Enid, Oklahoma sits at the eastern edge of the Great Plains. No one knows for sure exactly how it got its name. The city was founded during the opening of the Cherokee Outlet by land run in 1893, and Government Springs Park in Enid was originally a watering hole on the Old Chisholm Cattle Trail. Enid was once home to Champlin Petroleum, and the local H.H. Champlin Mansion is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Enid’s early history is told in a book entitled The Cherokee Strip, written by the Pulitzer Prize winning author Marquis James, who tells of his boyhood in Enid.

Vance Air Force Base was founded in 1941 on land leased by the city of Enid to the United States Army Air Forces, now the United States Air Force.

Enid was ranked the 28th best place to raise a family in a Reader’s Digest poll. It’s noted for being a safe and economic place to live and work, with clean air and a refreshing lifestyle.

VITAL STATISTICS

Location – Northwestern Oklahoma

Elevation – 1,246 ft.

Population – City of Enid (2000 census): 47,045

Garfield County: 57,813

Estimate: 63,850

Climate – January Average Temperature: 35.1 deg. F

July Average Temperature: 83.3 deg. F

Annual rainfall: 32.4 In.

Annual snowfall” 4.75 in.

DISTANCE TO MAJOR CITIES

Tulsa…………………………………85 miles

Dallas………………………………299 miles

Houston………………………….541 miles

New Orleans……………………763 miles

Little Rock………………………..395 miles

Atlanta…………………………….954 miles

St. Louis…………………………..565 miles

Kansas City………………………300 miles

Chicago……………………………785 miles

New York………………………1,527 miles

Denver…………………………….531 miles

Albuquerque…………………..608 miles

Los Angeles……………………1,527 miles

ECONOMY

Enid has a diversified industrial base. It is home to both nationally recognized corporations and home-grown industries. Food processing, metal fabricating, machine shop industries and equipment can be found here. Retail trade, services and health care also play a major role in the city’s economy. In addition to a variety of shopping areas, a mall, and various strip centers, Enid has a unique downtown shopping district featuring an old-fashioned square.

OIL AND AGRICULTURE

These have always been major components of Enid’s economy. The home of both Farmland and Johnston Grain Company, Enid has the third largest grain storage capacity in the world. Garfield County boasts fertile soil that has long produced outstanding wheat crops and contributed to the growth of the expanding cattle industry. Oil production is still an industry rich with tradition and potential. Natural gas reserves are also an important staple here and expected to continue to grow due to its clean and efficient use.

VANCE AIR FORCE BASE

This Undergraduate Pilot Training Base – which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary -- is another major staple of Enid’s economy. It is nationally renowned for its efficiency in performing its mission, its cost-effectiveness, and its positive relationship with the community.

MAJOR EMPLOYERS

Vance Air Force Base, Advance Food Company (Breaded Meat products),CSC, Vance Infrastructure Support (Aircraft/Base Maintenance), Enid Board of Education (public Education), INTEGRIS Bass Health Center, St. Mary’s Medical Center, StarTek Inc. (In Bound Call Center),NORCE (Institutional Care), City of Enid (City Offices), Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Continental Resources (Oil & Gas), Central Machine & Tool

(Foundry Machine), Garfield County (County Offices), George E. Failing (Drilling), Luckinbill Inc. (Construction/AC & Heating), Central National Bank & Trust, Blue Dolph Health Management (Nursing Home), Liberty of Oklahoma Corp. (Institutional Care), OnviSource Inc. (Telephone Communications/Equipment), Golden Oaks Village (Nursing Home), The Commons (Nursing Home), Koch Nitrogen Plant (Anhydrous Ammonia, Hackney Ladish (Steel Fabrication), Greenbrier Village (Retirement Center), Paul Transportation (Trucking), Johnston Enterprises Inc. (Grain Elevators), Autry Transport (Trucking), Dept. of Human Services – Enid (Government Agency), Lowes Home Center (Home Improvement).Technology Center (Education), U.S. Postal Service, Atwods (Farm, Lawn & Garden), Groendyke Transport (Trucking), Department of Human Services-Enid (government agency), and Lowes Home Center (home improvement).

TRANSPORTATION

Enid is served by several U.S. highways, the Cimarron Turnpike, Enid Woodring Regional Airport, two major rail carriers – Burlington Northern/Santa Fe and Union Pacific, and the Arkansas River Navigation System via the Cimarron Turnpike.

TOURISM

This industry flourishes in Oklahoma. There are many hotels and motels in Enid. And – across the state – farms, ranches, and vineyards are opening their gates to tourists with some of the following offerings: hunting, fishing, vineyards and wineries, guest ranches, horseback riding, mazes and hayrides, farm and ranch museums, farmers markets, and “you-pick-‘ems” including berries, sweet corn, pumpkins, heirloom plants and produce, and Christmas trees.

CONVENTION CENTERS AND STATE PARKS

Enid’s convention centers include the Cherokee Strip Conference Center, Convention Hall, and Chisholm Trail Expo Center. In addition, State Parks encourage groups to arrange for camping facilities to celebrate reunions and other events.

EDUCATION

In addition to excellent public and private schools, higher education is supplied by Northern Oklahoma College and Northwestern Oklahoma State University. Autry Vo-Tech offers skills training for both high school and post high school students and has programs in a variety of areas. These include a comprehensive aircraft maintenance training program that is highly successful in training aircraft mechanics as well as other industry training.

HEALTH CARE

Enid’s medical community is one of the most outstanding in the state. It has three ultramodern hospitals and a private psychiatric facility. It is home to the Northern Oklahoma Resource Center, a facility for the developmentally disabled, and has many other services for all ages.

SPORTS

The baseball team of Enid Majors won the American Legion World series 2005. The Enid high School Plainsmen went to the Oklahoma State Championship football game in 2006 and lost to the Jenks Trojans. As to basketball, the Oklahoma Storm USBL franchise, located in Enid, has been very successful, winning their division numerous times, as well as the USBL Championship.

RECREATION

Enid has more than 30 parks and recreation areas within the city limits. Its Government Springs Park was originally a watering hole on the Old Chisholm Cattle Trail. There are several excellent golf courses here.

Other activities are supplied by the local YMCA, YWCA, and Sun-N-Fun Water Park. There are also the Kiwanis Train, Comet Go-Carts, and Meadowlake Miniature Golf.

CULTURAL OFFERINGS

Enid citizens enjoy a symphony orchestra, a community band, and the Gaslight Theatre. The Gallery of Fine Arts features the work of more than 25 Oklahoma artists.

ATTRACTIONS

These include Bartunek’s Winery, the Railroad Museum of Oklahoma, George’s Auto Museum, the Museum of the Cherokee Strip and Humphrey Heritage Village (covering history of the land run and Oklahoma events from 1540 to the present), Midgley Museum (with architecture and artifacts), Southern Heights Heritage Center and Museum, and Leonardo’s Discovery Warehouse -- a hands-on arts and sciences museum.

EVENTS

The Cherokee Stampede PRCA Rodeo, Chautauqua in the Park, Tri-State Music Festival, Cherokee Strip Days Celebration, and Enid Lights Up The Plains are just a few of the annual happenings held in Enid.