Oklahoma: A Story Through Her People

CITY OF
CHANDLER
Since it was first opened for settlement
in a “Land Run” on September 28, 1891,
people have been “Choosing Chandler” as
a unique place to live, work, and visit.
Chandler’s birth began with a bang when
gunshots were fired at high noon to signal
the land opening. Thousands of settlers,
both men and women, ran to stake their
claim on one of the 2,208 free lots that had
been plotted in the 320 acre town site. The
site was located on a hill overlooking Indian
Springs, a main source of water at the time,
and the lowlands, which now include the
city’s main gathering spot, Tilghman Park,
and Bell Cow Creek.
Today, nearly 6,500 people who live inside
and outside the city call Chandler home.
They enjoy the small town charm and big city
convenience that Chandler offers by being
nestled in the rolling sand rock hills on
historic Route 66 between Oklahoma City and
Tulsa. Chandler area residents also have access
to good schools, numerous sports venues for
its youth, numerous retail establishments
including a vibrant main street, an array of
churches, an active Senior Citizens’ Center,
a stable local economy supported by wellestablished
businesses, along with recreational
opportunities for both young and old.
Prior to its founding, Chandler had already
been chosen to be the county seat of Lincoln
County because of its central location.
More than 100 years later, it was fitting
that Chandler entered the twenty-first century
as a center of attention for retail trade in
Central Oklahoma with a diversified economic
base that included insurance, manufacturing
and processing, construction, transportation,
agriculture and energy.
Over time, the City of Chandler in area
has increased ten-fold to keep pace with
growing public needs, to improve the quality
of life for its residents, and to become a
destination point for tourists. The city’s 3,200
acres encompasses the Bell Cow Lake water
supply and recreation area, parks and walking
trails, popular equestrian trails, a swimming
pool, a nine-hole public golf course backdropped
by Chandler Lake, and a regional
airport. Other attractions include the Route 66
Interpretive Center, the Lincoln County
Museum of Pioneer History, and the nearby
Ioway Casino operated by the Ioway Indian
Tribe. Also, Chandler is especially proud to be
the home of the 160th Field Artillery Battalion
of the Oklahoma National Guard.
As the Chandler community has grown, its
leaders and public officials have remained
committed to “the basics”—addressing infrastructure
needs and keeping citizens safe.
The people of Chandler look to the future
while remembering their past.
For more information on the City of
Chandler, visit www.chandlerok.com.
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
188