Ranch Acres Historic District, Tulsa facts for kids
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Ranch Acres Historic District
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Typical house in Ranch Acres Historic District. Courtesy W. R. Oswald, September 21, 2012
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| Location | Tulsa, Oklahoma |
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| Built | 1949-1962 |
| Architect | multiple |
| Architectural style | Ranch-style single family houses |
| NRHP reference No. | 07001268 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 12, 2007 |
| Designated HD | Residential housing |
Ranch Acres is a neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It became a special place called the Ranch Acres National Historic District in 2007. This area is a great example of a "ranch house" neighborhood. These types of homes became very popular after World War II.
The Ranch Acres neighborhood is located in Midtown Tulsa. It is bordered by 31st Street to the north and Harvard Avenue to the east. To the south, you'll find 41st Street. On the west side, it's bordered by both Delaware Avenue and Florence Avenue.
This historic district covers about 182 acres. Most of the houses were built between 1949 and 1962. There are 324 homes in the district. About 90 percent of them, or 291 houses, still look like they did when they were first built. This means they help tell the story of the neighborhood's history.
Ranch Acres was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on December 12, 2007. This is a list of places in the United States that are important to history.
Contents
Why Ranch Acres is Special
After World War II, many young people needed new homes. Before the war, houses were either very expensive mansions or simple, cheap homes. During the war, not many new houses were built.
When the war ended, there was a huge demand for homes. People wanted modern, comfortable places to live. Ranch Acres was built to meet this need. It offered attractive homes with lots of privacy and new features.
How Ranch Acres Started
After World War II, a real estate investor named Ben Kirkpatrick had an idea. He suggested that a developer named I. A. Jacobson buy a large piece of land. This land was at 31st Street and Harvard Avenue. It was considered "way out in the country" back then.
Ranch-style houses were becoming popular in places like Arizona and California. These homes were different from the smaller, more basic houses built right after the war. Part of the land for Ranch Acres used to be a recreation area. It was used for hunting and horseback riding by Charles Page, who founded the Sand Springs Home.
In 1949, Kirkpatrick bought the land from the Sand Springs Home. He then sold it to Jacobson.
Designing the Neighborhood
Jacobson hired an engineering company called Owen and Mansur. They helped plan how the streets and lots would be laid out. He also hired Mack Hallum as the builder and architect.
They developed Ranch Acres in four main parts. Each part had its own plan, which was officially recorded in 1949, 1951, 1953, and 1956.
A small creek called Little Joe Creek ran through the property. This creek helped many native pecan trees grow there. These trees gave the area a beautiful, park-like feel.
Instead of straight, grid-like streets, the engineers designed curving roads. They also made the lots larger than usual. This helped them use the natural hills and existing trees to make the neighborhood look nice.
Homes in Ranch Acres
The houses in Ranch Acres were quite expensive for their time. In 1954, they cost between $25,000 and $100,000. Jacobson wanted to sell these homes to professionals and business people. These were often people who had moved to Tulsa for jobs in the oil and defense industries. They could afford to pay more for a high-quality home.
Most of the houses built during the main period (1949-1962) were one-story homes. They had low or medium-sloped roofs. The outside walls were made of brick, local stone, or wood siding. Many originally had cedar shake roofs, but most of these have been changed to asphalt shingles over time.
All the houses in Ranch Acres had garages. Most of them were built with garages big enough for two or three cars.
