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Ardmore, Oklahoma

Ardmore is a city in and the county seat of Carter County, Oklahoma, United States.
Population 24,725

Top Events in Ardmore History

1
1873Infrastructure
Ardmore was named after the affluent Philadelphia suburb and historic Pennsylvania Railroad stop of Ardmore, Pennsylvania, which was named after Ardmore in County Waterford, Ire...
2
1887History
== History == Ardmore, Indian Territory, began with a plowed ditch for a Main Street in the summer of 1887 in Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation.
3
1893History
== Media == === Newspaper === The Daily Ardmoreite, local newspaper since 1893.
4
1895Disaster
A large fire in 1895 destroyed much of the fledgling town, which forced residents to rebuild nearly the entire town.
5
1905Economy
The Ardmore Traction Company was organized in the Fall of 1905.
6
1906Architecture
It had pretentions of building all the way to Springer, Oklahoma, about 7 miles, but had a much smaller system operational around town by January 1, 1906.
7
1908Architecture
In January 1908 it built an additional 3 miles to the company-owned Lorena Park.
8
1910Economy
But the company was in receivership by early 1910, when the system consisted of 4.7 miles of tracks in operation, 2 new single truck cars, 2 double truck cars, a convertible car...
9
1913Disaster
After its discovery in 1913, entrepreneurs and wildcatters flooded the area, and Carter County quickly became the largest oil-producing county in Oklahoma, and has remained so e...
10
1915Architecture
On September 27, 1915, a railroad car containing casing gas exploded, killing 43 people, injuring many, and destroying much of downtown, including areas rebuilt after the 1895 f...

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Historical Timeline

1873Infrastructure
Ardmore was named after the affluent Philadelphia suburb and historic Pennsylvania Railroad stop of Ardmore, Pennsylvania, which was named after Ardmore in County Waterford, Ire...
1887History
== History == Ardmore, Indian Territory, began with a plowed ditch for a Main Street in the summer of 1887 in Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation.
1893History
== Media == === Newspaper === The Daily Ardmoreite, local newspaper since 1893.
1895Disaster
A large fire in 1895 destroyed much of the fledgling town, which forced residents to rebuild nearly the entire town.
1905Economy
The Ardmore Traction Company was organized in the Fall of 1905.
1906Architecture
It had pretentions of building all the way to Springer, Oklahoma, about 7 miles, but had a much smaller system operational around town by January 1, 1906.
1908Architecture
In January 1908 it built an additional 3 miles to the company-owned Lorena Park.
1910Economy
But the company was in receivership by early 1910, when the system consisted of 4.7 miles of tracks in operation, 2 new single truck cars, 2 double truck cars, a convertible car...
1913Disaster
After its discovery in 1913, entrepreneurs and wildcatters flooded the area, and Carter County quickly became the largest oil-producing county in Oklahoma, and has remained so e...
1915Architecture
On September 27, 1915, a railroad car containing casing gas exploded, killing 43 people, injuring many, and destroying much of downtown, including areas rebuilt after the 1895 f...
1916Government
At some point it changed names to the Ardmore Electric Railway, and reorganizing again in 1916, ending up as the Ardmore Railway Company.
1918History
By August 1918, the system was down to 4 cars and 3.37 miles of track.
1920Military
World War I gave the system a brief boom, but by 1920 it was losing $100-$400/month.
1922History
Abandonment was requested and granted in 1922.
1923Sports
Ardmore captured league championships in 1923, 1925 and 1957.
1924Sports
Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Carl Hubbell played for the Ardmore Bearcats in 1924, his first professional season.
1930History
The tracks were removed in the 1930’s as a WPA project.
1947History
Ardmore was an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians (1947–1948), St.
1953History
Louis Cardinals (1953–1957) and Baltimore Orioles (1961).
1966History
On April 22, 1966, Ardmore was the site of the worst plane crash in Oklahoma history, which killed 83 people.
1973History
The movies Dillinger (1973) and Fast Charlie...
1979Culture
the Moonbeam Rider (1979) were partially filmed in Ardmore.
1982Culture
June 14, 1982), professional boxer Mark Gastineau, former All-Pro NFL defensive star for New York Jets, born in Ardmore in 1956 Sylvan Goldman, inventor of the shopping cart; bo...
1985Culture
Southern Oklahoma Rural Transportation System (SORTS) began operations in 1985, and offers full services to the four counties of Bryan, Carter, Coal and Love.
1995Disaster
On May 7, 1995, an F3 tornado struck Ardmore, killing three people and injuring six others.
2001Architecture
In 2001, East Jordan Iron Works opened a foundry located at the Ardmore Industrial Airpark.
2009Disaster
On February 10, 2009, an EF4 tornado destroyed several structures in and near the Majestic Hills neighborhood, just north of Ardmore.
2010History
=== 2010 census === As of the 2010 census, there were 24,283 people living in the city.
2020Architecture
On September 24, 2020, Oklahoma Blood Institute opened one of the largest blood donation facilities in the state in Oklahoma .
2025Architecture
Ardmore's major employers are Michelin North America, with 1,900 employees, who announced its plan to close the tire building portion of the plant in 2025, and Mercy Hospital Ar...

Did You Know?

1
Ardmore is located in the state of Oklahoma.
2
Ardmore has a population of 24,725 residents.
3
The population was 24,725 at the time of the 2020 census, a 1.8% increase over the 2010 census figure of 24,283.

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Famous People from Ardmore, Oklahoma

JH
Joel Hefley
Politician · Born Apr 18, 1935 · Age 90
RM
Rue McClanahan
Actress · Born Feb 21, 1934 · Died Jun 3, 2010 (age 76)
BP
Bill Brewster (American politician)
Politician · Born Nov 8, 1941 · Died Oct 3, 2022 (age 80)
CJ
Columbus Marion Joiner
Politician · Born Mar 12, 1860 · Died Mar 27, 1947 (age 87)
MM
Mazola McKerson
Politician · Born Jan 10, 1921 · Died Oct 18, 2014 (age 93)
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