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City of Frederick

200 West Grand
580-335-7551

Frederick was originally two towns - Hazel and Gosnell - established in 1902, located side by side. Later, with the coming of the Blackwell, Enid, and Southern Railroad, the tow towns were joined and named Frederick after the son of a conductor on the first passenger train into town. The railroad was later sold to the St. Louis and San Francisco (Frisco) Line.

The City was incorporated in March 1907 in response to a petition signed by over 200 citizens. A flagpole was promised by the railroad as a means of settling the issue between Hazel and Gosnell. In 1962, after a prolonged delay and prolonged correspondence, the flagpole arrived from the Frisco Railroad and was set on a granite base in Pioneer Park. In 1907 the Wichita Falls and Northwestern (Katy) Railroad came to Frederick. This railroad extended to Altus, Mangum, and later to the Oklahoma Panhandle area. The line presently ends in Altus. The Frisco Line is known as the Grain Belt Line and the Katy Line is known as the Wichita, Tillman, Jackson Line.

Originally part of Kiowa Comanche County, this area was split off in 1907 and named Tillman County after a Senator Tillman from South Carolina. Research has failed to establish any connection between this area and the Senator from South Carolina. The entire area, of course, is a part of the Louisiana Purchase from 1803 from France.

In laying out the City of Frederick, the numbered streets began on the west edge of the City and extended Eastward to 22nd street. Beginning on the south edge of the original townsite and going North, the streets were alphabetical and , in most cases, named after flowers, i.e. Aster, Balsam, Calla, Dahlia, Grand, Floral, Gladstone, Hermosa, Iris, Jasmine, Kiowa Lobelia, and Mimilus. Later, the first names of developers wives were used Mary, Minnie, Virginia, Lillian, and Queen. Highview, Grant and Meandering Road came still later.