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State Highway 71 (Oklahoma)
Encyclopedia
State Highway 71 is a state highway
in eastern Oklahoma
. It runs from State Highway 31
in Quinton
north to intersect State Highway 9
near Enterprise. It then continues north to Lake Eufaula
Dam, and then turns east to end at State Highway 2
. It has no lettered spur routes.
State Highway 71 begins at SH-31 on the west side of Quinton in northeast Pittsburg County
. The highway initially follows the Quinton street grid, which takes it in a north-northwest direction. As the grid peters out on the outskirts of town, SH-71 breaks away to the west and then to the northwest to avoid Beaver Mountain, gradually curving around to a northerly heading as it approaches the county line. The route crosses into Haskell County
about three miles north of Quinton.
The road continues north in Haskell County until it veers northeast and crosses Longtown Creek. The road then turns back north, passing through rural parts of the county. SH-71 intersects SH-9 in the unincorporated community of Enterprise, just over five miles (8 km) north of the Pittsburg–Haskell county line. North of Enterprise, SH-71 parallels Brooken Creek until it drains into Lake Eufaula. The highway serves the boat docks and campgrounds on the east side of the lake, which is the largest entirely within Oklahoma. SH-71 then runs across the dam impounding the lake
, bringing it into McIntosh County
.
SH-71 merely cuts across the southeast corner of McIntosh County; the highway spends only 1.01 miles (1.6 km) within its boundaries. It soon enters Muskogee County
, now on an eastbound trajectory. The road runs through the Canadian River
valley, staying between the river and Hi Early Mountain. The route next turns northeast, away from the river but still skirting the mountain's base. It finally comes to an end at SH-2 about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south of Porum.
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 eastern 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 from State Highway 31
State Highway 31 (Oklahoma)
State Highway 31 is a state highway in Oklahoma. It runs 132.6 miles in an irregular west-to-east pattern in the southeastern part of the state.There are two spur highways branching from SH-31, SH-31A and SH-31B....
in Quinton
Quinton, Oklahoma
Quinton is a town in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,071 at the 2000 census. The town was named for Elizabeth Quinton who lived to be 116 years old. Her family still resides in and around the town of Quinton.-Geography:...
north to intersect State Highway 9
State Highway 9 (Oklahoma)
State Highway 9, abbreviated as SH-9, OK-9, or simply Highway 9, is a major east–west highway in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Spanning across the central part of the state, SH-9 begins at the Texas state line near Madge, Oklahoma, and ends at the Arkansas state line near Fort Smith, Arkansas. State...
near Enterprise. It then continues north to Lake Eufaula
Lake Eufaula
Lake Eufaula may refer to:*Eufaula Lake, an artificial lake on the Canadian River in Oklahoma, USA*Walter F. George Lake, an artificial lake on the Chattahoochee River between Alabama and Georgia, USA that is also known known as Lake Eufaula, from the town of Eufaula, Alabama on its western banks...
Dam, and then turns east to end at State Highway 2
State Highway 2 (Oklahoma)
State Highway 2, abbreviated SH-2 or OK-2, is a designation for two distinct highways maintained by the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Though they were once connected, the middle section of highway was concurrent with three different U.S. highways, so the middle section was decommissioned for reasons of...
. It has no lettered spur routes.
Route description
Pittsburg County, Oklahoma
Pittsburg County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 43,953. Its county seat is McAlester.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,569 km²...
. The highway initially follows the Quinton street grid, which takes it in a north-northwest direction. As the grid peters out on the outskirts of town, SH-71 breaks away to the west and then to the northwest to avoid Beaver Mountain, gradually curving around to a northerly heading as it approaches the county line. The route crosses into Haskell County
Haskell County, Oklahoma
Haskell County is a county located in the southeast quadrant of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 11,792. Its county seat is Stigler. The county is named in honor of Charles N. Haskell, who was the first governor of Oklahoma....
about three miles north of Quinton.
The road continues north in Haskell County until it veers northeast and crosses Longtown Creek. The road then turns back north, passing through rural parts of the county. SH-71 intersects SH-9 in the unincorporated community of Enterprise, just over five miles (8 km) north of the Pittsburg–Haskell county line. North of Enterprise, SH-71 parallels Brooken Creek until it drains into Lake Eufaula. The highway serves the boat docks and campgrounds on the east side of the lake, which is the largest entirely within Oklahoma. SH-71 then runs across the dam impounding the lake
Eufaula Dam
Eufaula Dam is a dam across the Canadian River in Oklahoma. Completed in 1964, it impounds Eufaula Lake, one of the world’s largest man-made lakes, covering 102,500 acres . The dam serves to provide flood control, water supply, navigation and hydroelectric power generation. It supports a 90 MW...
, bringing it into McIntosh County
McIntosh County, Oklahoma
McIntosh County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 19,456. Its county seat is Eufaula.-Geography:...
.
SH-71 merely cuts across the southeast corner of McIntosh County; the highway spends only 1.01 miles (1.6 km) within its boundaries. It soon enters Muskogee County
Muskogee County, Oklahoma
Muskogee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010, the population was 70,990. Its county seat is Muskogee.-Government:...
, now on an eastbound trajectory. The road runs through the Canadian River
Canadian River
The Canadian River is the longest tributary of the Arkansas River. It is about long, starting in Colorado and traveling through New Mexico, the Texas Panhandle, and most of Oklahoma....
valley, staying between the river and Hi Early Mountain. The route next turns northeast, away from the river but still skirting the mountain's base. It finally comes to an end at SH-2 about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south of Porum.