Choctaw's slogan is "A Great Place to Live!", and a visit there certainly shows that's true. Choctaw bears the distinction of being the oldest chartered city located in the Oklahoma Territory. Choctaw lies about 10 miles away from Oklahoma City in the Oklahoma City metro region. Choctaw today is a happening place with culture, community spirit, and activities. It is a center for business and commerce, including the oil industry. In addition to its humming economy and quality of life, the city is home to some standout special events that take place throughout the year.
Choctaw's Early Days
Choctaw was established as a small community in 1890. It only became a formal town three years later. In the same year, Choctaw got its first governor, which reinforced its status as an official town. The city celebrated its 100th birthday in 1993, complete with a festive party and many community-oriented activities. Historically, Choctaw was characterized by open spaces and a predominantly agricultural landscape. At the time it started, Choctaw had a relatively small population size of just 355 residents. Its population grew steadily during the late 1880s when the government sponsored land ownership through the land run. In the early 1890s, Choctaw had enough people and enough of a town center to get its first post office. The town was incorporated about three years before Oklahoma officially became a state, which is another one of its claims to fame. By the time Oklahoma reached statehood, Choctaw was an established city with a bank, a circulating newspaper, several churches, a schoolhouse, and a working telephone system. As its commercial and industrial landscape blossomed, it had three successful gins operating by 1909. The city's population size remained stagnant through the Great Depression, but it grew afterward with the continued progression of a commercial and enterprise-based economy.
Activities and Events in Choctaw
As you might expect from a place that calls itself one of the best to live in Oklahoma, Choctaw always has plenty of lively events and annual celebrations that residents and visitors look forward to.
Frontier Days
Frontier Days is one of Choctaw's most popular annual events. It is held in April each year. Visitors to Frontier Days can look forward to a lively celebration featuring cowboy and cavalry encampments, a makeshift jailhouse, old-fashioned activities and games, gunfights, and historical demonstrations of significant people and events in Choctaw's past. There is also a cooking demonstration during Frontier Days featuring traditional recipes based mostly on Choctaw's first crops and staple cooking ingredients. Throughout the event, visitors can enjoy merchandise and food for purchase from the dozens of vendors who are part of the annual celebration.
Food Truck Fridays
Every Friday from August through September, the city hosts a fun event downtown featuring music, games, children's activities, and plenty of food. The food trucks sell a combination of locally-made, Oklahoma-style fare, and international cuisine. It's an essential activity for residents and visitors who consider themselves foodies.
Haunted Forest and Trails
In preparation for Halloween, Choctaw hosts a simultaneously frightening and festive event called the Haunted Forest and Trails. This event is held at the Choctaw Creek Park. It takes place for several days and offers many Halloween-themed activities like a costume contest, trick-or-treating, Halloween games, and more. Adults and families are welcome to join in on the weekend-long festivities, too.
Rock the Park
Held in May each year, Rock the Park is a celebration designed to honor both the city's love of music and the warmer weather. Accompanying the live performances, which include popular bands, are food trucks serving an assortment of delicious cuisines and games. There are also special events for children that take place throughout the day. There is no charge for the public, and the event is open to everyone.
Many things make Choctaw a great place to live. Among them are its community spirit, its proximity to the state's capital, and the fact that it never has a lack of fun activities to enjoy. As a resident who wants to take part in your city's pride, you can start by creating a beautiful property that you're proud to call home. And if you need some advice and assistance turning your lawn into a healthy, productive area this spring season, get in touch with Lawn Love. As your local lawn care experts, we'll happily help you out.
