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State Highway 34 (Oklahoma)
Encyclopedia
State Highway 34 is a state highway
in the U.S. state
of Oklahoma
. It runs for 188.5 miles (303.4 km) south-to-north in the western part of the state. The highway begins northeast of Eldorado
, in the southwest corner of the state, and extends north to the Kansas state line between Woodward
and Coldwater, Kansas
.
SH-34 has always been a lengthy highway, starting with its commissioning in June 1931, when it was a border-to-border highway stretching from Texas to Kansas. Most of SH-34 has followed the same basic corridor since its inception, with the exception of the portion of highway north of Woodward. The southernmost portion of highway, connecting it to Texas, became solely SH-6 in 1987.
There are three letter-suffixed spur highways branching from SH-34. SH-34A and SH-34B serve small towns in Greer County off the mainline of SH-34, while SH-34C serves Boiling Springs State Park.
. Heading north from there, it intersects US-62 just east of Duke. The highway continues north into Greer County
to its county seat of Mangum
, where SH-34 joins US-283. Two miles (3 km) north of Mangum, SH-9
joins, for a four-mile (6 km) concurrency
with SH-34 and US-283. Thereafter, SH-9 splits off to the east.
Nine miles (14 km) north of Mangum, SH-34B branches off to the west, connecting to the town of Brinkman
, and four miles (6 km) later, SH-34A branches off to the west to the town of Willow
. US-283 splits off to the northwest two miles (3 km) after that, and SH-34 continues north, crossing into Beckham County
. SH-34 then bridges over the North Fork of the Red River. In Carter
, the highway serves as the western terminus of SH-55. Five miles (8 km) north of Carter, SH-34 crosses SH-152
..
SH-34 continues on to an interchange with I-40 west of Elk City
. Here, the highway begins a concurrency with eastbound I-40 that lasts for 6 miles (9.7 km).. SH-34 exits the Interstate from the left on the east side of Elk City, turning back to the north and exiting Beckham County.
SH-34 next enters Roger Mills County
. SH-73
's western terminus is at SH-34 at nine miles (14 km) north of Elk City. North of this junction, SH-34 lies along the Roger Mills–Custer
county line, which it continues to follow as it passes through the east side of Hammon
, where it meets State Highway 33
. North of town, the route crosses over the Washita River
, and shortly thereafter turns northeast to fully enter Custer County. Northwest of Moorewood, the highway crosses into Dewey County
.
SH-34 crosses SH-47
two miles (3 km) south of Leedey
, and crosses the Canadian River
near the unincorporated settlement of Trail. The highway then passes through Camargo
. Just east of Vici
, SH-34 joins US-60 and SH-51
for a one-mile (1.6 km) concurrency, then SH-34 heads north again at Vici. The highway passes through Sharon
north of Vici, then joins US-183/US-270/SH-3
four miles (6 km) southeast of Woodward
. At Woodward, SH-34 again sets off to the north alone, and right after crossing the North Canadian River
, SH-34C branches to the east about two miles (3 km) north of Woodward, connecting to Boiling Springs State Park
.
SH-34 joins US-64 in far eastern Harper County
for a four-mile (6 km) concurrency to the east, crossing the Cimarron River 17 miles (27 km) east of Buffalo
. The highway then turns back to the north, where it is 10 miles (16.1 km) to its terminus at the Kansas state line.
and followed what is today SH-6 to the point that is now SH-34's southern terminus. There, it turned north, following its current alignment. Its 1931 alignment did not differ significantly from that of the present day (although it followed US-66 through Elk City prior to the establishment of I-40) until it got to Woodward. Rather than continue north out of town, the SH-34 of that day instead turned west, then north, passing through Fort Supply
and crossing into Harper County
just north of that town. It then began a concurrency with US-60 in Buffalo, turning east and connecting with its final segment, bringing it to the Kansas state line. Thus, SH-34 started life as a border-to-border highway.
SH-34 was rerouted north of Buffalo on January 30, 1934. The new alignment continued due north out of Buffalo to the Kansas state line along a new road. The old portion of SH-34 between US-64 and the Kansas state line became part of SH-50.
The next major change to SH-34 occurred in 1954. On November first of that year, the highway was realigned to follow a new road extending north of Woodward, intersecting US-64 east of Buffalo, and following existing highways north of the state line. This would put SH-34 on its present-day route north of Woodward. SH-50 would remain concurrent with SH-34 north of US-64 until November 9, 1964.
The next major change to SH-34 would be brought about by the establishment of the southern part of State Highway 6. The new highway was introduced on July 7, 1975. SH-34 remained in place; the two highways were concurrent from northwest of Eldorado to the Red River bridge, where they both ended. On January 5, 1987, the redundant section of SH-34 was removed, truncating it to its current southern terminus.
The final modification to SH-34 occurred just under a month later, on February 2, 1987, when SH-34 was realigned in Elk City to follow I-40 instead of the old alignment of the now-dead US-66, which had become a business loop of I-40. No further changes have taken place since then.
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...
. It runs for 188.5 miles (303.4 km) south-to-north in the western part of the state. The highway begins northeast of Eldorado
Eldorado, Oklahoma
Eldorado is a town in Jackson County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 446 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Eldorado is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
, in the southwest corner of the state, and extends north to the Kansas state line between Woodward
Woodward, Oklahoma
Woodward is a city in and the county seat of Woodward County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the largest city in a nine-county area. The population was 12,051 at the 2010 census....
and Coldwater, Kansas
Coldwater, Kansas
Coldwater is a city in and the county seat of Comanche County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 828.-Geography:Coldwater is located at...
.
SH-34 has always been a lengthy highway, starting with its commissioning in June 1931, when it was a border-to-border highway stretching from Texas to Kansas. Most of SH-34 has followed the same basic corridor since its inception, with the exception of the portion of highway north of Woodward. The southernmost portion of highway, connecting it to Texas, became solely SH-6 in 1987.
There are three letter-suffixed spur highways branching from SH-34. SH-34A and SH-34B serve small towns in Greer County off the mainline of SH-34, while SH-34C serves Boiling Springs State Park.
Route description
State Highway 34 begins at SH-6 six miles (10 km) northeast of EldoradoEldorado, Oklahoma
Eldorado is a town in Jackson County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 446 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Eldorado is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
. Heading north from there, it intersects US-62 just east of Duke. The highway continues north into Greer County
Greer County, Oklahoma
Greer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 6,061. Its county seat is Mangum. From 1860 to 1896, the state of Texas claimed an area known as Greer County, Texas, which included present-day Greer County along with neighboring...
to its county seat of Mangum
Mangum, Oklahoma
Mangum is a city in Greer County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 3,010 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Greer County....
, where SH-34 joins US-283. Two miles (3 km) north of Mangum, SH-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...
joins, for a four-mile (6 km) concurrency
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 SH-34 and US-283. Thereafter, SH-9 splits off to the east.
Nine miles (14 km) north of Mangum, SH-34B branches off to the west, connecting to the town of Brinkman
Brinkman, Oklahoma
Brinkman is an unincorporated community in Greer County, Oklahoma, United States. It lies at the western end of State Highway 34B, nine miles north of Mangum and one mile west of U.S. Route 283.-History:...
, and four miles (6 km) later, SH-34A branches off to the west to the town of Willow
Willow, Oklahoma
Willow is a town in Greer County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 149 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Willow is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
. US-283 splits off to the northwest two miles (3 km) after that, and SH-34 continues north, crossing into Beckham County
Beckham County, Oklahoma
Beckham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 19,799. Its county seat is Sayre.Founded upon statehood in 1907, Beckham County was named for J. C. W...
. SH-34 then bridges over the North Fork of the Red River. In Carter
Carter, Oklahoma
Carter is a town in Beckham County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 256 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Carter is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
, the highway serves as the western terminus of SH-55. Five miles (8 km) north of Carter, SH-34 crosses SH-152
State Highway 152 (Oklahoma)
State Highway 152 is a state highway running through west-central Oklahoma. At a length of 149.6 miles , it is the longest three-digit state highway in Oklahoma. It runs from State Highway 152 at the Texas State Line to Interstate 44 near Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City...
..
SH-34 continues on to an interchange with I-40 west of Elk City
Elk City, Oklahoma
Elk City is a city in Beckham County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 11,693 at the 2010 census. Elk City is located on Interstate 40 and Historic U.S. Route 66 in Western Oklahoma, approximately west of Oklahoma City and east of Amarillo....
. Here, the highway begins a concurrency with eastbound I-40 that lasts for 6 miles (9.7 km).. SH-34 exits the Interstate from the left on the east side of Elk City, turning back to the north and exiting Beckham County.
SH-34 next enters Roger Mills County
Roger Mills County, Oklahoma
Roger Mills County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 3,436. Its county seat is Cheyenne.-History:Roger Mills County takes its name from Roger Q. Mills, a prominent American politician from Texas...
. SH-73
State Highway 73 (Oklahoma)
State Highway 73 is a 24½ mi state highway mostly in Custer Co., Oklahoma, although a stretch of about four-fifths of a mile of its eastbound lane lies in Roger Mills Co. SH-73 has no lettered spur routes.-Route description:State Highway 73 begins at State Highway 34 south of Hammon...
's western terminus is at SH-34 at nine miles (14 km) north of Elk City. North of this junction, SH-34 lies along the Roger Mills–Custer
Custer County, Oklahoma
Custer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It was named in honor of General George Armstrong Custer. As of 2000, the population was 26,142. Its county seat is Arapaho.-Geography:...
county line, which it continues to follow as it passes through the east side of Hammon
Hammon, Oklahoma
Hammon is a town in Custer and Roger Mills counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Located at the junction of Oklahoma Highways 33 & 34, the majority of the town is in Roger Mills County, but some of the town limits extend into Custer County. The population was 568 at the 2010...
, where it meets State Highway 33
State Highway 33 (Oklahoma)
Oklahoma's State Highway 33 is a major highway that traverses most of the state, and at one time traversed the entire state. Its general orientation is west to east. All mileages listed herein are from the western terminus of the highway at the Texas state line.-Roger Mills County:SH-33 begins...
. North of town, the route crosses over the Washita River
Washita River
The Washita River is a river in Texas and Oklahoma, United States. The river is long and terminates into Lake Texoma in Johnston County , Oklahoma and the Red River.-Geography:...
, and shortly thereafter turns northeast to fully enter Custer County. Northwest of Moorewood, the highway crosses into Dewey County
Dewey County, Oklahoma
Dewey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 4,743. Its county seat is Taloga.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and is water....
.
SH-34 crosses SH-47
State Highway 47 (Oklahoma)
State Highway 47 is a state highway in Oklahoma. It runs west-to-east in Roger Mills, Dewey and Custer counties.The current SH-47 was first established in late 1936. Over time it was expanded, reaching its current extent in 1945...
two miles (3 km) south of Leedey
Leedey, Oklahoma
Leedey is a town in Dewey County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 435 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Leedey is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
, and crosses 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....
near the unincorporated settlement of Trail. The highway then passes through Camargo
Camargo, Oklahoma
Camargo is a town in Dewey County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 178 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Camargo is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
. Just east of Vici
Vici, Oklahoma
Vici is a town in Dewey County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 699 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Vici is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
, SH-34 joins US-60 and SH-51
State Highway 51 (Oklahoma)
State Highway 51, abbreviated to SH-51 or OK-51, is a major state highway in Oklahoma. It runs for 333 miles east–west across the state, running from the Texas state line to Arkansas. It is the third-longest state highway in the system.-Texas to I-35:SH-51 begins at the Texas line concurrent...
for a one-mile (1.6 km) concurrency, then SH-34 heads north again at Vici. The highway passes through Sharon
Sharon, Oklahoma
Sharon is a town in Woodward County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 135 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Sharon is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
north of Vici, then joins US-183/US-270/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...
four miles (6 km) southeast of Woodward
Woodward, Oklahoma
Woodward is a city in and the county seat of Woodward County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the largest city in a nine-county area. The population was 12,051 at the 2010 census....
. At Woodward, SH-34 again sets off to the north alone, and right after crossing 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....
, SH-34C branches to the east about two miles (3 km) north of Woodward, connecting to Boiling Springs State Park
Boiling Springs State Park
Boiling Springs State Park is a park built near Woodward, Oklahoma, by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and named for one of the several natural springs which occur in the park....
.
SH-34 joins US-64 in far eastern Harper County
Harper County, Oklahoma
Harper County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010, the population was 3,685. The county seat is Buffalo.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and is water....
for a four-mile (6 km) concurrency to the east, crossing the Cimarron River 17 miles (27 km) east of Buffalo
Buffalo, Oklahoma
Buffalo is a town in Harper County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,299 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Harper County.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Buffalo has a total area of , all land.-Climate:...
. The highway then turns back to the north, where it is 10 miles (16.1 km) to its terminus at the Kansas state line.
History
State Highway 34 was first designated on June 15, 1931. At that time, the highway began at the free bridge over the Red River north of Quanah, TexasQuanah, Texas
Quanah is a city in and the county seat of Hardeman County, Texas, United States, northwest of Fort Worth, and a few miles from the Oklahoma-Texas state line...
and followed what is today SH-6 to the point that is now SH-34's southern terminus. There, it turned north, following its current alignment. Its 1931 alignment did not differ significantly from that of the present day (although it followed US-66 through Elk City prior to the establishment of I-40) until it got to Woodward. Rather than continue north out of town, the SH-34 of that day instead turned west, then north, passing through Fort Supply
Fort Supply, Oklahoma
Fort Supply is a town in Woodward County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 330 at the 2010 census.-History:Fort Supply, is a town established one mile West of Camp Supply, a United States Army post established on November 18, 1868 as a "Camp of Supply" for the winter campaign against the...
and crossing into Harper County
Harper County, Oklahoma
Harper County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010, the population was 3,685. The county seat is Buffalo.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and is water....
just north of that town. It then began a concurrency with US-60 in Buffalo, turning east and connecting with its final segment, bringing it to the Kansas state line. Thus, SH-34 started life as a border-to-border highway.
SH-34 was rerouted north of Buffalo on January 30, 1934. The new alignment continued due north out of Buffalo to the Kansas state line along a new road. The old portion of SH-34 between US-64 and the Kansas state line became part of SH-50.
The next major change to SH-34 occurred in 1954. On November first of that year, the highway was realigned to follow a new road extending north of Woodward, intersecting US-64 east of Buffalo, and following existing highways north of the state line. This would put SH-34 on its present-day route north of Woodward. SH-50 would remain concurrent with SH-34 north of US-64 until November 9, 1964.
The next major change to SH-34 would be brought about by the establishment of the southern part of State Highway 6. The new highway was introduced on July 7, 1975. SH-34 remained in place; the two highways were concurrent from northwest of Eldorado to the Red River bridge, where they both ended. On January 5, 1987, the redundant section of SH-34 was removed, truncating it to its current southern terminus.
The final modification to SH-34 occurred just under a month later, on February 2, 1987, when SH-34 was realigned in Elk City to follow I-40 instead of the old alignment of the now-dead US-66, which had become a business loop of I-40. No further changes have taken place since then.
Junction list
Spurs
- SH-34A is a 1 miles (1.6 km) spur connecting SH-34 with Willow, north of Mangum.
- SH-34B is a 1.03 miles (1.7 km) spur connecting SH-34 with Brinkman, north of Mangum.
- SH-34C is a 4.52 miles (7.3 km) spur connecting SH-34 with Boiling Springs State Park north of Woodward.