[6] Bristow began in 1898, when the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway ("SL&SF") built a track between Sapulpa and Oklahoma City.

The town was named for Joseph L. Bristow, an Assistant U.S. Postmaster General who later served as a U.S. senator from Kansas.

However, the county held a special election on August 20, 1908, to decide whether the seat would remain in Bristow or move to Sapulpa, which claimed to be more centrally located.

[7] Bristow is located in northern Oklahoma, just south of the geographic center of Creek County.

[6] Interstate 44, the Turner Turnpike, passes through the northern part of the city, with access from Exit 196.

Oklahoma State Highway 66, formerly U.S. Route 66, passes through the center of Bristow and generally parallels I-44.

From its inception, Bristow's economy centered on agriculture, and specifically on growing and processing cotton.

Additionally, other farmers in the area produced corn, peanuts, Irish potatoes, and fruits.

According to the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, nearly 31,000 people lived within a few miles radius of Bristow in 1920.

[7] Although the boom cooled by 1925, by 1930 the city was the site of three oil refineries, four pipeline facilities and offices for several petroleum-related companies.

[11] Jones Memorial Airport (FAA ID: 3F7), about 3 miles to the southwest, contains a 4001’x75’ asphalt runway completed in June 2020.

[17] The Center opened with a concert,[17] but is dedicated to diverse experiences which promote a spirit of cultural enjoyment.

[27] RV and tent camping is available, and the lake features picnic areas, a playground, a boat launch, swimming and fishing.

Built in 1947, the facility is notable not only for its Art Moderne style, but also for its 75-foot tall Chrysler Plymouth sign out front, intended to be visible to Route 66 traffic.

Highway-associated sites include the Texaco Service Station at 201 W. 4th Ave., the Bristow Tire Shop at 115 W. Fourth St., the Tank Farm Loop Route 66 Roadbed at the junction of SH-66 and Old Highway 66 0.6 miles west of the I-44 overpass, and the Little Deep Fork Creek Bridge east of the junction of E0830 Rd.