Historic Downtown Sulphur Commercial District

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.

From the record

One of 6 National Register listings published here for Murray County · listed in 2001 · category: District.

Sources: the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service

The listing

Address. West Muskogee St., from W 1st St. to W 5th St., and W 5th., Sulphur, 73086
When was it listed? June 2001
Category. district
Census division. East Murray
National Register reference number. 01000662 - the number the National Park Service assigned this property when it was listed, and the key its nomination file is catalogued under at the National Archives.

Fires near this property

88 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 88 fires within 5 miles of Historic Downtown Sulphur Commercial District between 1992 and 2020, burning about 3,645 acres in total. 6 started naturally. 34 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause	Fires
Arson/incendiarism	34
Missing data/not specified/undetermined	26
Debris and open burning	11
Natural	6
Recreation and ceremony	3
Equipment and vehicle use	2
Misuse of fire by a minor	2
Power generation/transmission/distribution	2
Other causes	1
Smoking	1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

Date	Cause	Size	Reported by	Name on the report
7 September 2011	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	3.0 acres	Chickasaw National Recreation Area	HARDEN
5 September 1995	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	8.5 acres	Chickasaw National Recreation Area	WESTHUNT
21 September 2004	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	Chickasaw National Recreation Area	SQUIRREL
12 September 1993	Debris and open burning	3.0 acres	Chickasaw National Recreation Area	TVBAUGH
11 September 1994	Arson/incendiarism	1.0 acres	Chickasaw National Recreation Area	BROMIDE
9 August 2011	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	11 acres	Chickasaw National Recreation Area	WATERSON #2
9 August 2010	Natural	under an acre	Chickasaw National Recreation Area	CEDAR BLUE 9
8 August 2003	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	5.0 acres	Chickasaw National Recreation Area	MILLCREEK2

Every fire recorded in Murray County

Mines and quarries near this property

10 of 12 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 12 workings within 5 miles of Historic Downtown Sulphur Commercial District: 11 past producers, 1 producer. 1 still produces. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Site	Commodity	Status
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 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 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 Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer

Every working recorded in Murray County

Storms near this property

60 of 139 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Sulphur, the town this property stands in, in 139 storm reports between 1994 and 2026: 64 thunderstorm wind, 54 hail, 13 flash flood, 5 tornado. The reports record 1 death and 32 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

When	Event	Place named	Harm	What the report says
April 2024	Tornado (EF3)	Sulphur	1 killed, 30 hurt, $10,000,000	The Sulphur tornado initially developed in the Chickasaw National Recreation Area to the southwest of Sulphur and produced tree damage as well as damage to one building in the northeast section of the park as the tornado approached Sulphur. The tornado moved into the southern part of Sulphur causing significant damage to a number of homes on Tishomingo Avenue adjacent to the Chickasaw NRA.\|\|The tornado moved northeast through downtown Sulphur destroying or causing extensive damage to numerous businesses and buildings downtown. Many people were trapped and one woman was killed when a building housing a sports lounge collapsed downtown on this Saturday night. Damage was rated EF3 to numerous buildings downtown, as well as to some homes and buildings in neighborhoods across northeast Sulphur as the tornado continues to move northeast through town.\|\|The tornado continued northeast out of Sulphur and damaged another home along Palmer Road in northeastern Murray County. Tree damage was also observed on the county line as the tornado moved from Murray County into Pontotoc County.
April 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	1 hurt, $250,000	Multiple reports and images of extensive thunderstorm wind damage in areas along U.S. Highway 177, approximately seven miles north of Sulphur. This included a mobile home that was blown off its blocks and destroyed, outbuildings significantly damaged, a travel trailer rolled, and numerous trees and large tree limbs blown down. At least one occupant of the destroyed mobile home was injured. Event time is estimated from radar observations.
September 1998	Lightning	Sulphur	1 hurt	A wildfire started by lightning burned 5000 acres. More than 12 fire departments were needed to contain the fire. One man was injured when he burned his hand on an equipment motor.
February 1999	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	$300,000	no account filed
April 1996	Tornado (F1)	Sulphur	$280,000	no account filed
April 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	$25,000	A social media image showing a travel trailer overturned. Event time is estimated from radar observations.
August 2005	Flash Flood	Sulphur	$25,000	At 5:30 am CST and 6:15 am CST, a local fire department reported that floodwaters from Rock Creek entered into a few houses in Sulphur, OK. In addition, flash flooding was reported along Rock Creek in the Chickasaw National Recreation Area just south of Sulphur.
May 2013	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	$20,000	One home had significant roof damage. Carport on back of home was also blown away by the winds.
July 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	$20,000	A turbo-prop airplane was flipped at Sulphur Municipal Airport.
March 2008	Hail	Sulphur	$15,000	The hail cracked the windshields of a few cars. A few homes in town also had cracked windows. Monetary damages were estimated.
June 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	$10,000	Numerous trees and powerlines down from strong winds to the immediate west of Arbuckle lake. Time based on radar.
August 2013	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	$10,000	Numerous large tree branches downed along with numerous power outages.
March 2013	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	$10,000	Windows blown out and power lines down.
September 1998	Lightning	Sulphur	$9,000	no account filed
June 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	$5,000	Multiple confirmations of thunderstorm wind damage in and around the community of Sulphur. This included at least one power pole broken and several large tree limbs blown down. The location is approximate, and the event time is estimated from radar observations.
August 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	$5,000	A power pole and two large trees were blown down near Sulphur Hills Golf Course. The report was relayed through Spotter Network. The location is approximate, and the event time is estimated from radar observations.
May 2018	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	$5,000	Roof damage was reported. Time estimated based on previous reports.
October 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	$5,000	Several trees and power lines were downed in Sulphur.
May 1995	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	$5,000	Thunderstorms continued across southern Oklahoma from late in the evening of the 14th through early morning on the 15th. Hail as large as quarters was reported in Velma in Stephens County, and wind speeds up to 58 mph were measured near Walters in Cotton County. Severe thunderstorm winds also shattered a large sign in Altus in Jackson County and removed part of the roof from a restaurant in Sulphur in Murray County.
May 2003	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	$4,500	A sheet metal barn and several small trees were reported destroyed on Highway 7. A power pole was also reported downed a quarter of a mile to the east.
February 1999	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	$4,000	no account filed
July 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	$2,000	Telephone poles downed.
May 2018	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	$2,000	Several reports of tree damage and downed powerlines. Time estimated based on previous reports.
June 1998	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	$2,000	Severe thunderstorm winds downed large trees and signs around Sulphur.
July 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	$1,000	Damage to metal buildings and barn roof damage.
March 2018	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	$1,000	Large tree was uprooted.
August 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	$500	Power lines were downed.
November 1998	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	$500	no account filed
August 1997	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	$10	Severe thunderstorm winds downed tree limbs in Sulphur.
April 2026	Hail	Sulphur	-	The event time is estimated based on radar observations.
April 2026	Hail	Sulphur	-	The event time is estimated based on radar observations.
April 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	-	Sulphur (SULP) Mesonet observation.
April 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	-	Sulphur (SULP) Mesonet observation.
May 2025	Hail	Sulphur	-	The location is approximate.
May 2025	Hail	Sulphur	-	The report was relayed through mPING.
May 2025	Hail	Sulphur	-	The report was relayed through mPING.
May 2025	Hail	Sulphur	-	The report was relayed through mPING.
May 2025	Hail	Sulphur	-	The report was relayed through mPING.
May 2025	Hail	Sulphur	-	An image was shared.
June 2025	Flash Flood	Sulphur	-	Multiple confirmations of roadway flooding in and around the community of Sulphur. The event time and location are approximate.
March 2024	Hail	Sulphur	-	Relayed report. Time is radar estimated.
May 2024	Hail	Sulphur	-	Relayed by 911 call center. Time is radar estimated.
May 2024	Hail	Sulphur	-	MPing report.
July 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	-	Sulphur (SULP) Mesonet observation.
July 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	-	Sulphur (SULP) Mesonet observation.
July 2023	Flash Flood	Sulphur	-	Heavy rainfall caused Rock Creek to overtop its banks, flooding a portion of the Oklahoma Avenue bridge. Time is estimated.
July 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	-	Moderate size tree snapped in half.
July 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	-	Five to six inch diameter tree limbs downed.
July 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	-	Eight inch tree limbs snapped. Relayed via twitter.
May 2018	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	-	Small limbs down. Observer estimated 60-70 mph winds.
May 2018	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	-	Several tree limbs snapped up to a foot in diameter. Time estimated based on nearby Mesonet report.
May 2018	Flash Flood	Sulphur	-	Water over the roadway. Estimated 4-6 inches from photo.
May 2017	Hail	Sulphur	-	Relayed via Twitter.
May 2017	Flash Flood	Sulphur	-	Some roads that typically flood were barricaded due to flowing water.
June 2016	Flash Flood	Sulphur	-	County road closed due to high water. Reported by Murray county sheriff dept.
October 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	-	No damage reported.
July 2015	Flash Flood	Sulphur	-	Streets were closed in town due to flooding.
May 2015	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	-	No damage reported.
May 2015	Thunderstorm Wind	Sulphur	-	National park service reported several 4 to 6 inch tree limbs down across Chickasaw NRA.
May 2015	Tornado (EF0)	Sulphur	-	Emergency management spotters observed a tornado that moved north from approximately 1 mile north to 4 miles north of Sulphur. A workshop was damaged, but otherwise no significant damage is known to have occurred.

Every storm recorded in Murray County

Map coverage status

No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.

Listed places nearby

4 within 8 miles

Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.

Property	Distance	Listed
Sulphur Armory	0.2 miles	1994
Murray County Courthouse	0.3 miles	1984
Platt National Park Historic District	0.6 miles	2011
Travertine Nature Center	1.2 miles	2011

Sources for this property

National Archives record	The nomination case file for reference 01000662 in Record Group 79.
Murray County	All 6 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
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.