Elk City is a very friendly, family-oriented community. The majority of our physicians are here because of the easy and accommodating balance between personal and professional life. Those with children can have a busy practice, yet still be able to attend their children’s school and sporting events. Commute time from one edge of the city to the opposite side is approximately 8-10 minutes. That means very little driving time from home to office to hospital, which equates to more time with family, relaxing, or enjoying hobbies and favorite pastimes. Although our location is rural Oklahoma, we’re only 90 miles from the Oklahoma City airport. This may seem significant in terms of miles but it’s not that much different time-wise than commuting just a short distance in a big city. The advantage of being 90 miles away from Oklahoma City is that it gives us a very captive patient population, which provides many professional benefits for the physician. On the other hand, Oklahoma City (or Amarillo, TX) is close enough to be just a pleasant day’s outing for shopping excursions to large malls, concerts, major sports events, ballet, theatre, etc. 

Elk City has a low to moderate cost of living, a low crime rate and a low unemployment rate. Residents enjoy four distinct seasons. Extreme spells of very cold temperatures in the winter or very hot temperatures in the summer are usually relatively short in duration, allowing for a number of pleasantly moderate days the rest of the time. The City of Elk City is governed by a Charter/City Manager type of system.

                                                                        

If you love the great outdoors, Elk City and the surrounding area offers an abundance of opportunities whether your interest be hunting, fishing, boating, water skiing, hiking, camping, motocross, biking, hiking or horseback riding, to name a few of the local activities available. Lake Elk City, located just 2 miles south of downtown Elk City, has 250 surface acres and 5 miles of shoreline. Amenities include boat ramps/docks, covered picnic areas, outdoor grills, group facilities, playground, swim beach, mountain bike/horseback trails, hiking, campgrounds, RV hookups and an amphitheatre. The lake is owned by the City of Elk City, which runs two fish hatcheries to keep the lake well-stocked with fish. Species of fish in the lake include saugeye, largemouth bass, channel catfish and hybrid striped bass. Foss State Park is approximately 20 miles north of Elk City and has 8,800 surface acres and 63 miles of shoreline. In addition to all the amenities that fishermen, campers, boaters and swimmers could possibly need, it also has 19 miles of multi-use trails for equestrians, hikers or mountain bikers. Adjacent to Foss State Park is the U.S. Fish & Wildlife’s Washita National Wildlife Refuge. Wildlife enthusiasts can observe a large variety of animals, birds (including bald eagles in the wintertime) and waterfowl in open, natural habitats. 

For those whose interests lean more towards flexing their brains, Elk City has a huge museum complex that includes the National Route 66 Museum, National Transportation Museum, Old Town Museum and Farm & Ranch Museum. Would you like to learn more about the Old West and our nation’s western heritage? Flying W Guest Ranch, a working cattle ranch, and its historical 2,300 year old buffalo kill site are just a short distance west of Elk City. Another of area of interest might be the nearby Washita Battlefield National Historic Site where Lt. Col. George A. Custer led the 7th U.S. Cavalry on a surprise dawn attack against the Southern Cheyenne village of Peace Chief Black Kettle on November 27, 1868.

The Elk City Public School System is strong in academics as well as extracurricular activities. An AP track is offered to prepare students for college, and statistics show that Elk City graduates finish college at a 12% higher rate than the state average. Many Class 4A championships have been won in the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association during the past years.