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State Highway 23 (Oklahoma)
Encyclopedia
State Highway 23 is a state highway
in Oklahoma
. It runs 36.2 miles south-to-north through the center of Beaver County, in the Panhandle
, running from the Texas
state line to the Kansas
state line.
There are no letter-suffixed spur highways branching from SH-23.
SH-23 begins at the Texas
state line 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Booker, Texas
. Upon entering Oklahoma, the highway makes a ninety degree turn to parallel the state line for approximately ½ mile (0.8 km), running just north of the line. It then turns back to the north and travels eight miles (13 km) due north to the intersection with US-270/US-412/SH-3
, at the crossroads settlement of Elmwood
. US-270 splits away from the other two highways at Elmwood, turning north to join SH-23.
A little over one mile (1.8 km) north of Elmwood. US-270/SH-23 cross over Clear Creek, a tributary of the North Canadian River
. The two highways enter Beaver
, the county seat of Beaver County
, about 13 miles (20.9 km) north of Elmwood. Just north of Beaver, the highway crosses the Beaver River (another name for this portion of the North Canadian River). After crossing the river, US-270 and SH-23 pass through Beaver Dunes State Park
.
Approximately six miles (10 km) north of Beaver, US-270 and SH-23 intersect US-64 and split up; US-270 turns west along US-64 towards Forgan
, while SH-23 follows US-64 for about a mile eastbound. After splitting up, SH-23 turns due north, continuing to its terminus seven miles (11 km) later at the Kansas
state line. North of the line it becomes K-23, which continues on to Meade, Kansas
.
SH-23 is first shown replacing SH-23 on the 1959 map, implying the change took place in 1958. Again, SH-23 is not shown as overlapping US-270; it would not be shown as doing such until the 1975 edition.
K-23 was in existence as early as April 1940, shown with a spur ending north of the state line on Oklahoma's state map. On December 11, 1959, the Kansas and Oklahoma highway commissions held a joint meeting in Wichita, Kansas
. At that meeting, the Kansas Highway Commission resolved to connect K-23 with OK-23 to establish a "route number...common to both states." K-23 was already shown on the Oklahoma highway map connecting to Oklahoma's SH-23 as early as the 1957 edition.
Similarly, the Texas Highway Commission ordered its State Highway 23 signed on January 25, 1959, alongside existing FM 1265. The highway, however, officially remained part of FM 1265 until December 18, 1990, when TX-23 was officially established and FM 1265 cancelled.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. It runs 36.2 miles south-to-north through the center of Beaver County, in the Panhandle
Oklahoma Panhandle
The Oklahoma Panhandle is the extreme western region of the state of Oklahoma, comprising Cimarron County, Texas County, and Beaver County. Its name comes from the similarity of shape to the handle of a cooking pan....
, running from the Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
state line to the Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
state line.
There are no letter-suffixed spur highways branching from SH-23.
Route description
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
state line 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Booker, Texas
Booker, Texas
Booker is a town in Lipscomb and Ochiltree Counties in the U.S. state of Texas and named for B.F. Booker, a civil engineer for the Panhandle and Santa Fe Railway. The population was 1,315 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
. Upon entering Oklahoma, the highway makes a ninety degree turn to parallel the state line for approximately ½ mile (0.8 km), running just north of the line. It then turns back to the north and travels eight miles (13 km) due north to the intersection with US-270/US-412/SH-3
State Highway 3 (Oklahoma)
State Highway 3, also abbreviated as SH-3 or OK-3, is a highway maintained by the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Traveling diagonally through Oklahoma, from the Panhandle to the far southeastern corner of the state, SH-3 is the longest state highway in the Oklahoma road system, at a total length of...
, at the crossroads settlement of Elmwood
Elmwood, Oklahoma
Elmwood is a small unincorporated community located at the junction of US Highway 270 and US Highway 412 in Beaver County, Oklahoma, United States. The Post Office was opened January 26, 1888.-Sources:...
. US-270 splits away from the other two highways at Elmwood, turning north to join SH-23.
A little over one mile (1.8 km) north of Elmwood. US-270/SH-23 cross over Clear Creek, a tributary of the North Canadian River
North Canadian River
The North Canadian River is a tributary of the Canadian River, approximately long, that flows through New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma in the United States....
. The two highways enter Beaver
Beaver, Oklahoma
Beaver is a town in and the county seat of Beaver County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,515. The town is host to the annual World Cow Chip Throwing Championship.-History:...
, the county seat of Beaver County
Beaver County, Oklahoma
Beaver County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,636. The county seat is Beaver....
, about 13 miles (20.9 km) north of Elmwood. Just north of Beaver, the highway crosses the Beaver River (another name for this portion of the North Canadian River). After crossing the river, US-270 and SH-23 pass through Beaver Dunes State Park
Beaver Dunes State Park
Beaver Dunes State Park is a Oklahoma state park located in Beaver County, Oklahoma. It is located near the city of Beaver, Oklahoma. The park, located in the panhandle region of Oklahoma, offers dune buggy riding on of sand hills, fishing, hiking trails, a playground and two campgrounds...
.
Approximately six miles (10 km) north of Beaver, US-270 and SH-23 intersect US-64 and split up; US-270 turns west along US-64 towards Forgan
Forgan, Oklahoma
Forgan is a town in Beaver County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 547 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Forgan is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all land....
, while SH-23 follows US-64 for about a mile eastbound. After splitting up, SH-23 turns due north, continuing to its terminus seven miles (11 km) later at the Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
state line. North of the line it becomes K-23, which continues on to Meade, Kansas
Meade, Kansas
Meade is a city in and the county seat of Meade County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,721.-History:...
.
History
Prior to SH-23's establishment, the highway carried two designations—US-270 followed the same portion of the route that it does today, and a segment of SH-15 connected Elmwood to the Texas state line. (A connection with the current western terminus of SH-15 was made with what was then Farm to Market Road 1265 to Booker and TX-117 back to Oklahoma.) The connection to Kansas north of US-64 did not exist as a state highway prior to 1957; it first appears on the 1958 state highway map, also signed as SH-15. The highway is not shown as overlapping US-64 and US-270 to Elmwood.SH-23 is first shown replacing SH-23 on the 1959 map, implying the change took place in 1958. Again, SH-23 is not shown as overlapping US-270; it would not be shown as doing such until the 1975 edition.
K-23 was in existence as early as April 1940, shown with a spur ending north of the state line on Oklahoma's state map. On December 11, 1959, the Kansas and Oklahoma highway commissions held a joint meeting in Wichita, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
. At that meeting, the Kansas Highway Commission resolved to connect K-23 with OK-23 to establish a "route number...common to both states." K-23 was already shown on the Oklahoma highway map connecting to Oklahoma's SH-23 as early as the 1957 edition.
Similarly, the Texas Highway Commission ordered its State Highway 23 signed on January 25, 1959, alongside existing FM 1265. The highway, however, officially remained part of FM 1265 until December 18, 1990, when TX-23 was officially established and FM 1265 cancelled.