According to a2zcamerablog, Ada, Oklahoma is a small city located in the south central region of the state, just over 100 miles southeast of Oklahoma City. The city was founded in 1901 and named after Ada Reed, the daughter of an early settler. It has grown to become a vibrant and diverse community with a population of around 17,000 people.
Ada is nestled in the rolling hills of Pontotoc County, with the scenic Kiamichi Mountains to the east and Lake Texoma to the west. The city’s downtown area is home to many historic buildings, including churches dating back to the late 1800s. Ada also boasts an impressive selection of modern amenities for its size, including two hospitals, several restaurants and shopping centers, several parks and recreational facilities, and an array of cultural attractions.
The economy of Ada is largely driven by agriculture and manufacturing. The area’s diverse soil types make it ideal for growing a variety of crops such as cotton, wheat, soybeans, corn, sorghum and hay. Manufacturing plays a key role in Ada’s economy as well; there are several factories located here that produce products ranging from auto parts to paper products.
Ada offers its residents plenty to do throughout the year with its many outdoor activities like camping at Lake Texoma or biking along one of its many trails. Nearby attractions include three state parks – Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Lake Texoma State Park and McGee Creek State Park – all offering excellent opportunities for fishing and boating on their crystal clear waters. Other popular destinations include Robbers Cave State Park for hiking or rafting on the Lower Mountain Fork River; Turner Falls for swimming or exploring caves; Ardmore Zoo for animal viewing; or one of Ada’s local wineries for tastings.
The city also hosts a number of annual festivals that bring out thousands each year including Redbud Festival in April which celebrates spring with live music; Pickle Festival featuring pickles from all over Oklahoma; Watermelon Festival celebrating summertime with watermelon eating contests; Christmas Parade showcasing festive floats each December; Fourth Fest featuring fireworks displays each July 4th; or Harvest Fest honoring Oklahomans’ agricultural roots each October.
Ada is a wonderful place to live whether you are looking for outdoor recreation opportunities or just want an enjoyable place to call home. With its strong sense of community pride coupled with all it has to offer residents can be assured they will find something special here in this friendly town nestled among Oklahoma’s rolling hills.
History of Ada, Oklahoma
Ada, Oklahoma is a city located in Pontotoc County, and is the county seat. It was founded in the 1880s by the Choctaw Indians and named after Ada Reed, a daughter of Chief G.W. Grayson.
The town began to grow when the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway Company built a line from Paris, Texas to Purcell, Oklahoma in 1886. It was then incorporated as a town in 1901 and was quickly growing into an agricultural center for cotton production in Indian Territory. By 1910, Ada had over 1,000 citizens and a variety of businesses ranging from banks to blacksmiths.
The 1920s saw an influx of oil production as well as other industries such as brick making and poultry processing that helped spur on economic growth during this time period. The Great Depression saw many businesses close their doors but Ada managed to survive due to its resilient population.
In the 1950s Ada began to transition away from its agricultural roots and into an industrial town with new factories, schools, shopping centers and other amenities being built throughout the city. This trend continued through the 1960s with several large employers moving their production facilities into Ada such as Halliburton Oil Company, who opened up an oilfield services plant in 1966 which still operates today.
Ada has continued to grow over recent decades with its population increasing by 13% between 2000 and 2010 alone due to both natural growth as well as migration from other parts of Oklahoma and beyond that have been attracted by its diverse job opportunities available at places such as East Central University or one of its many manufacturing plants or retail stores located within city limits.
Today Ada is home to over 17,000 people making it one of the larger cities in southeastern Oklahoma while still maintaining its small-town charm through festivals such as The Pontotoc County Free Fair held every year since 1904 or events like the Chickasaw Nation’s Annual Cultural Festival which celebrates Native American culture with music, dancing, food and art displays each summer at Wintersmith Park located just outside downtown Ada. With so much history behind it and so much potential for future growth, this small Oklahoma city is sure to remain an important part of southern culture for years.
