Cushing, Oklahoma

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title: "Cushing, Oklahoma" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["cities-in-oklahoma", "cities-in-payne-county,-oklahoma"] topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cushing,_Oklahoma" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

Field	Value
name	Cushing, Oklahoma
settlement_type	City
native_name	Koshineki
nickname	"Pipeline Crossroads of the World"
image_skyline	Cushing pipeline crossroads sign.jpg
image_caption	Pipeline Crossroads of the World monument (2006)
image_map	Payne County Oklahoma incorporated and unincorporated areas Cushing highlighted.svg
map_caption	Location within Payne County and Oklahoma
coordinates
subdivision_type	Country
subdivision_name	United States
subdivision_type1	State
subdivision_name1	Oklahoma
subdivision_type2	County
subdivision_name2	Payne
established_title	Founded
established_title1	Platted
established_title2	Incorporated
government_type
leader_title	Mayor
area_footnotes
area_total_sq_mi	7.60
area_land_sq_mi	7.59
area_water_sq_mi	0.01
area_total_km2	19.69
area_land_km2	19.67
area_water_km2	0.02
unit_pref	Imperial
elevation_footnotes
elevation_ft	922
population_as_of	2020
population_total	8327
population_density_sq_mi	1096.38
population_density_km2	423.32
timezone	CST
utc_offset	-6
timezone_DST	CDT
utc_offset_DST	-5
postal_code_type	ZIP code
postal_code	74023
area_code_type	Area code
area_code	539/918
blank_name	FIPS code
blank_info	40-18850
blank1_name	GNIS feature ID
blank1_info	2410279
website
::

|name = Cushing, Oklahoma |settlement_type = City |native_name = Koshineki |nickname = "Pipeline Crossroads of the World"

|image_skyline = Cushing pipeline crossroads sign.jpg |image_caption = Pipeline Crossroads of the World monument (2006) |image_flag = |image_seal =

|image_map = Payne County Oklahoma incorporated and unincorporated areas Cushing highlighted.svg |map_caption = Location within Payne County and Oklahoma

|coordinates_footnotes = |coordinates = |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = United States |subdivision_type1 = State |subdivision_name1 = Oklahoma |subdivision_type2 = County |subdivision_name2 = Payne

|established_title = Founded |established_date = |established_title1 = Platted |established_date1 = |established_title2 = Incorporated |established_date2 = |named_for =

|government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = Mayor |leader_name =

|area_footnotes = |area_total_sq_mi = 7.60 |area_land_sq_mi = 7.59 |area_water_sq_mi = 0.01 |area_total_km2 = 19.69 |area_land_km2 = 19.67 |area_water_km2 = 0.02 |unit_pref = Imperial

|elevation_footnotes = |elevation_ft = 922

|population_footnotes = |population_as_of = 2020 |population_total = 8327 |pop_est_footnotes = |pop_est_as_of = |population_est = |population_density_sq_mi = 1096.38 |population_density_km2 = 423.32

|timezone = CST |utc_offset = -6 |timezone_DST = CDT |utc_offset_DST = -5 |postal_code_type = ZIP code |postal_code = 74023 |area_code_type = Area code |area_code = 539/918 |blank_name = FIPS code |blank_info = 40-18850 |blank1_name = GNIS feature ID |blank1_info = 2410279 |website =

Cushing (, , meaning: "Soft-seat town") is a city in Payne County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 7,826 at the time of the 2010 census, a decline of 6.5% since 8,371 in 2000. Cushing was established after the Land Run of 1891 by William "Billy Rae" Little. It was named for Marshall Cushing, private secretary to U.S. Postmaster General John Wanamaker.

A 1912 oil boom led to the city's development as a refining center, with over 50 refineries operating in Cushing over its history. and is known as the "Pipeline Crossroads of the World."

History

The area that became Cushing was part of the Sac and Fox Nation. With the Land Run of 1891, a former government trader for the tribe, William Rea "Billy" Little, built a house, established his claim, and laid out town lots. The town got a post office on November 10, 1891, and was named for Marshall Cushing, private secretary to U.S. Postmaster General John Wanamaker.

In 1902, the Eastern Oklahoma Railway line to Cushing was built. The Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway added service on its own line built in 1903.

Wildcatter Thomas B. Slick started an oil boom on March 17, 1912, when he brought in a gusher east of Cushing. Other wells were soon drilled nearby, and the oil field became known as the Cushing-Drumright Oil Field. The city became a center for exploration of and production from nearby oil fields and also a refining center, when Consumers Oil Company opened a refinery in 1913. Production centered on the new town of Drumright, and Cushing became a refining center. Eventually, 23 oil companies and five oil-field supply houses located in the town, and more than 50 refineries once operated in the Cushing area. Pipelines and storage facilities have since made it "the pipeline crossroads of the world".

The oil boom did not last long. Production peaked in 1915 with 8.3 million barrels of oil, but went down by 50% in 1916.

During the 1970s and 1980s refining operations continued in Cushing until the last two refineries, Kerr-McGee and Hudson, closed. Rail service ended in 1982. As the oil fields started to run dry, starting in the 1940s, production and refining became less important.

The town retained a great asset in the Shell pipeline terminal, with 39 storage tanks and pipelines that could move as much as 1.5 million barrels a day. This enhanced Cushing's status as "Pipeline Crossroads of the World."

The maze of pipelines and tanks that had been built led to the NYMEX choosing Cushing as the official delivery point for its light sweet crude futures contract in 1983.

In May 2023, Cushing was selected as the site for a $5.56 billion crude oil refinery for processing 250,000 barrels per day of light and sweet crudes into low-carbon transportation fuels. The next-generation refinery, built with a goal of zero-carbon footprint operation, should be operational in 2027.

Geography

Cushing is located in Payne County at the intersection of Oklahoma State Highway 18 and Oklahoma State Highway 33.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.6 sqmi, of which 7.6 sqmi is land and 0.13% is water.

Climate

| location = Cushing, Oklahoma | single line = Y | Jan record high F = 81 | Feb record high F = 83 | Mar record high F = 92 | Apr record high F = 101 | May record high F = 100 | Jun record high F = 108 | Jul record high F = 117 | Aug record high F = 112 | Sep record high F = 110 | Oct record high F = 99 | Nov record high F = 85 | Dec record high F = 82 | year record high F= 117 | Jan high F = 48 | Feb high F = 54 | Mar high F = 61 | Apr high F = 73 | May high F = 80 | Jun high F = 89 | Jul high F = 94 | Aug high F = 95 | Sep high F = 88 | Oct high F = 76 | Nov high F = 62 | Dec high F = 52 | year high F= | Jan low F = 25 | Feb low F = 30 | Mar low F = 36 | Apr low F = 49 | May low F = 59 | Jun low F = 67 | Jul low F = 71 | Aug low F = 70 | Sep low F = 61 | Oct low F = 51 | Nov low F = 37 | Dec low F = 29 | year low F= | Jan record low F = −11 | Feb record low F = 3 | Mar record low F = −2 | Apr record low F = 23 | May record low F = 32 | Jun record low F = 45 | Jul record low F = 55 | Aug record low F = 51 | Sep record low F = 35 | Oct record low F = 24 | Nov record low F = 10 | Dec record low F = −1 | year record low F= −11 | Jan precipitation inch = 1.3 | Feb precipitation inch = 1.6 | Mar precipitation inch = 2.1 | Apr precipitation inch = 3.5 | May precipitation inch = 5.8 | Jun precipitation inch = 5.1 | Jul precipitation inch = 4.3 | Aug precipitation inch = 2.7 | Sep precipitation inch = 3.7 | Oct precipitation inch = 3 | Nov precipitation inch = 1.6 | Dec precipitation inch = 1.3 | year precipitation inch= 35.8 | Jan snow inch = 3.6 | Feb snow inch = 2.1 | Mar snow inch = 1.3 | Apr snow inch = 0.1 | May snow inch = | Jun snow inch = | Jul snow inch = | Aug snow inch = | Sep snow inch = | Oct snow inch = | Nov snow inch = 0.3 | Dec snow inch = 1.4 | year snow inch= 8.8

| Jan humidity= 70 | Feb humidity= 68 | Mar humidity= 63 | Apr humidity= 62 | May humidity= 70 | Jun humidity= 69 | Jul humidity= 66 | Aug humidity= 64 | Sep humidity= 63 | Oct humidity= 63 | Nov humidity= 61 | Dec humidity= 66 | year humidity= 65

| unit rain days= | Jan rain days= 3.3 | Feb rain days= 3.9 | Mar rain days= 5 | Apr rain days= 6.5 | May rain days= 7.4 | Jun rain days= 7.8 | Jul rain days= 7.1 | Aug rain days= 5.2 | Sep rain days= 5.9 | Oct rain days= 5 | Nov rain days= 3.1 | Dec rain days= 3.3 | year rain days= 63.5

| source 1 = weather.com | source 2 = Weatherbase.com{{cite web | url = http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weatherall.php3?s=937&refer= | title = Historical Weather for Cushing, Oklahoma, United States}} | date=October 2010

Demographics

|1900= 226 |1910= 1072 |1920= 6326 |1930= 9301 |1940= 7703 |1950= 8414 |1960= 8619 |1970= 7529 |1980= 7720 |1990= 7218 |2000= 8371 |2010= 7826 |2020= 8327 |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census | align = right | align-fn = center

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Cushing had a population of 8,327 and a median age of 36.5 years. Children under 18 made up 20.3% of residents while 14.4% were 65 or older, and there were 137.6 males for every 100 females (148.2 males per 100 females age 18 and over).

There were 2,786 households in Cushing, of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 40.3% were married-couple households, 20.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 3,428 housing units, of which 18.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 58.2% were owner-occupied and 41.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 5.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 15.9%.

78.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 21.1% lived in rural areas.

::data[format=table title="Racial composition as of the 2020 census{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME%2CP1_001N%2CP1_003N%2CP1_004N%2CP1_005N%2CP1_006N%2CP1_007N%2CP1_008N%2CP1_009N%2CP2_001N%2CP2_002N%2CH1_001N%2CH1_002N&for=place%3A18850&in=state%3A40|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=January 16, 2026|df=mdy}}"]

Race	Percent
White	70.3%
Black or African American	8.8%
American Indian and Alaska Native	7.8%
Asian	0.4%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
Some other race	3.4%
Two or more races	9.2%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)	6.8%
::

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,371 people, 3,071 households, and 2,002 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,096.1 PD/sqmi. There were 3,636 housing units at an average density of 476.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 79.66% White, 7.02% African American, 7.97% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.90% from other races, and 4.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.70% of the population.

There were 3,071 households, out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.9% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 111.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,483, and the median income for a family was $32,284. Males had a median income of $26,710 versus $17,711 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,620. About 15.1% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.0% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c0/Enbridge_tank_farm,_Cushing_Oklahoma.jpg" caption="oilbbl}} (2010)"] ::

Main article: Oil industry in Cushing

Cushing is a major crude oil hub within the United States and worldwide oil industry. It is a "vital transshipment point with many intersecting pipelines, storage facilities and easy access to refiners and suppliers." Crude oil flows "inbound to Cushing from all directions and outbound through dozens of pipelines." Crude oil tank farms around Cushing have over 90 million barrels of storage capacity.

The new refinery announced in May 2023 is expected to create 423 direct jobs and produce a payroll of $39.3 million, resulting in a total economic impact of $18.2 billion over the following decade.

Sports

Cushing was home to minor league baseball. The Cushing Oilers and Cushing Refiners played as members of the Class D Southwestern League (1921), the Class D Oklahoma State League (1923–1924) and Southwestern League (1925). Baseball Hall of Fame member Carl Hubbell made his professional debut with the 1923 Cushing Refiners.

Parks and recreation

The foundations of Cushing Municipal Park were established in 1935 with Cushing Memorial Park, constructed by the WPA. Over time, more and more features have been added, including a Duck Pond, a picnic pavilion, gazebos, various playground areas, skate park, disc golf course, sand volleyball court, and baseball diamond. The Cushing Aquatic Center includes a splashpad, wading pool, full sized pool with swim lanes, and a three-tiered ramp with 5 pool slides.

Main Street is the locale for the Downtown Cushing Centennial Park, which has a stage and picnic tables with umbrellas.

Buffalo Rock Golf and Venue Golf Course, originally the Cushing Country Club dating from 1921, is an 18-hole course open to the public.

Cushing Lake, 6 miles west of the city, offers a boat ramp, dock, and picnic area.

Government

Cushing has a commissioner-manager form of government.

The Cimarron Correctional Facility is located three miles southwest of Cushing. Due to reductions by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections in the number of inmates put in private prisons because of budgetary issues, owner CoreCivic announced closure of the facility in July 2020.

Education

The Cushing school district has five schools that include a preschool, two elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. The district serves approximately 1,800 students.

Transportation

Cushing is at the eastern intersection of State Highway 33 (east-west) and State Highway 18 (north-south).

Cushing is served by the Cushing Municipal Airport (KCUH, or FAA Identifier CUH), featuring a paved 5201' x 100' runway. Commercial air transportation is available out of the Stillwater Regional Airport about 20 miles to the northwest, and the Tulsa International Airport, about 59 miles to the east-northeast.

Historic Sites

Main article: National Register of Historic Places listings in Payne County, Oklahoma

The following are NRHP-listed:

• The Bassett House
• Luke D. Berry House
• Cushing American Legion Building
• Cushing Armory
• Gillespie Drilling Company Building
• Christian K. Usher Luston House

Notable people

• Paul Blair, professional baseball player
• Al Buell, former painter of pin-up art
• Kelly Cook, former running back in the National Football League
• Harold DeMarsh, first ever NCAA Wrestling Champion
• Brian Kelly, professional boxer
• Frank Lewis, Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling at 1936 Summer Olympics
• Robert Pearce, Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling at 1932 Summer Olympics
• Jay Rubenstein, Rhodes Scholar, MacArthur Fellow, medieval historian
• Blake "Cushing Cannon" Shoemaker, former baseball pitcher, Once threw 68 MPH during a Double A game in Tulsa, OK
• Bob Shirley, former professional baseball pitcher If you add/edit this section, it is YOUR responsibility to ensure ALL of the following is met:

1. You MUST insert each person into the list, sorted/ordered by last name (surname).
2. Each person MUST meet the Wikipedia:Notability (people) guideline, no exceptions!
   • END OF INSTRUCTIONS *** --

References

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau.
2. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
3. {{GNIS. 2410279
4. Gordon Whittaker, 2005, "A Concise Dictionary of the Sauk Language", The Sac & Fox National Public Library Stroud, Oklahoma. [https://www.sacandfoxnation-nsn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Copy-of-A-Concise-Dictionary-Sauk.pdf]
5. (2008) Kansas Historical Society, Ioway-Otoe-Missouria Language Project, English to Ioway-Otoe-Missouria Dictionary, "Dictionary C (English to Baxoje)", "Cushing, Okla.". [https://www.kshs.org/research/collections/documents/businessrecords/ioway_pdf/dict_c_eng_august_18_2008.pdf]
6. "Cushing, OK Population - Census 2010 and 2000 Interactive Map, Demographics, Statistics, Quick Facts - CensusViewer".
7. ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture''.[http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CU007 "Cushing"]. By D. Earl Newsome, Accessed June 9, 2010.
8. "NYMEX WTI Crude Oil Futures & Options".
9. [http://aoghs.org/oklahoma-oil-history/ Oklahoma Oil History] {{Webarchive. link. (November 9, 2016 . American Oil & Gas Historical Society)
10. (May 24, 2023). "Cushing chosen as site for $5.56 billion refinery". Curtis Killman, Tulsa World, May 24, 2023.
11. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
12. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
14. "Light Sweet Crude Oil (WTI) Futures and Options: When the World Asks, "What's the Price of Crude Oil?" WTI is the Answer". CME Group.
15. "Carl Hubbell | Society for American Baseball Research".
16. "Memorial Park - Cushing, OK". Waymarking.com.
17. "Aquatic Center". City of Cushing.
18. "Downtown Cushing Centennial Park". TravelOK.com.
19. "Buffalo Rock Golf and Venue Golf Course". Golflink.com.
20. "Cushing Lake". TravelOK.com.
21. (July 18, 2020). "Inmates pulled from private state prison in Cushing due to budget cuts". Barbara Hoberock, Tulsa World, July 18, 2020.
22. [http://www.education.com/schoolfinder/us/oklahoma/district/cushing-school-district/ Cushing School District], [http://www.education.com/ Education.com] (accessed June 9, 2010).
23. "Cushing, Oklahoma". Google Maps.
24. "Cushing Municipal Airport". AirNav.com.
25. "Homepage". TulsaAirports.com.
26. "Tulsa International Airport to Cushing, Oklahoma". Google Maps.
27. News services and staff reports (December 28, 2013) "Star center fielder won two titles with Orioles" ''The Washington Post'', page B4. Retrieved December 28, 2013 [https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/paul-blair-graceful-orioles-outfielder-dies-at-69/2013/12/27/3864482c-6f13-11e3-aecc-85cb037b7236_story.html?tid=auto_complete]
28. "Kelly Cook". databaseFootball.com.
29. [https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/champions-database?wrestler=7818 Harold DeMarsh]. ''National Wrestling Hall of Fame''. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
30. [https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/19025 InterMat Rewind: Frank Lewis]. ''InterMat Wrestling''. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
31. [https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/champions-database?wrestler=49 Robert Pearce]. ''National Wrestling Hall of Fame''. Retrieved August 28, 2022.

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