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BROKEN ARROW TIMELINE

1828

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THE MUSCOGEE-CREEK SETTLE AREA.

Broken Arrow band of the Muscogee-Creek settle here following removal from Alabama

1866

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THE FIRST RAILROAD ENTERS INDIAN TERRITORY.

New treaties with the Five Tribes allow first railroad to enter Indian Territory

1874

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BROKEN ARROW TRADING POST IS ESTABLISHED.

Broken Arrow Trading post is established by William P. Moore on the north bank of the Arkansas River near what is today South Olive Street.

1875

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WHITE CHURCH IS ESTABLISHED.

White Church is established (location on South Olive Street today). Rev. Robert Loughridge, a Presbyterian missionary to the Muscogee Creek, is the pastor and runs a mission school for Indian Children.

1901

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COAL MINING BEGINS.

Coal mining begins in the area, eventually running an 8-mile line east of the city

1901

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ELAM SETTLEMENT IS ESTABLISHED.

Elam settlement is established by W.T. Brooks, N.L. Sanders, W.N. Williams and M.C. Williams. The men build a cotton gin and homes and await the railroad. Later they move all buildings a few miles to the new Broken Arrow townsite.

1902

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THE KATY RAILROAD ANNOUNCES NEW RAIL LINE.

The MKT (KATY Railroad) announces a new line extending from Wybark, near Muskogee, to Osage Junction, west of Tulsey town.

1902

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THE BROKEN ARROW TOWNSITE IS SELECTED.

W.S. Fears, Secretary of the Arkansas Valley Townsite Company, selects the site of the new town to be named “Broken Arrow” after the already present Creek tribal town.

1902

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BROKEN ARROW PLAT SURVEY IS APPROVED.

S.A. Cobb’s plat and survey for the Broken Arrow townsite is approved in federal court in Muskogee, I.T.

1902

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TRADERS AND PLANTERS BANK OPENS ON MAIN STREET.

F.S. Hurd opens Traders and Planters Bank on Main at Commercial.

1903

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BROKEN ARROW, INDIAN TERRITORY IS INCORPORATED.

Broken Arrow, Indian Territory is incorporated

1903

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BROKEN ARROW, INDIAN TERRITORY IS INCORPORATED.

Broken Arrow, Indian Territory is incorporated

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DEED FOR THE TOWNSITE IS APPROVED.

The U.S. Secretary of the Interior approves the deed for the townsite, transferring Creek owned land to the Arkansas Valley Townsite Company.

1903-1905

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THE BROKEN ARROW LEDGER BEGINS PUBLICATION.

The Broken Arrow Ledger begins publication with 40 subscribers.

1903

FIRST CITY COUNCIL MEETING TAKES PLACE.

City Council meets for the first time

1903

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PUBLIC SCHOOL TAUGHT DURING CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL.

Classes were taught during the final stage of construction of the new public school.

1903

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FIRST PASSENGER TRAIN ARRIVES IN BROKEN ARROW.

First passenger train arrives July 4

1904

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PUBLIC SCHOOL OFFICIALLY COMPLETES CONSTRUCTION AND OPENS.

Public school classes open October 5

1904

BROKEN ARROW RECEIVES TELEPHONE SERVICE.

Telephone service comes to Broken Arrow through a franchise granted to George Cress and Company.

1904

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BROKEN ARROW'S FIRST SCHOOL OPENS ON N. MAIN STREET.

A two story brick building becomes Broken Arrow’s first school on North Main.

1905

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FIRST AUTOMOBILE COMES TO TOWN.

First automobile comes to town

1905

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THE ARKANSAS VALLEY NATIONAL BANK OPENS.

Officers of the Arkansas Valley townsite Company open a new bank, the Arkansas Valley National Bank.

1905

BROKEN ARROW IS CHOSEN AS A COUNTY SEAT FOR COWETA COUNTY.

Broken Arrow is chosen as a county seat for Coweta County within the proposed state of Sequoyah.

1905

THE BRICK SCHOOL ON NORTH MAIN IS OFFERED AS A COUNTY COURTHOUSE.

The brick school on north main is offered as a county courthouse if the proposal is approved, but it is not approved.

1906

THE FIRST VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT BEGINS.
Fire department begins with volunteer “bucket brigade.”

1906

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THE BROKEN ARROW ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY OPENS.
The Broken Arrow Electric Light Company opens

1906

MINSHALL OIL AND GAS COMPANY PROVIDES THE TOWN WITH NATURAL GAS.
Natural gas is available through the Minshall Oil and Gas Company

1907

THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA IS ADMITTED INTO THE UNION.

Statehood-Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory are admitted to the Union as one state. Broken Arrow, Indian Territory becomes Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

1907

THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA IS ADMITTED INTO THE UNION.

Statehood-Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory are admitted to the Union as one state. Broken Arrow, Indian Territory becomes Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

1908

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THE FIRST CLASS GRADUATES FROM BROKEN ARROW SCHOOLS.
First graduating class from Broken Arrow schools.

1909

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HASKELL STATE SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE OPENS.
Haskell State School of Agriculture opens classes at the Opera House but eventually constructs new buildings on East College, named for the school.

1907

CITY WATERWORKS IMPROVE THE WATER SUPPLY.

City waterworks improve the water supply, with piped water from a large spring south of town, to homes and businesses.

1913

NINA FOSTER BECOMES THE FIRST WOMAN TO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE IN BROKEN ARROW.
Nina Foster, city clerk, was first woman to hold public office in Broken Arrow.

1917

PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF OKLAHOMA BUYS THE BROKEN ARROW ELECTRIC PLANT.
Public Service Company of Oklahoma buys the Broken Arrow Electric Plant.

1917

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HASKELL STATE SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE CLOSES.
Haskell State School of Agriculture closes due to lack of funding.

1918

PART OF MAIN STREET BECOMES THE CITY'S FIRST PAVED ROAD.
A portion of Main Street is the first paved road.

1918

HIGHWAY 51 CAME DOWN MAIN STREET.
Highway 51 came down Main Street.

1931

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PHENIE LOU OWNBY ASSUMED OFFICE AS BROKEN ARROW’S MAYOR, BECOMING THE FIRST FEMALE MAYOR IN OKLAHOMA.
Phenie Lou Ownby assumed office as Broken Arrow’s mayor. She was the first female mayor in the state and the sixth female mayor in the country.

1932

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THE FIRST ROOSTER DAY FESTIVAL IS HELD.
During the Great Depression, Broken Arrow holds its first Rooster Day festival.

1932

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THE FIRST COTTON JUBILEE FESTIVAL IS HELD.
During the Great Depression, Broken Arrow holds its first Cotton Jubilee festival.

1941

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A. L. GRAHAM PURCHASES CONTROLLING INTEREST IN THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK.
A. L. Graham purchases controlling interest in the First National Bank from F.S. Hurd.

1947

BRADEN WINCH PLANT BEGINS OPERATIONS.
Braden Winch plant begins operations and is a major employer. Attracted to Broken Arrow by business leaders as coal mining ends.

1949

BROKEN ARROW POST OFFICE BEGINS HOME DELIVERY OF MAIL.
Broken Arrow Post Office begins home delivery of mail.

1950

THE WORLD PREMIERE OF “BROKEN ARROW” IS HELD IN BROKEN ARROW’S NUSHO THEATER.
The world premiere of “Broken Arrow” starring James Stewart, Jeff Chandler and Debra Paget was held in Broken Arrow’s Nusho Theater.

1954

A CITY MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT IS APPROVED FOR THE CITY OF BROKEN ARROW.
A city manager form of government is approved for the city of Broken Arrow.

1955

SURVEYS AND PLANS BEGIN FOR THE BROKEN ARROW EXPRESSWAY.
Surveys and plans begin for the Broken Arrow Expressway.

1964

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THE FIRST PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT OPENS.
The first paid fire department began operating with a staff of five people.

1965

THE BROKEN ARROW EXPRESSWAY EASES THE COMMUTE TO DOWNTOWN TULSA.
The Broken Arrow Expressway eases the commute to downtown Tulsa and spurs city growth.

1975

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HISTORICAL SOCIETY WAS FORMED IN 1975.
Howard Fisher, Broken Arrow Historical Society's inaugural president.

1976

RHEMA BIBLE TRAINING IS OPENED.
Rhema Bible Training is opened by Reverend Kenneth Hagin Jr.

1983

TULSA COUNTY TECHNOLOGY CENTER OPENS A BROKEN ARROW CAMPUS.
Tulsa County Technology Center opens a Broken Arrow Campus.

1995

MEIGHEN BRADFIELD IS OUR CITY’S FIRST MISS OKLAHOMA.
Meighen Bradfield is our city’s first Miss Oklahoma.

2001

NSU OPENS BROKEN ARROW CAMPUS.
NSU opens Broken Arrow campus.

2002

THE CREEK TURNPIKE OPENS IN BROKEN ARROW.
The Creek turnpike opens in Broken Arrow.

2005

BASS PRO OPENS.
Bass Pro opens.

2009

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BROKEN ARROW HISTORICAL SOCIETY OPENS
 

2009

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THE BROKEN ARROW PERFORMING ARTS CENTER OPENS.
The Broken Arrow Performing Arts center opens.

2009

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ROSE DISTRICT ESTABLISHED

2010

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BROKEN ARROW IS NAMED 4TH LARGEST CITY IN OKLAHOMA (population 98,850)

Two years later in 2012, the city population exceeded 100,000

2010

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BROKEN ARROW IS NAMED 3RD LARGEST MANUFACTURING CITY IN OKLAHOMA

2010-2011

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ST. JOHN'S HOSPITAL OPENS, RENAMED ASCENSION ST. JOHN IN 2020

2011

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FLIGHT SAFETY OPENS NEW FLIGHT SIMULATION TRAINING SYSTEM IN BA

2013

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BROKEN ARROW MILITARY CENTER OPEN

2013

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BROKEN ARROW INSTALLS A STATE OF THE ART WATER TREATMENT PLANT SYSTEM

2015

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MICHAEL SPURGEON STARTED WORK AS CITY MANAGER OF BROKEN ARROW

2015

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THE PRIDE OF BROKEN ARROW MARCHING BAND WON FIRST PLACE IN THE BANDS OF AMERICA GRAND NATIONALS CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2006, 2011 AND 2015

2015

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BROKEN ARROW HIGH SCHOOL UNVEILS PREMIERE INDOOR SPORTS FACILITY - TIGER FIELD HOUSE

2016

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BROKEN ARROW HISTORICAL SOCIETY REBRANDS TO: THE MUSEUM BROKEN ARROW

2016

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ONE-OF-A-KIND INTERACTIVE WATER FOUNTAIN FEATURE ADDED TO ROSE DISTRITCT PLAZA ON MAIN STREET

2017

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MARMIE, THE MUSEUM MOSE IS BORN.

The book, “Marmie a Mouse on Main Street” is published

2017

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KIRKLAND FIELD IS REMODELED AND REOPENS TO BAPS STUDENTS AS KIRKLAND ATHLETICS COMPLEX

2018

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STONEY CREEK HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER OPENS

The Museum BA’s annual gala, A Night For The Museum is held here every November.

2019

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THE MUSEUM BROKEN ARROW CELEBRATES 10 YEARS, NAMES EXHIBIT HALL IN HONOR OF BARBARA BROWN KIMBROUGH

2019

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BROKEN ARROW PUBLIC SCHOOLS LAUNCHES PROJECT PATHWAYS

2020

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WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC CAUSED BY CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

2021

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MAYOR DEBRA LEWIS WIMPEE BECAME BROKEN ARROW'S MAYOR IN APRIL 2021.

Debra was a Main Street retail store owner in the Rose District for four years. She believes that experience was instrumental in getting plugged into the Broken Arrow community even further.

2021

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ARTIST CARLOS BARBOZA FINISHED PAINTING THE MUSEUM BROKEN ARROW'S HISTORIC MURAL

south exterior wall of the museum

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