Canute is a town in Washita County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 541 at the 2010 census. Canute was established in the early 1900s and is located on the now-defunct Rock Island Railroad. Following the advent of the automobile, Canute became a popular stop along U.S. Route 66 and a large number of tourist businesses were e…Canute is a town in Washita County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 541 at the 2010 census. Canute was established in the early 1900s and is located on the now-defunct Rock Island Railroad. Following the advent of the automobile, Canute became a popular stop along U.S. Route 66 and a large number of tourist businesses were established, including gasoline service stations, motels and restaurants. However, when Interstate 40 bypassed the small village to the north in May 1970 and received only one exit from the freeway, the local economy went into a decline due to the bypass and the concurrent closure of nearby Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base at Burns Flat, leading most of those businesses to shut down. Today, Canute businesses include a bank and auto repair shop on Route 66, along with a gas station/convenience store. Former Oklahoma governor David Walters was born in Canute.
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