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Welcome To KEY TO THE CITY's Page For
Ardmore
Carter County, Oklahoma
ZipCodes
73401
History & History-related items
Chamber of Commerce.
The area which is now the City of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was originally part of the Louisiana Purchase and settled by the Chickasaw Indians in 1862.
Ardmore, itself, had its beginnings with the railroad. In 1887, the Santa Fe Railroad came through and the town was born 28 July 1887 when the first train arrived. It was a tent city at first, named after Ardmore, Pennsylvania which had been named after Ardmore By-the-Sea, Ireland. The railroad brought the materials to build a real town. Ardmore quickly grew as a trading center. By the 1890's, it was the largest inland cotton center in the world. Its primary industries were cotton ginning, and coal and asphalt mining. In 1895, the "Great Fire" burned nearly all of the town, but the current Ardmore came up from the ashes. The town prospered not only because of the railroad, but also because of trucking and agriculture. More industry has come in recent years.
In 1898 with a population of approximately 6200 citizens, Ardmore became a chartered city. It was eventually incorporated as a city in 1959.
In 1899, the first public high school was established. It was the first public high school in either Indian Territory or Oklahoma Territory (Oklahoma became a state in 1907).
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Take a virtual tour
Greater Sw Historical Museum
35 Sunset Dr SW
Ardmore, OK 73401-2852
Phone: 580-226-3857
Life in a turn-of-the-20th century Ardmore, from Indian Territory days to the 1930s, is depicted in the
Sam Noble Hall. Furniture, furnishings and fashions from stores, offices, barns, and homes have
been collected. An adjoining Military Annex contains armed services' memorabilia from the
American Revolution through Operation Desert Storm. The Museum is operated by the Carter
County Historical Society.
Eliza Cruce Hall Doll Museum
Ardmore Public Library
320 E St. NW
Phone: (580) 223-8290
Over 300 rare and antique dolls, collected by the niece of Oklahoma's second governor, Lee J.
Cruce, are on display.
Things to see and do in Ardmore.
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Ardmore has a City Manager/City Council type of Government. It is the County seat of Carter County.
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