Blackwell’s manufacturing roots in North-Central Oklahoma
Blackwell is an industrial town on the Kansas-Oklahoma state line. Located between Oklahoma City and Wichita, Blackwell grew rapidly through the 1920s thanks to the hundreds of jobs the Blackwell Zinc Company brought to the area. While the smelter is no longer in operation and the population has been in steady decline since the 1970s, Blackwell continues to be fueled by manufacturing plants on the west side of town while offering plenty of restaurants and recreational options. “A lot of people have been here their whole lives,” says Noel Black, executive director for the Blackwell Chamber of Commerce. “You know everyone, there’s a lot of community engagement and it truly feels like home.”
A memorial pool, a museum and a barn quilt trail
Memorial Park contains a 7,500-square-foot skate park, an Olympic-sized pool that opens in the summer and tennis and volleyball courts. It's also the site of the Blackwell Youth Center, which hosts regular events and teen groups. There are baseball and softball parks on both ends of town and several playgrounds. The Top of Oklahoma Museum is a Beaux-Arts building originally designed as a theater that now displays artifacts from Oklahoma's past. The Museum is also a stop on the self-guided Top of Oklahoma Barn Quilt Trail, which includes 60 quilts around the city representing all 50 states. “It’s so homey and charming,” Black says. "You can pick up a brochure, go on a trail and see all the quilts throughout the community.”
Burgers, barbecue and Braum’s
Many restaurants can be found north along Doolin Avenue between both major highways. Los Potros might be the most popular restaurant in Blackwell. It draws diners from across the county for its homemade tacos and burritos. Prairie Smoke BBQ has pork belly tacos, bone-in wings and steak nights, and Arthur’s was voted the best burger in Kay County in 2024. Fast-food restaurants include Sonic, Subway and Braum’s, and downtown Blackwell has small businesses, including an antique shop, a thrift store and a florist. Local grocery stores include Walmart, Dollar General and United Supermarkets.
Traditional homes less than $200,000
Most blocks on the east side of town are filled with older properties dating back as far as 1920. Some of the original red brick roads were retained from the town's founding, and sights of overgrown sidewalks are common along with chain link fences and tall oak trees. Traditional homes that are under 1,500 square feet with lots smaller than a half acre range from $40,000 to $80,000, while Craftsman and ranch-style homes with covered patios, sheds and two-car garages range from $120,000 to $170,000.
One of Oklahoma's largest county fairs and a baseball team
The Blackwell Fairgrounds and Event Center hosts events year-round, including the Kay County Free Fair, one of the largest county fairs in Oklahoma. The Blackwell FlyCathers, a Pecos League baseball team, play next door at Morgan Field. Black says the whole town looks forward to the Blackwell Maroons' high school football season. “Homecoming is a huge deal for Blackwell,” Black says. “They’ll have rows for every class in the auditorium from 2025 all the way to 1969.”
Multiple highways between Wichita and Oklahoma City
Oklahoma State Highway 11 runs east and west through Blackwell and U.S. Route 177 runs north and south. Nearby, Interstate 35 runs north into Wichita and south into Oklahoma City. Cherokee Strip Transit provides transportation around town and to surrounding communities, and the Blackwell Regional Hospital is open for 24 hours. OKC Will Rogers International Airport is about 100 miles south.
Blackwell's public schools
Blackwell Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth-grade students and earns a B-plus on Niche. Blackwell Middle School has a 14-to-1 student-teacher ratio and a C-plus. Blackwell High School has advanced placement courses and earns a B-minus.
