Kay County stretches across north-central Oklahoma from the Kansas line to the Arkansas River country around Ponca City and Kaw Lake. Ponca City is the largest urban reference, Newkirk is the county seat, and Blackwell and Tonkawa help organize the western side. The county also contains two very different water settings: the winding Chikaskia River in the west and the broad Arkansas River–Kaw Lake system in the east. The maps on this page can be viewed online, and the original high-resolution JPG files are available together in a downloadable ZIP for printing or closer study.
The county belongs to Oklahoma’s Red Bed Plains, but the terrain is not uniformly flat. The Oklahoma Historical Society identifies the Chikaskia River, the Salt Fork of the Arkansas River, and the Arkansas River as major streams crossing Kay County. The elevation map shows long low corridors along river and creek valleys, while higher rolling ground becomes especially noticeable in the east and northeast near Kaw Lake. Comparing roads, towns, water, and elevation turns what first looks like a simple plains county into a much more varied landscape.
Table of Contents
Use Ponca City, Newkirk, and Blackwell to orient the road map
Ponca City is the easiest place to begin on the general county map. The Oklahoma Historical Society places the city in southeastern Kay County at the junction of U.S. Highways 77 and 177. Several routes converge around the urban area, making it a useful reference for locating Newkirk to the north and Kaw City to the east. State Highway 11 extends toward Kaw City and the Kaw Lake shoreline, linking the county’s largest city with its major eastern reservoir.
Newkirk is the county seat and sits along U.S. 77 north of Ponca City. The Oklahoma Historical Society notes that Newkirk is about eight miles south of the Kansas border and has served as the county’s administrative center since the Cherokee Outlet opening era. On the map, its north-central location makes it a practical midpoint between Ponca City and the state line. Kildare appears along the same general corridor, adding another small reference between the two cities.
Blackwell and Tonkawa organize the western half of the county. U.S. 177 runs south from the Blackwell area toward Tonkawa, while U.S. 60 crosses near Tonkawa and I-35 passes close to the western side. Braman lies much farther north near Kansas. Instead of memorizing every route, it is easier to think of the county as two sets of urban references: Ponca City and Newkirk in the east-central area, and Blackwell and Tonkawa farther west.
Six major communities show a broad east-west settlement pattern
The city distribution map highlights Ponca City, Blackwell, Tonkawa, Newkirk, Kaw City, and Braman. Ponca City occupies the southeast, while Newkirk stands farther north. Blackwell and Tonkawa form two western references, Kaw City lies near the eastern reservoir country, and Braman marks the northwest near Kansas. The six locations are dispersed widely enough to make them useful checkpoints when moving between the other map layers.
Ponca City and Kaw City both belong to the eastern side, but their physical settings differ. Ponca City lies near the Arkansas River and a dense road network, whereas Kaw City sits much closer to the Kaw Lake shoreline. Newkirk is north of both and occupies rolling ground between interior creek valleys and the higher eastern terrain. Those three communities give the eastern half of Kay County a clear geographic frame.
Blackwell and Tonkawa are closer to the Chikaskia River lowlands in the west. Braman, farther north, is useful for locating the Kansas line and the headwaters of several western tributaries. The rank and population-style figures shown on the supplied city map are best treated as reference values rather than current estimates. Anyone needing current population totals should check the latest U.S. Census Bureau data.
The Chikaskia River and Kaw Lake define opposite sides of the water map
The Chikaskia River is the dominant western waterway. Bitter Creek and Dry Creek descend from the northwest and feed the broader Chikaskia valley, which winds south through the Blackwell–Tonkawa side of the county. Deer Creek forms another low corridor farther south. The Oklahoma Historical Society lists the Chikaskia among the county’s three principal streams, and its broad meandering valley is easy to recognize on the supplied map.
The central part of Kay County is divided by smaller waterways. Duck Creek, Bois d’Arc Creek, and Spring Creek create long valleys that trend toward lower ground in the south. Antwine Lake and Horseshoe Lake are labeled in the south-central area. West Lake Ponca appears near Ponca City, while Newkirk Lake and Newkirk Country Club Lake provide smaller water references in the north-central part of the county.
Kaw Lake dominates the east. The Arkansas River passes southeast of Ponca City and enters the large reservoir system, where the shoreline forms an irregular edge against the county boundary. Kaw City is closely tied to this water landscape, making it easy to match the city map with the water map. The Oklahoma Historical Society also identifies Kaw Lake and Lake Ponca as important outdoor recreation resources in the county.
This map is intended for geographic reference rather than flood, navigation, or property decisions. It does not show flood probability, water depth, streamflow, water quality, legal access, or safe boating conditions. Current USGS, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, FEMA, state, and local information should be used for those purposes around Kaw Lake, the Arkansas River, the Chikaskia River, and smaller streams.
Elevation from about 271 to 400 meters reveals higher eastern uplands
The elevation map gives Kay County an actual range of about 271 to 400 meters, with a mean near 325 meters. The strongest brown and tan colors appear across the eastern and northeastern parts of the county, including ridges around the Kaw Lake country. Higher ground also occurs through portions of the north-central interior. In contrast, major river and creek valleys appear as long green corridors.
The Chikaskia River produces one of the clearest lowland bands in western Kay County. The area south of Blackwell toward Tonkawa remains lower than much of the surrounding upland, and tributaries descend into the valley from both sides. Duck Creek and Bois d’Arc Creek create narrower low corridors through the center. These features show that the western half is not featureless prairie even where the road network looks relatively simple.
The eastern side has stronger local relief. Kaw Lake and the Arkansas River occupy low green terrain, but tan and brown ridges rise close to the shoreline. The country east of Newkirk and north of Kaw City contains repeated hills and drainage cuts. Ponca City lies near the transition between the low Arkansas River corridor and higher terrain to the east, which makes it a useful point for comparing different parts of the elevation map.
This elevation surface is suitable for county-scale comparison only. It should not be used to determine exact parcel height, road grade, construction elevations, drainage calculations, or legal survey boundaries. Those purposes require more precise source data and professional field measurements when appropriate.
The Cherokee Outlet opening explains much of the modern town pattern
Much of present-day Kay County is tied to the history of the Cherokee Outlet and the reservations established in the region during the nineteenth century. According to the Oklahoma Historical Society, the 1893 opening of the Cherokee Outlet led to the rapid establishment of towns including Ponca City and Blackwell. The county was first designated K County, and Newkirk was selected as its county seat before Oklahoma statehood.
Newkirk’s history explains why the administrative center is not the county’s largest city. The Oklahoma Historical Society records that Blackwell and Ponca City both competed for county-seat status. A 1908 election and later legal dispute ultimately left Newkirk as the county seat. That history gives the modern map useful context: Ponca City dominates the population and road network, while Newkirk remains the governmental center farther north.
Ponca City’s growth followed a different path. Founded during the 1893 opening, it secured railroad service and later expanded rapidly during the oil era. The Oklahoma Historical Society connects the city’s twentieth-century development with figures such as E. W. Marland and with the broader petroleum industry. Today the 101 Ranch site, Marland Mansion, and Pioneer Woman Museum are among Kay County’s best-known historic and cultural resources.
Ponca City is a useful checkpoint for comparing east and west
Ponca City connects several layers of the map set. U.S. 77 and U.S. 177 provide road references, the Arkansas River and West Lake Ponca provide water references, and the elevation map places the city near a transition between a low river corridor and higher ground to the east. Returning to the same location on each map makes it easy to see how transportation and physical geography describe different aspects of the county.
Traveling west from Ponca City leads across interior creek valleys toward the lower Chikaskia River country. Blackwell and Tonkawa are useful points for understanding that western side. Traveling east instead brings the Arkansas River, Kaw Lake, and nearby hills into view. Kaw City provides a simple reference for the reservoir shoreline and the more rugged eastern terrain.
Moving north toward Newkirk adds another contrast. Small lakes and creeks appear around the county seat, and higher ridges become more noticeable east of the city. Braman, in the northwest near Kansas, provides a final reference for the western tributary country. A single starting point in Ponca City can therefore be used to compare western river lowlands, eastern lake-and-hill terrain, and the north-central county-seat area.
Choose the Kay County map that matches the task
For roads, towns, and the county outline, begin with the general map. Find Ponca City and Newkirk, then add U.S. 77 and 177, Blackwell and Tonkawa in the west, and Kaw City in the east. The city distribution map is cleaner when the goal is simply to compare the six highlighted communities and see how far apart the main settlement areas are.
For rivers, lakes, and creeks, use the water map. Separate the Chikaskia River from the Arkansas River first, then add Kaw Lake, Duck Creek, and Bois d’Arc Creek. The elevation map is the best companion for explaining why those channels follow certain routes: green lowlands align with many major waterways, while higher tan and brown terrain becomes more common toward the east.
The web previews are convenient for quick reference. The downloadable ZIP contains high-resolution JPG versions of the county-and-road, city distribution, terrain-and-water, and elevation maps for printing, classroom use, local-history materials, or presentations. They are general geographic resources rather than parcel maps, live navigation products, flood studies, engineering plans, or professional surveys.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest city to use as a starting point on a Kay County map?
Ponca City is the easiest starting point because it is the largest city and sits near U.S. 77 and U.S. 177. From there, Newkirk is north, Kaw City is east near Kaw Lake, and Tonkawa and Blackwell provide references for the western part of the county.
Where are the Chikaskia River and Arkansas River in Kay County?
The Chikaskia River winds through the western half of the county, while the Arkansas River passes southeast of Ponca City and continues into the Kaw Lake system. They create two distinct lowland areas on opposite sides of Kay County.
Can the 271–400 meter elevation range be used for surveying?
No. The range is a county-scale reference for comparing river valleys with higher rolling terrain. Exact parcel elevation, drainage design, construction, road grades, and legal surveying require more precise data and professional measurements when appropriate.
Map File Information
Download Kay County road, city, water, and elevation maps together as high-resolution JPG files.
- Included Files: Use only the versions confirmed in the article and supplied images
- File Type: Use the confirmed download contents
- Intended Use: Printing, education, presentations, and map-based projects
Related Maps
Sources and References
- Oklahoma Historical Society – Kay County
- Oklahoma Historical Society – Ponca City
- Oklahoma Historical Society – Newkirk
- U.S. Census Bureau – TIGER/Line Shapefiles
- USGS – National Hydrography
- USGS – 3D Elevation Program
Green Map creates custom-edited map images using open geographic data sources such as geoBoundaries, Natural Earth, OpenStreetMap, and government open data. These maps are edited visual materials, not raw data files, and are provided for education, documents, presentations, and graphic reference.
