Stillwater has a diverse economy with a foundation in aerospace, agribusiness, biotechnology, optoelectronics, printing and publishing, and software and standard manufacturing.

In 1832, author and traveler Washington Irving provided the first recorded description of the area around Stillwater in his book A Tour on the Prairies.

By the end of the day, 240 acres (0.97 km2) had been claimed and designated as Stillwater Township and a tent city with a population numbering 300 had sprung up on the prairie.

[9] On Christmas Eve, 1890, the legislature of Oklahoma Territory passed a bill certifying Stillwater as the land grant college site.

Quonset huts were dotted across town and barracks occupied the site where Stillwater Medical Center and the CareerTech headquarters are now.

Stillwater has the following economic clusters: aerospace, agribusiness, biotechnology, optoelectronics, printing and publishing, software and standard manufacturing.

[28] Oklahoma State University plays a significant part of Stillwater's overall economy with more than 20,000 students, 5,500 personnel and a focus on research and technology.

A few blocks east is Campus Corner on Knoblock Street that features unique shops and restaurants, including the original home to Hideaway Pizza.

Applicants who do not meet Oklahoma State University admission requirements may attend the NOC-OSU Gateway Program held on the campus.

The library is active in the community, holding events and programs, including free computer classes, children's storytimes, and scholarly databases with information on a variety of topics.

[34] The Edmon Low Library at Oklahoma State University houses approximately 3 million volumes, 190,000 government documents, 70,000 electronic and print serials.

Garth Brooks, Other Lives, and The All-American Rejects launched their careers playing the local bars like Willie's Saloon, Tumbleweed Dance Hall, and Eskimo Joe's.

Tumbleweed Dance Hall, home of the world-famous annual Calf Fry, was nominated for "Dancehall of the Year" award by the Academy of Country Music.

[37] OSU's Allied Arts holds performances in the Seretean Center and the Jerry L. Davis Studio Theatre on the OSU-Stillwater campus.

The festival is a two-day, juried art show held in April that features live entertainment, artist demonstrations, and children's activities.

[60] For more than twenty years, the Eskimo Joe's Juke Joint Jog 5K and Fun Run (one mile race) have been held in the fall to benefit the Stillwater Area United Way.

The museum features exhibits on Stillwater and Payne County, including the first land run that opened Oklahoma Territory for settlement in 1889.

[65] In October 2013, Oklahoma State University opened the OSU Museum of Art in the renovated Postal Plaza, a former WPA-built Federal Post Office in Downtown Stillwater.

[67] The Botanic Garden at Oklahoma State University covers more than 100 acres (0.40 km2) with thousands of species of flowers, shrubs, grasses and trees.

[70] The Stillwater Public Library dedicated a bronze statue of Oklahoma historian and author Angie Debo on November 18, 2010.

Created by local artist Phyllis Mantik, the statue depicts a young Debo sitting on a rock with several books by her side.

[79] Stillwater Scene, published by Red Productions, is a monthly print and online magazine that focuses on local entertainment.

Men's programs include baseball, basketball, football, cross country, golf, wrestling, tennis, and track and field.

Women's programs include basketball, cross country, equestrian, soccer, softball, tennis, and track and field.

The Pioneers compete in football, volleyball, softball, cross country, cheerleading, pom, wrestling, basketball, swimming, baseball, golf, tennis, and soccer.

Lake McMurtry, owned by the City of Stillwater, offers hiking and mountain-bike trails, back-to-nature camping and well-stocked reserves for fishing.

The Kameoka Trail Corridor includes a three-mile (5 km) loop around Boomer Lake and additional disconnected segments throughout the city.

American Airlines began service in August 2016 with two daily round trip flights to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Residents who seek the full services of a teaching hospital must travel to the OSU Medical Center, about 60–70 minutes east in Tulsa.

Protagonists Sam and Dean Winchester track a pair of witches to the city to try and recover a valuable spell book.