West Tulsa

Settlements on the west side of the Arkansas River grew after completion of the railroad bridge in 1883. Following the Red Fork oil strike in 1901, many people moved to the area, and it was annexed into Tulsa in September 1907. Along with those working directly in oil, others came to provide the supporting services needed by the new community. The vehicular bridge across the Arkansas River aligned with S. Quanah Avenue, now Southwest Boulevard, one block west of Phoenix Avenue, which early residents expected to become the town center. Quanah Avenue and West 17th Street became West Tulsa's commercial core, where general stores, grocers, drug stores, hotels, rooming houses, movie theaters, and bars served residents and visitors. Quanah Avenue was renamed Southwest Boulevard in 1957. During the mid-1930s, in keeping with Route 66 traffic, the 1600 block of S. Quanah Avenue, or Southwest Boulevard, catered to motorists with auto repair shops, used car and auto salvage businesses, filling stations, restaurants, a laundry, and the headquarters of the West Tulsa News. The 1700 block held the mix of businesses typical of a small-town commercial center, including barber shops, cleaners, drug stores, lodge halls, two movie theaters, and two billiard halls.

Tulsa, Oklahoma · United States