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OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - USA
Oklahoma City is the capital and principal city of the state of Oklahoma in
the United States of America. It is the county seat of Oklahoma County, but
portions of Oklahoma City is located in Cleveland, Canadian, McClain, and
Pottawatomie counties. The city is comprised of a dynamic urban core with
sprawling residential suburbs toward the fringes of the metropolitan area.
Oklahoma City is the 29th-largest city in the nation, according to a new
report from the U.S. Census Bureau. The city's population on July 1, 2003
totaled 523,303 with more than 1.2 million residents in the metroplex; there
is plenty to see and do.
Oklahoma City is home to many professional sports teams including the
Oklahoma RedHawks minor league baseball team (AAA). Others include the
Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz, the Oklahoma City Blazers, the Oklahoma Storm and
Oklahoma City Ballhawgs, and the Oklahoma City Lightning.
Remington Park in NE OKC is the state's largest racetrack.
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 one of the largest cities in the country in terms of
geographic area, although its urbanized zone is only 244 mi˛ - resulting in
an urban population density more comparable to that found in other major
cities with unlimited growth available far into the future.
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Oklahoma City is the principle city of the eight county Oklahoma City
Metropolitan Statistical Area, the state's largest urban area.
North: Guthrie
Edmond
West: Bethany
Yukon
Mustang
El Reno Oklahoma City
East: Del City
Midwest City
Choctaw
Shawnee
South: Moore
Norman
Demographics
As of the census 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˛) considering the entire city limits but was more than 2600/mi˛
for the urbanized area. There were 228,149 housing units at an average
density of 145.1/km˛ (375.9/mi˛). The racial makeup of the city was 68.41%
White, 15.37% 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. 10.15% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 204,434 households out of which 30.8% 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% have 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 people living in poverty, 23.0% were under the age of 18 and 9.2%
were 65 or older.
Transportation
Near the geographic and population centers of the nation, Oklahoma City is
an integral point on the U.S. Interstate Network. Interstate 35, Interstate
40, and Interstate 44 bisect at the city, Interstate 240 connects I-40 to
I-44 in South OKC and Interstate 235 spurs from I-44 in North Central into
downtown Oklahoma City. It was once a major stop on now-defunct U.S. Highway
66 and was even mentioned in Nat King Cole's 1946 jazz classic, "(Get Your
Kicks) on Route 66."
Oklahoma City is served by two primary airports, Will Rogers World Airport
and Wiley Post Airport. Amtrak has an Art Deco train station downtown and
there is an intercity bus terminal downtown as well as a new transfer centre
for the local METRO (http://www.gometro.org/) Transit system.
Major Attractions
Most of the big city attractions are located in inner city districts, as is
the case with other major US cities.
The Bricktown Entertainment District (http://www.bricktownokc.com/) in
downtown Oklahoma City is the fastest growing entertainment district in the
Southwest and is one of the city's most popular destinations. The historic
area has been revitalized over the last 10 years, and is now bustling with
restaurants, dance clubs, live music venues, retail shops, lofts and condos,
and Bass Pro Outdoor World (http://www.basspro.com/). Bricktown will soon
boast a movie complex, hotels, and additional upscale retail (among other
developments under construction). The Bricktown Canal stretches one mile
through the district and runs to a park past the Oklahoma Land Run Monument.
Oklahoma City has the largest Asian population in the state and is home to a
growing cultural district called, simply, the Asia District, as it
encompasses Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai, Korean, and Filipino cultures and
cuisines. Centred primarily along Classen Boulevard from 22nd Street to NW
30th, the district has a multitude of restaurants, Asian-oriented retail,
Asian supermarkets, and attractions. The Asia District is also known as
Little Saigon, Little Asia, and the Asian District. Additionally, a
fledgling Japanese cultural district is developing near N. 50th Street and
Western.
The Capitol Hill district is due south of downtown and is the centre of
Hispanic oriented commerce in the city. Oklahoma City also has The largest
Hispanic Population in the State with the majority on the Southside of the
City And West Oklahoma City. The Eastside district is home to the state's
largest African American community and is experiencing a renaissance of its
own. Once a perfect example of urban blight and stereotypical undersight,
the Eastside now boasts numerous development and an African American museum
is currently in the works.
Oklahoma City has a vibrant, thriving gay community, which is also the
largest in the state. This community is principally along NW 39th Expressway
between Pennsylvania and May Aves. The NW 39th Street Enclave rivals
Bricktown in terms of sheer volume of clubs, bars, and nightlife yet the
city leaders usually do not actively promote the district as a tourist venue.
Gay OKC Web Portal (http://www.gayokc.com/), Gayly Oklahoman (http://www.gayly.com/)
The Paseo Arts District (http://www.okclive.com/paseo/location.htm/) was
built in 1929 as the first commercial shopping district north of downtown
Oklahoma City. This little Spanish village with its stucco building and clay
tile roofs is the home of Oklahoma City's artists' community, the only such
district in the state. Located along the Paseo Drive at roughly N. Walker
Ave and NW 28th Street, the district is home to a number of chic' bars and
restaurants and hosts an arts festival in the spring.
Located at the Agnew Exit South of I-40 to Exchange Ave, Stockyards City (http://www.stockyardscity.org/)
is home to the home of the largest stocker/feeder cattle market in the world.
Stockyard City recaptures the architectural flavor of the earlier part of
this century, with gaslights and wooden storefronts. Many of the businesses
in Stockyards City date back to the early 1900s when the area was home to
the major meat packing companies. The district still has weekly cattle
auctions as well as the venerable Cattleman's Steakhouse (http://www.cattlemensrestaurant.com/).
A number of special events have sprung up as well, including Longhorn Cattle
Drive each December, sidewalk sales between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and
the Stockyards Stampede the first weekend each June.
Other Attractions
Besides the skyscrapers that cluster in the city's busy central business
district, one of the more prominent landmarks downtown is the Crystal Bridge
at the Myriad Botanical Gardens. Designed by I. M. Pei after the Tivoli
Gardens in Copenhagen, the Crystal Bridge is a tropical conservatory that
contains foliage more akin to the Amazon River basin than the Great Plains
of North America. The park has several ampitheatres where live theatre and
concerts can be seen and heard in the summer. There is also a lake in the
middle of the park lined with large Red, Yellow, and of course - GOLD
goldfish. Waterfalls add life-giving oxygen to the lake as well as an added
attraction for visitors.
The Myriad Botanical Garden (http://www.myriadgardens.com/)s is one of the
more creative downtown urban parks in the nation and is the city's most
romantic. 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 (April),
the annual Downtown Salute (http://www.downtownokc.com) (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 (http://www.okczoo.com/) is one of the Top
10 in the country (#3 to be specific) and is the oldest zoo in the Southwest
US. It is home to numerous natural habitats and hosts major touring concerts
during the summer at its ampitheatre.
The Omniplex (http://www.omniplex.org/) Museum is one of the largest Science
Centers and General Interest Museums in the Country and is home to the
Omnidome Imax theater (http://www.omniplex.org/html/omnidome_theater.html).
Known as the Smithsonian museum of the SW, Omniplex houses many informative
exhibits on space travel, photography, pioneer life, and more. The National
Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum (http://www.cowboyhalloffame.org/) has
galleries full of priceless western art and treasures.
The Oklahoma City National Memorial in north downtown was created 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 Smithsonian-quality Memorial Museum can be entered for a small
fee.
Among the other new attractions, include a new downtown home for the
Oklahoma City Museum of Art (http://www.okcartmuseum.com/). The museum
features a foreign film theatre, numerous galleries, and a very nice fine
dining restaurant. OCMA is also home to the largest and most comprehensive
collection of Chihuly glass in the world including the three-story Chihuly
tower the Museum’s atrium. There are numerous state and federal museums
located in the city as well. The capitol building's dome
(http://www.oklahomadome.com/) was recently finished as it was one of the
few state capitol buildings that did not have a dome atop the structure.
Also in downtown Oklahoma City, Ford Centre (http://www.okfordcenter.com/)
plays host to major concerts and is home to the city's professional sports
teams as is the SBC Bricktown Ballpark. The newly renovated Civic Centre
Music Hall (http://www.okcciviccenter.org/) showcases performances from
ballet and opera performance to traveling Broadway shows and concerts. Stage
Centre for the Performing Arts (http://www.stagecenter.com/) is home to many
of the city's top theatre companies.
Other theatres include the Lyric Theatre (http://www.lyrictheatreokc.com/)
and the Jewel Box Theatre (http://www.jewelboxtheatre.org/), both in midtown
and the new 1,200 seat Kirkpatrick Auditorium
(http://www.okcu.edu/music/musictheater.asp) and 488-seat Petree Recital
Hall at Oklahoma City University.
Upscale shopping is available at Penn Square Mall, 50 Penn Place, Belle
Aisle Shopping Centre, Quail Springs Mall
(http://www.quailspringsmall.com/), as well as the posh suburbs of Nichols
Hills and Edmond. Crossroads Mall (http://www.shopcrossroadsmall.com/), the
largest mall in the state, is located in South Oklahoma City, at the I-240
and I-35 junction.
For the kids and the young at heart, Six Flags Frontier City
(http://www.sixflags.com/parks/frontiercity/) offers a Western Theme to a
funpark with numerous coasters, legendary rides, and games for all ages. The
park has a reinactment of a Western Shootout at the OK Corrale and also
hosts a national concert circuit at its ampitheatre. White Water Bay
(http://www.sixflags.com/parks/whitewaterbay/) is a Six Flags Water Park
located just north of Will Rogers World Airport.
Walking trails line beautiful Lake Hefner in the northwest part of the city
and downtown at the canal and the Oklahoma River. Lake Stanley Draper, the
city's largest and most remote, offers more of an excape from the big city
and has a more natural feel. The city is implementing a new trail system
that will be akin to a bicycle freeway system, allowing residents to access
all of the natural beauty of the region and still be within stomping
distance to city attractions.
Education
Oklahoma City is home to many colleges and universities, including Oklahoma
City University in midtown, Oklahoma State University - OKC, the University
of Oklahoma, just south of the city in Norman, and the OU Health Science
Center, in Oklahoma City. The third-largest university in Oklahoma, the
University of Central Oklahoma is located just north of the city in Edmond.
Oklahoma City Community College is the largest community college in the
state. There are also a number of private colleges and universities in the
city, including Oklahoma Christian University and Southern Nazarene
University.
The Oklahoma City Public School district is the largest in the state and is
one of the few urban districts in the nation with a growing enrollment, due
largely because of the so-called MAPS for KIDs city-wide improvement plan.
Putnam City Public Schools, which covers suburban NW OKC, is the largest
suburban school district in the state. Numerous suburban districts circle
the urban districts and the city has a very well developed private school
network.
Noteables
Oklahoma City has an exciting history that began in one day with the 1889
Land Run, and after hard times over the years, the city has turned itself
around and made itself a lively, attractive place to live and to visit.
Sadly, on April 19, 1995, Timothy McVeigh and his accomplices bombed the
Murrah Federal Building, killing 168 in the worst Terrorist Attack on
American soil until the Sept 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington.
Defunct Sports Teams
Oklahoma Wranglers : Arena Football League - now Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz
Oklahoma City Cavalry : Continental Basketball Association
Oklahoma City 89ers : American Association minor league baseball - now
Oklahoma RedHawks
Oklahoma City Stars : CHL Hockey Team
Oklahoma City Coyotes : RHI Roller Hockey Team
Famous Persons from OKC
Jim Thorpe, athlete
JC Watts, football player, politician
Wayne Coyne and Michael Ivins, of the band The Flaming Lips
Ralph Ellison, writer
Johnny Bench, baseball player
Bullet Rogan, baseball player
Suzy Amis, actress
Famous Inventions from OKC
Parking Meters (yes, we can blame OKC for this)
Traffic Signal
The shopping cart (the Omniplex even features a statue of its creator,
depicted pushing a shopping cart)
Best Restaurants/Recipes in OKC
Chicken Fried Steak {yummie}
Pho (vietnamese noodle soup)
Mexican food
SONIC
Braum's Ice Cream and Dairy
Restaurant reviews are available online at Oklahoma City's largest weekly
independent newspaper, the Oklahoma Gazette (http://www.okgazette.com)
Famous Songs from or about OKC
"Route 66", Nat King Cole
"Heart of Rock 'N Roll", Huey Lewis and the News
"A Little Too Loose", Mr. Big
AKA
OKC
OK City
Okla City
the city
Frontier City
the Renaissance City
the City Dreams are Made Of
the Capital of the 21 Century
the World's Largest Parking Lot
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