History of Empire Schools
Empire School District #21 was formed by the consolidation of Banner, Hopewell, Center Point, and Lozier Schools in 1922. The early 1920's oil boom brought many people to this area and a larger school building was needed to accommodate the students. The new school was located near the center of the four districts and about three miles North of Empire City. From Duncan, Oklahoma, the school is five miles west on Beech Road and three miles South. Students were transported in Model T Ford and Dodge school buses.
Elementary classrooms were on the ground floor of the original school building. The second floor contained the high school classrooms, library, and offices. There are alterating accounts as to where the original gym was located (if you know, please give Ms. Lentz, the librarian an email!). The school had its own power generating plant and natural gas came from a well southwest of the school, piped in to heat the building. Early records show 650 students enrolled.
Empire was placed in Class D for athletic competition. The Wildhorse Athletic Conference included Empire and several other rural schools in Stephens County.
During later years all or a part of the following districts annexed to Empire: Stagestand, Little Beaver, Rock Creek, Baird, Beaver Ridge, Walker Valley, and Willow Point. The school now serves 120 square miles located in Stephens, Comanche, and Cotton Counties.
During the 1920's and 30's Empire City had two churches, a barbershop, hotel, grocery store, and a blacksmith shop. A U.S. Post Office was established at Empire City on February 4th, 1921, and closed on November 30th, 1934. (If you have any other information regarding the History of Empire Schools, please feel free to contact Ms. Lentz at
mlentz@empireschools.org )
For Alumni Information please contact:
Lois Stewart Love
loislove@cableone.net
580-252-0022