a group of at least three if you sign in at the park office first and wear hard hats. There are several wild caves in the park for you to explore, or you can hike along trails through the rugged landscape dotted with cactus. RV and tent camping is available in the park.
Surrounded by the vast open plains, Boiling Springs State Park near Woodward is a genuine oasis. The wooded area with spring-fed streams contrasts starkly with the mostly treeless plains and provides a haven for wildlife. You are likely to see deer, wild turkeys and other critters during your visit. Hike, camp, fish or enjoy the swimming pool while in the area. The park offers RV and tent campsites as well as cozy cabins and two group camp areas.
Between your outdoor adventures in these northwest Oklahoma state parks, be sure to visit the charming towns in the area. Between Great Salt Plains State Park and the Gloss Mountains, you'll find the town of Aline and the Original Sod House Museum. This is the only sod house built by a settler prior to statehood that still stands. The museum has literally been built around the 1894 home to preserve the history for all to see. It is an interesting opportunity to learn about pioneer life. The town of Freedom near Alabaster Caverns State Park has an downtown area that looks like an Old West main street scene. Near Boiling Springs State Park, Woodward is home to the Plains Indians and Pioneers Museum as well as a thriving downtown area where you can enjoy a tasty meal at Wagg's Bar-B-Q in an eclectic setting that's part former garage, part art gallery.
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175 Unique Street Names in
ZIP Code 73717
Alva, Oklahoma
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