U.S. Route 266 (US 266) is a , east–west U.S. Numbered Highway in Okmulgee,

McIntosh McIntosh, Macintosh, or Mackintosh (Gaelic: ') may refer to: Products and brands * Mackintosh, a form of waterproof raincoat * Mackintosh's or John Mackintosh and Co., later Rowntree Mackintosh, former UK confectionery company now part of Nestl� ...

, and Muskogee counties in

Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...

, United States, that connects

U.S. Route 62 U.S. Route 62 or U.S. Highway 62 (US 62) runs from the Mexican border at El Paso, Texas, to Niagara Falls, New York, near the Canadian border. It is the only east-west United States Numbered Highway that connects Mexico and Can ...

U.S. Route 75 U.S. Route 75 is a major north–south United States Numbered Highways, U.S. Highway that extends in the central United States. The highway's northern terminus is in Noyes, Minnesota, at the Canada–United States border, Canadian border, wh ...

(US 62/US 75) in

Henryetta Henryetta is a city in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 5,927 at the 2010 census, down 9.6 percent from the figure of 6,096 recorded in 2000. History Hugh Henry established a ranch on Creek Nation land in 1885. He so ...

with

U.S. Route 64 U.S. Route 64 (US 64) is an east–west United States highway that runs for 2,326 miles (3,743 km) from Nags Head in eastern North Carolina to just southwest of the Four Corners in northeast Arizona. The western terminus is at U.S. Route 1 ...

(US 62) in

Warner Warner can refer to: People * Warner (writer) * Warner (given name) * Warner (surname) Fictional characters * Yakko, Wakko, and Dot Warner, stars of the animated television series ''Animaniacs'' * Aaron Warner, a character in ''Shatter Me s ...

. The highway no longer meets the former route of its parent,

U.S. Route 66 U.S. Route 66 or U.S. Highway 66 (US 66 or Route 66) was one of the original highways in the United States Numbered Highway System. It was established on November 11, 1926, with road signs erected the following year. The h ...

(US 66), and is closely paralleled by

Interstate 40 Interstate 40 (I-40) is a major east–west Interstate Highway running through the south-central portion of the United States. At a length of , it is the third-longest Interstate Highway in the country, after I-90 and I-80. From west to ea ...

(I-40), which replaced US 266 (along with accompanying routes US 62 from

Oklahoma City Oklahoma City (), officially the City of Oklahoma City, and often shortened to OKC, is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, it ranks 20th among United States cities in population, a ...

to Henryetta and US 64 from Warner to the

Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the Osage ...

border west of Fort Smith, Arkansas) as the major east–west highway east of Oklahoma City during the 1960s.

Route description

US 266 begins at US 62/US 75 on the northeast side of Henryetta, approximately north of I-40. The highway heads east from this point, quickly crossing into the town of Dewar, which it bisects. As it leaves Dewar, US 266 turns northeast, crossing Coal Creek and the

Deep Fork River The Deep Fork River (Deep Fork of the North Canadian) is an Oklahoma tributary of the North Canadian River. The headwaters flow from northern Oklahoma City and the river empties into the North Canadian River, now impounded by Lake Eufaula. Course ...

. The highway bypasses

Hoffman Hoffman is a surname of German and Jewish origin. The original meaning in medieval times was "steward", i.e. one who manages the property of another. In English and other European languages, including Yiddish and Dutch, the name can also be spelle ...

to the east, providing access via Hoffman Road. The route then passes through the southeastern outskirts of Grayson. The highway then turns due east. Immediately after the curve, the highway serves as the southern terminus of

Oklahoma State Highway 52 State Highway 52 (abbreviated SH-52) is two once-connected highways in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. There are no lettered spur routes from either of them. Route description Southern section The southern SH-52 is a short, state highway in McIntosh ...

's northern section. US 266 then continues east into McIntosh County. US 266 continues due east, running parallel to the Deep Fork Arm of

Eufaula Lake Lake Eufaula, sometimes referred to as Eufaula Lake, is a reservoir in Oklahoma. It is located on the Canadian River, upstream from its confluence with the Arkansas River and near the town of Eufaula. The lake covers parts of McIntosh County, ...

, the reservoir's northernmost arm. South of Council Hill, the highway intersects

Oklahoma State Highway 72 State Highway 72 (abbreviated SH-72 or OK-72) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It runs from north to south through the east-central part of the state, with a length of almost 33 miles (53 km). It does not have any lettered sp ...

(SH-72) at its southern terminus. US 266 turns south-southeast, continuing the alignment of SH-72. The route then turns back to the east and heads into the city of Checotah. On the west side of town, US 266 has an interchange with the modern freeway route of U.S. Route 69 (US 69). Further east, in downtown Checotah, the route intersects the old alignment of US 69 (US 69 Business). The highway heads due east out of Checotah, descending a ridge and passing just south of its summit, Mt. Nebo. The highway passes under I-40 just before crossing into Muskogee County. Just under east of the McIntosh–Muskogee county line, US 266 intersects the southern

Oklahoma State Highway 2 State Highway 2, abbreviated SH-2 or OK-2, is a designation for two distinct highways maintained by the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Though they were once connected, the middle section of highway was concurrent with three different U.S. highways, so t ...

(SH-2). US 266 begins a

concurrency Concurrent means happening at the same time. Concurrency, concurrent, or concurrence may refer to: Law * Concurrence, in jurisprudence, the need to prove both ''actus reus'' and ''mens rea'' * Concurring opinion (also called a "concurrence"), a ...

with the state route (SH-2), traveling northwest to an interchange with I-40, numbered as Exit 278. The highways then curve around to due north to pass through

. On the north edge of Warner lies an intersection with US 64, where both US 266 and SH-2 end. Continuing straight puts the traveler on westbound US 64 towar

Tulsa Tulsa () is the second-largest city in the U.S. state, state of Oklahoma and List of United States cities by population, 47th-most populous city in the United States. The population was 413,066 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. ...

, while turning right brings the motorist onto eastbound US 64 toward Fort Smith, Arkansas.

History

Prior to the inception of the U.S. highway system,

Oklahoma State Highway 9 State Highway 9, abbreviated as SH-9, OK-9, or simply Highway 9, is a major east–west highway in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Spanning across the central part of the state, SH-9 begins at the Texas state line near Madge, Oklahoma, and ends at t ...

(SH-9) covered much of the corridor from Oklahoma City to Spiro. Upon the US route system's inception, US 266 replaced SH-9 from its junction with US 66 at 23rd Street and Lincoln Boulevard in Oklahoma City to US 64 in Warner. By 1930, along with changes to several other branches of US 66, the route was truncated at Henryetta. The segment from Oklahoma City to Henryetta became part of US 62, which was commissioned in 1930.

Junction list

The entire route is in

References

External links

US-266 at USEnds.com

{{DEFAULTSORT:66-2 U.S. Route 266 U.S. Route 266 U.S. Route 266 U.S. Highways in Oklahoma 2 United States Numbered Highway System

Route description

History

Junction list

See also

References

External links