Oklahoma State is known for its small, warm, and welcoming towns, one of which is Davis. This town has beautiful mountain views and a breathtaking waterfall that attracts many visitors all year round. The families of Davis date back to the early colonial era when the settlers chose this land as their final destination.
Geography
Davis is one of the strangely bordered towns. It is separated into two territories that have no connection to each other. The first part is the city itself and the second part is a couple of miles away. They are separated because the Turner Falls was purchased by the city and therefore owned two separate pieces of land connected by the US-77. The city covers an area of 11 square miles with an elevation of 846 feet above sea level. Major cities within driving distance from Davis are Oklahoma City, Dallas, and Tulsa.
The most significant landforms in Davis are Turner Falls, which the city operates, and the Arbuckle Mountains, which can be toured through an adventurous zip line. Like many cities in Oklahoma, Davis can have desert-like summers with very high temperatures. On the other hand, the winters are cold, with strong winds prevailing all season. The temperatures in the hot season can reach an average high of 94°F, with July being the hottest. However, temperatures in the winter drop drastically to an average of 33°F. Davis witnesses rainfalls and snowfall, with rain precipitation reaching its peak in May at 4.9 inches. The snowiest month is January, with an average of 1.4 inches.
Demographics
The population in Davis by the end of 2022 will be 2,953. This makes Davis the 119th largest city in the state out of 835 cities. Females constitute 5.25% of the population, while males form 49.75%. The White ethnicity is the largest community with 64.2%, followed by people of mixed races with 14.2%, American Indian Natives with 9%, African Americans with 4.37%, and Hispanics with 3.95%. Almost everyone is a citizen born inside the country except about 2%. The median age is 33.3 years, making the city full of a young community.
Economy
The city’s economy is responsible for employing more than 1,100 people. The most common jobs are in the sales, retail, and production industries. The industry with the largest number of employees is retail, followed by food services and manufacturing. Whole Trade is the highest paying industry, offering over $101,250 as an annual salary. The average household annual income is $46,774. This is less than the US average by more than $21,000. Tourism is a good contributor to the economy, especially since Turner Falls is an excellent attraction site for hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the country. The city is working on enhancing the economy through several commercial projects and by encouraging small to medium businesses.
History
Before 1898, the city was home to the Chickasaw Native Indian tribe. A couple of miles south of Davis, Samuel H. Davis, a business owner, maintained a drug store. After building another business, the Santa Fe depot, Samuel Davis started purchasing land with the permission of the US government and building several companies. Although it was still considered an Indian territory, travelers, locals from neighboring territories, and Indians visited the businesses he made. On November 16, 1898, the town was officially established, housing several homeowners that relied on the store Samuel Davis had built. Seventy-five businesses were constructed by 1900, including three law firms, three dentist offices, two banks, and cotton-producing farms. Cotton was the most common occupation in the town. Interstate 35 was built only 2 miles away from the town. The city continued to rely on agriculture until 2000 and was the main contributor to the economy. After that, several other industries started to grow, such as healthcare and education.
Top Touristic Sites
The town is home to the Oldest Park and the tallest waterfall in Oklahoma, the Turner Falls. It was purchased after the residents voted for it in 1925. It is 77 feet in height and pours into a natural swimming pool. The surrounding park includes RV sites, Sandy beaches, Campsites, cabins, and hiking trails. The park is perfect for people seeking outdoor getaways. Other outdoorsy areas include the Zip-line, a thrilling zip line ride along with the beautiful views of the city’s mountains and nature. Davis also contains the Arbuckle Wilderness Park, which offers a drive-through; this magnificent park has more than 200 species.
Downtown Davis is the main street that oozes with the city history of simpler times and is a must-visit by any tourist passing by the town. The Arbuckle Historical Society Museum is also a historical structure that reflects the early life of settlers and exhibits Native American artifacts dating back to the 1800s.
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