Beginning its life as a critical stop on the historic Chisholm Trail – the famed path that, in the late 1800s, saw thousands of cattle herded from Texas to markets in Kansas – Duncan is an anchor of southwest Oklahoma that continues to leave its mark.
Far from isolated, the Stephens County seat of just over 23,000 residents offers abundant job opportunities and recreation for locals and visitors alike, alongside intriguing museums, recreation and retail shopping.
The rich offerings in Duncan start with the Simmons Center, a 105,000-square-foot entertainment and physical fitness complex that, for the past three decades-plus, has served as the hub of civic life.
Rex Outhier, executive director of the Simmons Center Foundation, says the complex attracts civic groups, hosts concerts, festivals, theater productions, conventions and banquets, and has a recreation center with two gyms, a swimming pool and a childcare center.
Duncan also has a series of five municipal lakes offering a variety of outdoor recreation, and a vibrant, historic downtown. For anyone keeping a checklist of Oklahoma’s must-visit locations, Duncan is surely on it.
Duncan is situated about 30 miles east of Lawton and 80 miles southwest of Oklahoma City, with U.S. Highway 81 running north and south through town. State Highway 7 provides an easy connection to Interstate 35, about 45 miles east of the city.
“Duncan is known for being the heart of the Chisholm Trail,” says Teri Knox, executive director of the Duncan Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Chisholm Trail Heritage Center, she said, is a “top ten western museum that brings visitors from all over the world to Duncan.”
The Chisholm Trail Heritage Center recently hosted a traveling exhibit that featured the life of Comanche leader Quanah Parker, an early-day Comanche leader, and his mother, Cynthia Ann Parker.
Jennings says the Visitors Bureau’s website offers a sample “weekend menu” that includes a smorgasbord of activities and attractions. Besides the Chisholm Trail center, Duncan has several other local museums.
Economically, Duncan is holding steady, says Lyle Roggow, president of the Duncan Area Economic Development Foundation.
Energy production, embodied primarily by oil well service provider Halliburton, which got its start in Duncan, remains the city’s largest employer. But Halliburton is followed closely by a 21st-century health care entity, DRH, which serves the Stephens-Jefferson County area with hospitals, family care clinics, specialty clinics and a cancer center.
“There are job opportunities in Duncan that fit a lot of people’s needs,” Roggow says, describing Duncan as “an energy community that is trying hard to diversify.”
He mentions, as an example, Model 1, a newcomer to Duncan that retrofits buses, vans and other types of transportation. The company set up shop in Duncan last year, and now has 45 to 50 employees.
“It’s a unique business that is doing very well,” says Roggow.
Knox, meanwhile, calls inquirers’ attention to Duncan’s Main Street, which offers a variety of shops that carry antiques, western wear, home décor and other items. Additionally, Fuqua Park includes a water garden, amusement rides for kids, plus a gazebo ideal for weddings and picnic facilities. The park is the site of the Stephens County Historical Museum, located in Duncan’s former National Guard Armory.
The Rock Island 905 Railroad Museum, featuring a restored locomotive, presents an entertaining stop for rail fans and others curious about the railroad’s role in developing Oklahoma and Duncan.
Main image credit: Duncan, about three hours from Tulsa and 1.5 from Oklahoma City, offers outdoor recreation, educational opportunities and a vast business portfolio. Photos courtesy Duncan Convention & Visitors Bureau
For More Information
Duncan Convention & Visitors Bureau
580-252-2900 ext. 240
visitduncan.org
Simmons Center
580-252-2900
simmonscenter.com
Chisholm Trail Heritage Center
580-292-6692
onthechisholmtrail.com
Stephens County Historical Museum
580-252-0717
stcomuseum.com
Duncan Chamber of Commerce
580-255-3644
duncanchamber.com
City of Duncan
580-252-0250
duncanok.gov
Duncan Area Economic Development Foundation
580-255-9675
ok-duncan.com
