This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2008)

The neutrality of this article is disputed. Please see the discussion on the talk page.(April 2008) Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved.

City of Oklahoma City
Flag Seal
Nickname: OKC, "The Big Friendly"
Location in Oklahoma County and the state of Oklahoma.
Coordinates: 35°28′56.28″N 97°32′6.72″W / 35.4823, -97.5352
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
Counties	Oklahoma, Cleveland, Canadian, Pottawatomie
Government
- Type	Mayor-Council
- Mayor	Mick Cornett (R)
- City Manager	Jim Couch
Area
- City	621.2 sq mi (1,608.8 km²)
- Land	607.0 sq mi (1,572.1 km²)
- Water	14.2 sq mi (36.7 km²)
Elevation	1,201 ft (396 m)
Population (2006)
- City	537,734
- Density	871.5/sq mi (336.5/km²)
- Metro	1,262,027
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Area code(s)	405
FIPS code	40-55000[1]
GNIS feature ID	1102140[2]
Website: http://www.okc.gov/

Oklahoma City is the capital of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city is the 30th largest in the U.S.^[3] It is one of two state capitals that shares its name with its state. The city's estimated population as of 2006 was 537,734[1], with a 2006 estimated population of 1,192,989[2] in the metropolitan area. In 2007, the Oklahoma City-Shawnee Combined Statistical Area had a population of 1,262,027 residents.^[4] Founded during the Land Run of 1889, Oklahoma City was the site of the bombing of 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. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... EXAMPLE:Laughbox,Blondie,BamBam,Pinkie,etc. ... Adapted from Wikipedias OK county maps by Seth Ilys. ... Oklahoma County is a county located in the state of Oklahoma. ... For other uses, see Oklahoma (disambiguation). ... This list of countries, arranged alphabetically, gives an overview of countries of the world. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      The political units and divisions of the United States include: The 50 states... For other uses, see Oklahoma (disambiguation). ... Map of Oklahoma counties This is a list of the seventy-seven counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. ... Oklahoma County is a county located in the state of Oklahoma. ... Cleveland County is a county in the central part of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. ... Pottawatomie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. ... Mayor-Council government is one of two variations of government most commonly used in modern representative municipal governments in the United States. ... A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ... Mick Cornett is the current mayor of the American city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. ... The Republican Party, often called the GOP (for Grand Old Party, although one early citation described it as the Gallant Old Party) [1], is one of the two major political parties in the United States. ... The council-manager government is one of 2 main variations of representative municipal government (for contrast, also see Mayor-Council government). ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... For other uses, see City (disambiguation). ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... To help compare orders of magnitude of different geographical regions, we list here areas between 1,000 km² and 10,000 km². See also areas of other orders of magnitude. ... Elevation histogram of the surface of the Earth – approximately 71% of the Earths surface is covered with water. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... For other uses, see City (disambiguation). ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ...  CST or UTC-6 The Central Time Zone observes standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC during standard time (UTC-6) and five hours during daylight saving time (UTC-5). ... −12 | −11 | −10 | −9:30 | −9 | −8 | −7 | −6 | −5 | −4 | −3:30 | −3 | −2:30 | −2 | −1 | −0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... Although DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ...  CST or UTC-6 The Central Time Zone observes standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC during standard time (UTC-6) and five hours during daylight saving time (UTC-5). ... -12 | -11 | -10 | -9:30 | -9 | -8 | -7 | -6 | -5 | -4 | -3:30 | -3 | -2:30 | -2 | -1 | -0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... A telephone numbering plan is a plan for allocating telephone number ranges to countries, regions, areas and exchanges and to non-fixed telephone networks such as mobile phone networks. ... Area code 405 serves the state of Oklahoma. ... Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) are publicly announced standards developed by the U.S. Federal government for use by all (non-military) government agencies and by government contractors. ... GNIS (The Geographic Names Information System) contains name and locative information about almost two million physical and cultural features located throughout the United States of America and its Territories. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      A U.S. state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of... For other uses, see Oklahoma (disambiguation). ... A county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county, primarily used in the United States. ... Oklahoma County is a county located in the state of Oklahoma. ... For other uses, see United States (disambiguation) and US (disambiguation). ... The Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area is a large urban region located in the central part of the state of Oklahoma. ... Photo of the Santa Fe Depot in downtown Shawnee. ... The United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defines micropolitan and metropolitan statistical areas. ... Oklahoma Land Rush The Land Run of 1889 was the first land run into the Unassigned Lands and included all or part of the modern day Canadian, Cleveland, Kingfisher, Logan, Oklahoma, and Payne counties of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. ... The Oklahoma City bombing was a domestic terrorist attack on April 19, 1995 aimed at the U.S. government in which the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was bombed in an office complex in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. ... Alfred P. Murrah building four days before its demolition Alfred P. Murrah building during demolition Aerial view of Alfred P. Murrah building after bombing The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was a United States Federal Government complex located at 200 N.W. 5th Street in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. ... Terrorist redirects here. ... A sequential look at United Flight 175 crashing into the south tower of the World Trade Center The September 11, 2001 attacks (often referred to as 9/11—pronounced nine eleven or nine one one) consisted of a series of coordinated terrorist[1] suicide attacks upon the United States, predominantly...

History

Main article: History of Oklahoma City

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. History Early History Like much of the rest of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City was first settled on April 22, 1889, when the area known as the unassigned lands (that is, land in Indian territory that had not been assigned to any tribes) was opened for settlement in an event known as... is the 112th day of the year (113th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1889 (MDCCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

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. Oklahoma City was a major stop on Route 66 during the early part of the 20th century and was prominently mentioned in Bobby Troup's 1946 jazz classic, "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66," later made famous by Nat King Cole. Pre-World War II activity saw Oklahoma City's development into a major stockyard location and, with the discovery of oil within the city limits (including under the State Capitol), a center of oil production.^{[citation needed]} Post-war growth occurred with Oklahoma City's location as a major interchange on the Interstate Highway System, with the convergence of I-35, I-40 and I-44 in the city, and the development of Tinker Air Force Base. The 1970s and '80s witnessed a gradual decline in the inner-city, as families increasingly chose to live in nearby suburbs. Urban Renewal projects in the 1970s removed many older historic structures but failed to result in much additional development.^{[citation needed]} A notable exception was the construction of the Myriad Gardens and Crystal Bridge, a botanical garden and modernistic conservatory in the heart of the city. Guthrie is a city in Logan County, Oklahoma and is part of the Oklahoma City Metroplex. ... Route 66 (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 is an American popular song, composed in 1946 by Bobby Troup and first recorded that same year by Nat King Cole. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Interstate Highways in the 48 contiguous states. ... A water tower on the north side of Tinker Air Force Base Tinker Air Force Base — Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center (OC-ALC)— is a major U.S. Air Force military base located near Oklahoma City, in the suburb of Midwest City, Oklahoma. ... Urban Renewal redirects here. ... A traditional conservatory at the Horniman Museum in London A modern Conservatory. ...

In 1993, the city passed a massive redevelopment package known as the Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS), which succeeded in helping to rebuild the city's core, adding a new baseball park, central library, renovations to the civic center, convention center and fairgrounds, and a canal to the Bricktown entertainment district. In recent years more housing has been developed downtown, creating new opportunities for developers. However, this has also raised some potential problems, such as an increased need for grocery stores and similar retail. The "Core-to-Shore" project was created to relocate I-40 one mile (1.6 km) south and replace it with a boulevard that will set as an entrance.^{[citation needed]} This allows the central portion of the city to expand south toward the Oklahoma River, thus connecting the core of the city to the shore of the Oklahoma River. This article is about the sport. ... Julio Pérez Ferrero Library - Cúcuta, Colombia A modern-style library in Chambéry A library is a collection of information, sources, resources, and services: it is organized for use and maintained by a public body, an institution, or a private individual. ... The Bricktown Canal Once a major warehouse district and the original site of the city, Bricktown is a growing entertainment district in downtown Oklahoma City. ...

The Murrah Building aftermath

The city has also seen a so called renaissance in the past five to ten years. Several of the downtown buildings are being renovated and restored to their original stature. One of the biggest was the renovation of the Skirvin Hotel in 2007. The famed First National Center is also going through a renovation as a real estate company out of Los Angeles has been pumping millions of dollars into the building. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 408 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1880 × 2760 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 408 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1880 × 2760 pixel, file size: 2. ...

The Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial

Oklahoma City was forever changed on April 19, 1995 when Timothy McVeigh parked a Ryder truck in front of the Murrah building and set off a bomb at 9:02 am. The federal building on the northern fringe of downtown was destroyed and many nearby buildings suffered severe damage. The blast, which killed 168, became international news and brought to the forefront of the world's mind a city that was little known outside of the region previously. The citizens of Oklahoma City rallied around each other, and the attack served to unite the city as it began a new era of revival. The site is now home to the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. Since its opening in 2000 over 3 million people have visited the site. Every year on April 19 survivors, friends and family return to the memorial to read the names of every victim lost. is the 109th day of the year (110th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... For the Navy sailor, see Timothy R. McVeigh. ... Alfred P. Murrah building four days before its demolition Alfred P. Murrah building during demolition Aerial view of Alfred P. Murrah building after bombing The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was a United States Federal Government complex located at 200 N.W. 5th Street in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. ...

Government

Main article: Government of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

OKC's art deco City Hall

Oklahoma City has a council-manager form of government, with an elected mayor and council setting policy and an appointed city manager carrying out the day-to-day operations. The center of Oklahoma City's municipal government is historic City Hall, an original art deco style building situated on the western edge of the central business district in downtown Oklahoma City. Mick Cornett currently serves as Mayor, having first been elected in 2004 and then re-elected in 2006. Eight councilpersons represent each of the 8 wards of Oklahoma City. The City Manager is Jim Couch, who was appointed in late 2000. He serves on numerous city boards and agencies, and served as Assistant City Manager/MAPS (Metropolitan Area Projects) Director as well as Water/Wastewater Utilities Director prior to his service as city manager. The Government of Oklahoma City is a council-manager with an elected mayor and council setting policy and an appointed city manager carrying out the day-to-day operations. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Mick Cornett is the current mayor of the American city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. ... A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ...

Sister cities

Oklahoma City has six sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI): Sign denoting twin towns of Neckarsulm, Germany Town twinning is a concept whereby towns or cities in geographically and politically distinct areas are paired with the goal of fostering human contact and cultural links. ...

• Haikou, China
• Puebla, Mexico
• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Tainan, Taiwan
• Taipei, Taiwan
• Ulyanovsk, Russia

Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... Haikou on the map of China Haikou, situated at the north of Hainan island, is the capital of Hainan Province of the Peoples Republic of China and has an estimated population of 830,192 (2006), therefore by far the largest city on the island. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mexico. ... Nickname: Location of Puebla in central Mexico Coordinates: Country Mexico State Puebla Founded 1531 Government  - Mayor Enrique Doger (PRI) Area  - City 546 km²  (211 sq mi) Elevation 2,175 m (7,136 ft) Population (2005)  - City 1,485,941  - Density 5,741/km² (14,869. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Brazil. ... This article is about the Brazilian city. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China. ... Tainan is the name of a city and a county in southwestern Taiwan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China. ... This article is about the city. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... Ulyanovsk (Russian: ), formerly Simbirsk (), is a city on the Volga River in Russia, 893 km east from Moscow. ...

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 621.2 square miles (1,608.8 km²), of which, 607.0 square miles (1,572.1 km²) of it is land and 14.2 square miles (36.7 km²) of it is water. The total area is 2.28% water. Oklahoma City is located in the Frontier Country region of Central Oklahoma, in the Southern Plains of North America; it is on the tallgrass and mixed grass prairie section of the great plains. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... Central Oklahoma is a geographical name for the central region of the state. ... For other uses, see Great Plains (disambiguation). ... North American redirects here. ...

Contrary to popular belief, the geography is not flat and treeless (like in the true high plains to the west), though some areas of the southern and western portions of Oklahoma City are more level. Most of the area consists of gently rolling hills, covered in places by stands of dense, low trees, along with shrubs and many varieties of prairie grasses and wildflowers. Those woodlands, mostly to the north and east of the metropolitan area, are known as the Cross Timbers, and they consist of Blackjack Oak (Quercus marilandica), Post Oak (Q. stellata), hickory (Carya spp.), and other plant species which become more widespread in the southeastern forests, about 100 miles (160 km) east of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.

The city is roughly bisected by the North Canadian River (recently partially renamed the Oklahoma River inside city limits). The North Canadian was once substantial enough to flood every year, wreaking destruction on surrounding areas, including the original Oklahoma City Zoo, until the 1940s when the Civilian Conservation Corps dammed the river and turned it into essentially a wide ditch for the next 50 years. In the 1990's, as part of the citywide revitalization project known as MAPS, the city built a series of low water dams, returning water to the portion of the river flows near downtown. The city also has three large lakes, Lake Hefner and Lake Overholser, in the northwestern quarter of the city, and the largest - Lake Stanley Draper, in the sparsely populated far southeast of the city.

Sunset over Lake Hefner in northwest Oklahoma City.

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^{[citation needed]}. The population density normally reported for the city using area of its city limits can be misleading, as its urbanized zone covers 244 sq mi (630 km²), compared with the rural areas incorporated by the city, which cover 377 sq mi (980 km²).^{[citation needed]} Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1536 × 2048 pixels, file size: 754 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1536 × 2048 pixels, file size: 754 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ...

Oklahoma City is the second largest city in the nation still in compliance with the Clean Air Act (after Jacksonville, Florida).^{[citation needed]} This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Jacksonville redirects here. ...

Climate

Main article: Climate of Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City lies in a temperate, sub-humid climate, with frequent variations in weather day-to-day and seasonally, except during the consistently hot and humid summer months. Consistent winds help temper the warmer weather, usually from the south or south-southeast at those times, though consistent northerly winds during the winter can make cold periods feel even colder. The climate of Oklahoma City is mild through most of the year. ... For the usage in virology, see temperate (virology). ...

The summer can be extremely hot, as was evident in 2006 with a few week span of nearly 110 °F (43 °C) temperatures. The average temperature is 60.1 °F (15.6 °C),^{[citation needed]} though colder though the winter months, with a 36.7 °F (2.6 °C) average in January,^{[citation needed]}and warmer during the summer months, with an 82.0 °F (27.8 °C) average in July.^{[citation needed]} The city receives about 32.03 inches (814 mm) of rain annually and 9.0 inches (230 mm) of snow.^{[citation needed]}

Blizzards can occur once or twice some winters, while freezing rain occurs a few times most winters, but prolonged periods of either winter precipitation or sub-freezing weather are limited to less than a week, in most cases. Over the year, on average, more precipitation falls than is lost to evapotranspiration, unlike drier places to the west.

Due to Oklahoma City's location north of the western edges of the Gulf of Mexico and east of the semi-arid high plains in the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, relative humidity also alternates between humid and dry airmasses, though humidity is definitely higher than places to the west.

Oklahoma City experiences a severe weather season from March through August, especially during April and May, though tornadoes have occurred in every month of the year. Oklahoma City has been struck by more tornadoes than any other metropolitan area in the United States,^{[citation needed]} including one of the most powerful tornadoes on record, an F-5 with wind speeds topping 320 mph (510 km/h) that devastated parts of southern Oklahoma City and nearby communities on May 3, 1999. NOAA scientists observe severe weather using a mobile doppler radar and a helicopter (in the distance) Severe weather phenomena are weather conditions that are hazardous. ... F-scale redirects here. ... is the 123rd day of the year (124th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ...

Further information: 1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 506,132 people, 204,434 households, and 129,406 families residing in the city. The population density was 321.9/km² (833.8/sq mi) for the entire city but was more than 2600/sq mi in the urbanized areas^{[citation needed]}. There were 228,149 housing units at an average density of 375.9/sq mi (145.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 66.9% White, 14.7% Black or African American, 3.5% Native American, 3.5% Asian American, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 5.2% from other races, and 5.6% from two or more races. 12.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Image:1870 census Lindauer Weber 01. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... An Asian American is a person of Asian ancestry or origin who was born in or is an immigrant to the United States. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ...

There were 204,434 households, 30.8% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.8% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. 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.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. The per capita income for a group of people may be defined as their total personal income, divided by the total population. ... Map of countries showing percentage of population who have an income below the national poverty line The poverty line is the level of income below which one cannot afford to purchase all the resources one requires to live. ...

In June, 2007, the U.S. Census announced its estimate that Oklahoma City had grown in population 1.26 percent between July, 2005 and July, 2006. Since the official Census in 2000, Oklahoma City has grown over six percent, according to the Census Bureau's estimates.

Metropolitan Statistical Area

Main article: Oklahoma City metropolitan area

Oklahoma City is the principal city of the eight-county Oklahoma City Metropolitan Statistical Area in Central Oklahoma and is the state's largest urbanized area. The metropolitan area was the 46th largest in the nation as of the year 2000. The Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area is a large urban region located in the central part of the state of Oklahoma. ... There are two official definitions of metropolitan area used today in the United States, metropolitan statistical areas, and combined statistical areas, the former restrictive, the latter more extensive. ...

	Kingfisher Piedmont	Guthrie Edmond	Chandler
	El Reno Yukon Bethany		Del City Midwest City Choctaw
		OKLAHOMA CITY
	Mustang Chickasha	Moore Norman Purcell	Shawnee

Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Kingfisher is a city in Kingfisher County, Oklahoma, United States. ... Piedmont is a rapidly growing suburb in Canadian County, Oklahoma and is part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area. ... Guthrie is a city in Logan County, Oklahoma and is part of the Oklahoma City Metroplex. ... Edmond is a rapidly growing suburban city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma in the central part of the state. ... Chandler is a city located in Lincoln County, Oklahoma. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... El Reno is a city located in Canadian County, Oklahoma in the central part of the state. ... Yukon is a suburban city in Canadian County, Oklahoma and is part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area. ... Bethany is a city in the western part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area and is in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States. ... Image File history File links North. ... Del City is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma and is part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area. ... Midwest City is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States. ... Choctaw is a growing suburban town in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma and is part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area. ... Image File history File links West. ... Image File history File links East. ... Image File history File links South. ... Mustang is a growing suburban city located in Canadian County, Oklahoma and is part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area. ... Chickasha is a city in Grady County, Oklahoma, United States. ... Moore is a rapidly growing suburb in Cleveland County, Oklahoma and is part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area. ... Norman, Oklahoma, is the county seat and largest city in Cleveland County in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, and is part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Statistical Area. ... Purcell, Oklahoma, known as The Heart of Oklahoma, is a small city of 5,968 at the 2006 census estimate, in central Oklahoma situated on a bluff overlooking the South Canadian river valley. ... Photo of the Santa Fe Depot in downtown Shawnee. ...

Economy

Oklahoma City has a very large and increasingly diverse economy. What was once a city known as a huge center of Government and Energy exploration has expanded and diversified to include sectors such as biotechnology, Information Technology, Services, Health Services, and Administration within the past 15 years. Several Oklahoma City based companies, such as Devon Energy and Chesapeake Energy, rank among the largest corporations (Fortune 500) in the nation. The structure of insulin Biotechnology is technology based on biology, especially when used in agriculture, food science, and medicine. ... Information and communication technology spending in 2005 Information technology (IT), as defined by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), is the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware. ... Services are: plural of service Tertiary sector of industry IRC services Web services the name of a first-class cricket team in India This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... A physician visiting the sick in a hospital. ... Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE: DVN), headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA, is a Fortune 500 company. ... Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK) is a producer of natural gas in the United States and is the third largest independent producer, sixth overall (including majors) and the most active driller of new wells in the US. Their primary growth is due to acquisitions and mergers. ... The Fortune 500 is a ranking of the top 500 United States corporations as measured by gross revenue. ...

According to the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area's economic output grew by 33 percent between 2001 and 2005 due in large part to economic diversification. It's gross metropolitan product totaled $43.1 billion in 2005.^[5] The Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area is a large urban region located in the central part of the state of Oklahoma. ... A metropolitan areas gross domestic product, or GMP, is one of several measures of the size of its economy. ...

Neighborhoods

Main article: Neighborhoods of Oklahoma City

A 2008 panoramic view of Downtown Oklahoma City's skyline.

Oklahoma City has a wide variety of neighborhoods depending upon which quadrant of the city you chose to view. Inner city neighbourhoods are old and stately whereas there are a number that have urban grit and some that are more recently being gentrified. Inner city neighborhoods radiate from those located in downtown and include mostly single-family detached houses with yards. There are a number of apartment dwellings as well, many with a more urban style. Downtown there are numerous condo developments and several highrise options. // Downtown Oklahoma City itself is currently undergoing a renaissance, one of the largest in the nation. ... Downtown Oklahoma City is located near the geographic center of Oklahoma City and is the central business district of the city. ...

Outside of the inner city, Oklahoma City has choices between suburban and rural neighborhoods. The suburban varieties tend to have large tracks of single-family detached housing with large yards. The tracks are usually concentrated around a common setting, such as a lake or shopping destination. The suburban neighborhoods offer a large number of apartment dwellings and not too many multi-family ownership offerings. Rural offerings are pretty extensive given the city's vast city limits, however most would not be classified as a neighborhood in the normal sense. In the rural areas, most of the land is protected however you will find the occassional ranch or industrial/office properties.

Education

Higher education

Oklahoma City is home to several colleges and universities, including Oklahoma City University (formerly called Epworth University) in Uptown. This United Methodist university is renowned for its performing arts programs and is home to one of Oklahoma's three law schools. The university hosts many theater, music, and dance events for the community each year, including a Christmas event. The most recent addition to the campus of OCU is the Wanda L. Bass School of Music, home of the Oklahoma City University Symphony Orchestra and the OCU Musical Theatre Company. Three of Oklahoma's Miss Americas are graduates of OCU, and there is a sculpture in their honor on campus. Oklahoma City University is an urban private university located in Oklahoma City, in the Midtown District. ... Uptown is the area near the mid 23rd Street of Oklahoma City due east of Asia District. ...

Park on campus of OU Medical Center near downtown

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 campus located in the suburb of 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.^{[citation needed]} Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... University of Oklahoma, abbreviated OU, is a coeducational public research university located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. ... University of Oklahoma, abbreviated OU, is a coeducational public research university located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. ... Norman, Oklahoma, is the county seat and largest city in Cleveland County in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, and is part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Statistical Area. ...

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 in 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 [4] located in Midwest City. Northeast of the city is the only historically black college in the state, Langston University. The University of Central Oklahoma, often referred to as UCO, located in Edmond, Oklahoma. ... Edmond may refer to: Places in the United States: Edmond, Kansas Edmond, Oklahoma Edmonds, Washington People: Edmond de Goncourt Edmond James de Rothschild Edmond - the 1982 play by David Mamet. ... Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City was originally a branch of Oklahoma State University - Stillwater in 1961. ... The Oklahoma City Community College, also referred to as OCCC or O-Triple-C, is a coeducational community college located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. ... Midwest City is a major city located in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. ... Langston University is in Langston, Oklahoma. ...

There are also a number of private colleges and universities throughout the city and surrounding suburbs, including:

• Oklahoma City University - Oklahoma City
• Oklahoma Baptist University (Shawnee)
• Oklahoma Baptist University - Oklahoma City
• Oklahoma Christian University
• St. Gregory's University [5] (Shawnee)
• Southern Nazarene University (Bethany)
• Southwestern Christian University
• Mid-America Christian University
• University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (Chickasha)
• University of Phoenix - Oklahoma City Campuses [6]
• DeVry University - Oklahoma City Campus [7]
• Hillsdale Free-Will Baptist College (Moore)
• Downtown College Consortium [8]
• Heartland Baptist Bible College [9]
• American Christian College and Seminary
• Oklahoma Baptist College
• Metropolitan College

The city is also home to the FAA's Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center. This facility provides the first federal training for the nation's Air Traffic Controllers. Oklahoma City University is an urban private university located in Oklahoma City, in the Midtown District. ... Oklahoma Baptist University is a Christian liberal arts university located in Shawnee, Oklahoma and owned by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. ... Oklahoma Christian University (locally known as OC) is a four-year private comprehensive coeducational Christian university founded in 1950 by members of the churches of Christ. ... St. ... Southern Nazarene University (also known as SNU and So-Naz) is a Christian liberal arts college located in Bethany, Oklahoma. ... Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... The Mid-America Christian University (MACU) is located on 3500 South West 119th Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. ... The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, or USAO, is a public liberal arts institution located in Chickasha, southwest of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. It was founded in 1908 as the Oklahoma Industrial Institute and College for Girls. ... University of Phoenix (UOP) is a for-profit educational institution specializing in adult education, with campuses located throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. ... DeVry University and DeVry Institute of Technology are divisions of Devry Inc. ... Heartland Baptist Bible College is an independent Baptist Bible college located at 4700 NW 10th St Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. ...

Primary and secondary

Oklahoma City Public Schools is the city's largest school district and second-largest in the state.^[6] The Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics in Oklahoma City is home to some of 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.^{[citation needed]} It was recently named the No. 17-school in the nation according to Newsweek [10]. In addition, Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School in OKCPS was named the top middle school in the state according to the Academic Performance Index, and recently received the Blue Ribbon School Award.^{[citation needed]} The Oklahoma City Public Schools is the largest public school district in the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area and the state of Oklahoma. ... The Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics (OSSM) is a two-year residential public high school located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. ... Classen School of Advanced Studies (sometimes referred to simply as Classen SAS) is a public combined middle/high school with grades 6-12 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. ... The Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a United States government program created to honor schools. ... The Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a United States government program created to honor schools. ...

Advanced Science and Technology Education Center (ASTEC), Inc. is an Oklahoma Charter School(both Middle and High School) that began as a summer camp in 1986 while its founder, Dr. Freda Deskin, was on the faculty of the University of Oklahoma. Either the Oklahoma University or Oklahoma City University had, at various times since its inception, sponsored various aspects of ASTEC’s programs. On April 9, 2000, ASTEC Charter School became the State of Oklahoma’s first start-up charter school. In addition to the Middle / High School, ASTEC offers an After School Programs, Summer Camp, Virtual School (grades 7-12), and Outreach Programs such as rocketry. In last year's first graduating class, 100% of students are now attending a university.^{[citation needed]} The University of Oklahoma (OU) is an institution of higher learning located in Oklahoma. ... Oklahoma City University is an urban private university located in Oklahoma City, in the Midtown District. ...

There are numerous suburban districts which surround the urban OKCPS district, such as Putnam City Public Schools in suburban northwest Oklahoma City, and Mid-Del Schools [11], 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, Providence Hall, 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.^{[citation needed]} Casady School is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory school, located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. ... Providence Hall is a classical Christian school located in Edmond, Oklahoma. ...

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. "MAPS for Kids" is funded with a voter-approved one-cent sales tax over seven years, which expires in December 2007.^{[citation needed]}

CareerTech

Oklahoma City 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 and Francis Tuttle Technology Center. The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education is located in the north-central Oklahoma town of Stillwater. ... Metro Technology Center is a public career and technology education center located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and is part of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education system. ... Francis Tuttle Technology Center is a public vocational and technical education center affiliated with the state of Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. ...

Private career and technology education schools in Oklahoma City include Oklahoma Technology Institute, Platt College, Vatterott College, and Heritage College. Oklahoma Technology Institute, also known as OTI, is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. ...

Culture

Museums and theatre

The Oklahoma City Museum of Art

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 fifty-five foot Eleanor Blake Kirkpatrick Memorial Tower in the Museum's atrium.^[7] 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. Also in downtown, 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.^[