Sapulpa Oklahoma is a historic city located just west of Tulsa. Known for its charming downtown area and community events, Sapulpa offers residents a variety of cultural and recreational opportunities. The city is also home to several parks and lakes, providing ample opportunities for outdoor recreation.
Sapulpa sits on Interstate 44 just 12 miles southwest of Tulsa. Its name comes from Chief James Sapulpa, a full-blood Lower Creek from Alabama who established a trading post nearby. The railroad extended its line from Red Fork through Sapulpa and the township was known for being friendly to the workers. Rapidly seeing growth from railroad and natural resources such as oil and gas, glass, and agriculture/manufacturing, the town began to establish itself more and more. That increase during the 'oil boom' was double its original size. By the 1920s employment was mainly found at one of four glass plants or the cotton compress. Sapulpa overcame competition from Bristow to be the county seat for Creek County via a court battle where the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled in the town's favor. The Sapulpa Courthouse, built in 1914, stands to this day and is registered in the National Register of Historic Places. Just over 100 years later, the town boasts a population of over 21,000 residents whose jobs primarily are found in oil and gas industries and affiliated industries, as well as clay, glass, and construction as well as retail. For those who call Sapulpa home, enjoyment can be found in Liberty Park, a new $600,000 playground, as well as at Sahoma Lake where fishing opportunities abound. Also, Pretty Water Lake is open for fishing on the large spring-fed 25-acre water source. The Parks and Recreation Department has 16 sites noted as available to the public with multiple trail systems. They have taken great strides to re-vitalize their downtown area for businesses and represent the Historic Route 66 with the Heart of Route 6 Auto Museum. The Sapulpa School District ranks as the 36th most diverse school district in Oklahoma and is graded with an overall grade of B due to its diversity, emphasis on college prep teachers, and academics on www.niche.com. Their student-teacher ratio is 16:1. Niche also ranks them as the 14th best suburb in Oklahoma with the lowest cost of living and the 25th best suburb to live in Oklahoma. If you're looking for a quiet, small town with a welcoming feel, interesting history, and easy access to the big city amenities, Sapulpa is the place to be.