In 1892, the depot of Chickasha came to life when the Rock Island Railroad halted construction and set up temporary headquarters. Within a short time a tent city developed, and when the railroad moved on Chickasha remained. Chickasha continued as an important transportation stop, first for the railroads and then for the several highways that crisscross Oklahoma. With its access to transportation and open land, Chickasha became a thriving city after 1900, boasting a larger population than Tulsa and having all the modern amenities of a major city. Because of its strategic location, the city was chosen to house the Oklahoma College for Women in 1908, one of only five of its kind nationally. Now called
the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO ), it is Oklahoma's only public liberal arts institution. Today, Chickasha is also known for its Christmas celebration, the Festival of Light, which draws more than 250,000 visitors annually.