Historic Context

One of El Reno’s greatest strengths is its celebration of its past, particularly of the city’s historic routes. Although the city has lost many of the signs and structures from the Route 66 era, dozens still remain on Sunset Drive, ready to be revitalized to match the local enthusiasm for classic cars, diner food, and good times.

The historic lands of El Reno have been home to many peoples over time as well as a place of passage for others. As the immemorial homelands of the Osage Nation and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes as well as the long-time homes of other tribal nations, including the Cheyenne-Arapaho, Comanche, Caddo, Delaware, Kiowa, and Kickapoo tribes, El Reno had a vast history before the city was established by settlers in the 1889 Land Run (NativeLand.ca; Comanche Nation; “In the Beginning”; “History”; Oklahoma; Obermeyer; “Kiowa”; “Osage”; “A Ho Pi Ti Ke No”). The natural assets and location of El Reno has attracted a wide variety of human flows through the years, including Native American tribes, colonial settlers, armies, farmers, businesses, tourists, and everyday people in want of a home, all of whom have helped build El Reno as we know it today. Rich with history, El Reno bears many marks of previous residents and travelers, including the beautiful downtown businesses and housing from the early 1900s, Fort Reno, the Rock Island Depot, public art and parks, the historic streetcar, and the stretch of Route 66 that weaves through town.

In particular, El Reno’s character is still defined by its historic routes that connected the city to the rest of the state and the nation, namely the railroad, the streetcar, and Route 66. Presently, tourists and residents can experience that history at the Canadian County Historical Museum, which is located in the 1906 Rock Island train depot. In addition to extensive artifacts and historic El Reno buildings throughout the property, the museum also has two train cars on display as well as an operational streetcar on rails used for historical tours. Likewise, El Reno has made recent Route 66-themed dedications, including a monument in Petree Plaza and a freshly renovated bridge with new Route 66 markers. Various types of buildings from that era remain along the portion of Route 66 that runs through town, including 74 existing buildings that were built from 19201965 within the project study area. Currently, many of these buildings consist of personal storage and automotive shops, single-family housing, and a few office and commercial uses; however, in the past, this stretch of road also boasted a series of cafés, restaurants, ice cream shops, grocery stores, and a plant nursery (Canadian; “Assessor”). Despite the disappearance of many businesses along Route 66 in El Reno, the culture still remains. Each year, the city hosts events that celebrate Route 66 and the automotive spirit of the city, including the Small Town Weekend, drag races, Smoke on the Water, Grascar and ATV races, and Fly El Reno.

El Reno was well-traveled and a common rest stop for many decades, whether one was moving by train, trolley, or car, but traffic slowly diminished as the railroad when bankrupt, personal vehicles replaced the Interurbans, and the interstate redirected traffic away from Route 66. Although El Reno has many great amenities and historical attractions, particularly for a city of 20,000, travelers often bypass the city; as a result, El Reno misses out on the potential tourism and sales taxes needed to support residents.

Newly renovated 66/81 bridge (Sandidge) Marching band at 66/81 bridge ribbon cutting (Sandidge)

Demographic Data

El Reno’s population has steadily grown in the last decade to 19,095, which is a positive indicator for economic development. However, other important social and economic characteristics should be considered as the city develops to ensure

Demographic Summary of El Reno Residents

Economic and demographic data about El Reno residents were collected from the US Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey; the same data was also gathered for the state of Oklahoma as well as the United States in order to provide comparison and context. The collected statistics included age and sex, household makeup, educational attainment, disability status, immigrant status, race and ethnicity, income, poverty and unemployment, as well as housing market and industry characteristics.

Income

The household median income in El Reno as of 2019 was $48,060, which is respectable, but still lower than the 2019 median income of Oklahoma – $52,919 – and the 2019

Income by Percentage in El Reno (“Explore”)

improvements are made for current residents, including income, employment, educational attainment and opportunities, immigration, race and ethnicity, and vulnerable populations.

median income of the United States – $62,843. Notably, the mean income in El Reno is much higher than the median income at $62,903, meaning that there is a very small percentage of people making very high incomes in El Reno, which is skewing the data. As the city plans for the future, they need to focus on the median income rather than the mean income because the median income provides a more accurate picture of income in El Reno. Coincidingly, El Reno has a higher percentage of people living below poverty – 17.8% – compared to Oklahoma – 15.7% – and the United States – 13.4% (“Explore”).

25,000 Population Growth in El Reno, OK, from 2010-2019 Total population

Total Population in El Reno, OK

20,000

15,542 15,000

10,000

5,000 16,739 16,955 17,219 17,515 17,852 18,170 18,378 18,714 19,095

0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

El Reno Population Growth (“Explore”)

Year

Al Barnes Garage, 1419 Sunset Drive (Canadian)

Industry & Employment

As El Reno’s population continues to grow, the city will need to actively direct where and what types of commercial and industrial development occur alongside that growth, for this determines the quality and quantity of jobs, environmental sustainability of the area, urban form, and future economic opportunities. Some notable differences between El Reno, Oklahoma, and the US employment makeup as of 2019 are as follows:

• El Reno has a higher percentage of wholesale (4.9%) and retail trade (13%) employees in their full-time workforce, compared to Oklahoma (2.9% and 10%, respectively) and the US (3.1% and 9.4%, respectively) • El Reno has a higher percentage of employees in the utilities sector (2.6%) in their full-time workforce than

Oklahoma (1.4%) and the US (1.1%) • El Reno has a much lower percentage of employees in professional, scientific, administrative and management jobs (4.5%), compared to Oklahoma (8.5%) and the US (12.1%) • Although the educational services, health care,

AFR Insurance, 1518 Sunset Drive (Canadian)

Phillips Motel, 1221 Sunset Drive (Canadian)

Educational Attainment in El Reno (“Explore”)

and social assistance sector provides the highest percentage of full-time jobs in El Reno (16.1%), this percentage is still lower than Oklahoma (21.9%) and the US (21.7%) • El Reno also has a higher percentage of full-time employees in accommodations and food services (6.3%), compared to Oklahoma (4.6%) and the US (5.0%) • El Reno has a much higher percentage of full-time employees in public administration (12.2%), compared to Oklahoma (7.7%) and the US (5.8%) (“Explore”)

Most importantly, as of 2019, 6.3% of El Reno’s full-time workforce had positions in mining, quarrying, oil, and gas extraction. Compared to El Reno’s entire industry makeup, this is not extraordinarily large; however, this is a very high percentage compared to Oklahoma and the United States, who employ 3.7% and 0.6%, respectively, of their employees in mining, quarrying, oil, and gas extraction (“Explore”). Fossil fuels are running out quickly and are not a sustainable industry for El Reno, regarding both environmental and economic well-being. As El Reno grows, economic development should transition to more sustainable industries, such as wind energy, electric vehicles, solar energy, and sustainable agriculture.

Educational Attainment

Likewise, it’s important to consider El Reno’s educational attainment as the city develops to ensure that the city attracts quality jobs that current residents are eligible for. Moreover, this data can guide the city in how to make education more accessible to residents. According to US Census data, El Reno has low educational attainment for their 25+ population compared to Oklahoma and the US. Specifically, El Reno has higher percentages of their population with less than a 9th grade education (5.4%), a 9th to 12th grade education without a diploma (11.8%), and a high school diploma or equivalent (41.1%), compared to Oklahoma and the US. Coincidingly, El Reno has a lower percentage of people with some college but no degree (22.2%) than Oklahoma (23.3%), but this is higher than that of the entire country (20.4%). El Reno also has lower percentages of their population with associate degrees (7.6%), bachelor’s degrees (8.4%), and graduate or professional degrees (3.4%). Overall, 82.8% of El Reno’s population, age 25 and over, has a high school degree or higher while Oklahoma and the United States each

have 88%, and 11.8% of El Reno’s 25+ population has a bachelor’s degree or higher while Oklahoma has 25.5% and the US has 32.1% (“Explore”).

Notably, however, the US Census does not measure vocational degrees, so those in El Reno who graduate from the Canadian Valley Technology Center would instead be represented by the highest level of education they received in the collegiate system. Because the Canadian Valley Technology Center is extremely affordable for residents in the area, there is likely a sizeable population in El Reno whose true level of educational attainment is not being accurately represented.

Foreign-Born Populations

El Reno has a foreign-born population of 892, which makes up 4.7% of the total city population. Of that foreign-born population, El Reno has a very high population of residents that are not US citizens (82.8%), compared to Oklahoma (63.7%) and the US (50.4%). Furthermore, 90.5% of foreignborn residents in El Reno are Latinx; by contrast, only 58% of Oklahoma and 50.6% of US foreign-born residents are Latinx. Likewise, 14.8% of the total El Reno population is Hispanic or Latinx; specifically, 13.9% are Mexican (“Explore”).

90.7% of El Reno’s population over the age five speak only English at home. 9.3% speak a language other than English at home, but only 3.8% of the 5+ population speak English less than “very well.” Specifically, 8.1% speak Spanish at home, and 3.6% of the 5+ population speak English less than “very well.” In short, most of El Reno’s foreignborn population can speak English very well, but about 3.8% of El Reno’s total population does not. Most of that 3.8% speak Spanish (“Explore”). As El Reno seeks public participation in capital and programmatic improvements, the city should provide Spanish translations in public notices as well as in meetings, if possible.

Race & Ethnicity

El Reno is fortunate enough to be a more racially and ethnically diverse city, considering its size and location in Oklahoma. El Reno has a slightly lower percentage of white residents (69.1%) compared to Oklahoma (72.5%) and the US (72.3%), but a much lower percentage of black residents at 6.8%, compared to Oklahoma at 12.7% and the US at 7.3%. Instead, El Reno has an unusually high Native American population, which makes up 10.5% of the city’s total population; for comparison, Oklahoma’s population is only 0.8% Native American while the US population is Race & Ethnicity in El Reno (“Explore”)

Canadian Valley Technology Center, El Reno (Landsberger)

7.6% Native American (“Explore”). Considering that 1 in 10 residents of El Reno are Native American as well as the fact that the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes have jurisdiction over half of El Reno and the study area, the city must collaborate with the Cheyenne-Arapaho government to ensure that all El Reno residents are being served appropriately (Native-Land.ca). Moreover, working with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes will not only directly help Indigenous residents feel at home but also benefit the city’s economic base and social prosperity as tribes tend to bring in considerable fiscal flows and community investment.

Cheyenne & Arapaho Chiefs, 1890s (Canadian) Group of women in El Reno (Canadian)

Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Land

Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal Bounadaries on Sunset Drive (“Tribal Boundaries”)

Vulnerable Populations

Large portions of El Reno’s total population are vulnerable in different ways, especially in how they are able to move around El Reno. First, El Reno has a slightly younger median age at 35.5, compared to Oklahoma and the US, which have median ages of 36.6 and 38.1, respectively. This is partly due to the fact that about one-quarter of El Reno’s population are children. Even so, nearly one-third of El Reno households (27.5%) have one or more members that are 65 years or older. Notably, 633 of grandparents in El Reno reside with their minor Disability Status in El Reno (“Explore”) grandchildren; 60% of those 633 are responsible for their grandchildren, which is a much higher percentage than Oklahoma (50.2%) and the US (34.1%). In a similar vein, El Reno has a high percentage of non-institutionalized people with a disability at 17%; this is somewhat higher than Oklahoma, which has 16.1%, but much higher than the US, which has 12.6% (“Explore”). Right now, these populations are vulnerable in El Reno because of the lack of accessible sidewalks, crosswalks, resting places, and transit; they are not being given the reasonable accommodations that they are legally entitled to by the Americans with Disabilities Act in order to move around El Reno safely. Therefore, as El Reno develops further, the city needs to design capital

Additionally, the US Census counts institutionalized persons as residents of the city where they reside in prison at the time of the census. El Reno has a federal correctional institution – FCI El Reno – in the western side of the city, meaning that any prisoners present during the most recent census count as El Reno residents and contribute to how much federal funding the city receives. This prison houses 994 male inmates in a medium- and minimum-security complex (“FCI”). The location of this prison in El Reno means that the city needs to be able to accommodate the needs of inmates’ visitors as well as released people, which could include affordable and comfortable lodging, accessible grocery stores, social services, and similar resources.

Information about the Route 66 travelers was gathered from an extensive research report called Route 66 Economic Impact Study: Synthesis of Findings, which was published from Rutgers University in New Jersey. The report is based on data collected from surveys placed on stops along Route 66 for one year, which were completed by travelers on a volunteer basis. Notably, the survey was only provided in English, so non-English speaking travelers are excluded from the results.

Traveler Socioeconomic Characteristics

Survey participants hailed from all fifty US states as well as forty foreign countries. 84.7% of the participants were current US residents, the majority of whom were from states where Route 66 is located. The 15.3% who were international travelers were mostly Canadian and European (Rutgers 16). The socioeconomic profile of participants leaned heavily toward white, older couples with high incomes. Notable statistics are listed below:

• 97% of participants were white • 97% of participants were not Hispanic in ethnicity • 71% of participants were married

FCI El Reno (“FCI”) Intrada El Reno, multi-generational and ADA accessible apartments (“Intrada”)

Recent research on Route 66 travers shows that the main draw to Route 66 is history and nostalgia, and many of those traveling on Route 66 plan their trip specifically to see those historic landmarks. These same travelers often experience considerable challenges in their trip, particularly regarding wayfinding, poor road conditions, and closed

Demographic Summary of Route 66 Travelers

Rt. 66 brochure (Canadian)

businesses; traveler recommendations focus largely on improving wayfinding, reparing roads, encouraging historic preservation, and helping businesses along the Route thrive. Socioeconomic data indicates that most Route 66 travelers are older couples with higher incomes.

• 11% of participants were 20-39 years old; 43% were middle-aged (median of 55 years): 46% were 60 years of age or older • 61% of participants were in 2-member households; 3% were in households of five or more • 67.1% of participants’ travelling parties consisted of two adult members; 18.4% consisted of three or more adults; 12.5% had children present • 12.5% of participants started or finished high school only; 30% started or finished an undergraduate degree; 30% started or finished a graduate degree • 20% of participants were employed in service, sales, maintenance, or transportation; 36% were employed in management and professional positions; 40% were retired • 7% of participants earned annual incomes of $25,000 or less; 25% of participants earned annual incomes of $100,000 or more; median household income was $62,500 (Rutgers 17)

120 S Choctaw Ave (Canadian)

Rutgers Route 66 Research Summary

Most important Rt 66 sights noted by survey participants included...

1. Historic sites and monuments 2. Notable places and landmarks 3. Landscape 4. Small towns 5. US history 6. National Parks 7. Vintage motels and restaurants 8. Gateway to the West 9. Car cruising culture 10. Navigating highways 11. Bars and nightclubs 12. Entertainment and amusement

Images, thoughts, and attractions that travelers associated with Route 66...

1. History 2. Nostalgia 3. Americana/Roadside oddities 4. 1950s/60s American culture (classic cars, vintage diners and motels, neon signs, open spaces, music) 5. Cars, the Pixar film 6. Good food 7. Specific landmarks 8. Friendly locals; local shops and restaurants/mom and pop places 9. Individuality 10. The overall journey 11. Freedom

Challenges that Route 66 Travelers faced...

1. Lack of signage/lack of consistent signage/ lack of comprehensive signage (not clear or only in English) 2. Lots of closed businesses 3. Poor road conditions on older sections 4. Difficulty finding lodging between towns 5. Weather 6. Difficulty seeing all the attractions/time management

Travelers’ Suggested Improvements...

1. A Rt 66 specific GPS route 2. Install consistent and clear signage 3. Install better signage and markers for highways and landmarks 4. Get AAA to highlight Rt 66 on their maps 5. Clean and repair roads 6. Historic preservation 7. More advertising and publicity 8. More community cooperation 9. Renovate motels to be more accommodating and modern inside 10. Help businesses stay open 11. Encourage the authentic Rt 66 themes (Rutgers 19-21)

Traveler Perspectives

In addition to demographic data about Route 66 travelers, this study also asked participants about their reason for traveling on Route 66, their associations with Route 66, how they spent money on their trip, what challenges they faced in their journey, and what improvements would be most helpful.

The study found that the main draw of Route 66 for the participants was history, including both personal nostalgia and general historic appreciation. 78.9% of participants knew “some or a lot” about Route 66 and its historical significance, and a similar percentage stated that that historical significance influenced how they planned their trip. Specifically, “historic sites and monuments” and “notable places and landmarks” were the top two most important features of survey participants’ Route 66 trips. Likewise, history and nostalgia were the two most common responses to the study’s open-ended question about what travelers associated with Route 66 (Rutgers 19).

The study also found that the most prevalent challenges that travelers faced centered on the quality of infrastructure and the availability of businesses and lodging. Specifically, participants ranked the lack of clear and consistent signage as the top challenge, followed by high numbers of closed businesses, poor road conditions, and lack of lodging. Participants of the study provided valuable suggestions on how the trip could be improved in response to these issues. Participants called for wayfinding improvements, road upgrades and maintenance, historic preservation with modern amenities, more publicity about landmarks and attractions, more community cooperation, programs to help businesses stay open, and more celebration of the authentic Route 66 themes.

Additionally, the study found that participants spent most of their travel expenses on lodging, followed by food and drinks and then direct travel expenses, such as fuel and vehicle rental (Rutgers 20-21). Because El Reno has a goal of increasing Route 66 tourism specifically, particularly along Sunset Drive, plans should consider these challenges and suggested improvements in order to enhance travelers’ experiences in El Reno. Notably, El Reno would benefit from following the suggested improvements related to Route 66 spending, such as aid to existing business owners, incentives for historic preservation, and incentives that will attract lodging and food companies.

Smoothing roads in El Reno, 1910 (Canadian)

The Topper Cafe, 219 Sunset Drive (Canadian)