History of Del City
Our City’s Start
Del City became a part of Oklahoma in 1948 and was the dream of George Epperly, who named the city after his daughter.
In 1946, George I. Epperly, a Capitol Hill home builder, purchased 160 acres of unincorporated Oklahoma County land at the corner of Southeast Twenty-ninth Street and Sunny Lane Road. The first of the fifty houses he built was ready for occupancy in 1947, and the remaining forty-nine were purchased so quickly that many families moved in before the finish carpentry was completed. By 1948, there were two hundred families living in the area, and Del City was officially incorporated by a vote of its residents that same year. Epperly named the town after his eldest daughter, Delaphene, and Del City was born.
Our Location
“The Crossroads of America”
Founded as a “bedroom” community in Boone Township, Oklahoma County, Del City lies three miles east of Oklahoma City and one mile west of Midwest City. At the turn of the twenty-first century, Del City was a seven-and-one-half-square-mile community, and today, the city borders southeast Oklahoma City, Midwest City and Tinker Air Force Base. The city’s northwestern corner sits at the junction of Interstate 35 and Interstate 40, justifying its claim to being “the Crossroads of America.”
Del City Today
Our city has deep roots in the state of Oklahoma, and we are proud of the growth we’ve had since 1948. Our community has had to be adaptable through challenging times, but we have always stuck together and stayed true to our identity. Learn more about our city values and what Del City stands for.