Durant, Oklahoma: The City of Magnolias

Durant is a city in southeastern Oklahoma, United States, located near Lake Texoma and close to the Texas state border. It has served as the county seat of Bryan County since 1907. Durant lies 96 miles north of Dallas, Texas, and about 150 miles southeast of Oklahoma City. The city is served by Durant Regional Airport - Eaker Field, U.S. Routes 70 and 75, and State Route 78. Durant is the seat of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and home to the headquarters of First United Bank. The city was founded in 1872 by Dixon Durant. Known as the “City of Magnolias”, Durant hosts the annual Magnolia Festival.

The city is also home to Southeastern Oklahoma State University, established in 1909 as Southeastern State Normal School. Another historic institution, Oklahoma Presbyterian College, located at 601 North 16th Street, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 12, 1976.

Often called the “Gateway to Lake Texoma”, Durant benefits from its proximity to one of the largest reservoirs in the United States, making it an important tourism hub in the region. It is also among the fastest-growing cities in Oklahoma. A few large casinos and hotels operate in the city, including Choctaw Casinos & Resorts, which opened on March 8, 2006. Owned by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, the casino has 218,844 square feet of gaming space.

Among the area’s historic landmarks is Fort Washita, a U.S. National Historic Landmark District listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Located about 10 miles from the city center, it dates back to the mid-19th century and once served as a U.S. military post. Other attractions in and around Durant include the Three Valley Museum, the Durant Multi-Sports Complex, and several scenic parks.