Davenport, Oklahoma – Still Kickin’ on Route 66
Nestled approximately seven miles southwest of Stroud, Oklahoma, along the celebrated path of old Route 66, lies the charming town of Davenport. This small community, steeped in history, traces its origins back to the second great land run of 1891, a pivotal moment in Oklahoma’s settlement. According to the 2020 census, Davenport is home to 809 residents and occupies a compact area of just 0.8 square miles, entirely composed of land. The town may be small in size, but its historical significance and enduring spirit make it a noteworthy stop along the Mother Road.
The land encompassing the future townsite of Davenport, situated within Lincoln County, was officially opened to non-Native American settlers on September 22, 1891, during the Sac and Fox Opening. That same year, the nascent community established a stagecoach stop, a vital link in the transportation network of the era. Among the very first families to settle in this area were Noah and Annie Sutton Davenport. Their daughter, Nettie, played a crucial role in the town’s early development, becoming the first postmistress when the post office was established on March 29, 1892. In recognition of their contributions, the town was named in honor of the Davenport family, forever etching their legacy into the history of this Oklahoma settlement.
The 1890s marked a period of significant growth and development for Davenport, as various businesses began to take root in the burgeoning community. These early enterprises included several cotton gins, essential for processing the region’s agricultural output, a grist mill for grinding grain, a sawmill for lumber production, a blacksmith shop for metalworking and repairs, and a general store to supply the needs of the local population. In 1898, the St. Louis and Oklahoma City Railroad, later known as the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway, arrived in Davenport, connecting the agricultural trade center to broader markets and facilitating the transport of goods and produce.
As the town continued to evolve, a man named Cleason Robertson took the initiative to lay out 40 acres of his homestead for a townsite, officially filing a plat in 1900. However, fate had other plans for Davenport. Just a year later, the Eastern Oklahoma Railway, later incorporated into the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad system, conducted surveys for a new rail line that would intersect the existing St. Louis and Oklahoma City Railroad. This intersection proved to be a catalyst for growth, and the town ultimately developed at this strategic location, solidifying its importance as a transportation hub.
In 1903, a group of ambitious "home seekers," led by a collective of Methodist ministers from Kentucky, formed a corporation with the grand title of "Kentucky, Oklahoma, Indian Territory and Adjacent States Land and Townsite Co." The company embarked on a campaign to promote Davenport as an ideal retirement destination for Methodist ministers, selling stock throughout Kentucky. They envisioned a community where ministers could purchase lots or acreage surrounding the town and enjoy a peaceful retirement. While successful in attracting Methodist ministers, the company also garnered interest from other investors who were not affiliated with the Methodist church. As a result, the company’s mission broadened to encompass the overall promotion and development of Davenport, attracting a diverse range of residents and businesses. The townsite company sold an impressive 300 lots, leading to an increase in the number of banks and hotels, further solidifying Davenport‘s position as a growing town.
The town’s population continued to swell, and on May 5, 1904, the first newspaper, the Davenport Leader, was published by W. H. Bonner, marking an important milestone in the town’s development and communication. Davenport was officially incorporated as a town in 1906. The following year, in 1907, when Oklahoma achieved statehood, Davenport boasted a population of 512 residents. At that time, the town featured two blocks of brick buildings lining Broadway Street, showcasing its progress and prosperity. Davenport was also home to two banks, two cotton gins, two lumber companies, seven general/dry goods stores, four churches, a newspaper, and a telephone exchange, reflecting the diverse needs and activities of its residents.
An article published in the Davenport newspaper, then known as The New Era, in June 1910, highlighted the town’s many advantages and promising future:
"Davenport is situated in a thickly settled community and is surrounded by the richest farming land in Oklahoma, which is adapted to the raising of wheat, oats, corn, kafir corn, milo maize, cotton, potatoes, alfalfa and all other kinds of grasses. All kinds of fruit and vegetables do well here. Fine soft water at from 20 to 50 feet. Davenport is within the oil and gas district and is surrounded by extensive deposits of the finest brick and tile shale. One brick plant of a large capacity is now being erected, and capitalists are contemplating the installation of several more.
Davenport has an abundance of natural gas for heating, lighting, and all factory purposes, as the main natural gas pipeline, from Tulsa to Oklahoma City and Shawnee, passes through the townsite. With such advantages, Davenport should be and is bound to be the best manufacturing town in the state.
Although a new town, Davenport is growing rapidly and already has three cotton gins that can hardly handle the business one grist mill, one canning factory, two banks, three hotels, a fine telephone system, two drug stores, two livery barns, two blacksmith and repair shops, one large lumber yard, four general stores, pool hall, restaurants, sanitarium, two barber shops, two railroad depots, four churches of different denominations and a fine graded school employing four teachers, one newspaper, The New Era."
In 1911, the Davenport Brick and Tile Company established a plant just south of town, adjacent to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad tracks. This plant would produce the vitrified bricks that were used to pave a one-mile stretch of streets in Davenport. Today, approximately six blocks of these original brick streets remain and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, serving as a tangible reminder of the town’s rich history and craftsmanship. Around the same time, Davenport‘s town leaders launched a campaign to secure the routing of a branch of the Ozark Trail Highway through the city. Their efforts proved successful, and the Ozark Trail was officially designated in 1916. During the following decade, merchants in Davenport, Stroud, and Chandler benefited from the increased traffic and publicity generated by the ongoing development of the Ozark Trail. In 1924, the trail was re-designated as State Highway 7, and just two years later, in 1926, it became part of the iconic Route 66.
During this period, the Davenport Canning Factory emerged as a significant local employer, providing jobs for approximately 30 individuals across two shifts. Local farmers supplied the factory with a variety of produce, including tomatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, peas, apples, and peaches, contributing to the local economy and fostering a sense of community. In 1924, Davenport experienced another surge in activity with the discovery of oil, further boosting its economy and attracting new residents. Despite these developments, Davenport managed to maintain its character as a quiet and close-knit community. The oil boom led to a substantial increase in the town’s population, rising from 440 in 1920 to a peak of 1,072 in 1930.
In 1926, in response to the growing volume of traffic passing through the town, the streets were paved with vitrified bricks supplied by the Davenport Brick and Tile Company. These brick streets, a testament to the town’s history and craftsmanship, are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Unfortunately, the Davenport Brick and Tile Company ceased operations in 1930, marking the end of an era for the town. That same year, the town’s population reached its highest point at 1,072 residents.
During the 1930s, Davenport was home to six gas and oil companies and three cotton gins, reflecting the town’s continued reliance on these industries. However, after 1930, the population began a slow decline. The federal census recorded 975 inhabitants in 1940, 841 in 1950, 913 in 1960, 831 in 1970, 974 in 1980, and 979 in 1990.
Today, the largest local employer in Davenport is Central Oklahoma Telephone Co., an independent telecommunications firm headquartered in Davenport that provides phone and Internet services to seven other towns in the area. Many residents commute daily to jobs in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, seeking employment opportunities in larger metropolitan areas.
Davenport offers a number of historical sites that offer glimpses into the town’s past. The Jessamine Hotel on Broadway, constructed of concrete blocks made by the Davenport Concrete Block Factory in 1906-07 to resemble rough-cut stone, is a notable example of early 20th-century architecture. The Tipton home on the east edge of town, built in the late 1920s, serves as a reminder of the oil boom era. Two large murals on historic downtown buildings depict nine scenes reproduced by professional artists from early photographs. The 1891 Land Run scene from Harper’s Weekly is the tallest mural on Route 66, soaring 32 feet high on the south side of the 1905 Farmers Bank Building. Other scenes depict Nettie Davenport, the town’s first postmaster and namesake, her log cabin post office, oil boom scenes, cotton fields, and business views.
The Davenport Broadway Brick Street, comprising six blocks of brick roadway, is another significant historical feature. Created in 1926 using bricks of various colors, the original brick paving extended for a mile. Old photographs are on display in City Hall, along with an original painting by Nettie Davenport. Central Oklahoma Telephone Co., the local independent phone provider in business since 1904, showcases its original switchboard and old phones. On the Route 66 curve in Davenport, one of the few remaining original wooden frame "cottage style" filling stations built by Magnolia (later Mobil) Oil Co. around 1929 stands at 8th and Broadway. The restored 1933 Texaco filling station can be seen at 7th and Broadway. The Davenport Cemetery on Route 66 features a beautiful native stone chapel, a notable example of Works Progress Administration (WPA) craftsmanship.
More Information:
Davenport Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 66
Davenport, Oklahoma 74026
918-377-2241