Editing Elk City, Oklahoma (section)

==Economy==
Elk City is the principal center of trade for [[Western Oklahoma]] and part of the [[Texas Panhandle]], with a {{convert|60|mi|adj=on}} trade radius that serves more than 50,000 people. Petroleum, agriculture, wind energy, transportation, tourism, manufacturing, and healthcare all contribute to Elk City's economy.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}

Since the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]], Elk City has had a nearly 3% growth in jobs. Over the next decade, the number of jobs available in Elk City is expected to skyrocket by about 42%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bestplaces.net/city/Elk_City-Oklahoma.aspx#|title=Elk City, Oklahoma|website=BestPlaces}} {{dead link|date=November 2023}}</ref>

[[File:Elk, oklahoma 11.jpg|thumb|Oil industry display at the Route 66 museum in Elk City]]

Since Elk City lies in a rich oil and [[natural-gas]] area on the shelf of Oklahoma's [[Anadarko Basin]], the petroleum industry is the heart of the city's economy. Because of this, the city is the self-proclaimed "Natural Gas Capital of the World", complete with [[Parker Drilling Company|Parker Drilling Rig #114]], located downtown. The rig dominates the Elk City skyline, and at {{convert|180|ft}} in height, is the world's tallest, non-operating oil rig.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blogoklahoma.us/Marker.asp?id=415 |title=BlogOklahoma.us - Historic Places |access-date=2009-06-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061012155808/http://www.blogoklahoma.us/Marker.asp?id=415 |archive-date=2006-10-12 }}</ref> Elk City has enjoyed significant growth due to the opening and location of oil field services and drilling companies in the city. The petroleum geologist Gustavus "Gus" E. Archie, known for [[Archie's law]], played an important role in establishing the Elk City oil and natural gas field.<ref>{{cite web|title= Gustavus E. Archie Memorial Grant|website=[[American Association of Petroleum Geologists|American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) Foundation]]|url=https://foundation.aapg.org/grant/articleid/30660}}</ref>

Agriculture doesn't play as prominent of a role as it did in the 20th century, with the only remaining viable agricultural market being the [[livestock]] auction. Nevertheless, Elk City still serves as a vital retail center for farmers and ranchers in the area.

In early 2009, [[Acciona Energy]] commissioned the first local [[wind farm]], the [[Red Hills Wind Farm]], located approximately {{convert|8|mi|0}} north of Elk City. The Red Hills Wind Farm includes 82 wind turbine generators that produce 123 MW of clean energy, enough to power more than 40,000 homes.<ref name="RedHills">{{cite web | url=http://www.acciona-na.com/About-Us/Our-Projects/U-S-/Red-Hills-Wind-Farm.aspx | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110127112513/http://www.acciona-na.com/About-Us/Our-Projects/U-S-/Red-Hills-Wind-Farm.aspx | title = ACCIONA North America | archive-date = 2011-01-27 | access-date = 2016-06-13}}</ref>

[[File:Elk City Old Town Museum (NBY 433753).jpg|thumb|Elk City Old Town Museum]]

{{anchor|Transport}}Transportation has played an important part in Elk City's economy throughout its history, beginning with the building of the famed [[U.S. Route 66]] through the heart of the city in the early 1930s. Today, [[Interstate 40]] serves the city, with 60,000 consumers traveling through Elk City each day, and connects with [[Oklahoma City]] to the east and [[Amarillo, Texas]], to the west. The city is also served by [[Oklahoma State Highway 6]], which connects Elk City with [[Altus, Oklahoma|Altus]] to the south, and [[Oklahoma State Highway 34]], connecting Elk City with [[Woodward, Oklahoma|Woodward]] to the north. The [[Elk City Regional Business Airport]] is located in the northeast part of the city, {{convert|1.5|mi}} from the Interstate.<ref>[https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Airport+Entrance+Rd&daddr=I-40+BUS+E&hl=en&sll=35.42193,-99.39743&sspn=0.064768,0.110378&geocode=FaGBHAIdAFET-g%3BFfB9HAIdVrAT-g&vpsrc=0&mra=pr&z=13 "Driving directions to I-40 BUS E"] at Google Maps</ref>

[[File:Fawns (6088543375).jpg|thumb|Fawns at the Washita National Wildlife Refuge]]

Given that [[Historic U.S. Route 66]] runs through Elk City, a sprawling museum complex has developed, which includes the National Route 66 Museum, the Old Town Museum, the Transportation Museum, the Farm and Ranch Museum, and the Blacksmith Museum. Each museum is housed in separate buildings, which altogether depict a mockup of early Elk City, complete with general stores, bank, a railroad depot and train caboose, opera house, and other buildings. Elk City is also in close proximity to many other attractions in Western Oklahoma, including [[Foss State Park]], [[Foss Reservoir]], the [[Washita National Wildlife Refuge]], [[Black Kettle National Grassland]], the [[Wichita Mountains]], the [[Antelope Hills (Oklahoma)|Antelope Hills]], the [[Quartz Mountains]], and the [[Washita Battlefield National Historic Site]].

Bar-S Foods Company operates a packaged-meat warehouse and distribution center in Elk City.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bar-s.com/bar-s-about.html|title = Who We Are and What We do &#124; Bar-S Foods}}</ref>

[http://www.gprmc-ok.com/ Great Plains Regional Medical Center] is Elk City's largest employer and serves Western Oklahoma and the eastern Texas Panhandle. The hospital has been named by ''OKCBusiness'' and Best Companies Group as one of the "Thirty Best Places to Work in Oklahoma" for three consecutive years: 2006, 2007, and 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gprmc-ok.com/news_4.html |title=Great Plains Regional Medical Center |access-date=2009-06-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120182423/http://www.gprmc-ok.com/news_4.html |archive-date=2008-11-20 }}</ref>   On May 11, 2007, construction began on a new, $60 million, {{convert|151030|sqft|m2|adj=on}} hospital that opened in July 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://newsok.com/new-hospital-in-elk-city-opens/article/3385616 |title=The Oklahoman |access-date=August 21, 2009 |archive-date=August 22, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822133400/http://www.newsok.com/new-hospital-in-elk-city-opens/article/3385616 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In June 2009, it was announced that a [[Walmart|Walmart Supercenter]] would be constructed, bringing at least 150 jobs to the city. Soon afterward, a $2.2 million federal grant was provided through the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]] to help fund the project and bring more jobs to Elk City.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://newsok.com/federal-grant-to-help-fund-elk-city-improvements/article/3375705?custom_click=headlines_widget |title=The Oklahoman |access-date=August 28, 2009 |archive-date=April 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405152958/http://newsok.com/federal-grant-to-help-fund-elk-city-improvements/article/3375705?custom_click=headlines_widget |url-status=dead }}</ref> It opened in October 2010 off I-40 at Exit 40. Featuring {{convert|180000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} area, it is the largest store between Amarillo and Oklahoma City.