The first business in Ardmore was Samuel Zuckerman's general merchandise store. The first drug store, owned by M.L Jemison and John Alexander, was also the first in the Chickasaw Nation. 1888 saw the first church, the first school and the first newspaper. The church and school were located in the same building. The church had a membership of 12, and is now the First United Methodist Church.
Subscription is known today as tuition.
1890 also saw the first session of court. Ardmore was the seat of the 3rd Division of the U.S. District Court for Indian Territory. In 1895 the majority of the downtown area was destroyed by a fire. As a result, the fire department was established the next year. There was still no city government.