Skiatook Oklahoma OK Warrant Search

Skiatook, Oklahoma Skiatook (Skī•ǎ•tōōk or Skī•ǎ•tǒǒk versus Skī•tōōk or Skī•tǒǒk) is a town in Osage and Tulsa counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is a suburb of Tulsa. The population was 5,396 at the 2000 census, but the 2009 estimate was 6,897. History William C. Rogers, last hereditary Chief of the Cherokees, founded Skiatook in 1872, when he established a trading post in the Cherokee Nation just to the south of Bird Creek where the stream was easily crossed. The Osage Indian, Skiatooka, was a frequent trader at the post, so it has been suggested this may be the connection which resulted in the town's name.Historical records have conflicting data as to the origin of Skiatook's name. One story is that the town was founded on land which was the home of a prominent Osage Indian, Skiatooka, and the community around his home was called Skiatooka's Settlement.Another story is that the name was Cherokee in origin meaning either 'big injun me' or describing a large man or a vast tract of land.Yet another story, told by local natives of Osage decent, is that after a tornado struck the settlement in its early years, while trying to describe to white settlers what had happened in broken English, natives used the phrase 'sky-a-took'. Literally meaning, the sky had taken the settlement. This story is at least four generations old -and in native tradition- handed down by word of mouth.The first Skiatook Post Office was established in Rogers's store in the 1880s, and in 1892, the name was changed from Ski-a-took to its present form.The first deed in town was granted to the Skiatook Bank, later known at the First National Bank, on December 18, 1904. Lumber was hauled in to build the bank building and in January 1905, the bank opened. Immediately after this day, despite the harsh winter, active construction began, and many buildings replaced shacks and tents.Also in 1904, the Midland Valley Railroad was built through the area and weekly newspaper, The Skiatook Sentinel (now known as the Skiatook Journal), was first published. The town became incorporated during the summer of 1905, with A.E. Townsend as its first mayor. By the fall of 1906, the residents had the conveniences of natural gas and public telephones.After Oklahoma Statehood in 1907, construction began on permanent roads and bridges. Several country schools had been scattered throughout the area, and Skiatook Schools began in 1905. The first church building constructed in Skiatook was the First Christian Church in 1907. Before this, congregations met in several places in town, including homes and businesses.Cement sidewalks were constructed between 1909 and 1910, and in 1912 Skiatook received water, sewer and electric light improvements. The area experienced much growth in the oil, gas and farm industries. Increased traffic through town warranted better streets, and by the fall of 1919, Skiatook had 15 blocks of continuous cement paved streets. In 1920, Skiatook had 2,000 residents and around 50 businesses.A road to Tulsa was paved in the early 1920s, and with good roads leading out in all directions, Skiatook became known as the 'Gateway to all points North, South, East and West'. In the 1930s, Skiatook began purchasing water from Spavinaw, but the completion of Skiatook Lake in 1984 gave Skiatook its own water source. The Battle of Chustenahlah The Battle of Chustenahlah was fought just west of Skiatook, on December 26, 1861, during the American Civil War. A band of 9,000 pro-Union Native Americans was forced to flee to Kansas in bitter cold and snow in what became known as the 'Trail of Blood on the Ice.'The victorious Confederates captured 160 women and children, 20 blacks, 30 wagons, 70 yoke of oxen, about 500 Indian horses, several hundred head of cattle, 100 sheep, and large quantities of supplies. Casualties were 9 killed and 40 wounded for the Confederates. Colonel McIntosh in his official report estimated the Indians' loss as 250. Skiatook in Films Parts of the 1983 film adaptation of S.E. Hinton's novel, 'The Outsiders', were filmed in locations around Skiatook, as was the movie 'the Eye of God'. Celebrity ties to Skiatook Ronnie Dunn of the Country band Brooks & Dunn lived in Skiatook as a teenager. Youtube celebrity singer/songwriter Kata Hay was born, and raised in Skiatook, OK.Wesley 'Wes' Studi an actor that has starred in Award-winning films, such as Dances with Wolves, The Last of the Mohicans, Geronimo: An American Legend, Academy Award-nominated The New World (2005), and the blockbuster hit Avatar spent a portion of his childhood years living with his family in Skiatook, OK. Athletics In 2001 Skiatook High School had an amazing run, athletically. The softball team won a state championship. The football team posted a 7-3 record, continuing a 13 year playoff streak. The men's basketball team had the best record in Skiatook High School history and advanced to the first and only State Tournament in SHS History. The Men's soccer team also posted an all-time best. The men's team had 10 wins and 2 losses (7 shut-out victories) and earned the first and only playoff berth in Skiatook High School Men's Soccer history. Government Type of Government:Townwith 5-memberboard of trusteesand a Town Coordinator; Fire Department: Full time with 1 Chief, 1 Assistant Chief, 1 Fire Marshal, 4 Captains, 4 Lieutenants, Overall: 15 fulltime-firefighters, and 24 volunteers. The Fire Department also provides the Emergency Medical Service for Skiatook and the surrounding rural area (approx. 500 square miles (1,290 km2)); staffing 2Advanced Life Supportambulances on call 24 hours per day. Police Department: Full time with 18 commissioned officers. The Police Department also houses a 24 hour E911 communications center that dispatches Police, Fire and EMS. Refuse Service, Sanitation and Sewage: aerated lagoon system of treatment Comprehensive City Plan, Zoning Mayors 1905-1908: A.E. Townsend 1908-1909: Fred Lynde 1909-1911: Reuben Dye 1911-1915: A.W. Lucas 1915-1917: Dr. A.J. Butts 1917-1921: Dr. R.K. Goddard 1921: J.H. LeGoullan 1921-1923: L.O. Maxwell 1923-1925: C.F. Rogers 1925-1931: Ed Fox 1931-1938: Ray Branstetter 1938-1941: Roy Spafford 1941-1945: Ray Branstetter 1945-1947: Walter C. Hubbard 1947-1951: Earl Yeargain 1951-1961: J. Milton Patrick 1961-1963: Charles Strange, Jr. 1963-1967: Harvey Jones 1967-1971: James Barnett 1971-1972: Harlan M. Close 1972-1973: O.W. Smith 1973-1987: Bob Kehler 1987-1990: Gene Overlease 1990-1991: J.D. Maddox 1991-1995: Richard Barnes 1995-2003: Don Billups 2003-2007: Virgil Mayabb 2007–Present: Steve Kindrick Points of interest Skiatook Lake, Skiatook Statuary (Producer of the World's Largest Ornamental Concrete, and the first producer to ship to Russia), Skiatook Museum, The Healing Rock, Civil War Battle Marker (Battle of Chustenahlah), Captain's Cemetery, Hillside Cemetery, View from Javine Hill, Horse and Cattle Ranches, Skiatook Airport, John Zink Scout Ranch, Herbert Pinc Auditorium, the newly constructed 103,000 sq ft (9,600 m2) arena (the Skiatook Multi-Purpose Activity Center) which will seat 6,000 people, Woodland Christmas Tree Farm, Vegetable and Fruit Market, Pecan and Flower Market, Community Building, Cedar Crest Golf course, CrossTimbers Resort & Marina, and Crystal Bay Marina. Recreation Skiatook residents enjoy multiple recreational opportunities, including Osage Park, John Zink Park, Smith Park, the Skiatook Sports Park, soccer fields, tennis courts, a nine-hole golf course, a driving range, shooting range, and Skiatook Lake. There are numerous little leagues (football, baseball, softball, soccer) and an adult soccer league.The Osage Prairie Trail was constructed with Vision 2025 funds, and this 14 miles (23 km) jogging and bike trail connects Skiatook to Tulsa's extensive bike and jogging trail system. The Skiatook community pool was opened in the 1950s, and provided swimming lessons to thousands of Skiatook children. Due to deteriorating conditions, the old pool was closed in 2001. The new pool opened to the public June 2, 2007.Skiatook is also home to the Oklahoma Thunder football team, a professional football team in the World Football League(WFL) and were the 2008 WFL Champions. Games are played on Hap Dunlap Field at The Exchange Bank Stadium at Skiatook High School. Noted players on the roster are former NFL player Willie Ponder, Rico Watkins, Prentiss Elliott, Kejuan Jones, Jeremy Nethon, WFL Player of the Year Joey Crawford, and current paralized hero Emmeka Nnaka who is on pace to become the fastest person to walk after a paralyzing incident. Skiatook Lake Skiatook Dam and Lake was authorized for construction by the Flood Control Act approved October 23, 1962 (87th Congress). It is one of five projects in the Bird Creek Basin plan recommended to meet the comprehensive water resources needs of the area. The Damsite is located on Hominy Creek about 5 miles (8 km) west of Skiatook in Osage County, Oklahoma. The project serves the purposes of flood control, water quality, water supply, recreation, and fish and wildlife management. The total cost of the project was approximately $120 million. It was completed in 1984. Elevated 714.0 feet (217.6 m) above sea level, the lake has a surface area of about 10,500 acres (42 km2) and 160 miles (260 km) of shoreline. Skiatook Lake has brought tremendous growth to the surrounding Skiatook area since its completion.The shoreline is accentuated by steep picturesque bluffs which offer fantastic views. Boating, hiking, swimming, camping, picnicking as well as hunting and fishing are all popular activities at the lake.Sport fishing is very popular and Skiatook Lake has several annual fishing tournaments. Largemouth bass, black and white crappie, channel catfish, and several species of sunfish are plentiful in Skiatook Lake.Whitetail deer, rabbit, squirrel, beaver, quail, and many more bird species are plentiful around the lake. Even a few coyote have been seen. During the seasons, about 8,000 acres (32 km2) of this land are open for hunting.There are several places open to camping, including Tallchief Cove, Bull Creek and Twin Points campgrounds. Other parks on the lake include Blackdog Park, Osage Park, Quapaw Park, Hominy Landing and Skiatook Point.About 1,800 acres (7.3 km2) of land around the lake have been set aside for public use areas. These areas provide roads, parking spaces, boat ramps, nature trails, picnicking and camping sites along with sanitary facilities. These areas remain attractive to the user and blend in with the natural landscape surrounding the lake. Downtown Skiatook The historic downtown area is home to a wide variety of stores, including antique dealers, a beer bar, speciality shops, Indian crafts, art galleries, dance studios, old-fashioned drug stores, a bakery and a music store that features country music concerts every week. In 2007, a PaperArts store opened called SparkFly Studio, featuring activities and classes for young and old. During the Pioneer Day festival people line the streets along Rogers Boulevard in downtown for the parade; in the past the street was blocked so a dance could be held in the evening, although this is no longer feasible due to the heavy traffic volume through town on Highway 20.Skiatook Main Street Association is actively trying to clean-up the old downtown area. For more information, see the website: SMSA.S5.com. Skiatook Museum Downtown is also home to the Skiatook Museum. The Skiatook Museum was established thanks to the people who kept mementos, scrapbooks, pictures, letters, and artifacts; such as C. H. Cleveland and Mrs. G. B. Epperson, who left the book 'Skiatook 1872 to 1921.'The Skiatook Historical Society was organized in April 1976. The goal of the members was to preserve the interesting history of Skiatook from its beginning to the present time.In 1988, after 5 moves, the Skiatook Museum moved into the home of pioneer doctor W. G. Phillips. The home, built in 1912, contained his office. In 1910, Dr. Phillips settled in Skiatook and served the community for 50 years. His medical diploma and college graduation picture are on display at the museum.The Skiatook Museum made Dr. Phillips' house its permanent home with the aid of the Oklahoma Historical Society, including grants to refurbish the house and set up display areas within its walls.The museum board conducted a successful building fund campaign in 1999 and completed an addition to the home which has added much needed space for the display of local historical documents, as well as furniture and other household items of the town's pioneers.Historians, students and all those looking for their family tree, who are searching for Skiatook's past can view the personal papers, documents and photographs of the town's pioneer families, events and places at the museum. Also provided is a microfilm reader to enable visitors to research into newspapers dating back to April 1905, the date the first newspaper in town began publishing. Events Skiatook hosts several events throughout the year, including the Pioneer Days Festival, complete with a parade, fly-in, Chili cook-off, art show, tractor show, car show, great entertainment, some parades, fun & games, delicious food from various vendors (at the parades), rides, a parade, vintage planes, a rodeo and an incredible parade; the 'Fantasy in the Sky' Fourth of July celebration with concerts, The Parade, food and fireworks on Skiatook Lake; a Bluegrass Festival; a fine art & quilt show in October; various fishing tournaments; and a Christmas parade. Demographics As of the census of 2000, there were 5,396 people, 1,994 households, and 1,475 families residing in the town. The population density was 369.0 people per square mile (142.5/km2). There were 2,125 housing units at an average density of 145.3/sq mi (56.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 71.31% White, 0.50% African American, 18.75% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 8.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.76% of the population.There were 1,994 households out of which 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.15.In the town the population was spread out with 31.0% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 18.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 85.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.9 males.The median income for a household in the town was $32,946, and the median income for a family was $37,879. Males had a median income of $30,873 versus $21,419 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,956. About 9.4% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.7% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.