Ponca City has a couple of interesting links to the film industry. First of all, it was one of the locations for the 1996 disaster film, 'Twister', and secondly, it is planned to host none other than Jennifer Lawrence as she shoots her new film 'The Ends of the Earth', a story about the famous oil man E. W. Marland.
Hollywood shout-outs aside, Ponca City is a relatively small city in Kay and Osage counties in Oklahoma
Ponca City has a couple of interesting links to the film industry. First of all, it was one of the locations for the 1996 disaster film, 'Twister', and secondly, it is planned to host none other than Jennifer Lawrence as she shoots her new film 'The Ends of the Earth', a story about the famous oil man E. W. Marland.
Hollywood shout-outs aside, Ponca City is a relatively small city in Kay and Osage counties in Oklahoma. It's the largest city in Kay county, with 25,387 residents as of the 2010 census, and is about 18 miles south of the Kansas border. There are some great recreational opportunities nearby, with the Arkansas River, Kaw Lake and Lake Ponca all providing great outdoor fun, while the city is serviced by a regional airport to the west. A word of warning though -- Ponca City is found in Tornado Alley, where you might well see twisters rushing through or nearby during April, May and June, in particular. Aside from that, the weather is generally hot through the summer, with average temperatures reaching the mid 90's in July and August. Winters are cool, but not frightfully so.
If you're planning to move to Ponca City then it's worth bearing a few things in mind.
Lots of houses
There are plenty of detached houses in Ponca City, which is great if you're looking for places to rent with a family. However, you won't find so many apartments, with only the odd apartment complex available in the city. High rises and apartment buildings are rare, so be prepared to search deep if this is what you're looking for.
Commutes are easy
Residents of Ponca City benefit from some of the shortest average commutes in the country, spending just over 15 minutes getting to work each day. This is always easier if you have your own car, and looking for a house close to your place of work is always beneficial. Since there are no big cities nearby, people tend to work locally, with no long commutes out of town.
Get prepared
Look, if you're keen on locking down your new home quickly, then it's best to be prepared. Don't leave things to chance and give someone else the opportunity to swoop in and steal your new place, but get your deposit together and make sure that your offer is accepted quickly once you've put it in. This means making yourself seem as attractive as possible by getting credit reports, employer letters, previous landlord references, and so on, ready to go asap.
When you cruise into town it's a good idea to have a drive around and check out the different neighborhoods before you even think about setting foot in a realtor's office. This will give you a feel for the place and make it easier to decide where you want to move to.
City Center: This is a good place to start if you are desperate for an apartment as here you'll find the highest concentration of two bedroom apartments in Ponca City. Check out Moran Park and the Conoco Museum just down the road.
N Union St / W Liberty Ave: This active area, is the site of Ponca City Regional Airport and Enrique's Mexican restaurant next door in case you fancy some Mexican food before your flight, which is perhaps not advisable.
E South Ave / S 7th St: Peppered with parks and with the Arkansas River on its eastern border, this neighborhood has the Ponca City Art Center for artistic and creative types.
N Pecan Rd / E Hartford Ave: West Lake Ponca is over to the east for anyone who enjoys a few water based activities, and Ponca Country Club in the middle for anyone who wants to get out for 18 holes under the spring sun.
N 7th St / E Highland Ave: This area is home of Sullins Stadium where local football teams and other sports team play. You'll also find Marland's Grand Home, a historic site, in the south of the neighborhood.
White Eagle / Autwine: This section of town wraps all around the other neighborhoods in Ponca City, so you'll find plenty of larger places to live out there on the outskirts of the city. This is great if you want slightly more peace and quiet and prefer to commute into the city to work. To the east you'll find Lake Ponca Park and Sun-N-Fun Waterpark.
Anyone who lives in Ponca City can thank E. W. Marland and his company for building it from the ground up. Of course, the oil man hasn't been forgotten, with the Marland Grand Home and E. W. Marland Mansion both historic points of interest. In fact, there are several landmarks in Ponca City that have been named on the National Register of Historic Places, including the aforementioned Marland buildings and the Poncan Theatre, as well.
Throughout the year the town plays host to several festivals to celebrate its heritage, something you'll quickly get drawn into if you move there or visit. If you're there around Christmas time, you'll be sure to enjoy the Ponca City Festival of Angels, one of the largest lights shows in Oklahoma.
As with many other cities in the region, Ponca city plays host to a lot of outdoor fun as well, with numerous parks and lakes in the area. Nightlife isn't what you'd get in a major city, but there's enough to keep people satisfied with Rockin' Horse, Sadies and the Two Rivers Casino three local highlights. Be sure to check out Ponca City for yourself to enjoy some of these wonderful events, and get a taste of local culture.
The city also sits on a crossroads of major roads heading north, south, east, and west, making travel to other local towns easy by car or bus. Travel about 15 miles to the west and you'll hit Interstate 35, which cuts south straight to Oklahoma City, Dallas, Austin and all the way to the Mexican border. Living in Ponca City opens up a world of travel opportunities.
