Ponca City, Oklahoma
Ponca City is a city of 24,326 people in Kay County, Oklahoma, founded in 1893.
Why visit Ponca City
Townapedia lists 17 museums and landmarks, 25 parks and trails, 25 places to eat, 15 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include AMC CLASSIC Ponca City 4, Daniel J. Donahoe House, Downtown Ponca City Historic District and Cann Memorial Gardens.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 93°F; January lows average 25°F.
Weather in Ponca City
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Ponca City
Ponca City (Iowa-Oto: Chína Uhánⁿdhe) is a city in Kay County in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The city was named after the Ponca tribe. Ponca City had a population of 24,424 in the 2020 census, down from 25,387 at the time of the 2010 census.
From the Wikipedia article Ponca City, Oklahoma (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Museums and landmarks17
Daniel J. Donahoe House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Historic residence in Ponca City, Oklahoma
Downtown Ponca City Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Historic district in Oklahoma, United States
E. W. Marland Mansion
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic house in Oklahoma, United States
Marland Grand Home
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Museum in Ponca City, Oklahoma
Pioneer Woman
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Sculpture by Bryant Baker
Pioneer Woman Monument
Monument and historic site · 0.8 mi
Monument in Kay County, Oklahoma, United States of America
Ponca City Milling Company Elevator
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.6 mi
Grain elevator in Ponca City, Oklahoma, United States
.jpg){kind=link}
.JPG){kind=link}
Ponca City station
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.6 mi
Historic train station in Ponca City, Oklahoma, United States
Poncan Theatre
Cinema and theater · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Theater and movie theater in Ponca City, Oklahoma, United States
5 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds25
13 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes25
Enrique's Mexican Restaurant
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.9 mi
2213 North Waverly Street, Ponca City
Ground Round Bar & Grill Ponca City
Diner · American · 1.2 mi
720 East Prospect Avenue, Ponca City
Tortilleria Los Compadres
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.9 mi
801 South 1st Street, Ponca City
13 more on the map.
History
Ponca City was created in 1893 as "New Ponca" after the United States opened the Cherokee Outlet for European-American settlement during the Cherokee Strip land run, the largest land run in United States history. The site for Ponca City was selected for its proximity to the Arkansas River, a railway, and the presence of a freshwater spring near the river at what is modern 13th Street and South Avenue in Ponca City. The city was laid out by Burton Barnes, who drew up the first survey of the city and sold certificates for the lots he had surveyed. After the drawing for lots in the city was completed, Barnes was elected the city's first mayor.
Another city, Cross, vied with Ponca City to become the leading city in the area. After the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway had opened a station in Cross, people thought it would not open another in Ponca City because of the two cities' proximity. New Ponca boosters eventually secured a station after offering the Santa Fe station agent two town lots and the free relocation of his house from Cross. Ponca City reportedly obtained its first boxcar station by some Ponca City supporters going to Cross and returning with the town's station pulled behind them. Cross eventually became defunct, and today, what was once Cross is now a residential district in Ponca City. In 1913, New Ponca changed its name to Ponca City.
From the History section of Ponca City, Oklahoma on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay15
Americas Best Value Inn
Motel and hotel · 1.5 mi
407 South 14th Street, Ponca City
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
Motel and hotel · 1.1 mi
2809 North 14th Street, Ponca City
Churches and places of worship36
Grace Episcopal Church
Church · Episcopal · 1.2 mi
109 North 13th Street, Ponca City
Harmony Missionary Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · 1.2 mi
2230 North Union Street, Ponca City
Life Center Church
Church · Nondenominational · 2.1 mi
1300 West Grand Avenue, Ponca City
Shopping7
Gas and EV charging9
Schools, colleges and libraries30
Healthcare3
Edwin Fair Community Health Clinic
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.5 mi
1500 North 6th Street, Ponca City
Map of Ponca City
169 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°F | 25°F | 1.0 in |
| Feb | 52°F | 28°F | 1.1 in |
| Mar | 62°F | 37°F | 2.2 in |
| Apr | 71°F | 46°F | 3.8 in |
| May | 79°F | 57°F | 5.1 in |
| Jun | 88°F | 67°F | 4.7 in |
| Jul | 93°F | 71°F | 3.7 in |
| Aug | 92°F | 70°F | 3.3 in |
| Sep | 84°F | 61°F | 2.7 in |
| Oct | 72°F | 48°F | 3.1 in |
| Nov | 60°F | 36°F | 1.6 in |
| Dec | 49°F | 27°F | 1.3 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Ponca City Muni Ap 72453 (2 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
Kay County has had 29 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 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)
- 2020-12-21: Severe Winter Storm (Severe Ice Storm)
- 2020-04-05: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Ponca City Regional Airport (PNC) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 2 miles away.
- McCord 4 mi southeast, about 6 min by car
- White Eagle 7 mi south, about 11 min by car
- Newkirk 11 mi north, about 18 min by car
- Marland 12 mi southwest, about 19 min by car
- Blackwell 14 mi northwest, about 23 min by car
- Tonkawa 14 mi west, about 23 min by car
- Fairfax 23 mi southeast, about 36 min by car
- Arkansas City 24 mi north, about 39 min by car
- Stillwater 41 mi south, about 1 h by car
- Enid 49 mi southwest, about 1 h 15 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
- Veteran's Day parade, Ponca City, Oklahoma, Reservoirhill at English Wikipedia, Public domain
- Henry C. Hatashita House, Ponca City, OK, OKJaguar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Marland Estate, Inc. Gatehouse, Ponca City, OK, OKJaguar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Temple Emanuel, Ponca City, OK, OKJaguar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Roosevelt Elementary School, Ponca City, OK, OKJaguar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ponca City Power Plant, Ponca City, OK, OKJaguar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Jack and Helen Cleary House, Ponca City, OK, OKJaguar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- James J. McGraw House, Ponca City, OK, OKJaguar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- First Presbyterian Church, Ponca City, OK, OKJaguar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Charlotte Marland House, Ponca City, OK, OKJaguar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Charlotte Marland House, Ponca City, Oklahoma, OKJaguar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Pioneer Bible Church fka First Church of Christ, Scientist, Ponca City, OK, OKJaguar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 101 Rodeo Arena, Ponca City, OK, OKJaguar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Attucks Community Center, Ponca City, OK, OKJaguar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- St. John Baptist Church, Ponca City, OK, OKJaguar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ponca City Municipal Airport Hangar, Ponca City, OK, OKJaguar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lake Ponca Duck Pond Historic District, Ponca City, OK, OKJaguar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo of Dan Moran Park named in honor of Moran in Ponca City, Oklahoma with the Ponca City Refinery that Moran ran from 1928 to 1947 in the background, NorthCentralOklahoma, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Wentz Camp, Ponca City, Oklahoma, OKJaguar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ponca City Milling Company Elevator, MichaelStano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Santa Fe Depot (Ponca City, Oklahoma), Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 3.0
- Marland Mansion Entrance Front, Landry76, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Downtown Ponca City Historic District, Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 3.0
- Daniel J. Donahoe House, Jeffrey Beall, CC BY-SA 3.0
- TWUMonument (1 of 1), Renelibrary, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Marland Grand Home 05-26-2021 IMG 3928, NorthCentralOklahoma, CC BY 4.0
- Marland Grand Home 05-26-2021 IMG 3927, NorthCentralOklahoma, CC BY 4.0
- Marland Grand Home 05-26-2021 IMG 3929, NorthCentralOklahoma, CC BY 4.0
- Marland Grand Home 05-26-2021 IMG 3932, NorthCentralOklahoma, CC BY 4.0
- Marland Grand Home 05-26-2021 IMG 3931, NorthCentralOklahoma, CC BY 4.0
- Marland Grand Home 05-26-2021 IMG 3930, NorthCentralOklahoma, CC BY 4.0
- Poncan Theatre, BeccaDawn88, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Conoco Museum IMG 3947, NorthCentralOklahoma, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hard Boiled Two Fisted IMG 3953, NorthCentralOklahoma, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Moran's Expansion Strategy IMG 3954, NorthCentralOklahoma, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Conoco Merger IMG 3952, NorthCentralOklahoma, CC BY-SA 4.0
- ISS034-E-6459 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS023-E-36980 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS062-E-42964 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS062-E-42963 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.