Red Fork, OK.html



Red Fork is a community in Southwest Tulsa. 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. Clinton in Red Fork. Dr. Bland, the first graduate physician in Tulsa, had moved to Red Fork in 1895 to set up a country practice. The well was on the homestead allotment of Dr. Bland’s wife, Sue A. Bland, a Creek citizen. The Sue Bland #1 was a thirty barrel well at a depth of 600 feet. This well brought the first nation wide publicity and oil boom to Tulsa and the Indian Territory.

The town is sometimes said to have been named for the Cimarron River, but the Cimarron River is many miles upstream. More likely it was named for the nearby reddish Arkansas River, which is the red fork when viewed at its downstream conjunction with the normally blue-green Verdigris River.

Red Fork originally was on what was to become Route 66, stretching back to Lookout Mountain and west towards Berryhill. After the oil discovery, it looked like Red Fork might might outdo Tulsa, but Tulsa boosters succeeded in attracting new people and businesses there. Also, Red Fork was limited in size by the bend of the river and by the steep hills. Eventually Tulsa annexed Red Fork, and in 1928 the post office lost its separate status and became Red Fork Station (now West Tulsa Station) of the Tulsa Post Office.

While mostly residential, Red Fork is home to television station KTUL (Channel 8), a unique railroad-themed restaurant, an award-winning bed & breakfast in a 120-year-old rock home, Route 66-related businesses, historic schools, a BNSF railroad yard, and a popular Tulsa Park recreation center. Nearby are two colleges, a major Tulsa regional library, and oil and transportation-related businesses (among others).

Red Fork was once home to an amusement park featuring Tulsa's giant original Zingo roller coaster, among other rides, and a giant swimming pool.

External links

• Red Fork, Oklahoma is at coordinates 36°06′20″N 96°01′28″W / 36.1055556, -96.0244444 (Red Fork, Oklahoma)Coordinates: 36°06′20″N 96°01′28″W / 36.1055556, -96.0244444 (Red Fork, Oklahoma)

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Southwest Tulsa community links: http://www.southwesttulsa.org/index.htm

Reed Recreation Center: http://www.cityoftulsa.org/Recreation/Parks/CommCenter.asp

Zarrow Regional Library: http://www.tulsalibrary.org/zarrow/

KTUL, Channel 8: http://www.ktul.com/

Southwest Tulsa schools: http://www.southwesttulsachamber.com/education.html

Southwest Tulsa railroads: http://www.southwesttulsa.org/railroads.htm

Red Fork businesses: http://www.southwesttulsa.org/businesses.htm

http://www.southwesttulsa.org/links.htm

http://www.southwesttulsachamber.com/boardmembers.html

Restaurant with miniature trains running throughout: http://www.olliesstation.com/ (Also do your own search for online videos of Ollie's Station)

Award-winning bed & breakfast in an almost 120-year old rock house: http://www.cedarrockinn.com/index.html