One of the most famous visitors to Elk City was Jimmy Carter, the former U.S. President, who visited the city twice, once when he was a Democratic candidate for president, and a second time when he had been elected. Years later, in August 2009, Carter said that Elk City was the best place he had ever visited as president for town hall meetings, which isn't bad considering he visited about 50.
The city itself is found in Beckham County, Oklahoma, and started off as a largely rural community before developing quickly and becoming a boomtown as the population quickly increased. In fact, back in the early 20th century, the city was a major commercial and transportation hub, and was one of the largest and most important cities in Oklahoma. Now the population of Elk City stands at 11,693, spread across an area of about 16 square miles. The city is relatively isolated on the Oklahoma plains, with only the small towns of Clinton, Sayre, and New Cordell within easy traveling distance. The closest major city is Oklahoma City, which is roughly 100 miles to the east along Interstate 40 and Route 66. The climate in Elk City is designated as humid subtropical, with hot summers that are usually much wetter than the cool, dry winters that follow.
Moving to Elk City
There are a few things to consider if you want to move to Elk City, not least what sort of housing is available, when to move, price, and what the actual process of securing a property is.
The Housing Market
Everyone has their own specific needs when they start looking for a new place to live. Elk City has a good proportion of renter occupied property, and with a vacancy rate that is above the national average, it shouldn't be too hard to track down plenty of properties that are available for rent. Rental properties will most commonly be in the form of detached homes, most commonly with 3 or more bedrooms. If you're looking for a rental apt or a condo for rent, then your best bet will be to search fairly centrally, where you'll be more likely to find apartment blocks and complexes.
Moving Considerations
Price will be of high importance for most, and it's important to note that rental prices in Elk City are higher than most towns and cities in Oklahoma, although they are generally cheaper than the national average. If you want to save money, try to search at the beginning of the year when the rental market is in its 'low' season.
Signing Your Contract
Before you sign on the dotted line, you'll be subject to reference checks, credit checks, and so on. If you have a good rental history and have regular paid work then you should be fine. Basically, it's important that you can prove that you'll be able to cover your rent each month and that, well, you don't have a shady past that might make you unreliable. Assuming this is all OK, the process of searching for a property to actually moving in should be fairly seamless.
Neighborhoods in Elk City
Most people in Elk City work in and around the local area, so it's not a big commuter haven. With so few larger urban areas in the region, there really isn't anywhere to commute to anyway. When it comes to finding a place to live, you might want to look for somewhere close to your place of work. There are only two neighborhoods to choose from, however, so you'll end up living in one or the other.
City Center: This neighborhood cuts through half the city and spreads out beyond, so you've got a good mix of apartments and larger places to live in Elk City if you search outside of the downtown area. To the south you'll find Lake Elk City and Elk City Golf & Country Club.
Merritt: In the west of the city, here you'll find that the main attraction is the National Route 66 Museum, which drags in thousands of people per year as they cruise along the historic route. Old Town Museum is also right next door.
Living in Elk City
Elk City is very much the epitome of Oklahoma and as such offers all the traditional outdoor values that you'd expect to find there. There are plenty of parks to enjoy within the city limits, and beyond you can expect to find wide plains and ranches, hunting, fishing, and horse riding, among a great deal more. In the city center, people enjoy the five museums on offer, from the Route 66 Museum to the Farm and Ranch Museum and Blacksmith Museum, all of which give a great deal of insight into Elk City's great heritage and history.
There are plenty of events held throughout the year that both residents and tourists enjoy, such as the PRCA Rodeo of Champions on Labor Day weekend and the Fall Festival during September. And, of course, Christmas time brings its own wonders, with Elk City offering up the best lights show in southwest Oklahoma. The downtown area is also home to great shopping and dining, with restaurants like Billy Sims BBQ, G's Garden Restaurant and Western Sizzlin all offering the sort of hearty food you'd expect to find in Oklahoma. And, when you feel like leaving the city for work or pleasure, you'll have the luxury of hopping straight onto Route 66, which cuts straight through the town.
