Pawhuska, Oklahoma facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pawhuska, Oklahoma 𐓄𐓘𐓢𐓶𐓮𐓤𐓘 hpahúska
City
Historic Downtown Pawhuska (2005)
Location within Oklahoma
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
County	Osage
Founded	1872 (Deep Ford)
Named for	Paw-Hiu-Skah
Area
• Total	3.71 sq mi (9.61 km2)
• Land	3.69 sq mi (9.57 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.04 km2)
Elevation	820 ft (250 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,984
• Density	804.3/sq mi (310.51/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	74056
Area code	539/918
FIPS code	40-57600
GNIS ID	2411388

Pawhuska is a city in Osage County, Oklahoma, United States. It is also the county seat, meaning it is where the local government is based. The city's name comes from the 19th-century Osage chief, Paw-Hiu-Skah, which means "White Hair" in English.

In 2020, about 2,984 people lived in Pawhuska. The Osage Nation, a Native American tribe, has its main government offices in Pawhuska. They first opened offices here in 1872 when their reservation was created in what was then called Indian Territory.

History of Pawhuska

How Pawhuska Started

The town of Pawhuska began in 1872. It was first known as Deep Ford. This was when the Osage Nation was given a reservation in Indian Territory. The Osage Indian Agency, which helped manage tribal affairs, was set up near Bird Creek. One of the three main groups of the Osage tribe settled in this area.

Traders soon followed, building stores in 1872 and 1873. Pawhuska's first newspaper, the Indian Herald, started in 1875. It was founded by George Edward Tinker, an Osage man. His son, Clarence L. Tinker, later became the highest-ranking Native American officer in the U.S. Army. The town's first post office opened in 1876.

Growth and the Oil Boom

The Midland Valley Railroad reached Pawhuska in September 1905. By 1907, when Oklahoma became a state, the town had 2,407 people.

A special event happened in May 1909. The first Boy Scout troop in America is said to have been started in Pawhuska. A missionary priest from England, John F. Mitchell, organized it. In 2009, the Pawhuska Boy Scout troop celebrated its 100th birthday with a big gathering. Over 300 Scouts from across the U.S. attended.

During the Osage oil boom in the 1910s and 1920s, Pawhuska became very important. Huge public auctions for oil and gas leases were held here. These auctions took place under a famous tree called the “Million Dollar Elm”. The town's population grew to 6,414 by 1920. Another railroad, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, extended its line to Pawhuska in 1923.

After the oil boom slowed down and the Great Depression began, the population of Pawhuska started to decrease. This decline has continued over the years.

Geography and Location

Pawhuska is located about 57 miles (92 km) northwest of Tulsa. The city covers an area of about 3.8 square miles (9.8 km2), and it is all land. The area is known for its natural beauty. The Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, a large protected area of tallgrass prairie, is just north of the town.

Population and People

The Bureau of Indian Affairs' Osage Agency building in Pawhuska, next to the Osage Nation Campus (2022)

Pawhuska is part of the Tulsa metropolitan area.

The city's population was 3,589 in 2010. This was a small decrease from 3,629 people in 2000.

In 2000, there were 3,629 people living in Pawhuska. About 25% of the people were Native American. Many families lived in the city, with about 29.5% of households having children under 18. The average age of people in Pawhuska was 39 years old.

Economy and Local Businesses

Besides nearby cattle ranches, Pawhuska's economy used to include a brick plant, a creamery (for dairy products), an ice factory, and a rock crusher. The Osage Nation has also opened a gaming casino in the city. This helps create jobs and brings money to the tribe.

In 2016, a famous blogger and TV personality named Ree Drummond opened a store and restaurant called The Mercantile on Main Street. She has a TV show called The Pioneer Woman on The Food Network. Her restaurant became very popular, serving up to 6,000 people each day by 2018.

Ree Drummond also runs a small hotel called The PW Boarding House. Visitors can also take tours of her cooking lodge on Drummond Ranch, where her TV show is filmed.

Education in Pawhuska

Pawhuska has its own public school system, Pawhuska Public Schools, which includes Pawhuska High School.

There is also a special private school called Daposka Ahnkodapi Elementary School. This school teaches students from preschool to 7th grade using the Osage language. It opened in 2015 and became officially recognized in 2021.

Oklahoma State University has an office near Pawhuska that helps with local education and community programs.

Media and News

Pawhuska has two local radio stations:

• KPGM Radio 1500 AM: This station provides local news in the mornings and then plays sports radio.
• KOSG 103.9 FM: This station plays Southern Gospel music.

The local newspaper is called the Pawhuska Journal-Capital. It was formed in 1925 when two older newspapers, The Capital and The Journal, joined together.

Transportation Around Pawhuska

Pawhuska is connected by one U.S. Highway and two state highways.

• US-60: This highway goes east and west through Pawhuska.
• SH-11: This highway also runs mostly east and west through the city.
• SH-99: This highway goes north and south. It runs along the east side of Pawhuska and then goes south through the city.

Pawhuska also has a small airport called Pawhuska Municipal Airport. It has one paved runway and opened in September 1945.

Notable People from Pawhuska

Images for kids

• 

  Historic Downtown Pawhuska (2005)

• 

  Location within Oklahoma

See also

In Spanish: Pawhuska (Oklahoma) para niños