Frederick is a small but industrious town in southern Oklahoma
Frederick is a rural community near the Oklahoma-Texas border with a walkable downtown, plenty of single-family homes and a selection of dining spots. The Tillman County seat was established as a railroad stop and farming community, the latter of which is still prevalent today, as many ranches and agricultural areas surround the town. However, Frederick does have a manufacturing base, with auto parts producer Henniges Automotive planning to expand its facility. “We get called Mayberry a lot, and I think that that is a compliment,” says Haley Hoover, the executive director of the Frederick Chamber of Commerce, who owns a business in town. “It's just a very small town, but everyone here, for the most part, is friendly and cares about each other. We're a very walkable community, relatively pretty safe.”
A mix of home styles with low HOA activity
Homes here vary from historical Craftsman to bungalow and ranch styles. The median housing price is $92,000, significantly lower than the national and state medians. Jim Ard, a Realtor with Parks Jones Realtors who serves on Fredericks City Council, says the pricing range for homes is generally “very affordable.” “To live that close to quality schools with a price in that range, you can’t beat it,” Ard says. Ard also says the area has very little HOA activity.
Homes closer to downtown are typically on gridded streets on smaller lots with oak trees accenting lawns. Properties with more acreage and farmland are on the outskirts of Frederick. Ard says that the community attracts a mix of families and workers to local industries, giving the city to have a “growth spurt” of new arrivals. “When you come to our community, it feels like you're going back in time. It feels like we are 20 years behind the rest of the world, which I like,” says Hoover. “I like the slowness and the charm and quaintness of it all.”
Frederick Public Schools serves students
Students can attend Frederick Public Schools, ranked A-minus on Niche. They can start at the unranked Prather Brown Center for pre-kindergarten through second grade and then continue to Frederick Elementary, which earns an A-minus. Pupils can then go to A-scored Frederick Middle and finish at Frederick High, graded B, offering music and multiple athletic programs.
Civic Center Park, Lake Frederick and Golf form outdoor fun
Civic Center Park on 17th Street and Floral Avenue features sports courts, playgrounds and baseball backstops. Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area & Center has over 7,000 acres of space for camping, birdwatching and hunting. The Ramona Theatre, located downtown since 1929, hosts community-produced productions and art fairs. The Pioneer Heritage Townsite Museum is designed to resemble a rural homestead from the 1920s and has multiple artifacts on display. Lake Frederick, northeast of downtown, has fishing spots, trails and camping locations. The private Frederick Golf and Country Club has a 9-hole, 3100-yard layout. Annual events include the Tillman County Fair in September, offering food, games and live music
Dining on Main Street with shopping options in downtown
Restaurants are located primarily along Main Street and include a mix of chains and local spots. The Grill serves Tex-Mex cuisine and sandwiches. Tong’s has Chinese dishes including Lo Mein and Fried Rice. Space Shavers offers cool treats such as ice cream and shaved ice. Frederick has several boutiques downtown and a United Supermarket. More big-box shopping options are in Altus, 24 miles northwest and Vernon, Texas, 27 miles southwest.
Flooding and tornadoes can pop up
According to maps, the area is at risk of flooding. Ard notes that the area can see tornadoes, but the last time one came through the city directly was in 1973. Ard also says that a train line does come through Frederick, but does not see much traffic.
Local highways connect Frederick to the rest of the state
Frederick does not have any transit links and is car-dependent. U.S. 183 runs through downtown, forming Main Street, connecting to Vernon and to Interstate 40 outside of Clinton, 92 miles north. The Lawton- Fort Sill Regional Airport is 42 miles north but only has flights to Dallas-Fort Worth International.
Smaller clinics are present, but a new hospital is under construction just north of downtown and is slated to open in late 2026.
Crime in Frederick
According to statistics from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, crimes against people and property have been dropping.
