Prattville, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Prattville
|
|
|---|---|
 Prattville
Location in Oklahoma
Prattville
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Tulsa |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
Prattville is a community located in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. It sits about 10 miles west of Tulsa, right on the south side of the Arkansas River. You can find it along SH-97. Even though it's called Prattville, the people living here are actually citizens of Sand Springs.
Contents
History of Prattville
In 1945, the area known as "old Prattville" had only about four houses and two small grocery stores. This part was originally called Garden Heights. Later, more homes and another grocery store were built on the west side of Highway 97. This new area became the main part of what was then called Prattville.
In October 1962, the Prattville community became part of Sand Springs. This area covered 752 acres that used to belong to a person named Harry Pratt. Prattville grew a lot after the 41st Street bridge opened and the Keystone Dam was built. Many people from Tulsa also started moving into the area.
Some industries used to operate near the Highway 97 bridge by the river, in a place called Lotsee. Other nearby communities include Prettywater, Keystone, Berryhill, and Limestone. Students living in Prattville attend Charles Page High School in Sand Springs. However, Prattville does have Clyde Boyd Middle School and several elementary schools. Most businesses in Prattville are retail stores located along State Highway 97.
Community Facilities
Prattville has important facilities that serve its residents. These include a fire station and a library, which have both grown over the years to meet the community's needs.
Prattville Fire Station
The Sand Springs' second fire station was built around 1970. Its main job is to protect the southern part of Sand Springs, which used to be known as "Prattville." This station helps keep the community safe.
Prattville Library
The Tulsa City-County Library System opened the first Prattville branch on March 23, 1963. This library was quite small, located in a trailer-mobile home structure. It was meant to hold 5,000 books but often had 7,500!
Early Days of the Library
For 13 years, the library was open 21 hours a week. People in Prattville checked out between 3,500 and 5,000 items every month. Storytimes and other events were very popular, but the space was often too crowded. Sometimes, programs had to be held outside if the weather was good.
In 1974, a small fire caused some damage to the library. Staff and volunteers worked hard to clean every book so the library could open again. This showed how much the community cared about their library.
A New, Bigger Library
As the community grew, more students needed library resources. It became clear that a larger building was needed. In February 1976, a new, much bigger library opened. It was named the Harry Pratt Library. This new building was brick and glass, with a fun red, white, and blue design. It had a meeting room that could hold 50 people.
The new library could hold 15,000 books, which was twice as many as the old trailer. To help move the books, librarians asked people to check out many paperbacks from the old library and return them to the new one. This was a creative way to transfer books!
Growing Even More
The library continued to grow and serve the community. In May 1991, the Pratt Library closed for a big renovation. It became even larger, almost doubling in size. The community meeting room was made bigger to hold 75 people. More space was added for books, allowing for 28,000 items.
The library also got a new lobby, a new workroom for staff, and an expanded parking lot. The inside of the library was redecorated with a calm teal color. After this upgrade, the number of items checked out each month rose to about 11,000. Many different groups also started using the meeting room.
Fun Programs at the Library
A special group at the Pratt Library was the Junior Friends of the Library. This group was made up of elementary school students who met once a month for fun activities with books and projects. Today, the Pratt Library still offers many programs for all ages.
These programs include book discussions, storytimes for young children, computer classes, and workshops for teens. The library also reaches out to local daycares and after-school programs. This helps make sure everyone in the community can use the library's services.
