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State Highway 38 (Oklahoma)
Encyclopedia
State Highway 38 is a state highway
in the U.S. state
of Oklahoma
. It runs for 14.78 miles (23.8 km) in an irregular south-to-north pattern in eastern Alfalfa County
, in the northwest part of the state. The highway begins at US-64 in Jet
and extends to SH-11
. Its primary purpose is to provide access to Great Salt Plains State Park
, which SH-38 skirts on its eastern edge.
The road that is now SH-38 was added to the state highway system as SH-35 circa
1961. The highway was renumbered to SH-38 the following year.
. The highway only heads east for about one mile (1.6 km) before turning back to the north; one mile further north, the highway makes a turn to the east, again avoiding the lake.
After traveling east for 2 miles (3.2 km), SH-38 is forced to turn back to the north by Kegelman Air Force Auxiliary Field
, a secondary airfield of Vance Air Force Base
. As the highway continues north, it forms the boundary between Kegelman AFAF to the east and the Great Salt Plains State Park
to the west. Upon crossing the Salt Fork Arkansas River
, the road turns back to the west, entering the park. Within the park boundaries, SH-38 is again forced to change course by the Great Salt Plains Lake, and turns back to a due north heading. One mile (1.6 km) north of the turn, the highway passes through the unincorporated place of Vining. SH-38 continues north, coming to an end at SH-11.
in Carrier
south to US-60 and SH-15 (now US-412). The majority of this route had been reassigned to SH-45, with the remainder being added to SH-132
, by 1963.
The road that is now SH-38 was added to the state highway system in late 1961 to early 1962 as SH-35. When the SH-38 designation was freed up in 1962, SH-35 was renumbered to SH-38. No further changes to the route have occurred 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 14.78 miles (23.8 km) in an irregular south-to-north pattern in eastern Alfalfa County
Alfalfa County, Oklahoma
Alfalfa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population is 6,105. Its county seat is Cherokee. Alfalfa County was formed in 1907 from Woods County. The county is named after William H...
, in the northwest part of the state. The highway begins at US-64 in Jet
Jet, Oklahoma
Jet is a town in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 230 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Jet is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
and extends to SH-11
State Highway 11 (Oklahoma)
State Highway 11 is a state highway in Oklahoma. It runs in an irregular west-to-east path 208 miles across the northern part of the state, from US-281 seven miles north of Alva to I-244/US-412 in Tulsa...
. Its primary purpose is to provide access to Great Salt Plains State Park
Great Salt Plains State Park
Great Salt Plains State Park is a Oklahoma state park located in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma. It is located near the city of Jet, Oklahoma. Recreational opportunities at Great Salt Plains State Park include boating, camping, picnicking, swimming, hiking, mountain biking and exploring...
, which SH-38 skirts on its eastern edge.
The road that is now SH-38 was added to the state highway system as SH-35 circa
Circa
Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
1961. The highway was renumbered to SH-38 the following year.
Route description
State Highway 38 begins at an intersection with U.S. Highway 64 in downtown Jet. The road heads northward along a section line for approximately 3 miles (4.8 km). The highway then makes a sharp turn to the east along another section line to avoid the Great Salt Plains LakeGreat Salt Plains Lake
Great Salt Plains Lake is a reservoir located within the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma in the United States named because of the salt flats in the area and for the Salt Fork Arkansas River, which is dammed to form the lake....
. The highway only heads east for about one mile (1.6 km) before turning back to the north; one mile further north, the highway makes a turn to the east, again avoiding the lake.
After traveling east for 2 miles (3.2 km), SH-38 is forced to turn back to the north by Kegelman Air Force Auxiliary Field
Kegelman Air Force Auxiliary Field
Kegelman Air Force Auxiliary Field is located near the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma, approximately east of Cherokee, Oklahoma.The installation is located an elevation of and has the IATA code of CKA....
, a secondary airfield of Vance Air Force Base
Vance Air Force Base
Vance Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located 6 km south of downtown Enid, Oklahoma, and within its city limits, about north northwest of Oklahoma City...
. As the highway continues north, it forms the boundary between Kegelman AFAF to the east and the Great Salt Plains State Park
Great Salt Plains State Park
Great Salt Plains State Park is a Oklahoma state park located in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma. It is located near the city of Jet, Oklahoma. Recreational opportunities at Great Salt Plains State Park include boating, camping, picnicking, swimming, hiking, mountain biking and exploring...
to the west. Upon crossing the Salt Fork Arkansas River
Salt Fork Arkansas River
The Salt Fork of the Arkansas River is a tributary of the Arkansas River in southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma in the United States. Via the Arkansas River, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River.-Course:...
, the road turns back to the west, entering the park. Within the park boundaries, SH-38 is again forced to change course by the Great Salt Plains Lake, and turns back to a due north heading. One mile (1.6 km) north of the turn, the highway passes through the unincorporated place of Vining. SH-38 continues north, coming to an end at SH-11.
History
The SH-38 designation was originally given to an alignment from SH-58Oklahoma State Highway 58
State Highway 58 is the name of two state highways in Oklahoma. One of them runs for 73 miles from Medicine Park to the Blaine–Custer County line near Hydro, and the other connects US-270/281/SH-3/33 to the Kansas state line, running . The northern section has one lettered spur route,...
in Carrier
Carrier, Oklahoma
Carrier is a town in Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 77 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Carrier is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
south to US-60 and SH-15 (now US-412). The majority of this route had been reassigned to SH-45, with the remainder being added to SH-132
Oklahoma State Highway 132
State Highway 132, also known as SH-132 or OK-132, is a state highway in north-central Oklahoma. It connects State Highway 51 west of Hennessey to the Kansas state line near Manchester, running for 65.3 miles . It has no lettered spur routes.-Route description:SH-132 begins at State Highway 51 in...
, by 1963.
The road that is now SH-38 was added to the state highway system in late 1961 to early 1962 as SH-35. When the SH-38 designation was freed up in 1962, SH-35 was renumbered to SH-38. No further changes to the route have occurred since then.