Davenport is history and quiet living rolled into one town
During the hay day of Route 66, travelers would pass through Davenport. This Lincoln County town still welcomes travelers who want to experience the iconic Oklahoma route, and people who enjoy a slower pace of life call the historic area home. “It’s a nice place to live and raise your kids,” says Bill Patterson, who works for the town. “My daughter calls it a Hallmark town. It’s a lot safer than Oklahoma City and Tulsa. It’s quiet and peaceful, and we’re close to Chandler and Stroud.” Interstate 44 was built in the 1950s, diverting traffic from Route 66, which caused an economic downturn for cities like Davenport. Despite the slower traffic, Davenport still welcomes tourists who want to take a trip on the Mother Road. “Tourists come through here year-round,” Patterson says. “People come from all over the country and the world. There’s a little gas station at the tip of Broadway and 7th Street. We just bought it, and we’re turning it into a welcome center. We’re going to do a big grand opening ceremony.”
Older homes with spacious lots
Many homes in Davenport have bungalow or Craftsman designs; the median build year is 1977. More homes have carports than attached garages, though it’s common to see a few cars parked on paved or gravel driveways. Home prices can range from $330,000 to $530,000 for ranch-style homes with more than 10 acres of land. Properties with less than 10 acres often range from $100,000 to $330,000. Manufactured homes and older bungalows can range from about $75,000 to $100,000.
Driving down Route 66, and I-44 growth
Broadway is the main street that cuts through the middle of town. The road is paved with red bricks, as city officials in the 1920s wanted the road to withstand the constant traffic from Route 66. Davenport is about 8 miles away from Chandler and Stroud, which can be reached using Route 66 for a roughly 15-minute drive. Stroud has the Stroud Regional Medical Center. Interstate 44 leads commuters about 50 miles west to Oklahoma City and nearly 60 miles east to Tulsa. I-44 is 2 miles north of Davenport, and the city is excited about a new interchange the Oklahoma Transit Authority plans to build. Residents hope the interchange will bring new business to Davenport and decrease travel time to Stroud for medical emergencies.
Davenport High School alums celebrate Nettie Davenport Day
Davenport Elementary School earns a B-plus and serves students in prekindergarten through eighth grade. Davenport High School also receives a B-plus, and the school is ranked as the second-best in Lincoln County. Since 1978, DHS alums have returned to town for the Nattie Davenport Day Celebration. “Nattie Davenport Day is the biggest event,” Patterson says. “Nettie Davenport was the first postmaster in town.” The event is always an active day filled with a parade, live music, crafts and prize drawings. The day ends with a DHS senior receiving a scholarship.
Public spaces and murals throughout town
Kids who want somewhere to run around can explore Davenport City Park near the fire station. There are swing sets and a small sandlot with a jungle gym. The Davenport Senior Citizens Center offers daily lunches, community events and a quiet space to gather with neighbors. There are five churches in town, and the Church of the Nazarene runs the Davenport Clothing Closet on Broadway Street. Like many buildings in town, the church’s street-facing wall features a mural of Davenport’s early days, with images of the different churches that were in the area. Davenport is also home to the tallest mural on Route 66, and it depicts the Oklahoma Land Run of 1891 that led to Davenport being settled by Noah and Annie Davenport.
Dining out in Davenport
“We also have two great restaurants and convenience stores,” Patterson says. “Some people come from Chandler and Stroud to eat here.” Tammy’s Round-Up Cafe is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day except Monday. The restaurant is a staple for Davenport, but tourists also stop by to refuel with chicken fried steak, brisket and hand-crafted rolls before setting off again on their cross-country trip along Route 66. Patterson says the area has two restaurants because Destinations is a barbecue restaurant that's set to open soon.Old Magnolia Garage and the Town & Country Grocery are convenience stores stocked with snacks and drinks. When residents need groceries, they drive 5 miles east on Route 66 to pick up groceries at the Walmart, a roughly 10-minute trip.
Low crime and the chance of tornadoes in spring
Davenport's CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4. The Davenport Police Department operates out of City Hall, while the Davenport Fire Department has its own station down the street. Living in Oklahoma means keeping an eye out for severe weather, particularly tornadoes in the spring. Davenport has two tornado sirens that alert residents to get inside their homes or storm shelters when danger is imminent. Anyone living on the south side of town may hear trains going along the Stillwater Central Railroad tracks toward Tulsa.
