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Newkirk - Northwest (Red Carpet Country) | ||||||||
The limestone buildings of Newkirk reflect the warm hearts and family-oriented attitudes of this small north central Oklahoma town. Yet, these same stone edifices express the stalwart nature of this community, which has continued to grow and thrive despite economic hardships and competition from other cities. Newkirk, with the largest collection of limestone buildings in the state, has earned its reputation as a historic place of interest in our state. Also known for its agricultural business and weekly livestock sales, the community has survived and prospered, recently receiving the "Great American Main Street Award" from the National Main Street Center. Newkirk was born in 1893 when the United States government opened the Indian territories to white settlement. It soon was designated as the seat of the county designated alphabetically as "K," thus the current name of "Kay" County. Within months after voters changed the town's name from Lamoreaux to Santa Fe and then to Newkirk (in reflection of a cattle shipping depot named Kirk two miles north), the thriving town listed more than 200 businesses. Since 1893, this resilient community has emerged strong and confident, relaxing into its role as an oil, farming, and, of course, governmental center for the area. In recent years, Newkirk residents have banded together to both preserve and promote the lovely downtown architecture. This has done much to perpetuate the flavor of the early Land Run days. Other nearby attractions include Kaw Lake and dam, the "Land of Hope" statue, the Kay County War Memorial, the majestic Kay County Courthouse completed in 1926, the Kaw Indian Nation Gaming Complex, and many historic homes. For more information, contact the Newkirk Chamber of Commerce at 580-362-2155 or the Newkirk Main Street at 580-362-2377. |
