Jenks Oklahoma is a family-friendly city located just south of Tulsa. Known for its excellent schools and community events, Jenks offers residents a small-town atmosphere with easy access to the amenities of Tulsa. The city's Riverwalk Crossing features shopping, dining, and entertainment options for all ages.
Jenks likely developed as part of the Midland Valley Railroad having a weigh station. There are numerous stories as to how the town got its name from a Director of the Corporation that owned the railroad. Early settlers including the Perryman Family (freedmen - members of salve families) received land allotments and agriculture was a huge impact on their economy. Being located so closely to Glenpool also resulted in more growth for the area. In the early 1920s, a significantly sized Bulgarian settlement immigrated to Jenks and the town's population began to take off. Located off the Arkansas River proved to be both a blessing and a curse for the early settlement/ township. While it helped their development, the potential to flood was not under control. Toward the end of World War II, the levee was built to assist with this problem and is still used today. In 1908 Jenks Schools opened with four locations from which you could earn a diploma. And today, Jenks Public School District stands as the #1 school in Oklahoma, rated #1 also for athletes. The district has an overall grade of A per www.niche.com which assigns the A grade to Jenks for academics, teachers, clubs and activities, diversity, and College Prep. Their student-teacher ratio is 17:1. The district accommodates approximately 10,000 students from pre-K to high school. In the mid- 1980s, an Economic Development Coordinator was hired via a grant to recruit businesses to Jenks. The antique and collectible shops began appearing and Jenks has a reputation for antique shopping to this day. Some call it the Antique Capital of Oklahoma. By the 2000s the city continued to grow and develop the Arkansas River frontage. It is a pleasure to stroll along the Riverwalk Crossing and eat at the restaurants or shop at the retail stores there.Jenks remains incredibly accessible to Tulsa and surrounding areas via Highway 75, Creek Turnpike, and Highway 64. Jenks also has air service through the Riverside Airport and Richard Lloyd Jones Jr air service. Several lovely parks with playgrounds can be found in the area with cute boutiques for shopping. Maggie's Music Box provides an exciting live-music atmosphere to sit and enjoy a drink while making new friends. Several of Tulsa's more well-known musicians have played here through the years and new talent continues to stream in. Other family activities can include Jenks Planetarium or enjoying a round of golf on the South Lakes Golf Course. You can also stroll through Veterans Park or visit Barkwest Dog Park with your furry friends.