Arkansas City - Hardcoverby Heather D. Ferguson (Author) Arkansas City has often been called "the gateway to the West." The name lends a lot to describing the town a town that was founded as a border town to Indian Territory, a major trade hub to the Indian agencies in Indian Territory, and a major transportation center for those wishing to travel through the territory and farther west. Arkansas City started off as a small town with false fronted stores but became a bustling