Bethany - A Great Place to Live
Bethany has a unique, rich history that is still embedded within the community today. Named for the Biblical town of the same name, Bethany has, at different times been claimed by France and Spain. The certainty that it was a part of the United States was not established until sixteen years after the famous Louisiana Purchase. This came in 1819 when this nation ratified what was popularly known as the Florida Purchase Treaty.
By this time, our government was searching for an area in the west to which it hoped to move the Five Civilized Tribes. Originally, the Creeks were granted all of the land west of the Cherokees between the Canadian River on the south and the Cherokee Outlet on the north. After the American Civil War in which some of the Indian tribes had sided with the Confederates, our government, partly to get back at them, negotiated treaties obtaining all of the holdings of these two tribes west of the Ninety-Seventh Meridian. But the eastern portion of this was not assigned to any tribe and thereby acquired the name of "Unassigned Lands."
Council Grove was an important part of the "Unassigned Lands." Although it was in the Creek Nation, it was a gathering place for many of the Plains Indians. Its good spring water and its large grove of cottonwood, elm and oak trees made it an attractive spot for Indian Councils. It was here that the Confederate Indians decided to hold a council with the Plains Indians when it became obvious that the tide had turned against them in the Civil War. Because Union armies were too near this area, they moved to Camp Napoleon in what is now Verden, Oklahoma.
In 1889, the United States Government set aside the equivalent of nine sections as a source of timber needed for Fort Reno. When the "Unassigned Lands" were opened in 1889, this part of Council Grove was exempted from settlement. The coming of what is now the Rock Island Railroad relieved the government"s need for the timber reserve so this area was opened for settlement. Another ten years were to pass, however, before this part of the old timber reserve was to have its beginning as a town and to assume the name of Bethany. With the prospects for an inter-urban line extending from Oklahoma City westward to El Reno, three institutions (an orphanage, a Bible school, and a rescue home) moved from Beulah Heights in Northwest Oklahoma City to this new location and formed the nucleus for the town which was platted in the summer of 1909. The dedication of the plat was signed , on July 18, 1909.
Homes and other institutional buildings began to be constructed, one of which, the Oklahoma Holiness College, was to become the Southern Nazarene University that is in Bethany today. Bethany was finally incorporated as a town in 1910.
After World War II, Bethany began to expand. City facilities began to grow. The area of Bethany has increased from the 160 acres of the original townsite to approximately 5.1 square miles at the present time. The population according to the 2000 Census was 20,307. This place we call home has always had a rich spirit that sticks with each person that comes and goes. Despite the growth in population and development, Bethany remains highly individualistic in character, harking back to its beginnings, and promises to so remain.
Every year, Bethany"s Eldon Lyon Park is host to two annual festivals which have become well known events enjoyed by thousands, the Bethany Freedom Festival on July 4th, especially significant this year, for Oklahoma's Centennial Celebration, and the Bethany Balloon Fest.
Situated on historic Route 66, Bethany is a family oriented city on the shoreline of Lake Overholser, where you can enjoy fishing and hiking.
The friendly people, the beautiful parks, long time tradition, churches, schools, unique businesses, and much more make up the atmosphere that outsiders say "It's a great place to live, shop, work, and grow your business." Come and see for yourself.
Source:
Wikipedia Encyclopedia
City of Bethany
