Townapedia

Pawhuska, Oklahoma

Pawhuska is a city of 2,930 people in Osage County, Oklahoma, founded in 1872.

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Population2,930 -15.8% since 2019
Elevation820 ft 250 m
Founded1872
Land area3.7 sq mi
ZIP code74056
Nearest airportBartlesville Municipal Airport (BVO) 19 mi

Why visit Pawhuska

Townapedia lists 6 museums and landmarks, 4 parks and trails and 9 places to eat in and around town.

Highlights include City Hall, Osage Nation Museum and Williams Park.

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 92°F; January lows average 25°F.

About Pawhuska

Pawhuska ( paw-HUSK-ə; Osage: 𐓅𐓘𐓢𐓶𐓮𐓤𐓘, romanized: hpahúska, lit. 'White Hair'; Iowa-Oto: Paháhga) is a city in and the county seat of Osage County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 2,984. It was named after the 19th-century Osage chief Paw-Hiu-Skah, which means 'White Hair' in English. The Osage tribal government, which opened offices in Pawhuska in 1872 when its reservation was established in Indian Territory, continues to be based in Pawhuska.

From the Wikipedia article Pawhuska, Oklahoma (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Museums and landmarks6

City Hall

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi

City hall in Pawhuska, Oklahoma

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Osage Nation Museum

Museum · 0.5 mi

Museum in Pawhuska, Oklahoma

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Osage County Historical Society Museum

Museum

700 Lynn Avenue, Pawhuska

Tu-Sa 10:00-16:00

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Ben Johnson Museum

Museum · 0.5 mi

201 East 6th Street, Pawhuska

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Osage Nation

Museum · 0.5 mi

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Pawhuska Veteran Memorial

Monument and historic site · 0.5 mi

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Parks, trails and playgrounds4

Williams Park

Park · 1.2 mi

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Ben Johnson Memorial Park

Park

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Splashpad

Playground

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WahZhaZhe Heritage Park

Park · 0.5 mi

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Restaurants and cafes9

Buffalo Joe's Drive-In

Restaurant · American, Burger · 0.5 mi

403 East Main Street, Pawhuska

Open in Google Maps · +1 918 287 2358

Rancho Viejo

Restaurant · Mexican · 0.5 mi

201 East Main Street, Pawhuska

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Dollhouse Road Brewery

Brewery and winery · 0.7 mi

301 West Main Street, Pawhuska

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El vallarta

Restaurant · Mexican · 0.9 mi

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Simple Simons

Restaurant · 0.6 mi

140 East Main Street, Pawhuska

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Osage Nation Title VI

Restaurant · 0.5 mi

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Sonic

Fast food · Burger · 0.9 mi

2001 East Main Street, Pawhuska

Mo-Th 07:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 07:00-23:00; Su 09:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +1 918-287-1551

Subway

Fast food · Sandwich · 1.3 mi

1120 West Main Street, Pawhuska

Mo-Fr 07:00-20:00; Sa 10:00-18:00

Open in Google Maps · +1 918-287-2450

McDonald's

Fast food · Burger · 0.9 mi

24/7

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Churches and places of worship10

Immaculate Conception Church

Church · National Register of Historic Places

Roman Catholic church in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, United States

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First United Methodist Church

Church · United Methodist · 0.4 mi

621 Leahy Avenue, Pawhuska

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Saint Thomas Episcopal Church

Church · Episcopal · 0.4 mi

817 Leahy Avenue, Pawhuska

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Catholic Rectory

Church · Catholic

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First Baptist Church

Church · Baptist · 0.7 mi

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First Presbyterian Church

Church · Presbyterian

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Lighthouse Pentecostal Church

Church · Pentecostal · 0.4 mi

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Church · Mormon · 0.8 mi

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Emmanuel Church of God-Christ

Church

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First Christian Church

Church

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History

The town, originally known as Deep Ford, was established in 1872 with the reservation for the Osage Nation, part of Indian Territory. The Osage Indian Agency was located along Bird Creek. One of the three main bands of the tribe settled here. Traders followed, building stores during 1872 and 1873. Pawhuska's first newspaper, the Indian Herald (also known as Wah-Sha-She News.), was founded in 1875 by George Edward Tinker, an Osage who became the father of Clarence L. Tinker, highest-ranking Native American officer in the US Army. The first post office opened in 1876.

The Midland Valley Railroad reached Pawhuska in September 1905. By the time of statehood in 1907, the town population was 2,407.

The first Boy Scout troop was organized in Pawhuska in May 1909 by John F. Mitchell, a missionary priest from England sent to St. Thomas Episcopal Church by the Church of England. On Independence day weekend 2009, the Pawhuska Boy Scout troop celebrated its centennial with a mini-jamboree attended by over 300 Scouts from across the United States.

From the History section of Pawhuska, Oklahoma on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Shopping2

Gas and EV charging2

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Schools, colleges and libraries11

Healthcare3

Map of Pawhuska

47 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Climate by month

20°40°60°80°100°January: 1.7 in of rainFebruary: 2.0 in of rainMarch: 3.5 in of rainApril: 5.1 in of rainMay: 6.1 in of rainJune: 5.9 in of rainJuly: 4.7 in of rainAugust: 4.1 in of rainSeptember: 4.0 in of rainOctober: 3.5 in of rainNovember: 2.7 in of rainDecember: 1.9 in of rainJanuary: 49°FFebruary: 54°FMarch: 64°FApril: 73°FMay: 80°FJune: 87°FJuly: 92°FAugust: 92°FSeptember: 84°FOctober: 74°FNovember: 62°FDecember: 50°FJanuary: 25°FFebruary: 29°FMarch: 38°FApril: 48°FMay: 57°FJune: 66°FJuly: 71°FAugust: 69°FSeptember: 60°FOctober: 49°FNovember: 37°FDecember: 28°FJFMAMJJASOND
Average high Average low Rain
Monthly table
MonthHighLowRain
Jan49°F25°F1.7 in
Feb54°F29°F2.0 in
Mar64°F38°F3.5 in
Apr73°F48°F5.1 in
May80°F57°F6.1 in
Jun87°F66°F5.9 in
Jul92°F71°F4.7 in
Aug92°F69°F4.1 in
Sep84°F60°F4.0 in
Oct74°F49°F3.5 in
Nov62°F37°F2.7 in
Dec50°F28°F1.9 in

U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Pawhuska Hcn (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.

People and cost of living

$46,298median household income
$114,200median home value
$554median monthly rent
39.6median age
15.2%of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
63.3%of homes are owner-occupied
18.3 minaverage commute
Age of residents
Under 1822%18 to 3424%35 to 6436%65 and over18%

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.

Disaster history

Osage County has had 32 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.

  • 2026-10-07: Severe Storm And Straight-Line Winds (Severe Storm)
  • 2026-02-19: Rattlesnake Fire (Fire)
  • 2024-10-30: North Road Fire (Fire)
  • 2024-04-30: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Tornado)
  • 2021-02-24: Severe Winter Storms (Severe Ice Storm)
  • 2021-02-17: Severe Winter Storm (Severe Ice Storm)

OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.

Getting there and nearby towns

Bartlesville Municipal Airport (BVO) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 19 miles away.

  • Bartlesville 22 mi east, about 35 min by car
  • Fairfax 22 mi west, about 35 min by car
  • Owasso 38 mi southeast, about 1 h by car
  • Sand Springs 38 mi south, about 1 h by car
  • Oologah 38 mi southeast, about 1 h by car
  • McCord 39 mi west, about 1 h by car
  • Ponca City 41 mi west, about 1 h by car
  • Tulsa 44 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
  • Claremore 47 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
  • Sapulpa 47 mi south, about 1 h 15 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.