Founded at the confluence of three rivers and named for an Upper Creek Native tribe, Muskogee began as a railway stop midway between Tulsa and the Arkansas state line. Today, the city of 37,000 holds fast to its roots as an economic hub for eastern Oklahoma, even as its population dwindles due to aging residents and more appealing job prospects in nearby Tulsa. “It just has a down-home, country feel,” says Gary Jobe, Realtor with Century 21 First Choice Realty. “I’ve been here all my life, and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere but Muskogee.” Fort Gibson, a historic site originally built as Oklahoma's first U.S. military outpost, occupies the side of the Arkansas River east of Muskogee.
The Port of Muskogee serves as an economic and employment hub for the Muskogee.
Muskogee is a city of about 37,000 that sits SouthEast of Tulsa.
1/2
Manufacturing on the Three Rivers
With over 800 employees, paper goods manufacturer Georgia-Pacific is Muskogee’s largest employer. Saint Francis Hospital and Dal-Tile’s Muskogee facility are major employers in the area as well. The regional Veterans Affairs office and medical center pull people from smaller surrounding towns. “A lot of people move here just for the VA hospital,” Jobe says. Creek Nation Casino and Cherokee Casino Fort Gibson provide residents with job opportunities and nightlife.
Due to its location on the Arkansas River, Port Muskogee provides access to global seaports via the Gulf of Mexico. Stardust Power Inc. recently broke ground on a $1.2 billion lithium refinery near the port that's expected to bring hundreds of jobs to the region. A network of highways encircles the heart of town, and Muskogee County Transit offers routes throughout the city, using Arrowhead Mall as a transfer point. Residents have a 50-mile drive to Tulsa and the nearest major airport, Tulsa International.
Paper goods manufacturer Georgia-Pacific is Muskogee's largest employer.
Dal-Tile in Muskogee is a large employer that supplies 25% of domestic tile production.
1/2
Historic homes in Founder’s Place
The median home price in Muskogee is $160,000, lower than the Oklahoma median and considerably lower than the U.S. median. Small starter homes in Central Muskogee might cost $75,000 to $150,000, while larger builds are priced from $200,000 to $350,000. Luxury properties in neighborhoods like Honor Heights and Country Club can be priced even higher, typically $500,000 to $600,000. Notably, properties near the river are prone to flooding.
Large luxury homes like this French Colonial can be found in Muskogee near the river and in Honor Heights neighborhood.
Small starter homes like this bungalow in Central Muskogee range from $75,000 to $150,000.
1/2
The Muskogee Public Schools district
The Muskogee Public Schools district serves about 4,800 students and gets a B-minus from Niche. The city is also home to Bacone College, the oldest Native American school in the state. The troubled school recently closed, but has tentative plans to reopen. The Oklahoma School for the Blind, the only school in the state focused on visually impaired students, moved from Fort Gibson to Muskogee in 1911.
Muskogee High School has brand new top tier sports facilities for students.
Oklahoma School for the Blind serves students in Pre-K through high school.
1/2
Main Street in the Katy District
The Katy District is the city’s primary shopping and dining destination. Boutiques, specialty shops, coffeehouses and taprooms crowd the low-slung brick buildings on Main Street. In the northern section of town, chain eateries and shopping centers flank a stretch of Route 62.
Downtown Muskogee, the Katy District, is a picturesque Main Street destination.
Large shopping centers and chain stores can be found along Route 62 in Muskogee.
1/2
Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame
Muskogee’s cultural scene revolves around music and regional history. The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame honors musicians from the Sooner State with an annual induction ceremony and concert, typically held in February at Muskogee Civic Center. The city was once agency headquarters for the Muscogee, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Seminole Nations, whose stories are preserved at the Five Civilized Tribes Museum. Inside the former Midland Valley Railroad Depot, the Three Rivers Museum celebrates the area’s multicultural heritage with a series of revolving exhibits. Local landmark The Castle at Muskogee serves as a dramatic backdrop for seasonal events like the Oklahoma Renaissance Festival and Castle Christmas.
The Five Civilized Tribes Museums in Muskogee is dedicated to preserving tribal art, history and culture.
The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Muskogee is located in the historic Frisco Freight Depot.
1/2
The Azalea Festival in April
Three rivers — the Arkansas, Grand and Verdigris — meet in the northeastern corner of town, inviting anglers to cast lines for bass, catfish and crappie. Several nearby lakes are popular fishing spots as well. “Tenkiller Lake is really clear. People come from Oklahoma City and Arkansas to scuba dive in it,” Jobe says.
Gardens and nature trails at Honor Heights Park draw walkers, runners and birders. Every April, the Azalea Festival transforms the park into a vivid display of blooms, and the Garden of Lights celebration runs during the holidays.
Parents have benches to relax while the kids play at Honor Heights Park.
Lake Tenkiller is a popular fishing, boating and swimming destination near Muskogee.
1/2
Crime rates in Muskogee
According to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Muskogee’s crime rates have remained relatively stable over the past five years. Rates for violent and property-related incidents are low compared to state and regional numbers.
Brandi Fugate has worked in the real estate and mortgage industry since 1995. A Muldrow Oklahoma native, Brandi began her career in Chicago where she specialized in helping buyers finance their dream homes by offering flexible mortgage products and aggressive underwriting guidelines.
In 2000 Brandi moved back to her home state of Oklahoma to continue her mortgage and real estate career closer to home. As a Realtor specializing in residential sales, Brandi has won numerous awards including Tulsa People Magazine's Top 100 Realtors (2018-2024) and Real Producer's Top 500 Agents (2019-2024).
Today Brandi is the Owner, Managing Broker, and Lead Agent of Private Label Real Estate, a brokerage in Tulsa OK. Brandi closes approximately 100 transactions per year of her own, plus oversees another 100 transactions per year under the brokerage.
In her free time Brandi enjoys spending time with her family, playing pickleball, weekly movie nights with her friends, and spoiling her 90 pound pit bull, Bentley.
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.
