Nicoma Park, Oklahoma
Located just West of Choctaw, Nicoma Park has a population
of approximately 2,500 people who enjoy the benefits
of country living while being just minutes from
the amenities of the city.
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.
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.
Nicoma Park Links
City
of Nicoma Park
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