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6 | SILL.ARMYMWR.COM THE HISTORY OF FORT SILL Welcome to one of the oldest and best known Military installations in the United States! Fort Sill is home of Army Fires Center of Excellence, the historic home of the Field Artillery, and the home of the Air Defense Artillery (ADA) School. Its colorful history has turned the installation into a National His- toric Landmark. Although Lawton-Fort Sill is not the oldest of the Wild West cities, it is a historic, proud, and lively community. The installation covers about 94,000 acres just north of Lawton, Oklahoma at the post of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. The site was staked out in January of 1869 by Major General Philip H. Sheridan (see image below) who led a campaign to stop Native American tribes from raiding border settlements in Texas and Kansas. General Sheridan later named the installation after his West Point classmate, Brigadier Gener- al Joshua W. Sill, who was killed in the Civil War. By July of 1901, 29,000 homesteaders had registered for the land lottery at Fort Sill. By August of that same year, Lawton had be- come a large and rapidly growing city. LAWTON, OKLAHOMA The steady growth of modern day Lawton can be attributed to the growth of Fort Sill. The attractiveness of the climate, the coun- tryside, and employment opportunities for people with a variety of skills have made Lawton-Fort Sill a popular retirement area for military personnel. According to the 2022 census, Lawton's es- timated population was 91,542, making it the sixth-largest city, by population, in the state, and the largest in Western Oklahoma. Although Lawton's economy is still largely dependent on Fort Sill, it has grown to en- compass higher education, manufacturing, health care, and retail. Part of the appeal is the romance of the ar- ea's pioneer history and the beauty of the rolling plains and rugged mountains. The activities at Fort Sill and local business, how- ever, are part of the world's leading edge in technology and productivity. It is an inviting place not only to retire, but, to begin a busi- ness, start a career, or even raise a Family. LAWTON-FORT SILL CLIMATE Lawton-Fort Sill lies in a dry subtropical climate with frequent variations in weather daily, except during the hot and dry sum- mer. The winters are typically mild, though periods of extreme cold can occur. The area is located squarely in what is known as Tor- nado Alley and is prone to severe weather from late April through early June. A HOME AWAY FROM HOME Fort Sill has more to offer than meets the eye. The area is bustling with things to do and there's more to offer just a short drive away. There are tons of opportunities to en- joy the great outdoors with fishing, hiking, boating, and hunting at nearby parks and nature reserves. Fantastic restaurants, live music, and special events are a little over an hour away in Oklahoma City. Not to mention the recreation and entertainment options available on post thanks to Fort Sill Family & MWR. While stationed at Fort Sill you'll have the opportunity to train at one of the premier Army installations. The location provides the chance to experience everything the Mid- west has to offer. Moving to a new place has its challenges but you'll be glad to be here. OUR COMMUNITY