Ringling in Jefferson County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)
Ringling 100th Anniversary Celebration
1914 Centennial 2014
| | September 27-28 | |
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 4, 2025
1. Ringling 100th Anniversary Celebration Marker
In 1912, Jake L. Hamon, a wildcat speculator, proposed the idea of a railroad from Ardmore to Lawton via southern Oklahoma to John Ringling, owner of the famed Ringling Brothers Circus. Land west of Ardmore was acquired that connected to townsite land bought from Pinkney Turner and Alex Hammons Sr. Ringling tapped his cane on a map of his newly purchased land to determine location of railhead. He considered these southern plains as possible winter quarters for his circus animals.
May 1, 1913, construction began on the Oklahoma, New Mexico and Pacific Railway. Three months later an oil discovery provided the railroad with ample business and John Ringling with a vast fortune.
In 1914, railroad construction stopped 25 miles west of Ardmore. A post office was established and Hamon declared call it Ringling for the man who made it possible.
This monument recognizes 100 years of friendly and productive people who have said Ringling my hometown.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1914.
Location. 34° 10.75′ N,
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the Chickasaw Nation and in Southwest Oklahoma. It is also in the American South, specifically on the prairies, and on the Southern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 3 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Healdton: (approx. 7½ miles away); Vincent A. Kimberlin (approx. 7½ miles away); Orr Community Veterans Memorial (approx. 10 miles away).
Also see . . .
1. Ringling, Oklahoma (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: John Ringling and a partner, Jake(Submitted on October 24, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)Hamon, financed construction of the Oklahoma, New Mexico and Pacific Railway in 1913, to provide transportation to farmers and ranchers between Ardmore and Lawton. Construction began on May 1, 1913, at Ardmore and progressed westward. Oil was discovered in the Healdton field in August 1913. Seeing an opportunity to make big money in the oil business, Ringling and Hamon decided to divert the railroad toward Healdton, 10 miles northeast of the town site. A post office was established during June 1914.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 4, 20252. Ringling Town HallThe marker is on the right/north side of the Town Hall entrance.
2. Oklahoma, New Mexico and Pacific Railway (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: The Oklahoma, New Mexico and Pacific Railway Company was incorporated January 8, 1913 under Oklahoma law by sole stockholder John Ringling. The railroad built about 20 miles of road from Ardmore through Lone Grove to what would become the town of Wilson in 1913, and in 1914 built a further 10 miles of road west from Wilson. However, due to the August 1913 discovery of oil in the Healdton field, being the very area through which the railroad was building, westbound construction on the line was stopped in January 1914 at a location in eastern Jefferson County about one mile north of the existing town of Cornish. This location became the boom town of Ringling, fed both by the petroleum industry and by Cornish citizens and business leaders moving to Ringling to be near the railroad.(Submitted on October 24, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
The Ringling and Oil Fields Railway (Oil Fields) was created as a separate entity on November 23, 1916, under Oklahoma Law, with pretentions of building all the way from the existing Ringling Railroad line north to Oklahoma City. However, it actually constructed only about 6 miles of track in the 1916-1917 timeframe from a point on the existing line called Ringling Junction (about 5 miles east of Ringling) to the town of Healdton.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 23, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 101 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 24, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
