Kay County, Oklahoma

49 topographic sheets and 50 fire insurance atlases across 8 places.

Research this county

From the record

60 National Register listings published here, 2 of them National Historic Landmarks.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Oklahoma within the United States

Kay County within Oklahoma

What the record shows

8 places in this county were surveyed for fire insurance: Ponca City, Blackwell, Newkirk, Kildare, Tonkawa, Kaw, Braman, Cross, between 1894 and 1948.
50 fire insurance atlases survive for the county. Topographic coverage is national; fire insurance survey reached only incorporated places with something worth insuring.
294 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
60 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 50 buildings, 7 districts, 1 structure, 1 object and 1 site.
7 of the 60 listings were added during the 1970s.
The Geographic Names Information System records 26 populated places in this county; 26 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Photographs

2 photographs,

Taken for the Office of War Information and the Farm Security Administration, who photographed the country between 1935 and 1944. Works of United States government photographers, with no known restriction on use. Each opens its catalogue record.

E.W. Marland Mansion Estate, 901 Monument Road, Ponca City, Kay County, OK
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress

101 Ranch, State Highway 156 between Ponca City & Marland, Ponca City, Kay County, OK
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress

Places on the National Register

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Property	Type	Listed	Reference
101 Rodeo Arena	building	2017	100001865
Alcorn-Pickrel House	building	2020	100005564
Attucks Community Center	building	2017	100001866
Bennie L. Aupperle Dairy Barn	building	2012	12001038
Big V Ranch House	building	1984	84003068
Blackwell Armory	building	1988	88001366
Blaine Stadium and Fieldhouse	structure	1988	88001364
Chilocco Indian Agricultural School	district	2006	06000792
John and Helen Cleary House	building	2023	100008768
Clem and Cliff Filling Station	building	2022	100006622
Darr School of Aeronautics Hangar No. 3	building	2006	06000794
Daniel J. Donahoe House	building	1982	82003686
Downtown Ponca City Historic District	district	2011	10001010
Electric Park Pavilion	building	1976	76001563
First Church of Christ, Scientist	building	2015	15000063
First Presbyterian Church	building	2019	100004169
First Presbyterian Church of Tonkawa	building	1994	94001081
Meade and Eudora Gill House	building	2023	100008769
Henry C. Hatashita House	building	2016	16000848
Hayes-Kennedy-Rivoli Theater Building	building	2015	15000327
Huston Elementary School	building	2009	09000073
Kaw City Depot	building	1979	79001996
Kaw Indian Agency	building	1973	73001562
Kay County Courthouse	building	1984	84003070
Kimbrough Temple C.M.E. Church	building	2020	100005555
Lake Ponca Duck Pond Historic District	district	2015	15000872
Larkin Hotel	building	2013	13000940
Mahoney House and Garage	building	1984	84003074
Marland Estate, Inc. Gatehouse	building	2020	100004171
Marland Mansion	building	1973	73001561
Charlotte Marland House	building	2019	100004168
Marland-Paris House	building	1976	76001565
James J. McGraw House	building	2017	100001867
George and Margaret Miller House	building	2021	100006625
Newkirk Central Business District	district	1984	84003079
Newkirk Water Purification Plant	building	1988	88001365
Nickles Machine Shop	building	2020	100005556
Northside Elementary School	building	2009	09000074
One-hundred-and-one Ranch	district	1973	73001560
Parkside Elementary School	building	2009	09000075
Pioneer Woman Statue	object	1978	78002238
Ponca City Coca-Cola Bottling Company	building	2022	100007541
Ponca City Milling Company Elevator	building	2019	100004172
Ponca City Municipal Airport Hangar	building	2019	100004173
Ponca City Power Plant	building	2019	100004174
Poncan Theatre	building	1984	84000455
Dr. William A.T. and Lillian Robertson House	building	2023	100009664
Roosevelt Elementary School	building	2017	100001868
Santa Fe Depot	building	2012	12000113
Sheets House	building	2011	11000639
Soldani Mansion	building	1982	82003687
St. John Baptist Church and Rectory	building	2015	15000064
Temple Emanuel	building	2019	100004175
J.P. Tipton Farmstead	district	1998	98000073
Tonkawa Armory	building	1988	88001363
Tonkawa Lodge No. 157 A.F. & A.M.	building	2007	07000910
WBBZ Radio Station	building	2022	100007542
Washington Elementary School	building	2009	09000076
Wentz Camp	district	2010	10000620
White Eagle Park	site	2007	07000522

The county from the air

31 shown

Flown by the U.S. Geological Survey between 1937 and 1989, the Aerial Photo Single Frames collection is the definitive mid-century view of the land: fields, roads and rivers as the camera saw them. The Survey holds 727 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 31 frames below were taken over the county itself, chosen across the decades of flights (at most four a year from that rectangle), so one flight cannot crowd out the rest. The full set is free to browse and download at EarthExplorer under the dataset Aerial Photo Single Frames.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-04-06, scale 1:64600 — 1954-04-06, scale 1:64600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1963-02-12, scale 1:18000 — 1963-02-12, scale 1:18000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-08-05, scale 1:20118 — 1973-08-05, scale 1:20118. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-08-05, scale 1:19927 — 1973-08-05, scale 1:19927. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1974-04-13, scale 1:80000 — 1974-04-13, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1977-07-14, scale 1:126382 — 1977-07-14, scale 1:126382. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1977-07-14, scale 1:126025 — 1977-07-14, scale 1:126025. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1993-08-14, scale 1:64000 — 1993-08-14, scale 1:64000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1998-06-26, scale 1:66000 — 1998-06-26, scale 1:66000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1999-07-19, scale 1:66000 — 1999-07-19, scale 1:66000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1999-07-19, scale 1:65000 — 1999-07-19, scale 1:65000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

Weather records

21 stations, 3 gages

The thermometers that kept this county's weather, and the gages that measured the flow of its streams, as the federal records hold them. The extremes below are measured values from those records, not estimates.

PONCA CITY 1893 to 2014, hottest 46.7 C, coldest -23.9 C
NEWKIRK 5NE 1898 to 2026, hottest 166.1 C, coldest -30.0 C
WHITEAGLE 1904 to 1918, hottest 43.9 C, coldest -31.7 C
BLACKWELL 1 W 1916 to 1974, hottest 46.7 C, coldest -28.9 C
PONCA CITY MUNI AP 1948 to 2026, hottest 46.7 C, coldest -31.7 C
BLACKWELL 1SSW 1953 to 2026, hottest 45.6 C, coldest -28.9 C
HARDY 2SSW 1995 to 2026
PONCA CITY 1.9 NE 1998 to 2026
BRAMAN 2001 to 2021
LAMONT 5.7 ENE 2006 to 2018
TONKAWA 0.4 SSW 2006 to 2019
BLACKWELL 0.9 SSE 2008 to 2015
NEWKIRK 0.3 W 2008 to 2026
BLACKWELL 0.3 NE 2008 to 2009
BLACKWELL 4SSE MESONET 2009 to 2026, hottest 44.4 C, coldest -32.8 C
NEWKIRK 8E MESONET 2009 to 2026, hottest 43.3 C, coldest -26.7 C
PONCA CITY 1.6 SW 2012 to 2018
PONCA CITY 5.4 SW 2012 to 2013
PONCA CITY 4.7 NW 2013
PONCA CITY 0.4 SW 2013 to 2026
PONCA CITY 0.4 NNW 2022 to 2026

Salt Fork Arkansas River at Tonkawa, OK 1935 to 2026
Chikaskia River near Blackwell, OK 1936 to 2026
Arkansas River near Ponca City, OK 1976 to 2000

The 1950 census, district by district

96 districts

Who lived here in 1950, one enumeration district at a time, as the Census Bureau described each district. Each row opens its official National Archives result, with Population Schedules and ED Maps available there.

36-1Beaver township - Outside Hardy town
36-2Blackwell city: Blackwell city - That part of Ward 1 Bounded by City limits; City limits, N. "E"; Dewey Ave.; N. Main
36-3Blackrell city - That part of Ward 1 Bounded by Dewey Ave., N. "E", City limits; City limits; Blackwell Ave.; N. Main
36-4Blackwell city - That part of Ward 2 Bounded by Blackwell Ave., City limits; City limits; City limits; S. "D"
36-5Blackwell city - That part of Ward 2 Bounded by Blackwell Ave. S. "D"; Santa Fe Ave., S. "A", Lawrence Ave.; S. Main
36-6ABlackwell city - That part of Ward 2 Bounded by Lawrence Ave., S. "A", Santa Fe Ave.; S. "D", City limits, Old city limits, S. "B", City limits, Old city limits, Stevens Ave., City limits; City limits; City limits, S. Main
36-6BBlackwell city - That part of Ward 2 Bounded by City limits; City limits; Stevens Ave.; Old city limits
36-6CBlackwell city - That part of Ward 2 Bounded by Old city limits; City limits; City limits; S. "B"
36-7Blackwell city - That part of Ward 3 Bounded by Blackwell Ave.; S. Main; Furguson Ave.; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad
36-8Blackwell city - That part of Ward 3 Bounded by Blackwell Ave.; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad; 11th, Santa Fe Ave., 9th
36-9Blackwell city - That part of Ward 3 Bounded by City limits, Ward line, Blackwell Ave.; 9th, Santa Fe Ave., 11th, Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, 13th; City limits; City limits
36-10BBlackirell city - That part of Ward 3 Bounded by Old city limits; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad and across Railroad right of way, City limits; City limits; City limits
36-10ABlackwell city - That part of Ward 3 Bounded by Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad; Old city limits, City limits; City limits
36-11Blackwell city - That part of Ward 3 Bounded by Furguson Ave.; S. Main; City limits; Old city limits, 4th, Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad
36-12Blackwell city - That part of Ward 4 Bounded by Fulton Ave., City limits; N. Main; Dewey Ave.; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad
36-13Blackwell city - That part of Ward 4, excluding Larkin Hotel Bounded by Dewey Ave.; N. Main; Blackwell Ave.; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad
36-14Larkin Hotel (In Blackwell city, Ward 4)
36-15Blackwell city - That part of Ward 4 Bounded by City limits; City limits, Fulton Ave., Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad; Blackwell Ave.; N. 6th, Fulton Ave., City limits
36-16BBlackwell city - That part of Ward 4 Bounded by Fulton Ave.; Old city limits; City limits; City limits
36-16ABlackwell city - That part of Ward 4 Bounded by City limits, Old city limits, Fulton Ave.; N. 6th; Blackwell Ave., Ward line; City limits
36-17Blackwell township - Outside Blackwell city
36-18Braman town
36-19Carlisle township
36-20Cross township: Cross township - That part east of U.S. Highway 7, outside Ponca City
36-21Cross township - That part west of U.S. Highway 77, outside Ponca City
36-22Dale township
36-23Hardy town
36-24Kaw City
36-25Kaw township - Outside Washunga town
36-26Kildare town
36-27Kildare township - Outside Kildare town
36-28Longwood township - Outside Kaw City
36-29Lowe township: Love township - That part north of Unnamed Highway from east township line across Bitter Creek through Braman and across Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad to west township line, outside Braman town
36-30Lowe township - That part south of Unnamed Highway from east township line across Bitter Creek through Braman and across Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad to west township line, outside Braman town
36-31Miller township: Miller township - That part east of State Highway 40 and north and east of Unnamed Highway from State Highway 40 through White Eagle Station across Chicago, Rock Island, & Pacific Railroad to north township line
36-32Miller township - That part west of State Highway 40, south and west of Unnamed Highway from State Highway 40 through White Eagle Station across Chicago, Rock Island, & Pacific Railroad to north township line and east of U.S. Highway 77
36-33Miller township - That part west of U.S. Highway 77
36-34Nardin town
36-35Newkirk city: Newkirk city - That part Bounded by City limits; City limits; City limits; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad
36-36Newkirk city - That part Bounded by City limits; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad; E. 8th, W. 8th, Cedar Ave., W. 8th; City limits
36-37Newkirk city - That part Bounded by W. 8th, Cedar Ave., W. 8th, E. 8th; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad; City limits; City limits
36-38Newkirk township - Outside Newkirk city
36-39Owen township
36-40Ponca City: Ponca City - That part of Ward 1 Bounded by Grand Ave.; 4th; Maple Ave.; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad
36-41Ponca City - That part of Ward 1 Bounded by Maple Ave.; 4th; City limits; City limits, Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad
36-42Ponca City - That part of Ward 2 Bounded by Highland Ave.; 4th; Broadway Ave.; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad
36-43Ponca City - That part of Ward 2, excluding Jens - Marie Hotel Bounded by Broadway Ave.; 4th; Grand A; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad
36-44Jens - Marie Hotel (In Ponca City, Ward 2)
36-45Ponca City - That part of Ward 3 Bounded by Grand Ave., Ward line; City limits; Ponca Ave.; 8th
36-46Ponca City - That part of Ward 3 Bounded by Grand Ave.; 8th; Maple Ave.; 4th
36-47Ponca City - That part of Ward 3 Bounded by Maple Ave.; 8th, Cherry Ave., 9th, South Ave., 8th; Madison Ave.; 4th
36-48Ponca City - That part of Ward 3 Bounded by Ponca Ave.; City limits; South Ave.; 9th, Cherry Ave., 8th
36-49Ponca City - That part of Ward 3 Bounded by South Ave., City limits; City limits; City limits; 8th
36-50Ponca City - That part of Ward 3 Bounded by Madison Ave.; 8th; City limits, 7th, England Ave.; 4th
36-51Ponca City - That part of Ward 3 Bounded by England Ave.; 7th, City limits; City limits; 4th
36-52APonca City - That part of Ward 4 Bounded by Highland [Ave.], 14th, Old city limits, Broadway Ave.; City limits; Ward line, Grand Ave.; 9th
36-52BPonca City - That part of Ward 4 Bounded by Highland Ave., City limits; City limits; City limits, Broadway Ave., Old city limits; 14th
36-53Ponca City - That part of Ward 4 Bounded by Highland Ave.; 9th; Grand Ave.; 4th
36-54APonca City - That part of Ward 5 Bounded by City limits; Union, Ward line, Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad; Highland Ave.; Osage, City limits, Overbrook Ave., Union, City limits, Union, Old city limits, City limits
36-54BPonca City - That part of Ward 5 Bounded by Old city limits (Comanche Ave.); Union; City limits; City limits
36-54CPonca City - That part of Ward 5 Bounded by City limits; Union; Overbrook Ave.; City limits
36-55APonca City - That part of Ward 5 Bounded by Old city limits, City limits; Osage; Highland Ave., City limits; City limits
36-55BPonca City - That part of Ward 5 Bounded by City limits (Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad right of way); City limits (Ash extended); Old city limits; City limits
36-56CPonca City - That part of Ward 5 Bounded by Old city limits; Birch Ave.; Grand Ave.; City limits
36-56APonca City - That part of Ward 5 Bounded by Highland Ave.; Osage; Grand Ave., Old city limits; City limits, Peachtree
36-56BPonca City - That part of Ward 5 Bounded by Highland Ave.; Peachtree; City limits; City limits
36-57Ponca City - That part of Ward 5 Bounded by Highland Ave.; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad; Broadway Ave.; Osage
36-58Ponca City - That part of Ward 5 Bounded by Broadway Ave.; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad; Grand Ave.; Osage
36-59Ponca City - That part of Ward 6 Bounded by Grand Ave.; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad; Ponca Ave. extended, Ponca Ave.; Osage
36-60Ponca City - That part of Ward 6 Bounded by Grand Ave.; Osage; Ponca Ave.; Ash
36-61BPonca City - That part of Ward 6 Bounded by Grand Ave.; Birch; Central Ave.; City limits
36-61APonca City - That part of Ward 6 Bounded by City limits, Central Ave., Birch, Grand Ave.; Ash; Ponca Ave.; City limits
36-62Ponca City - That part of Ward 6 Bounded by Ponca Ave.; Ash; City limits; City limits
36-63Ponca City - That part of Ward 6 Bounded by Ponca Ave.; Osage; City limits; Ash
36-64Ponca City - That part of Ward 6 Bounded by Ponca Ave., Ponca Ave. extended; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad; City limits; Osage
36-65APonca City - That part of Ward 7, excluding Ponca City Hospital and Nurses Home Bounded by City limits, Patton; City limits, 14th; Highland Ave.; Fifth
36-65BPonca City - That part of Ward 7 Bounded by City limits; City limits; Patton; City limits
36-65CPonca City - That part of Ward 7 Bounded by City limits (Pioneer Rd.); City limits (Spring Rd. - Monument Rd.), City limits; Highland Ave.; 14th, City limits
36-66Ponca City Hospital and Nurses Home (In Ponca City, Ward 7.)
36-67Ponca City - That part of Ward 7 Bounded by City limits; 5th; Brookfield Ave.; Union, City limits
36-68Ponca City - That part of Ward 7 Bounded by Brookfield Ave.; 5th; Highland Ave.; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, Union
36-69Renfrow township - Outside Nardin town
36-70Rock Falls township
36-71Round Grove township
36-72Tonkawa city: Tonkawa city - That part of Ward 1 Bounded by City limits, Old city limits, City limits; City limits; Grand Ave.; Ward line, Grand Ave. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad
36-73ATonkawa city - That part of Ward 1 Bounded by City limits; City limits, Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad; Grand Ave.; Main, City limits
36-73BTonkawa city - That part of Ward 1 comprising the southeast quarter of section 28, Township 26N, Range 1W and including a road 33 feet wide running from the southeast corner of section 28, Township 26N, Range 1W to the Tonkawa city limits at the northeast corner of U.P.S. 2nd Addition
36-74Tonkawa city - That part comprising Ward 2 Bounded by City limits; Main; Grand Ave.; City limits
36-75Tonkawa city - That part comprising Ward 3 Bounded by Grand Ave.; Main; City limits; City limits
36-76Tonkawa city - That part of Ward 4 Bounded by Grand Ave., Ward line, Grand Ave.; City limits; City limits; City limits, Irby Ave., 4th, Center Ave., 1st
36-77Tonkawa city - That part of Ward 4 Bounded by Grand Ave., Ward line, Grand Ave.; 1st, Center Ave., 4th; Irby Ave., City limits; Main
36-78Tonkawa township - Outside Tonkawa city
36-79Vernon township
36-80Waltham township
36-81Washunga town
36-82Weston township

Wildfire, 2000 to 2020

162 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 162 of them, burning about 2,206 acres. 6 started naturally and 32 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause	Fires
Debris and open burning	53
Missing data/not specified/undetermined	42
Arson/incendiarism	32
Misuse of fire by a minor	12
Equipment and vehicle use	10
Natural	6
Recreation and ceremony	4
Fireworks	2
Smoking	1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. One of them was set deliberately.

Date	Cause	Size	Reported by	Name on the report
11 April 2018	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	406 acres	Oklahoma Division of Forestry	HWY 11
11 April 2018	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	386 acres	Oklahoma Division of Forestry	BRAKE ROAD
6 November 2010	Recreation and ceremony	226 acres	Pawnee Agency	TOASTER
13 September 2000	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	200 acres	Oklahoma Division of Forestry	GIBSON
3 March 2017	Arson/incendiarism	100 acres	Pawnee Agency	SALT FORK
30 January 2008	Equipment and vehicle use	90 acres	Pawnee Agency	PLEASANT VIEW
31 October 2001	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	75 acres	Southern Plains Regional Office	RUNNING
20 March 2018	Debris and open burning	46 acres	Pawnee Agency	HORSESHOE

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1950 to 2026

60 of 1,268 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 1,268 reports for this county, causing 20 deaths, 312 injuries and about $45,739,560 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event	Reports
Hail	562
Thunderstorm Wind	507
Tornado	103
Flash Flood	75
Lightning	12
Heavy Rain	4
Flood	3
Funnel Cloud	2

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

When	Event	Place named	Harm	What the report says
May 1955	Tornado (F5)	not stated	20 killed, 280 hurt, $25,000,000	no account filed
November 1973	Tornado (F2)	not stated	6 hurt, $2,500,000	no account filed
May 1993	Thunderstorm Wind	not stated	3 hurt, $5,000,000	no account filed
May 2001	Lightning	Ponca City	3 hurt, $25,000	Two 911 dispatchers and a civilian were struck by lightning. A house was also struck by lightning causing a large fire.
May 1978	Tornado (F2)	not stated	3 hurt, $25,000	no account filed
April 1956	Tornado (F4)	not stated	2 hurt, $250,000	no account filed
August 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Blackwell	2 hurt, $50,000	Two semi-trailers and an armored vehicle were blown over on Interstate 35, near mile markers 228 and 219. Two persons were injured.
July 1997	Lightning	Ponca City	2 hurt, $35,000	Lightning struck and set fire to a house, destroying the den and living areas. Two occupants of the house were injured in the fire.
June 1998	Hail	Ponca City	2 hurt	A man and an elderly woman were injured when they were caught outside in the hailstorm. The woman was taken to a local hospital and treated for cuts and bruises from the hail and a fractured hip.
June 1992	Thunderstorm Wind	not stated	2 hurt	no account filed
April 1984	Thunderstorm Wind	not stated	2 hurt	no account filed
March 1973	Tornado (F2)	not stated	1 hurt, $2,500,000	no account filed
June 1966	Tornado (F2)	not stated	1 hurt, $250,000	no account filed
August 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Tonkawa	1 hurt, $20,000	Two semi-trailers were blown over. One injury was reported.
May 2010	Tornado (EF3)	Braman	1 hurt	This is the Kay County portion of tornado #A2. The tornado crossed into Kay County from Grant County and continued to produce significant damage. One home was destroyed and another significantly damaged between the Grant County line and U.S. Highway 177. After the tornado crossed US-177, an anchored mobile home was destroyed and blown to the east, and a tri-level home was destroyed with the top floor blown about 50 yards northeast into some trees, and the ground floor pivoted and was displaced to the northwest exposing the basement where one minor injury occurred. The tornado continued to produce significant tree damage as it moved east-northeast, and blew semi trucks over along Interstate 35 at the Kansas state line. This tornado crossed into Sumner County Kansas. See documentation from the NWS Wichita KS for additional information.
August 1972	Tornado (F1)	not stated	1 hurt	no account filed
March 1991	Tornado (F3)	not stated	$2,500,000	no account filed
November 1973	Tornado (F1)	not stated	$2,500,000	no account filed
August 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Ponca City	$900,000	Widespread wind damage was reported over the southeast parts of Ponca City. The damage area was from S. 8th to S. 13th from South Ave north about 4 to 5 blocks. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down. Several houses reported at least minor damage, with one home blown off its foundation and losing its roof. Monetary damage is estimated based on figures from Ponca City Emergency Management.
July 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Braman	$250,000	Strong winds, gusting as high as 80 mph, lasted for 20 minutes causing damage across town. Large trees were downed. A brick storage building was destroyed. Several car ports were also destroyed.
April 1991	Tornado (F2)	not stated	$250,000	no account filed
April 1978	Tornado (F2)	not stated	$250,000	no account filed
April 1978	Tornado (F2)	not stated	$250,000	no account filed
March 1965	Tornado (F4)	not stated	$250,000	no account filed
April 1964	Tornado (F2)	not stated	$250,000	no account filed
May 1955	Tornado (F5)	not stated	$250,000	no account filed
May 1955	Tornado (F2)	not stated	$250,000	no account filed
April 2026	Tornado (EF1)	Nardin	$200,000	Braman Tornado: Numerous spotters and chasers observed this tornado develop in western Kay County. The initial damage occurred near 140th Street and Earth Road where a tree was uprooted and a farm house suffered roof damage. The tornado continued generally east breaking a power pole on 124th Street south of Earth Road and destroying a barn and damaging more power poles and trees near Earth Road east of 124th Street. The first of two satellite tornadoes developed in this area near Earth Road between 124th and 108th. The primary tornado moved north, then looped back around to an easterly movement as the motion of both the primary tornado and the satellite tornado was influenced by the Fujiwhara effect.\|\|As the primary tornado moved east-northeast after this interaction, a barn was destroyed along Earth Road east of 108th Street, and a number of trees and power poles were damaged along 76th Street near Fork Road. As the tornado was crossing the Chickaskia River, a second satellite tornado developed and rotated around this primary tornado. The tornado continued east snapping power poles along 60th Street, and destroying two barns and more power poles along 44th Street just south of the city limits of Braman. The survey and mobile radar data from the Doppler on Wheels project show that the tornado made another loop just southeast of Braman and east of US-177, then moved southeast damaging trees along Fork Road east of 29th Street before dissipating.
April 2026	Tornado (EF1)	Kaw City	$100,000	While the tornado that formed west of Ponca City was passing to the south of Kaw Lake, observers witnessed a second tornado develop near the southwest portion of Kaw Lake. The witnesses watched the tornado develop on a hill just northwest of McFadden Cove, and then move southeast across Hideaway Marina causing damage to boat shelters and docks at the marina. The tornado continued southeast as a waterspout over the southwestern portion of Kaw Lake, then moved into Osage County just east of the dam. See the Storm Data report from the NWS office in Tulsa for details of this tornado in Osage County.
May 2024	Tornado (EF1)	Kaw City	$100,000	A tornado developed west of Kaw Lake near Tower Road and Lake Road, then moved northeast through the Coon Creek Cove area of Kaw Lake producing tree damage, damage to a boat dock, and overturned a camper. The tornado then moved over Kaw Lake and likely dissipated north of the northeastern arm of the lake in northeastern Kay County.
July 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Blackwell	$100,000	Roofs were blown off many homes. Windows were blown out of numerous store fronts. An antenna at the police station was blown over. Several power lines and trees were also downed.
April 2001	Thunderstorm Wind	Kaw City	$100,000	Several campers and farm equipment were blown over. A boat was blown off a trailer. Part of the pavillion roof at Northern Oklahoma College was blown off. A house and shed sustained minor damage, and numerous trees were downed.
May 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	Newkirk	$80,000	A storm associated with a Quasi-Linear Convective System (QLCS) produced widespread wind damage and an embedded tornado path. The area of wind developed just southwest of Newkirk and produced a swath of mostly light damage to trees through central, southern and eastern sections of Newkirk including downtown. A few homes and buildings were damaged. The most significant wind damage was on the northeast side where a mobile home was destroyed. The swath of wind damage was generally 300-500 yards wide through much of Newkirk, but ended in a large divergent downburst just northeast of town that became about 1500 yards wide.
April 2024	Tornado (EF1)	Newkirk	$75,000	A mobile home was damaged near where this tornado developed west of La Cann Road and south of Gate Road. The tornado moved east-northeast producing damage to another mobile home and trees along Gate Road.
May 2024	Tornado (EF0)	Ponca City	$50,000	A brief tornado moved through a neighborhood just south of Lake Ponca. House and tree damage was observed along Goldenrod Avenue and East Lake Drive.
July 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Blackwell	$50,000	Varying degrees of roof damage to buildings near the intersection of Main Street and Oklahoma Avenue. Additional reports of tree damage throughout the community of Blackwell. Time is radar estimated.
June 2002	Lightning	Ponca City	$50,000	Lightning struck the Conoco refinery, causing a fire.
June 1998	Lightning	Blackwell	$50,000	Lightning struck the roof of a funeral home, blowing one 3-foot hole, and 3 grapefruit-sized holes in the roof. The bolt set fire to the attic, causing extensive damage to the structure and its contents.
October 1998	Thunderstorm Wind	Ponca City	$45,000	no account filed
June 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Newkirk	$40,000	A gas station canopy was blown over in Newkirk.
April 1999	Thunderstorm Wind	Ponca City	$40,000	no account filed
May 2001	Thunderstorm Wind	Tonkawa	$35,000	The roof of a trailer home was blown off, and pontoon boats were blown over.
June 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Newkirk	$25,000	A relayed image shows a gas station awning blown over. The event time is estimated from radar observations.
May 2019	Tornado (EF1)	Newkirk	$25,000	A storm associated with a Quasi-Linear Convective System (QLCS) produced a wide swath of wind damage and an embedded tornado in and near Newkirk. The tornado developed on the southwest side of town, moved northeast to just southeast of downtown, then turned north along Pine Avenue dissipating just northeast of town. A few houses had some minor damage and a number of sheds and outbuildings were damaged. Tree and power line damage was also observed along the path.
June 1997	Hail	Tonkawa	$25,000	A combination of hail as large as golf balls and strong winds caused widespread damage in Tonkawa, particularly over an 11-block area on the north side of town. Roofs were severely damaged and windows were broken in both vehicles and houses. Large tree limbs were downed and trees were uprooted by winds estimated at up to 70 mph.
March 1979	Tornado (F2)	not stated	$25,000	no account filed
April 1978	Tornado (F2)	not stated	$25,000	no account filed
April 1978	Tornado (F2)	not stated	$25,000	no account filed
April 1973	Tornado (F2)	not stated	$25,000	no account filed
June 1973	Tornado (F2)	not stated	$25,000	no account filed
June 1971	Tornado (F2)	not stated	$25,000	no account filed
May 1968	Tornado (F2)	not stated	$25,000	no account filed
April 1968	Tornado (F2)	not stated	$25,000	no account filed
May 1967	Tornado (F1)	not stated	$25,000	no account filed
March 1961	Tornado (F3)	not stated	$25,000	no account filed
May 1959	Tornado (F2)	not stated	$25,000	no account filed
April 1957	Tornado (F0)	not stated	$25,000	no account filed
March 1954	Tornado (F2)	not stated	$25,000	no account filed
June 1951	Tornado (F1)	not stated	$25,000	no account filed
April 2024	Tornado (EF1)	Peckham	$20,000	This tornado began southwest of Newkirk, west of Ranch Drive and north of Canteen Road damaging a barn and a carport. The tornado continued northeast damaging trees before dissipating near Waverly Street and Peckham Road west of Newkirk.

Mines and quarries

81 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 81 workings inside this county. 11 still produce and 70 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity	Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction	45
Stone, Crushed/Broken	21
Clay	14
Clay, Sand and Gravel, Construction	1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Site	Commodity	Status
Unknown Sand Pit	Clay, Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Caly Pit	Clay	Past Producer
Unknown Clay Pit	Clay	Past Producer
Unknown Clay Pit	Clay	Past Producer
Unknown Shale Pit	Clay	Past Producer
Unknown Shale Pit	Clay	Past Producer
Unknown Shale Pit	Clay	Past Producer
Unknown Shale Pit	Clay	Past Producer
Unknown Shale Pit	Clay	Past Producer
Unknown Shale Pit	Clay	Past Producer
Unknown Shale Pit	Clay	Past Producer
Unknown Shale Pit	Clay	Producer
Unknown Shale Pit	Clay	Past Producer
Unknown Shale Pits	Clay	Past Producer
Unknown Shale Pits	Clay	Past Producer
Otto Quarry & Plant	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Producer
Peel Quarry	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Producer
Unknown Limestone Pit	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Unknown Limestone Pit	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Unknown Limestone Pit	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Unknown Limestone Pit	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Unknown Limestone Pit	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Unknown Limestone Pit	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Producer
Unknown Limestone Pit	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Unknown Limestone Pit	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Unknown Limestone Pit	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Unknown Limestone Pit	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Unknown Limestone Pit	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Unknown Limestone Pit	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Unknown Limestone Pit	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Unknown Limestone Pit	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Unknown Limestone Pits	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Unknown Limestone Pits	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Unknown Limestone Pits	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Unknown Limestone Pits	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Unknown Limestone Pits	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Evans & Associates Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
Fagg Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Lee Top Const Co Sand Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
Miller Co Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
No. 1 Sand Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
Nowa Sanitary Landfill Site	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
Sober Bros Pits No.2,3, 4 & 5	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
Unknown Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
Unknown Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Gravel Pits	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pits	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pits	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pits	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pits	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pits	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pits	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Sand Pits	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Unknown Shale Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer

Every populated place in the county

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on. The 8 places that were also surveyed for fire insurance come first, with the number of atlases and photographs held for them.

Blackwell

Blackwell census division · 74631 · On Bitter Creek · Blackwell quadrangle

11 sheets, 1955 to 1985

Fire insurance: 10 atlases
Braman

Braman census division · 74632 · Braman quadrangle

11 sheets, 1955 to 1985

Fire insurance: 3 atlases
Kildare

Newkirk census division · 74604 · Kildare quadrangle

11 sheets, 1955 to 1985

Fire insurance: 6 atlases
Newkirk

Newkirk census division · 74647 · Newkirk quadrangle

11 sheets, 1955 to 1985

Fire insurance: 9 atlases
Ponca City

Ponca City census division · 74601 · Ponca City quadrangle

11 sheets, 1955 to 1985

Fire insurance: 11 atlases
Tonkawa

Tonkawa census division · 74653 · Tonkawa quadrangle

11 sheets, 1955 to 1985

Fire insurance: 6 atlases
Alcorn

Tonkawa census division · 74653 · Billings quadrangle

11 sheets, 1955 to 1985
Autwine

Ponca City census division · 74601 · Ponca City NW quadrangle

11 sheets, 1955 to 1985
Bender

Newkirk census division · 74647 · Peckham quadrangle

10 sheets, 1955 to 1985
Chilocco

Newkirk census division · 74647 · Newkirk quadrangle

11 sheets, 1955 to 1985
Dilworth

Braman census division · 74647 · On Spring Creek · Peckham quadrangle

10 sheets, 1955 to 1985
Eddy

Tonkawa census division · 74643 · On Peters Creek · Eddy quadrangle

10 sheets, 1955 to 1985
Grainville

Blackwell census division · 74601 · Newkirk SW quadrangle

10 sheets, 1955 to 1985
Hardy

Kaw City census division · 74647 · On Myers Creek · Hardy quadrangle

12 sheets, 1935 to 1985
Kaw Agency

Kaw City census division · 74641 · Kaw City quadrangle

14 sheets, 1935 to 1985

No longer a settlement
Kaw City

Kaw City census division · 74641 · On Beaver Creek · Kaw City quadrangle

14 sheets, 1935 to 1985
McFadden Cove

Kaw City census division · 74604 · On Fishhook Creek · Charley Creek West quadrangle

15 sheets, 1936 to 1985
Middleton

Newkirk census division · 74647 · Newkirk quadrangle

11 sheets, 1955 to 1985
Nardin

Blackwell census division · 74646 · Nardin quadrangle

10 sheets, 1955 to 1985
Peckham

Braman census division · 74647 · Peckham quadrangle

10 sheets, 1955 to 1985
Polk

Tonkawa census division · 74653 · Billings quadrangle

11 sheets, 1955 to 1985
Sumpter

Blackwell census division · 74632 · Braman quadrangle

11 sheets, 1955 to 1985
Tyner

Tonkawa census division · 74631 · Tonkawa quadrangle

11 sheets, 1955 to 1985
Uncas

Kaw City census division · 74647 · On Possum Creek · Uncas quadrangle

12 sheets, 1935 to 1985
Washunga

Kaw City census division · 74641 · On Beaver Creek · Kaw City quadrangle

14 sheets, 1935 to 1985
White Eagle

Ponca City census division · 74601 · On Salt Fork Arkansas River · Ponca City SE quadrangle

10 sheets, 1955 to 1985

The vanished settlements of Kay County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

Recorded here

Ponca City, Oklahoma

11 topographic sheets and 11 fire insurance atlases, 1894 to 1947

Blackwell, Oklahoma

11 topographic sheets and 10 fire insurance atlases, 1895 to 1948

Newkirk, Oklahoma

11 topographic sheets and 9 fire insurance atlases, 1894 to 1942

Kildare, Oklahoma

11 topographic sheets and 6 fire insurance atlases, 1895 to 1909

Tonkawa, Oklahoma

11 topographic sheets and 6 fire insurance atlases, 1903 to 1931

Kaw, Oklahoma

0 topographic sheets and 4 fire insurance atlases, 1905 to 1924

Braman, Oklahoma

11 topographic sheets and 3 fire insurance atlases, 1905 to 1911

Cross, Oklahoma

0 topographic sheets and 1 fire insurance atlases, 1894

October 1894

Everything this county holds

The complete index, with nothing left out. Each of these is a separate record with its own page: a federal survey report, or the case file that argued a property on to the National Register. Both are public domain and reproduced word for word.

Surveyed structures

5 structures

The vanished settlements of Kay County, the places these records name that are no longer on the map.

Provenance

Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.