More historic than 11% of U.S. towns · #115 of 131 in Oklahoma. What drives it
Most of Nichols Hills was built recently: 6% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1961. Below: maps from 1951 on and the census since 1940.
Founding year: Wikidata; Wikipedia’s history section gives the same year.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Nichols Hills’ History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Nichols Hills is more historic than 11% of U.S. towns, #115 of 131 in Oklahoma. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its age pulls it down.
D
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Nichols Hills’ overall grade.
Oklahoma towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Oklahoma town has 5.9 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Nichols Hills’ 0.0 sits below most of its state (18% of Oklahoma towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from D− to C−. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.1 points). Two sources give 1929.
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Nichols Hills’ past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The 1,280 acres now known as Nichols Hills were developed as an exclusive residential area by Dr. G.A. Nichols in 1929. Between 1907 and 1929, Dr. Nichols, an Oklahoma City real estate pioneer, developed the University, Paseo Arts District, Military Park, Central Park, Winans, University Place, Gatewood, Harndale, Nichols University Place and Lincoln Terrace neighborhoods of Oklahoma City and designed the city of Nicoma Park, Oklahoma.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Nichols Hills. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1951Britton sheet · 1:24,000
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Nichols Hills.
People over time
Nichols Hills, census by census
Between 942 and 4,897 people in every census since 1940.
9 censuses, 1940–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Nichols Hills’ Wikipedia page.
Stories next door
History across the town line
Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.
In 1929, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. the census of 1940 counted 942 people here.
How does Nichols Hills rank for history?
Nichols Hills is more historic than 11% of U.S. towns, #115 of 131 in Oklahoma. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
How old are the homes in Nichols Hills?
6% of Nichols Hills’ homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.1 points), against a typical 7.0% for an Oklahoma town; the median home was built in 1961.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (5), Wikidata (1), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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