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State Highway 56 (Oklahoma)
Encyclopedia
State Highway 56 is a state highway
in the U.S. state
of Oklahoma
. The road serves Seminole County
, Okfuskee County
, and Okmulgee
Counties in central and east-central Oklahoma
. In Seminole County, it is also designated as the Seminole Nation Highway in honor of the contributions the Seminole Nation has made to the state of Oklahoma.
SH-56 begins at an intersection with US-377 four miles (6 km) east of Konawa
, and extends to US-75 in Okmulgee
. The highway's total length is 86.7 miles (139.5 km).
SH-56 was first added to the state highway system in 1929. It was gradually extended to its present length between then and 1942.
and US-377/SH-3E/SH-99 four miles (6 km) east of Konawa. From here, the highway and heads east, curving through the hilly terrain of southeastern Seminole County. The highway passes through the town of Sasakwa
10 miles (16.1 km) east of US-377. At Sasakwa, the road turns north, crossing the Little River
northeast of town and generally paralleling the Seminole–Hughes County
county line. The highway then bisects the town of Wewoka
, intersecting US-270 and concurring
with its business loop. SH-56 also serves as the eastern terminus of SH-59 in Wewoka. North of the town, SH-56 intersects with SH-9. The highway continues north, intersecting SH-99A near Cromwell
and interchanging with I-40
near the unincorporated community of Schoolton. After crossing I-40, SH-56 makes a long arc to the east, bringing it into Okfuskee County.
Just east of the county line, SH-56 bridges the North Canadian River
. South of Castle
, the road intersects with SH-48. SH-56 then proceeds east into Okemah
, the county seat, where it has a short concurrency with both US-62 and SH-27. The highway continues east from town, then turns north, before turning back to the east to pass through the unincorporated settlement of Okfuskee. East of Okfuskee, the highway enters Okmulgee County.
In Okmulgee County, SH-56 skirts the northern edge of Okmulgee Lake and serves Dripping Springs State Park
. East of the lake, it passes through Okmulgee Wildlife Refuge and Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge
. It then enters the city of Okmulgee
. There, SH-56 comes to an end at US-75.
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 the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. The road serves Seminole County
Seminole County, Oklahoma
Seminole County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 24,894 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Wewoka. Before Oklahoma's admission as a state, the county was the entire small portion of Indian Territory allocated to the Seminoles. Seminole County has been an...
, Okfuskee County
Okfuskee County, Oklahoma
Okfuskee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 11,814. Its county seat is Okemah.-Geography:...
, and Okmulgee
Okmulgee County, Oklahoma
Okmulgee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 39,685. Its county seat is Okmulgee.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,819 km²...
Counties in central and east-central 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...
. In Seminole County, it is also designated as the Seminole Nation Highway in honor of the contributions the Seminole Nation has made to the state of Oklahoma.
SH-56 begins at an intersection with US-377 four miles (6 km) east of Konawa
Konawa, Oklahoma
Konawa is a city in Seminole County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,479 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Konawa is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, and extends to US-75 in Okmulgee
Okmulgee, Oklahoma
Okmulgee is a city in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, United States. The population at the 2010 census was 12,321 a loss of 5.4 percent since the 2000 census figure of 13,022. It has been the capital of the Muscogee Nation since the United States Civil War. Okmulgee means "boiling waters" in the Creek...
. The highway's total length is 86.7 miles (139.5 km).
SH-56 was first added to the state highway system in 1929. It was gradually extended to its present length between then and 1942.
Route description
SH-56 begins at the junction of SH-39State Highway 39 (Oklahoma)
State Highway 39, abbreviated as SH-39 or OK-39, is a state highway in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It is 68.4 miles in length. Built in 1923, it runs east–west through the central part of the state...
and US-377/SH-3E/SH-99 four miles (6 km) east of Konawa. From here, the highway and heads east, curving through the hilly terrain of southeastern Seminole County. The highway passes through the town of Sasakwa
Sasakwa, Oklahoma
Sasakwa is a town in Seminole County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was documented as 150 in the 2000 census.-Geography:Sasakwa is located at...
10 miles (16.1 km) east of US-377. At Sasakwa, the road turns north, crossing the Little River
Little River (Oklahoma)
The Little River is a tributary of the Canadian River, long, in central Oklahoma in the United States. Via the Canadian and Arkansas rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River....
northeast of town and generally paralleling the Seminole–Hughes County
Hughes County, Oklahoma
Hughes County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 14,154. Its county seat is Holdenville.-Geography:...
county line. The highway then bisects the town of Wewoka
Wewoka, Oklahoma
Wewoka is a city in Seminole County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 3,562 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Seminole County.Wewoka is the capital of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma.-Geography:Wewoka is located at ....
, intersecting US-270 and concurring
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with its business loop. SH-56 also serves as the eastern terminus of SH-59 in Wewoka. North of the town, SH-56 intersects with SH-9. The highway continues north, intersecting SH-99A near Cromwell
Cromwell, Oklahoma
Cromwell is a town in Seminole County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 265 at the 2000 census.-History:Cromwell was a wild and wooly town in the early 1920s. The town was said to be full of saloons, brothels and outlaws...
and interchanging with I-40
Interstate 40 in Oklahoma
Interstate 40 is an Interstate Highway in Oklahoma that runs 331 miles across the state from Texas to Arkansas. West of Oklahoma City, it parallels and replaces Old US-66, and east of Oklahoma City, it parallels US-62, US-266 and US-64.Cities along the route include Erick, Sayre, Elk City,...
near the unincorporated community of Schoolton. After crossing I-40, SH-56 makes a long arc to the east, bringing it into Okfuskee County.
Just east of the county line, SH-56 bridges 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....
. South of Castle
Castle, Oklahoma
Castle is a town in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 122 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Castle is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
, the road intersects with SH-48. SH-56 then proceeds east into Okemah
Okemah, Oklahoma
Okemah is a city in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Okfuskee County. It is the birthplace of folk music legend Woody Guthrie. Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, a federally recognized Muscogee Indian tribe, is headquartered in Okemah...
, the county seat, where it has a short concurrency with both US-62 and SH-27. The highway continues east from town, then turns north, before turning back to the east to pass through the unincorporated settlement of Okfuskee. East of Okfuskee, the highway enters Okmulgee County.
In Okmulgee County, SH-56 skirts the northern edge of Okmulgee Lake and serves Dripping Springs State Park
Dripping Springs State Park
Dripping Springs State Park is a Oklahoma state park located in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma. It is located near the city of Okmulgee, Oklahoma. Recreational opportunities at Dripping Springs State Park include RV camping, tent camping, swimming, fishing, and boating...
. East of the lake, it passes through Okmulgee Wildlife Refuge and Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge
Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge
thumb|Kayaking in the Deep Fork Wildlife Refuge at sunriseThe Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge is part of the United States system of National Wildlife Refuges. It is located in Eastern Oklahoma, near the city of Okmulgee and the Deep Fork River where the park gets its name.The refuge was...
. It then enters the city of Okmulgee
Okmulgee, Oklahoma
Okmulgee is a city in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, United States. The population at the 2010 census was 12,321 a loss of 5.4 percent since the 2000 census figure of 13,022. It has been the capital of the Muscogee Nation since the United States Civil War. Okmulgee means "boiling waters" in the Creek...
. There, SH-56 comes to an end at US-75.
History
State Highway 56 traces its origins to August 28, 1929, its original date of commissioning. At that time, the highway only consisted of the portion of the route extending from the SH-99 junction (then SH-48) east to Sasakwa, thence north to end at SH-3 south of Wewoka. The highway underwent its first extension just under two years later, on June 15, 1931, when it was extended to end at US-62 in Okemah. The highway was extended to Okmulgee on April 13, 1942, bringing it to its current extent. Other than minor realignments, the highway has undergone no further changes since 1942.Junction list
Loop route
- SH-56 Loop is a bypass route around the northeast quadrant of Okmulgee, running from US-75 east and south to US-62. in Okmulgee from US-75 , east and south to US-62. Although it shares its number with SH-56, it does not intersect its parent route. The highway provides access to OSU-Okmulgee. SH-56 Loop is 3.7 miles (6 km) long. It was established on May 7, 1962.