Enid, 1893-1945

Enid is the eighth-largest city in Oklahoma and the largest city in northwest Oklahoma. Its origins can be traced to September 16, 1893, the day of the Cherokee Outlet Land Run, when more than 100,000 people raced for six million acres of land. The town quickly grew as inhabitants came to Enid to register claims at the land office. As the seat of Garfield County, Enid was the hub for numerous railroads, including the Rock Island, Santa Fe, and Frisco lines. It was already a prosperous town when in 1916 the Garber-Covington oil field was discovered east of town, guaranteeing that the area would become a center of petroleum production. The community has nurtured interesting people, such as Marquis James, a writer who won two Pulitzer Prizes, and H.H. Champlin, founder of the Champlin Refining Company. Enid: 1893-1945 features these residents' stories and many others that made the period Enid's first golden age.