Britton, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Britton, Oklahoma
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 Britton, Oklahoma
Location in Oklahoma
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Oklahoma |
| Elevation | 1,221 ft (372 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1090504 |
Britton was once a small town in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. In 1950, it became part of Oklahoma City. Today, it is known as a "populated place" by the government's GNIS.
Contents
The Story of Britton's Start
Britton was founded in 1889. It was named after Alexander Britton. He was a lawyer from Washington D.C. who worked for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.
The United States government required railroads to build stations every seven miles. This was part of the rules for building tracks through Oklahoma. Britton became the first station north of Oklahoma City.
A High Point on the Railroad
Britton is located about 1,220 feet above sea level. This made it the highest point on the Santa Fe Railroad. This high point was between Kansas City, Missouri, and Galveston, Texas.
Growing into a Community
In 1910, Britton became connected to Oklahoma City. This happened thanks to developers Anton H. Classen and John Wilford Shartel. They helped extend the Oklahoma Railway Company's Interurban line. This train line ran north to Guthrie.
Life in Early Britton
In its early years, Britton was a busy town. It had many businesses for its residents.
- Two movie theaters
- Gas stations
- A drug store
- A lumberyard
- Medical clinics
- Various retail shops
Before it joined Oklahoma City in 1950, Britton's main street was a popular shopping area. About 6,000 people lived there at the time.
Route 66 Through Britton
From 1936 to 1953, the famous Route 66 passed right through downtown Britton. This was a major road for travelers. People used it to drive through Oklahoma City on their way to Illinois and California.
One of Oklahoma City's oldest motels from the 1930s, the Owl Courts motel, is still standing. It was built in what used to be the town of Britton.
