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Renting an Apartment in OKC
Oklahoma City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of
Oklahoma. It is also the county seat of Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. Oklahoma City
was founded during the Land Run of 1889, first of five land runs in what became
Oklahoma.
It is one of the larger cities in the Great Plains region of the United States,
and the 36th largest city in the nation[1]. The city's estimated population as
of 2005 was 531,324[1], with 1.2 million residents[2] in its metropolitan area.
Oklahoma City was the site of the bombing on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal
Building in 1995, the largest act of terrorism on American soil prior to the
September 11, 2001 attacks and the most destructive act of domestic terrorism in
American history.
The city is also characterized by its location in America's Tornado Alley, which
is frequently visited in the springtime by violent thunderstorms producing
damaging winds, very large hail and tornadoes.
History
Oklahoma City was settled on April 22, 1889, when the area known as the
"unassigned lands" was opened for settlement in an event called "The Oklahoma
Land Run". Some 10,000 homesteaders settled what is now downtown Oklahoma City,
creating a tent city in a single day. Within 10 years the population had doubled
in what became a permanent settlement and the future capital of Oklahoma.
By the time Oklahoma was admitted to the Union in 1907, Oklahoma City had
already supplanted Guthrie, the territorial capital, as the population center
and commercial hub of the new state. Soon after, the capital was moved from
Guthrie to Oklahoma City.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of
1,608.8 km� (621.2 mi�). 1,572.1 km� (607.0 mi�) of it is land and 36.7 km�
(14.2 mi�) of it is water. The total area is 2.28% water.
Oklahoma City is the seventh largest city in the country in terms of geographic
area, and the largest in land area that is not a consolidated city-county,
although its urbanized zone is 244 mi� - resulting in an urban population
density more comparable to that found in other major cities, 2,515/mi� in
2004.[citation needed]
Oklahoma City is the second largest city in the nation still in compliance with
the Clean Air Act (after Jacksonville, Florida). [citation needed]
Climate
The Climate of Oklahoma City is mild through most of the year. The summer can
get extremely hot, as was evident in 2006 over a few week span of nearly 110
degree (Fahrenheit) temperatures. The average temperature is about 60.1� F, and
of course colder though the winter months (January, 45.9� average) and warmer
during the summer months (July, 80.7� F). Each year Oklahoma City receives about
32.03 inches of rain, and 9.0 inches of snow average. Oklahoma City does
experience tornadoes, the main tornado season from late March through August,
however tornadoes do occur year-round. Oklahoma City receives more tornadoes
than any other city in the United States, and had the dubious honor of having
been struck by one of the most powerful tornadoes on record, an F-5 with wind
speeds topping 315 MPH that devastated parts of southern Oklahoma City and
nearby communities on May 3, 1999.
Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 506,132 people, 204,434 households, and
129,406 families residing in the city. The population density was 321.9/km�
(833.8/mi�) for the entire city but was more than 2600/mi� in the urbanized
areas. There were 228,149 housing units at an average density of 145.1/km�
(375.9/mi�). The racial makeup of the city was 60.41% White, 18.37% Black or
African American, 3.51% Native American, 3.48% Asian American, 0.07% Pacific
Islander, 5.28% from other races, and 3.89% from two or more races. 16.15% of
the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 204,434 households, 30.8% of which had children under the age of 18
living with them. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family
size was 3.04. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were
95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,947, and the median income
for a family was $42,689. These figures are among the lowest in the nation for a
city of this size, but the cost of living is considerably below the national
average [citation needed]. Financial progress is actually higher than the
national average. Males had a median income of $31,589 versus $24,420 for
females. The per capita income for the city was $19,098. 16.0% of the population
and 12.4% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population,
23.0% of those under the age of 18 and 9.2% of those 65 and older were living
below the poverty line.
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Oklahoma City is the principal city of the eight-county Oklahoma City
Metropolitan Statistical Area and is the state's largest urbanized area. The
metropolitan area was the 46th largest in the nation as of the year 2000.
Northwest: Piedmont, Kingfisher, Okarche North: Nichols Hills, The Village,
Edmond, Guthrie Northeast: Jones, Chandler
West: Bethany, Warr Acres, Yukon, Mustang, El Reno, Union City, Minco OKLAHOMA
CITY East: Del City, Midwest City, Choctaw, Harrah, Nicoma Park, Spencer, Meeker
Southwest: Tuttle, Newcastle, Blanchard, Chickasha, Bridge Creek South: Moore,
Norman, Noble, Slaughterville, Lexington, Purcell
Valley Brook, Goldsby, Washington Southeast: Shawnee, Tecumseh, Bethel Acres,
McLoud, Pink
Neighborhoods
Education
Higher Education
Oklahoma City is home to several colleges and universities, including Oklahoma
City University (formerly called Epworth University) in Midtown.
The University of Oklahoma is well represented in the city and metropolitan
area, with the OU Medical Center due east of downtown and the main OU (Sooners)
campus located in Norman. OU is one of only 4 major universities in the nation
to have all 6 medical schools, and the OU Medical Center is the nation's largest
independent medical center, and employs over 12,000 people.
The third-largest university in the state, the University of Central Oklahoma,
is located just north of the city in the suburb of Edmond. Oklahoma State
University - Oklahoma City is located to the side of the Furniture District on
the Westside. Oklahoma City Community College in south OKC is the second largest
community college in the state. Just east of Oklahoma City is Rose State College
[3] located in Midwest City.
There are also a number of private colleges and universities throughout the city
and surrounding suburbs, including Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma Christian
University, Southern Nazarene University, Southwestern Christian University [4],
University of Phoenix - Oklahoma City Campuses[5], Mid-America Christian
University, American Christian College and Seminary, Oklahoma Baptist College,
Metropolitan College, DeVry University - Oklahoma City Campus [6], Downtown
College Consortium, University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, and Heartland
Baptist Bible College.
Primary and Secondary
Oklahoma City Public Schools is the state's second largest district and is one
of the few urban districts in the nation with a growing enrollment, due largely
to the so-called 'MAPS for KIDs' city-wide improvement plan. The Oklahoma School
of Science and Mathematics in Oklahoma City is home to the state's most gifted
math and science pupils.
Classen School of Advanced Studies is located in the Oklahoma City Public School
District, a national Blue Ribbon School. It was recently named the No. 17-school
in the nation according to Newsweek [7]. In addition, Belle Isle Enterprise
Middle School in OKCPS was named the top middle school in the state according to
the API- Academic Performance Index, and recently received the Blue Ribbon
School Award. The school's band and orchestra teacher was named State Teacher of
the year.
There are numerous suburban districts which surround the urban OKCPS district,
such as Putnam City Public Schools in suburban northwest Oklahoma City, the
largest suburban school district in the state, and Mid-Del Schools [8] serving
the eastern and southeastern parts of the metropolitan area. The city also has
very well developed private and parochial schools, including Casady School,
Heritage Hall Schools, and the schools of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
including Bishop McGuinness High School and Mount Saint Mary High School. Of
special note, St. Mary's is the oldest high school in the state, founded in 1903
by the Sisters of Mercy.
The public school system may be confusing to new residents not only because
there are over 23 independent school districts in the OKC metropolitan area, but
also because they do not follow the incorporated limits of the city they are
named for and further, almost all of the metro school districts lie in some
section of Oklahoma City itself (map shown here)[9].
A civic initiative named "MAPS for Kids" is attempting to remedy the problems of
the inner city district. It will provide new schools for the central city and
improve their concatchment areas by moving certain schools closer to wealthier
neighborhoods. A sort of "reverse white-flight" is the underlying concept of
initiative with the old decrepit inner-city schools being renovated or rebuilt
and new technology being made available. An example of this includes John
Marshall High School in North Oklahoma City, once said to be the worst public
school in the state, is being rebuilt on land closer to Lake Hefner. It is hoped
that the new school, complete with facilities and attractions familiar in many
suburban districts, will attract the higher income families and thus improve the
Oklahoma City district. However, controversy over the relocation of the high
school has also raised questions over the wisdom of relocating a historically
African-American high school to a predominantly white area.
CareerTech
Oklahoma City also has several public career and technology education schools
associated with the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, the
largest of which are Metro Technology Center sand Francis Tuttle.
Culture
Sites of interest
One of the more prominent landmarks downtown is the Crystal Bridge at the Myriad
Botanical Gardens, a large downtown urban park. Designed by I. M. Pei, the
Crystal Bridge is a tropical conservatory in the area. The park has several
amphitheaters home to live theater performances and concerts in the summer.
There is also a lake in the middle of the park inhabited by large Japanese Koi
replete with waterfalls and fountains.
The park is also home to the free Twilight Concert Series (summer) and the
city's top festivals, including the annual Festival of the Arts (late April),
the annual Downtown Salute - a month-long festival in July complete with
parades, free concert acts, and the three-day long Bricktown 4th of July
Celebration and Fireworks, and Opening Night (December 31/January 1).
The Oklahoma City Zoological Park is highly ranked nationally and is the oldest
zoo in the Southwest US [verification needed]. It is home to numerous natural
habitats, WPA era architecture and landscaping, and hosts major touring concerts
during the summer at its amphitheater.
The Omniplex Science Museum in the Kirkpatrick Center is one of the largest
Science Centers and General Interest Museums in the country [citation needed].
The Kirkpatrick Center houses many informative exhibits on science, photography,
aviation, etc, as well as the Omnidome OMNIMAX theater. The National Cowboy &
Western Heritage Museum has galleries of western art and is home to the Hall of
Great Western Performers.
The Oklahoma City National Memorial in the northern part of Oklahoma City's
downtown was created, as the inscription on its eastern gate says, "to honor the
victims, survivors, rescuers, and all who were changed forever on April 19,
1995". The outdoor Symbolic Memorial can be visited 24 hours a day for free, and
the adjacent Memorial Museum, located in the former Journal Record building
damaged by the bombing, can be entered for a small fee. The site is also home to
the National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism, a non partisan,
non profit thinktank devoted to the prevention of terrorism.
The Donald W. Reynolds Visual Arts Center is the new downtown home for the
Oklahoma City Museum of Art. The museum features visiting exhibits, original
selections from its own collection, a theater showing a variety of foreign,
independent, and classic films each week, and a restaurant. OKCMOA is also home
to the most comprehensive collection of Chihuly glass in the world including the
three-story Chihuly tower in the Museum's atrium.
The capitol building's dome was recently finished as it was one of the few state
capitol buildings that did not have a dome atop the structure. Solomon Andrew
Layton's original design for the capitol included a dome, but steel rationing
during World War I prevented its completion. The effort to build a dome for the
capitol was promoted by city and state leaders in the late nineties, and was
completed in 2001.
Also in downtown Oklahoma City, the Ford Center was ranked by concert industry
group Pollstar as one of the top ten live music venues in the world in ticket
sales, and along with AT&T Bricktown Ballpark is home to the city's professional
sports teams. The Cox Business Services Convention Center, formerly known as the
Myriad, is across the street to Ford Center.
The newly renovated art deco Civic Center Music Hall has performances from
ballet and opera to traveling Broadway shows and concerts. Stage Center for the
Performing Arts is home to many of the city's top theater companies. The
building that houses Stage Center, designed by John Johansen is a modernist
architectural landmark, with the original model displayed in MOMA in New York
City.
Other theaters include the Lyric Theatre and the Jewel Box Theatre, both in
Midtown and the 1,200 seat Kirkpatrick Auditorium and 488-seat Petree Recital
Hall, both at the Oklahoma City University campus. The university also opened
the Wanda L Bass School of Music and auditorium in April of 2006.
Oklahoma City also has two amusement parks, Six Flags Frontier City theme park
and White Water Bay water park. Six Flags Frontier City is a 'Old West' themed
amusement park. The park also features a recreation of a western gunfight at the
'OK Corral' and many shops that line the "Western" town's main street. Frontier
City also hosts a national concert circuit at its amphitheater during the
summer. White Water Bay is a Six Flags Water Park located north of Will Rogers
World Airport.
Walking trails line Lake Hefner and Lake Overholser in the northwest part of the
city and downtown at the canal and the Oklahoma River. Part of the east shore of
Lake Hefner has been developed into upscale offices and restaurants, but the
majority of the area around the lake is taken up by parks and trails, including
a new leash less dog park and the postwar era Stars and Stripes Park. Lake
Stanley Draper is the city's largest and most remote lake. The city is
implementing a new trail system that will be akin to a bicycle freeway system.
Media
The Oklahoman is Oklahoma City's major metro newspaper, the most widely
circulated in the state. The Oklahoman's Internet edition is a collaboration
with local CBS affiliate KWTV. The Oklahoma Gazette is Oklahoma City's
independent newsweekly, featuring such staples as local commentary, feature
stories, classifieds, restaurant reviews and movie listings. The Journal Record
is Oklahoma City's daily business newspaper and OKC Business is a bi-monthly
business publication. The MidCity Advocate is Oklahoma City's newest weekly
broadsheet, covering ("good news" only) downtown, the State Capitol district,
and the neighborhoods in Oklahoma City's historic core.
In addition, there are various community and international papers in the city
such as The Black Chronicle, headquartered in the Eastside and the OK VIETIMES,
located in Asia District. Gay publications include Hard News Online and Standout
Magazine. There are also five metro lifestyle magazines produced by local
publisher Southwestern Publishing: Nichols Hills News, Edmond Monthly, Norman
Living, Northwest Style and Downtown Monthly.
Oklahoma City was home to several pioneers in radio and television broadcasting.
Oklahoma City's WKY Radio was the first radio station transmitting west of the
Mississippi River and the third radio station in the United States. WKY received
its federal license in 1921 and has continually broadcast under the same call
letters since 1922. In 1928 WKY was purchased by E.K. Gaylord's Oklahoma
Publishing Company and affiliated with NBC [10]; in 1949, WKY-TV went on the air
and became the first independently-owned television station in the U.S. to
broadcast in color.
Sports
Oklahoma City is home to several professional sports teams including the
Oklahoma RedHawks, a AAA affiliate of the Texas Rangers, the Oklahoma City Yard
Dawgz, the Oklahoma City Lightning, and the Oklahoma City Blazers.
In what may prove to be a turning point for professional sports in the city, on
September 21, 2005, Mayor Mick Cornett announced an agreement with owner George
Shinn of the New Orleans Hornets to adopt the city as its temporary home
following the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina to New Orleans and the New
Orleans Arena. This will arguably be the second major league franchise ever to
locate in the city, if one considers the Oklahoma Wranglers of the Arena
Football League to have been the first. There is even a case to be made that the
Oklahoma Outlaws of the old USFL (a franchise that was actually shared with
Tulsa) might truly deserve that distinction.
In any event, the relocated team is now known as the New Orleans/Oklahoma City
Hornets and Oklahoma City hosted 35-home games for the 2005-06 NBA season at
Ford Center. The city will also host an additional 35-home games during the
2006-07 season with six being played in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The Hornets organization confirmed on January 31, 2007, that the team would be
returning to New Orleans full-time for the 2007-2008 season and that season
tickets for the upcoming season in Louisiana would begin to be sold in February.
Another NBA franchise, the Seattle SuperSonics, was purchased by an Oklahoma
City group led by Clay Bennett in the 2006 off-season. While the new Sonics
ownership has publicly stated they intend to keep the team in Seattle,
speculation is rampant that the team may move to Oklahoma City in the
foreseeable future.
The OCU Stars play at the new Abe Lemons Arena at Oklahoma City University; OCU
also has a top-rated rowing program. Of special note, OCU has announced its
desire to possibly enter the NCAA during the 2007 athletic season, providing yet
another marketing opportunity for Oklahoma City as city named jerseys will hit
the NCAA sports circuits.
The Ford Center also hosts many events each year including touring concerts, NHL
exhibition games, some college basketball games for the University of Oklahoma,
Oklahoma City University, and Oklahoma State University, and other spectator
events and conventions. Ford Center held the 2005 NCAA Men's Basketball First &
Second Round and will host the Men's and Women's Big 12 Conference Basketball
Tournaments in 2007. Nearby AT&T Bricktown Ballpark hosted the Big 12 Baseball
Tournament in 2005 and will be the site again in 2006 and 2007.
Other notable sporting events in the city include the World Cup of Softball and
the annual NCAA Women's College World Series played at the Don E. Porter Hall of
Fame Stadium as well as horse races at Remington Park and the many horse shows
and equine events that take place at the state fairgrounds each year.
Additionally, Oklahoma City is home to several now defunct sports teams:
* Oklahoma Wranglers : Arena Football League
* Oklahoma City Cavalry : Continental Basketball Association
* Oklahoma City 89ers : American Association (20th century) minor league
baseball - now Oklahoma RedHawks
* Oklahoma City Stars : CHL Hockey Team
* Oklahoma City Coyotes : RHI Roller Hockey Team
* Oklahoma City Dolls : All-woman American Football League franchise
Transportation
Oklahoma City is an integral point on the U.S. Interstate Network. Most highways
throughout the city are 6-8 lanes and have a level of congestion lower than most
comparably sized cities. Interstate 35, Interstate 40, and Interstate 44 bisect
the city, Interstate 240 connects I-40 to I-44 in South OKC, the Lake Hefner
Parkway (OK-74) runs through Northwest Oklahoma City, Kilpatrick Turnpike makes
a loop around North and West Oklahoma City, Airport Rd. (actually a freeway
section of S.W. 44th Street) runs through Southwest Oklahoma City and leads to
Will Rogers World Airport, Broadway Extension/U.S. 77 connects Central Oklahoma
City to Edmond, and Interstate 235 spurs from I-44 in North Central OKC into
downtown Oklahoma City.
The section of I-40 known as the "Crosstown" because of its intersecting path
right by downtown. The I-40 Crosstown Construction Project will relocate the
stretch of highway right through a mass transit center named Union Station. It
is expected to be completed in 2008 but it has legal issues that it must
survive. Realigning the highway will destroy Union Station, leaving only the
depot behind, for the new NAFTA highway west bound spur. This will destroy
existing rail infrastructure forcing Oklahoma City to find a new central hub of
mass transit elsewhere.
There were plans in the early 1990s to build a light rail system for the city as
part of the MAPS urban redevelopment program, but the project stalled repeatedly
on issues of funding. (Ernest Istook, 5th District Congressman and chairman of
the congressional transportation committee, played a major role in killing
federal funding for the project). However he played vital roles in getting other
major cities funded for light rail like Los Angeles. New Development: A downtown
trolley system could be implemented under a future new MAPS III initiative.
METRO Transit released a new Mass Transit plan in January 2006 that details its
vision of rapid transit in the coming years. The study results showed light-rail
trolley in downtown OKC, commuter rail from downtown to the suburbs of Edmond
and Norman, and a comprehensive, specialized metropolitan bus network that has
been long overdue because they have to reroute the infrastructure that they’re
destroying at Union Station.
Oklahoma City was a major stop on Route 66 and was prominently mentioned in
Bobby Troup's 1946 jazz classic, "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66," later made
famous by Nat King Cole.
Oklahoma City is served by two primary airports, Will Rogers World Airport and
the much smaller Wiley Post Airport (incidentally, the two honorees died in the
same plane crash in Alaska). Will Rogers World Airport is currently undergoing a
major reconstruction period. Tinker Air Force Base, in East OKC, is the largest
military air depot in the nation, a major maintenance and deployment facility
for the Navy and the Air Force, and the second largest military institution in
the state (after Fort Sill in Lawton).
Amtrak has an Art Deco train station downtown, with daily service to Fort Worth
and the nation's rail network via the Heartland Flyer. There is also a heritage
rail line under re-construction that will connect Bricktown and the Adventure
District in NE Oklahoma City.
Greyhound and several other intercity bus companies serve Oklahoma City at Union
Bus Station, Downtown. METRO Transit is the public transit company. Their bus
terminal and headquarters is located downtown at NW 5th Street and Hudson
Avenue.
Economy
Major Companies based in Oklahoma City
* Sonic - Fortune 1000
* OGE Energy - Fortune 500
* Hobby Lobby
* Tronox
* AT&T - Fortune 500 (Regional Headquarters}
* DEVON Energy - Fortune 500
* Dobson Communications
* Chesapeake Energy - Fortune 500
* Express Personnel Services
* COX Enterprises - Fortune 500 (Regional Headquarters}
* Express Sports
* Oklahoma Publishing Company - Fortune 1000
* Gaylord Entertainment (The Daily Oklahoman)
* Globe Life and Accident Insurance
* BancFirst
* American Fidelity
Smaller Companies based in Oklahoma City
* Braum's
* Carlisle (maker of dishes and utensils found in most restaurants worldwide)
* Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores
* Lopez Foods (the largest Latin owned business in the nation and a major
supplier to McDonalds)
* Spectro Wire & Cable, Inc.
* Rainbo Manufacturing
* PrimaCafe
* York North America
* AAR corporation (unit of Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul business)[citation
needed]
* Feed the Children
* WW Steel
* Dolese
* Benham Group
* Weldon Parts, Inc.
Others with significant presence:
* Hertz
* The Hartford
* Hitachi
* Office Max
* Dell
* Cox Communications
* Farmers Insurance
* Cingular Wireless
* AOL
* UPS
* The Boeing Company
* U.S. Cellular
* Southwest Airlines
* Northrop Grumman
* General Electric
* State Farm
* Unit Parts
* Dayton Tire
* International Environmental
* Seagate Technology
* Goodyear Tire & Rubber
* Assurant Solutions
* Bar-S Foods
* Pratt & Whitney
* EDS Electronic Data Systems