Skiatook, Oklahoma
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Skiatook (Skī•ǎ•tōōk or Skī•ǎ•tǒǒk versus Skī•tōōk or Skī•tǒǒk) is a suburb of Tulsa, located in northeast Oklahoma. As of the 2005 census report, the town population was 6,290.
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[edit] Geography and Statistics
Skiatook is located at (36.367327, -96.047264)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 38.2 km² (14.7 mi²). 37.9 km² (14.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.81%) is water. Skiatook city limits extend into Osage County and Tulsa County. The school district's boundaries also include Washington County.
- Type of Government: Town with 5-member board of trustees and a Town Coordinator;
- Fire Department: Full time with 1 Chief, 3 Captains, 12 fulltime-firefighters, and 20 volunteers. The Fire Department also provides the Emergency Medical Service for Skiatook and the surrounding rural area (approx. 500 square miles); staffing 2 Advanced Life Support ambulances on call 24 hours per day.
- Police Department: Full time with 25 commissioned officers, 7 Reserve officers, and 5 civilian employees. The Police Department also houses a 24 hour E911 communications center that dispatches Police, Fire and EMS.
- Garbage Service, Sanitation and Sewage: aerated lagoon system of treatment
- Comprehensive City Plan, Zoning
Average Annual Temperature: January, 47°F; July, 84°F.
Average Rainfall per Year: 37 inches
Average Snowfall per Year: 9 inches
Average Number of Flying Days per Year: 343
[edit] History
William C. Rogers, last hereditary Chief of the Cherokees, founded Skiatook in 1872, when he established a trading post in the Cherokee Nation just to the south of Bird Creek where the stream was easily crossed. The Osage Indian, Skiatooka, was a frequent trader at the post, so it has been suggested this may be the connection which resulted in the town's name.
Historical records have conflicting data as to the origin of Skiatook's name. One story is that the town was founded on land which was the home of a prominent Osage Indian, Skiatooka, and the community around his home was called Skiatooka's Settlement.
Another story is that the name was Cherokee in origin meaning either "big injun me" or describing a large man or a vast tract of land.
The first Skiatook Post Office was established in Rogers's store in the 1880s, and in 1892, the name was changed from Ski-a-took to its present form.
The first deed in town was granted to the Skiatook Bank, later known at the First National Bank, on December 18, 1904. Lumber was hauled in to build the bank building and in January of 1905, the bank opened. Immediately after this day, despite the harsh winter, active construction began, and many buildings replaced shacks and tents.
Also in 1904, the Midland Valley Railroad was built through the area and weekly newspaper, The Skiatook Sentinel (now known as the Skiatook Journal), was first published. The town became incorporated during the summer of 1905, with A.E. Townsend as its first mayor. By the fall of 1906, the residents had the conveniences of natural gas and public telephones.
After Oklahoma Statehood in 1907, construction began on permanent roads and bridges. Several country schools had been scattered throughout the area, and Skiatook Schools began in 1905. The first church building constructed in Skiatook was the First Christian Church in 1907. Before this, congregations met in several places in town, including homes and businesses.
Cement sidewalks were constructed between 1909 and 1910, and in 1912 Skiatook received water, sewer and electric light improvements. The area experienced much growth in the oil, gas and farm industries. Increased traffic through town warranted better streets, and by the fall of 1919, Skiatook had 15 blocks of continuous cement paved streets. In 1920, Skiatook had 2,000 residents and around 50 businesses.
A road to Tulsa was paved in the early 1920s, and with good roads leading out in all directions, Skiatook became known as the "Gateway to all points North, South, East and West". In the 1930s, Skiatook began purchasing water from Spavinaw, but the completion of Skiatook Lake in 1984 gave Skiatook its own water source.
[edit] The Battle of Chustenahlah
The Battle of Chustenahlah was fought just west of Skiatook, on December 26, 1861, during the American Civil War. A band of 9,000 pro-Union Native Americans was forced to flee to Kansas in bitter cold and snow in what became known as the "Trail of Blood on the Ice."
The victorious Confederates captured 160 women and children, 20 blacks, 30 wagons, 70 yoke of oxen, about 500 Indian horses, several hundred head of cattle, 100 sheep, and large quantities of supplies. Casualties were 9 killed and 40 wounded for the Confederates. Colonel McIntosh in his official report estimated the Indians' loss as 250.
[edit] Skiatook in Films
Parts of the 1983 film adaptation of S.E. Hinton's novel, "The Outsiders", were filmed in locations around Skiatook, as was the movie "the Eye of God"[1].
[edit] Mayors of Skiatook
1905-1908 A.E. Townsend
1908-1909 Fred Lynde
1909-1911 Reuben Dye
1911-1915 A.W. Lucas
1915-1917 Dr. A.J. Butts
1917-1921 Dr. R.K. Goddard
1921 J.H. LeGoullan
1921-1923 L.O. Maxwell
1923-1925 C.F. Rogers
1925-1931 Ed Fox
1931-1938 Ray Branstetter
1938-1941 Roy Spafford
1941-1945 Ray Branstetter
1945-1947 Walter C. Hubbard
1947-1951 Earl Yeargain
1951-1961 J. Milton Patrick
1961-1963 Charles Strange, Jr.
1963-1967 Harvey Jones
1967-1971 James Barnett
1971-1972 Harlan M. Close
1972-1973 O.W. Smith
1973-1987 Bob Kehler
1987-1990 Gene Overlease
1990-1991 J.D. Maddox
1991-1995 Richard Barnes
1995-2003 Don Billups
2003-Present Virgil Mayaab
[edit] Points of interest
Skiatook Lake, Skiatook Statuary (Producer of the World's Largest Ornamental Concrete, and the first producer to ship to Russia), Skiatook Museum, The Healing Rock, Civil War Battle Marker (Battle of Chustenahlah), Captain's Cemetery, Hillside Cemetery, View from Javine Hill, Horse and Cattle Ranches, Skiatook Airport, John Zink Boy Scout Ranch, Oklahoma Farrier's College, Herbert Pinc Auditorium, Woodland Christmas Tree Farm, Vegetable and Fruit Market, Pecan and Flower Market, Community Building, Cedar Crest Golf course, CrossTimbers Resort & Marina, and Crystal Bay Marina.
[edit] Recreation
Skiatook residents enjoy multiple recreational opportunities, including Osage Park, John Zink Park, Smith Park, the Skiatook Sports Park, soccer fields, tennis courts, a nine-hole golf course, a driving range, shooting range, and Skiatook Lake. There are numerous little leagues (football, baseball, softball, soccer) and an adult soccer league.
The Osage Prairie Trail was currently constructed with Vision 2025 funds, and this 14 mile jogging and bike trail connects Skiatook to Tulsa's extensive bike and jogging trail system. The Skiatook community pool was opened in the 1950's, and provided swimming lessons to thousands of Skiatook children. Due to deteriorating conditions, the pool was closed in 2001. Construction on the new pool has commenced.
[edit] Skiatook Lake
Skiatook Dam and Lake was authorized for construction by the Flood Control Act approved October 23, 1962 (87th Congress). It is one of five projects in the Bird Creek Basin plan recommended to meet the comprehensive water resources needs of the area. The Damsite is located on Hominy Creek about 5 miles west of Skiatook in Osage County, Oklahoma. The project serves the purposes of flood control, water quality, water supply, recreation, and fish and wildlife management. The total cost of the project was approximately $120 million. It was completed in 1984. Elevated 714.0 feet above sea level, the lake has a surface area of about 10,500 acres and 160 miles of shoreline. Skiatook Lake has brought tremendous growth to the surrounding Skiatook area since its completion.
The shoreline is accentuated by steep picturesque bluffs which offer fantastic views. Boating, hiking, swimming, camping, picnicking as well as hunting and fishing are all popular activities at the lake.
Sport fishing is very popular and Skiatook Lake has several annual fishing tournaments. Largemouth bass, black and white crappie, channel catfish, and several species of sunfish, or lake perch, are plentiful in Skiatook Lake.
Whitetail deer, rabbit, squirrel, quail, and many more bird species are plentiful around the lake. Even a few coyote have been seen. During the seasons, about 8,000 acres of this land are open for hunting.
There are several places open to camping, including Tall Chief Cove, Bull Creek and Twin Points campgrounds. Other parks on the lake include Blackdog Park, Osage Park, Quapaw Park, Hominy Landing and Skiatook Point.
About 1,800 acres of land around the lake have been set aside for public use areas. These areas provide roads, parking spaces, boat ramps, nature trails, picnicking and camping sites along with sanitary facilities. These areas remain attractive to the user and blend in with the natural landscape surrounding the lake.
[edit] Downtown Skiatook
The historic downtown area is home to a wide variety of stores, including antique dealers, specialty shops, Indian crafts, a ceramics store, dance studios, old-fashioned drug stores, a bakery and a music store that features country music concerts every week. During the Spavinaw Water Days festival (now called Pioneer Days) in the mid 1900's, main street (W.C. Rogers Blvd.) was blocked off for a street dance in the evening, with the music provided by the Skiatook Community Orchestra.
[edit] Skiatook Museum
Downtown is also home to the Skiatook Museum. The Skiatook Museum was established thanks to the people who kept mementos, scrapbooks, pictures, letters, and artifacts; such as C. H. Cleveland and Mrs. G. B. Epperson, who left the book "Skiatook 1872 to 1921."
The Skiatook Historical Society was organized in April of 1976. The goal of the members was to preserve the interesting history of Skiatook from its beginning to the present time.
In 1988, after 5 moves, the Skiatook Museum moved into the home of pioneer doctor W. G. Phillips. The home, built in 1912, contained his office. In 1910, Dr. Phillips settled in Skiatook and served the community for 50 years. His medical diploma and college graduation picture are on display at the museum.
The Skiatook Museum made Dr. Phillips' house its permanent home with the aid of the Oklahoma Historical Society, including grants to refurbish the house and set up display areas within its walls.
The museum board conducted a successful building fund campaign in 1999 and completed an addition to the home which has added much needed space for the display of local historical documents, as well as furniture and other household items of the town's pioneers.
Historians, students and all those looking for their family tree, who are searching for Skiatook's past can view the personal papers, documents and photographs of the town's pioneer families, events and places at the museum. Also provided is a microfilm reader to enable visitors to research into newspapers dating back to April of 1905, the date the first newspaper in town began publishing.
[edit] Events
Skiatook hosts several events throughout the year, including the Pioneer Days Festival, complete with a parade, fly-in, Chili cook-off, art show, tractor show, car show, great entertainment, some parades, fun & games, delicious food from various vendors (at the parades), rides, a parade, vintage planes, a rodeo and an incredible parade; the "Fantasy in the Sky" Fourth of July celebration with concerts, The Parade, food and fireworks on Skiatook Lake; a Bluegrass Festival; various fishing tournaments; and a Christmas parade.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 5,396 people, 1,994 households, and 1,475 families residing in the town. The population density was 142.5/km² (369.0/mi²). There were 2,125 housing units at an average density of 56.1/km² (145.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 71.31% White, 0.50% African American, 18.75% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 8.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.76% of the population.
There were 1,994 households out of which 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the town the population was spread out with 31.0% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 18.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 85.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,946, and the median income for a family was $37,879. Males had a median income of $30,873 versus $21,419 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,956. About 9.4% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.7% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] External links
- Official Town Website
- Skiatook Chamber of Commerce
- CrossTimbers Resort
- Skiatook Museum (Unofficial Page)
- Skiatook Lake Association
- Vision 2025 Projects
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
