Welcome

Joshua Cosden built the Southwest Refining Company oil refinery in 1910. He sold it to Stone and Webster of Boston, Massachusetts in 1917. The Barnsdall Oil Company had discovered the nearby Bigheart (later Barnsdall) oilfield in 1916. The Barnsdall Oil Company, bought the refinery in 1921. The town was renamed on January 1, 1922 in honor of Mr. Barnsdall.

The town of Barnsdall experienced a tornado in April 1911, a major fire in March 1913 and a flood in September 1915. Despite these calamities, the population increased from 307 in 1910 to 2,099 in 1920. That proved to be the high point of population in the town.

Barnsdall Refining Company renamed itself Bareco Oil Company in 1940. It ceased refining oil in 1946 and began producing microcrystalline waxes that year. Petrolite Corporation (now part of Baker Hughes Inc.) bought Bareco and has continued to operate the plant.

E. L. Doherty bought the holdings of Theodore N. Barnsdall, founder of Barnsdall Oil Company, in 1912.

City Council meetings are held the first Thursday of every month at 4:30 pm at City Hall:  January 4th, February 1st, March 7th, April 4th, May 2nd, June 6th, July 8th, August 1st, September 5th, October 3rd, November 7th & December 5th 2024.

• City Hall will be closed December 25th & 26th for Christmas Holiday!
• City Court will be held Thursday, December 21st at 11:00 a.m.
• Ordinance #2023-07-01 amended July 5, 2023 regarding tampering with new SET meters. Original document posted at City Hall.
• Please take advantage of online bill pay or drop box.
• Survival Flight EMS, LLC Ambulance Service to reside in Barnsdall Beginning October 1, 2023.
• Ambulance Service Fee $15.00 per month.
• Police Service Fee $5.00 per month for better coverage, Police training & compensation.
• We are using the readings from the new SET meters for the water bills.
• If you have any questions or need to report an issue, please call City Hall at (918) 847-2980
• Code of Ordinances to be added to web site soon. Hard copy available at City Hall.