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History

In 1926, the development of Nicoma Park as a poultry colony began. At the end of 1928 there were 96 residences developed, complete with poultry production facilities. The community and poultry industry flourished for several years, and the activity in and around Nicoma Park was like a whirlwind. The Nicoma Park Cooperative building was built to process, package and ship the eggs as far east as New York and west to California. Several feed stores did a thriving business as the industry continued growing and the area around the town began to develop.

In the 1930's the poultry industry met a disaster as a California wholesaler shipped a truck load of diseased chickens to the community and seemingly overnight, the disease had spread throughout the town, destroying the poultry industry and crushing the hopes and dreams of the colonists. The industry never recovered as the colonists had put their life's savings into their business and the Great Depression had not dissipated enough to allow them a quick recovery.

The town began to flourish again in the 1940's as construction of Tinker Air Force Base began, providing employment for hundreds of residents. Chicken houses were remodeled into apartments to make up for the lack of housing. Two of these "chicken house" apartments are still in use today. A large number of the 96 original homes are still around town and several chicken houses are still in use as storage units, garages or other uses.

In 1959, the community was incorporated as the Town of Nicoma Park, with Verle Davidson elected as the first Chairman of the Trustees. The Town was later chartered as the City of Nicoma Park with a Strong Mayor/Council form of government.

In 1960, work began on the Westminster Shopping Center (the first shopping center in Eastern Oklahoma County). When the shopping center opened it housed the world's largest Western Auto Store along with C.R. Anthony, TG&Y, Westminster Drug, and Red Bud Food Store.

Nicoma Park continued to develop throughout the 60s with the addition of Park State Bank and many other businesses.

The first city government building was located at 11600 N.E. 23rd Street . It encompassed the operations of all city departments. In 1975 the Police Department, Municipal Court, and City Hall moved to a new location at 2301 Nichols Drive while the Fire Department remained in the original building. In 1976 the City of Nicoma Park obtained its park at 16000 Hiwassee, adding to the community a new recreational area.

In the early 1980s the Fire Station expanded to include 4 new bays in order to meet the City's growing needs. This final addition brought the Fire Station to the square footage as it stands today. Later, in 1986, the Fire Department decreased its insurance rating from level 8 to that of level 6, a status it has maintained to date.

In 1987 a sewer program was planned for Nicoma Park. The sewer system came into operation in the early 1990s and has continued to be developed in the decade since to include the three lift stations in use today.

The City of Nicoma Park purchased two buildings that were combined at 2220 and 2240 Overholser Drive. The Community Center, operated by the city, and the Library, operated by the Metropolitan Library System, opened at this location in 1995. In 2003 the Community Center moved to its new larger location at 2221 Nichols Drive while the Library remained and expanded in the original building.

Today Nicoma Park is quite a community with many public facilities and businesses within its bounds to serve its residents. Many more cultural, educational, and recreational places of interest are just a short drive away in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As sure as eggs is eggs, a trip to our small city will show you why our style of quiet country living rules the roost.

City of Nicoma Park Incorporated Aug. 18, 1959
Became Charter City May 24, 1972

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