Business View Magazine | November 2020

307 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 CHI CKASHA , OKLAHOMA three years prior to Chickasha’s incorporation as a Town in 1902. Today, Chickasha is home to the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma – a premier knowledge center with a rich history of its own dating back to 1908 when the Oklahoma Industrial Institute and College for Girls was established in the community. A local rancher named J. B. Sparks donated land for the school in memory of his daughter, Nellie, a Chickasaw descendent. A series of name changes followed: in 1916 it became Oklahoma College for Women; in 1965 it was renamed the Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts – a coed institution. Then in 1975, it took on its present incarnation as the very inclusive University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. Echoes of past history abound throughout Chickasha. The site of the former Borden General Hospital now contains Grady Memorial Hospital, Five Oaks Medical Group, Southern Plains Medical Center, and Borden Park. The Wilson and Bonfis Flying School trained over 8,000 U.S. Army Air Force cadets during World War II and later the facility became the Chickasha Municipal Airport. These days the airport provides convenient access to business jets with its 5100 foot runway, a modern terminal, and full FBO services. The adjacent Chickasha Airport Industrial Park offers airside access lots for aviation related companies and other light industries. Set on 240 acres of developable land, the industrial park lots can be configured to meet industry-specific needs. The Chickasha Chamber of Commerce has been a key factor in the community’s growth and development since 1923. Almost a century later, the Chamber is a strong advocate for the business community, which encompasses a diverse mix of employment sectors. Among them, a legacy of manufacturing in metal fabrication and machining, as well as the livestock trailer industry. Logistics companies and several national distribution centers also find Chickasha an ideal location for business growth.