Guthrie’s population has held steady at around 10,000 since the Oklahoma Land Run of 1889 transformed the sleepy railroad stop into a booming settlement. In 1907, it became the first state capital of Oklahoma, although it only held that title for three years. Distinctive Victorian architecture distinguishes the town, which is part of the Oklahoma City metro area. “It’s interesting to see a town that’s as well preserved as Guthrie, with the historic downtown,” says Shawnda Rooney, economic development director for the City of Guthrie. “We have events throughout the year that are Victorian-themed. And we sit close enough to Oklahoma City and Edmond for people to live here and commute to work.”
See the historic downtown Guthrie with its many original buildings still standing.
Historic downtown Guthrie is filling to brim with locally owned businesses.
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Gingerbread houses in the Guthrie Historic District
Gabled roofs and gingerbread trim identify the late 19th-century Victorian architecture in the Guthrie Historic District. Oklahoma's largest urban historic district was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1999. Homes in this area don’t often come on the market, but they’re typically priced from $200,000 to $400,000 when they do. Prices start at about half that for well-maintained houses dating from the 1940s to the '70s. Larger modern builds or properties on more acreage sell for $400,000 to $550,000. Horse ranches and sprawling estates command prices from $600,000 to $750,000. Guthrie’s median home price is around $277,000.
Victorian inspired homes are a large draw to home owners.
Some roads in Guthrie maintain the original cobblestone streets.
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Distinctive brick buildings downtown
The Victorian-era downtown features mom-and-pop shops occupying brick buildings fronted by arched windows. Antique stores and bookshops mingle with restaurants specializing in Southern cuisine. The city recently revamped the sidewalks to boost pedestrian infrastructure and make downtown crossings ADA-accessible. Big-box retailers and chain restaurants can be found along Division Street, a major thoroughfare.
Around different places in Guthrie are cobblestone streets and sidewalks.
Cool street performance can be seen during the Victorian Walk Nights event.
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Victorian-themed events and local landmarks
Guthrie’s seasonal events reflect the spirit of the town. “We have events throughout the year that are Victorian-themed,” Moody says. The 89er Days Celebration, held in spring, commemorates Guthrie’s founding. Costumed revelers turn out for jousting and mead at the Guthrie Renaissance and Fantasy Festival in March, and October’s Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival draws around 15,000 visitors. During Christmas, downtown streets host Victorian Walks, replacing auto traffic with window displays, merchants and visitors dressed in their finest late 19th-century attire.
The limestone walls and Greek-inspired columns of the Guthrie Scottish Rite Masonic Temple form another notable landmark in the city. The town is also home to the Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library, which houses a comprehensive collection of artifacts and documents detailing the 1889 Land Run.
Guthrie's Christmas Market offers performances for locals to celebrate the season.
Visitors can enjoy historical horse carriage rides during the Victorian Walk Nights event.
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Positive changes underway at Guthrie Public Schools
About 3,500 students attend schools in the Guthrie Public Schools district, which earns a Niche grade of C-plus. Classes have a student-teacher ratio of 16 to 1. The district recently passed a $45 million bond that will add classrooms and facilities to existing schools and support the construction of a new elementary school, a project that’s set for 2029.
Guthrie High School is where kids can go after middle school.
After elementary, students may attend Guthrie Junior High School.
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Making a splash at Guthrie’s parks
Guthrie has 500 acres of parkland spread across two lakes and seven city parks including the popular Highland Park, which features an 18-hole disc golf course. Many parks are family-oriented and focus on water-based activities with playgrounds, pools and splash pads. South of the town center, anglers cast for crappie and catfish on Guthrie and Liberty Lakes.
Close up shot of the signage of Highland Park.
Oak Tree Park
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Shuttles on the First Capital Trolley system
Guthrie sits about 32 miles north of Oklahoma City and 18 miles from Edmond. Both are accessible via Interstate 35, which cuts a north-south path through Guthrie and serves as its primary traffic artery. First Capital Trolley, a public transit system, runs shuttles that stop in various places throughout Guthrie and the Langston University campus, about 12 miles away. The system also provides residents with on-demand transportation. Commuters to Langston can also make the drive on State Highway 33, which is also the most convenient route to Tulsa, 90 miles east. The closest airport is Will Rogers World Airport, 40 miles away.
Thanks to Guthrie’s notable architecture, tourism is a major industry. Healthcare and social assistance employ hundreds of workers, with Mercy Hospital Logan County being the closest medical facility. Other common employment sectors include retail trade and hospitality, earning the town the nickname “Bed and Breakfast Capital of Oklahoma.”
Crime and environmental concerns
Incidents of violent crime in Guthrie are typically in line with the state average, which is slightly higher than the U.S. average. However, FBI data indicates that the number of reported offenses can vary greatly from year to year.
Summers in Guthrie are hot and humid, with average daily temperatures in the mid-90s. Also of note: the town is in Tornado Alley, a section of the US known for frequent twister activity.
Kathy Parker is a lifelong resident and native of Oklahoma and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Oklahoma and a Master’s degree in Psychology and is a Licensed Realtor & has an active License in Insurance in Property & Casualty Lines. Professionally assisting in residential properties for home buyers, sellers, and investors, including Luxury Homes, Condos, Townhomes, Farm/Acreages, Mobile homes, Barndominiums, Land (raw and developed), 1031 Exchanges, Patio Homes, Single Residential Homes, & Multi-Family Investment Properties including Duplexes, Tris, Quads, & 5-plexes. and assisting businesses & individuals looking for commercial leases. Kathy owns land in Oklahoma & Colorado and buys and sells and remodels investment properties personally in real estate herself. Kathy has excellent skills, experience, and real estate knowledge and will walk you flawlessly through all the steps involved in buying and/or selling including contracts, the legal steps, inspections, repairs, appraisals, title work, closing, all the way to the finish line.
Kathy loves meeting people and is passionate about assisting all of her clients. Her clients become lasting friends and often contact Kathy for referrals for contractors, electricians, plumbers, roofers, and handymen long after the closing. She is committed to working hard for you and committed 110% to the highest level of integrity and ethics. Kathy will tirelessly negotiate on your behalf! Other specialties are: Negotiation in Contracts & Closing, Marketing (Social Media and Email), Open Houses, Residential Sales, Residential Purchases, Condominium Sales & Purchases, Luxury Home Certification, and ABR (Acrredited Buyer's Representative Certification). Kathy has been helping clients buyand sell and invest in real estate in 6 counties in Oklahoma: including Oklahoma, Canadian, Cleveland, Logan, McClain, & Pottawatomie counties.
If you want phenomenal customer service, a pleasant experience, unprecedented representation, a smooth, stream-lined process to handle all the details, Kathy Parker is the realtor for you. Kathy is obsessed with getting it right and will respect your budget whatever size that is. Kathy is all about relationships over transactions. Kathy can save you money on buying and get you top dollar when selling, and assisting in saving money on homeowner's insurance quotes too.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
