Oklahoma: A Story Through Her People
A full-color photography book showcasing Oklahoma paired with the histories of companies, institutions, and organizations that have made the state great.
A full-color photography book showcasing Oklahoma paired with the histories of companies, institutions, and organizations that have made the state great.
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CITY OF<br />
CHANDLER<br />
Since it was first opened for settlement<br />
in a “Land Run” on September 28, 1891,<br />
people have been “Choosing Chandler” as<br />
a unique place to live, work, and visit.<br />
Chandler’s birth began with a bang when<br />
gunshots were fired at high noon to signal<br />
the land opening. Thousands of settlers,<br />
both men and women, ran to stake their<br />
claim on one of the 2,208 free lots that had<br />
been plotted in the 320 acre town site. The<br />
site was located on a hill overlooking Indian<br />
Springs, a main source of water at the time,<br />
and the lowlands, which now include the<br />
city’s main gathering spot, Tilghman Park,<br />
and Bell Cow Creek.<br />
Today, nearly 6,500 people who live inside<br />
and outside the city call Chandler home.<br />
They enjoy the small town charm and big city<br />
convenience that Chandler offers by being<br />
nestled in the rolling sand rock hills on<br />
historic Route 66 between <strong>Oklahoma</strong> City and<br />
Tulsa. Chandler area residents also have access<br />
to good schools, numerous sports venues for<br />
its youth, numerous retail establishments<br />
including a vibrant main street, an array of<br />
churches, an active Senior Citizens’ Center,<br />
a stable local economy supported by wellestablished<br />
businesses, along with recreational<br />
opportunities for both young and old.<br />
Prior to its founding, Chandler had already<br />
been chosen to be the county seat of Lincoln<br />
County because of its central location.<br />
More than 100 years later, it was fitting<br />
that Chandler entered the twenty-first century<br />
as a center of attention for retail trade in<br />
Central <strong>Oklahoma</strong> with a diversified economic<br />
base that included insurance, manufacturing<br />
and processing, construction, transportation,<br />
agriculture and energy.<br />
Over time, the City of Chandler in area<br />
has increased ten-fold to keep pace with<br />
growing public needs, to improve the quality<br />
of life for its residents, and to become a<br />
destination point for tourists. The city’s 3,200<br />
acres encompasses the Bell Cow Lake water<br />
supply and recreation area, parks and walking<br />
trails, popular equestrian trails, a swimming<br />
pool, a nine-hole public golf course backdropped<br />
by Chandler Lake, and a regional<br />
airport. Other attractions include the Route 66<br />
Interpretive Center, the Lincoln County<br />
Museum of Pioneer History, and the nearby<br />
Ioway Casino operated by the Ioway Indian<br />
Tribe. Also, Chandler is especially proud to be<br />
the home of the 160th Field Artillery Battalion<br />
of the <strong>Oklahoma</strong> National Guard.<br />
As the Chandler community has grown, its<br />
leaders and public officials have remained<br />
committed to “the basics”—addressing infrastructure<br />
needs and keeping citizens safe.<br />
The people of Chandler look to the future<br />
while remembering their past.<br />
For more information on the City of<br />
Chandler, visit www.chandlerok.com.<br />
O K L A H O M A : A S t o r y T h r o u g h H e r P e o p l e<br />
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