[4] Jenks began in 1904 as a community site established by the Midland Valley Railroad between Tulsa and Muskogee, alongside the Arkansas River.

Though the river could only be utilized by shallow draft steamboats while the water level was up, these two transportation routes proved vital to Jenks' early development.

According to a 1957 article in the Tulsa Tribune, an agent for the townsite company was told by the railroad home office to name a town for the director.

As oil production waned, tank farms were dismantled, and agriculture became once again a major contributor to the Jenks economy.

During one flood in the late 1920s, the water was so deep that it completely covered every building but the roof of the three-story-high school.

[citation needed] In 1948, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built a levee around Jenks, and the community subsequently grew as a result of the increased safety and security.

The year 1948 saw the construction of a replacement two-lane bridge, which still stands today and now serves as a pedestrian crossing between the Riverwalk and the South Tulsa River Parks.

That decade also saw the construction of a nearby Public Service of Oklahoma gas-fired electric power plant.

Spring days are perfect for enjoying the sunshine and admiring the flower pots full of tulips, provided by the Jenks Garden Club.

A pedestrian bridge links the Jenks riverfront area with the Tulsa Riverparks walking trail on the East side of the river.

Another one of Jenks' main attractions is the high school football team, which has won 14 state championships, including six consecutive from 1996 to 2001.

Jenks also is home to numerous antique stores and hosts many street festivals and parades each year, such as the Art on Main (which has an attendance of 12,000).

On November 22, 2005, President George W. Bush and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez announced Jenks Public Schools as a recipient of the 2005 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation's highest Presidential honor for quality and organizational performance excellence.

It serves commercial and private air travel throughout the Tulsa area and has helped stimulate the growth of Jenks' economy.

Jenks is home to the headquarters of many small and large businesses, among which include; Kimberly Clark Corporation, Green Country Energy, Public Service Company, Tulsa Winch, Continental Wire Cloth, and Tedford Insurance.