Alva, Oklahoma
Alva is a city of 4,982 people in Woods County, Oklahoma, founded in 1893.
Why visit Alva
Townapedia lists 9 museums and landmarks, 11 parks and trails, 8 places to eat, 13 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Rialto Cinema, Branson Building and Central National Bank.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 95°F; January lows average 23°F.
Weather in Alva
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Alva
Alva is a city in and the county seat of Woods County, Oklahoma, United States, along the Salt Fork Arkansas River. The population was 5,028 at the time of the 2020 Census, up from 4,945 at the 2010 census. The main campus of Northwestern Oklahoma State University is in Alva.
From the Wikipedia article Alva, Oklahoma (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
School · 0.5 mi
Public university in Alva, Oklahoma
709 Oklahoma Boulevard, Alva
Museums and landmarks9
Branson Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Commercial building in Alva, Oklahoma
Central National Bank
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Building in Oklahoma, United States
Hotel Bell
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Hotel building in Alva, Oklahoma
Science Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic building at Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Stine Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Commercial building in Alva, Oklahoma
I.O.O.F. Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Parks, trails and playgrounds11
Restaurants and cafes8
Sonic
Fast food · Burger · 0.7 mi
25 Oklahoma Boulevard, Alva
Mo-Th 07:00-22:30; Fr-Sa 07:00-24:00; Su 07:00-22:30
History
Alva was established in 1893 as a United States General Land Office for the Cherokee Outlet land run, the largest of the land rushes that settled western and central Oklahoma. The site was chosen for its location on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway and likely named for a railroad attorney, Alva Adams, who had become governor of Colorado.
When the Southern Kansas Railway began extending its line from Kiowa, Kansas, across the Cherokee Outlet in 1886, Alva became the first railroad station southwest of Kiowa. The line was operational in 1887, in time for the opening of the Unassigned Lands.
The United States Secretary of the Interior chose Alva as the seat of County M when Oklahoma Territory was organized in 1890. A U.S. government land office opened there before a presidential proclamation on August 19, 1893, opened the Cherokee Outlet for general settlement. The actual land run occurred September 16, 1893. By then, Alva's 320 acres (1.3 km2) site had been formally surveyed and platted.
In 1896, three years after the land run, George Cromwell and "Coal Oil Johnny" Broughan created and managed the Alva Giants, the city's first traveling baseball team including pitcher Bill McGill, who went on to join the St. Louis Browns in 1907.
From the History section of Alva, Oklahoma on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay13
Churches and places of worship14
Shopping4
Gas and EV charging6
Schools, colleges and libraries14
Healthcare3
Map of Alva
84 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°F | 23°F | 1.0 in | 2.8 in |
| Feb | 52°F | 26°F | 1.2 in | 1.7 in |
| Mar | 61°F | 34°F | 2.4 in | 2.6 in |
| Apr | 71°F | 44°F | 2.9 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 80°F | 56°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 90°F | 66°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 95°F | 70°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 93°F | 68°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 86°F | 60°F | 2.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 73°F | 46°F | 2.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 59°F | 34°F | 1.5 in | 0.1 in |
| Dec | 48°F | 25°F | 1.3 in | 4.1 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Alva 1W (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Woods County has had 23 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2024-06-14: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2021-02-24: Severe Winter Storms (Severe Ice Storm)
- 2021-02-17: Severe Winter Storm (Severe Ice Storm)
- 2020-04-05: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-06-01: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Kegelman Air Force Auxiliary Field (CKA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 30 miles away.
- Cherokee 17 mi east, about 28 min by car
- Kiowa 19 mi northeast, about 30 min by car
- Waynoka 19 mi southwest, about 31 min by car
- Carmen 19 mi southeast, about 30 min by car
- Helena 28 mi southeast, about 44 min by car
- Fairview 37 mi south, about 1 h by car
- Woodward 48 mi southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- North Enid 50 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Enid 51 mi southeast, about 1 h 30 min by car
- Buffalo 54 mi west, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Alva Intersection, Nyttend, Public domain
- Historic Central National Bank, Zeugzeug, CC BY-SA 4.0
- NWOSU building in Enid, Kiddo27, CC BY-SA 4.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.