Pauls Valley is a quiet farming community with a quaint town center
Settled among fertile farmlands west of the Washita River, Pauls Valley is an agriculturally minded South Oklahoma community. Anchored by a vibrant historic town center, the town's steady population of around 6,100 residents enjoys supporting local businesses and attending events. "It's a small town with quaint brick streets where people like to walk around," says local Janna Jarman, owner of Jarman Realty. She's lived and worked in Pauls Valley for over 40 years. "It's a real neighborly community. One of my neighbors takes food to my mom and always shares when he has extras." Public parks and nearby lakes spotlight the community's scenic natural setting.
Established homes and outlying rural lots
Early 20th-century cottages and bungalows line lightly wooded streets at the heart of town. They typically sit on quarter-acre lots that back up to narrow, gravel alleys where residents put trash cans, and power lines cut through tall backyard trees. Many older homes have been renovated, but a few need repairs. Ranch-style homes built in the mid-to-late 20th century pepper the community. "There's not a lot of new construction," Jarman says. Outside of Pauls Valley proper, and into the countryside, properties are larger, often sitting on at least five acres. The median sale price for a home in Pauls Valley is around $160,000.
Pauls Valley Public Schools earns high remarks on Niche
Pauls Valley Public Schools ranks as the best school district in Garvin County on Niche, scoring an overall A-minus. Pauls Valley Elementary School serves pre-kindergarten through third-grade students and receives an A-minus, and Pauls Valley Intermediate enrolls fourth through sixth graders and has a B-plus. Paul's Valley Junior High, with seventh through ninth-grade students, has a B, and Paul's Valley High has an A-minus. The high school offers several clubs and extracurricular activities, including art club, prayer warriors and the National Honor Society.
Nearby lakes and public green spaces
Pauls Valley offers a mix of traditional public parks and expansive natural areas. Wacker Park, a sizable park northwest of downtown, is a hub of local sports and casual recreation. It features baseball fields, tennis courts and a football field ringed by a track. The park is also home to the Donald W. Reynolds Recreation Center, where folks enjoy the indoor track, weight room and gymnasium. A small waterpark sits behind the recreation center, with a couple of slides and a lazy river for the kids, and the 1.5-acre Paws Valley Dog Park designates space for the pups with water stations and benches.
Pauls Valley City Lake sprawls across 750 acres just north of the Washita River. There's plenty of space for camping along the water's edge, with full electric hookups, but there are also a few entirely undeveloped camping lots for unplugged campers. R.C. Longmire Lake is about 13 miles east of the town's center and is a bit quieter. It's a designated trophy bass lake and a common area for bald eagles throughout the winter. Fishing, boating and jet skiing are popular on both lakes with a city-acquired permit.
Massive catfish at the Okie Noodling Tournament
Pauls Valley is home to the Okie Noodling Tournament, a massive celebration of catfish hand fishing. Participants spend the few days leading up to the tournament scouring Oklahoma waters for the largest catfish before bringing it to Wacker Park to be weighed. The top noodler in 2023 wrangled in a 68.9-pound catfish, earning first place, while the top youth noodler found a 65-pounder. Prizes are doled out before live music closes out the tournament. Smaller contests occur throughout the day, like the kids' catfishing eating contest and the catfish cook-off.
Ample businesses are available in downtown Pauls Valley
Downtown Pauls Valley retains much of its original red-brick streets and historic buildings. It's the community's primary commercial area, with banks, restaurants, retail shops and museums. The Toy and Action Figure Museum is downtown's iconic centerpiece with comics and figurines. It's just off Chickasaw Street, where Boomarang Diner serves burgers and breakfast platters, and Sharpe's Department Store sells clothes and shoes. Downtown additionally features florists, furniture stores and pawn shops. Bob's Pig Shop has served the community since 1933 and is a local favorite. The barbecue joint is known for its pig sandwich, among other popular meat dishes cooked in an 88-year-old brick pit. Walmart Supercenter is available west of downtown, just off West Grant Avenue.
Amtrak trains into Fort Worth or Oklahoma City
Pauls Valley is one of the few remaining cities in Oklahoma served by Amtrak. It's a stop on the Heartland Flyer train that connects Fort Worth and Oklahoma City. The Amtrak station is next to the historic Santa Fe Depot Museum in the heart of downtown. Locals mainly depend on cars to get around. The community is just off Interstate 35, at the intersection of U.S. Route 77 and Oklahoma State Highway 19. With Valley Community Hospital's recent closure, Arbuckle Memorial Hospital and Purcell Municipal Hospital are the nearest medical facilities, each about 25 miles away. Will Rogers International Airport is 60 miles north.
Tornado risks in Oklahoma
While Pauls Valley falls within Tornado Alley, where peak season typically stretches from March through June, the FEMA National Risk Index says Garvin County has a relatively moderate risk of tornadoes.
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Written By
Brennen Martin
