BROKEN ARROW TIMELINE
1828
THE MUSCOGEE-CREEK SETTLE AREA.
Broken Arrow band of the Muscogee-Creek settle here following removal from Alabama
1866
THE FIRST RAILROAD ENTERS INDIAN TERRITORY.
New treaties with the Five Tribes allow first railroad to enter Indian Territory
1874
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
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
COAL MINING BEGINS.
Coal mining begins in the area, eventually running an 8-mile line east of the city
1901
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
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
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
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
TRADERS AND PLANTERS BANK OPENS ON MAIN STREET.
F.S. Hurd opens Traders and Planters Bank on Main at Commercial.
1903
BROKEN ARROW, INDIAN TERRITORY IS INCORPORATED.
Broken Arrow, Indian Territory is incorporated
1903
BROKEN ARROW, INDIAN TERRITORY IS INCORPORATED.
Broken Arrow, Indian Territory is incorporated
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
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
PUBLIC SCHOOL TAUGHT DURING CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL.
Classes were taught during the final stage of construction of the new public school.
1903
FIRST PASSENGER TRAIN ARRIVES IN BROKEN ARROW.
First passenger train arrives July 4
1904
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
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
FIRST AUTOMOBILE COMES TO TOWN.
First automobile comes to town
1905
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
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
THE FIRST CLASS GRADUATES FROM BROKEN ARROW SCHOOLS.
First graduating class from Broken Arrow schools.
1909
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
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
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
THE FIRST ROOSTER DAY FESTIVAL IS HELD.
During the Great Depression, Broken Arrow holds its first Rooster Day festival.
1932
THE FIRST COTTON JUBILEE FESTIVAL IS HELD.
During the Great Depression, Broken Arrow holds its first Cotton Jubilee festival.
1941
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
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
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
BROKEN ARROW HISTORICAL SOCIETY OPENS
2009
THE BROKEN ARROW PERFORMING ARTS CENTER OPENS.
The Broken Arrow Performing Arts center opens.
2009
ROSE DISTRICT ESTABLISHED
2010
BROKEN ARROW IS NAMED 4TH LARGEST CITY IN OKLAHOMA (population 98,850)
Two years later in 2012, the city population exceeded 100,000
2010
BROKEN ARROW IS NAMED 3RD LARGEST MANUFACTURING CITY IN OKLAHOMA
2010-2011
ST. JOHN'S HOSPITAL OPENS, RENAMED ASCENSION ST. JOHN IN 2020
2011
FLIGHT SAFETY OPENS NEW FLIGHT SIMULATION TRAINING SYSTEM IN BA
2013
BROKEN ARROW MILITARY CENTER OPEN
2013
BROKEN ARROW INSTALLS A STATE OF THE ART WATER TREATMENT PLANT SYSTEM
2015
MICHAEL SPURGEON STARTED WORK AS CITY MANAGER OF BROKEN ARROW
2015
THE PRIDE OF BROKEN ARROW MARCHING BAND WON FIRST PLACE IN THE BANDS OF AMERICA GRAND NATIONALS CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2006, 2011 AND 2015
2015
BROKEN ARROW HIGH SCHOOL UNVEILS PREMIERE INDOOR SPORTS FACILITY - TIGER FIELD HOUSE
2016
BROKEN ARROW HISTORICAL SOCIETY REBRANDS TO: THE MUSEUM BROKEN ARROW
2016
ONE-OF-A-KIND INTERACTIVE WATER FOUNTAIN FEATURE ADDED TO ROSE DISTRITCT PLAZA ON MAIN STREET
2017
MARMIE, THE MUSEUM MOSE IS BORN.
The book, “Marmie a Mouse on Main Street” is published
2017
KIRKLAND FIELD IS REMODELED AND REOPENS TO BAPS STUDENTS AS KIRKLAND ATHLETICS COMPLEX
2018
STONEY CREEK HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER OPENS
The Museum BA’s annual gala, A Night For The Museum is held here every November.
2019
THE MUSEUM BROKEN ARROW CELEBRATES 10 YEARS, NAMES EXHIBIT HALL IN HONOR OF BARBARA BROWN KIMBROUGH
2019
BROKEN ARROW PUBLIC SCHOOLS LAUNCHES PROJECT PATHWAYS
2020
WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC CAUSED BY CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
2021
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
ARTIST CARLOS BARBOZA FINISHED PAINTING THE MUSEUM BROKEN ARROW'S HISTORIC MURAL
south exterior wall of the museum