"OKC" redirects here. For the airport, see Will Rogers World Airport.
Oklahoma City is the most populous city, and the capital, 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 the only U.S. State Capital that shares its name with its state.
According to the 2006 Census estimate, it is the 30th largest city in the country
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.
History
Main article: Government of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Government
Oklahoma City has six sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI):
Haikou, China
Puebla, Mexico
Tainan, Taiwan
Taipei, Taiwan
Yehud, Israel
Ulyanovsk, Russia Sister cities
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1,608.8 km² (621.2 mi²). 1,572.1 km² (607.0 mi²) of it is land and 36.7 km² (14.2 mi²) 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. The population density normally reported for the city using area of the city limits can be misleading, as its urbanized zone is 244 mi² - resulting in an urban density more comparable to that found in other major cities, 2,515/mi² in 2004.
Geography
Oklahoma City has six sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI):
Haikou, China Puebla, Mexico Tainan, Taiwan Taipei, Taiwan Yehud, Israel Ulyanovsk, Russia Sister citiesAccording to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1,608.8 km² (621.2 mi²). 1,572.1 km² (607.0 mi²) of it is land and 36.7 km² (14.2 mi²) 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. The population density normally reported for the city using area of the city limits can be misleading, as its urbanized zone is 244 mi² - resulting in an urban density more comparable to that found in other major cities, 2,515/mi² in 2004.
Geography
Main article: Climate of Oklahoma City Climate
As of the census. 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.
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.
Demographics
As of the census. 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.
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.
Demographics
Main article: Oklahoma City metropolitan area Metropolitan Statistical Area
Main article: Neighborhoods of Oklahoma City Neighborhoods
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 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.
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.
There are also a number of private colleges and universities throughout the city and surrounding suburbs, including:
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
Oklahoma Christian University
St. Gregory's University [5]
Southern Nazarene University
Southwestern Christian University
Mid-America Christian University
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
University of Phoenix - Oklahoma City Campuses [6]
DeVry University - Oklahoma City Campus [7]
Downtown College Consortium [8]
Heartland Baptist Bible College [9]
American Christian College and Seminary
Oklahoma Baptist College
Metropolitan College
Higher Education
Oklahoma City Public Schools is the city's largest school district and second-largest in the state.General Information. Oklahoma City Public Schools. Retrieved on 2007-07-18.</ref> 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.
Primary and Secondary
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.
Private career and technology education schools in Oklahoma City include Oklahoma Technology Institute, Platt College, Vatterott College, and Heritage College.
CareerTech
Culture
The Omniplex Science Museum in the Kirkpatrick Center houses exhibits on science, photography, aviation, and an IMAX 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 and 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. Other theaters include the Lyric Theatre, Jewel Box Theatre, the Kirkpatrick Auditorium and the 488-seat Petree Recital Hall, at the Oklahoma City University campus. The university also opened the Wanda L Bass School of Music and auditorium in April of 2006.
Museums and theatre
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 an amphitheater, known as the Water Stage. In 2007, following a renovation of the stage, Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park relocated to the Myriad Gardens. There is also a lake in the middle of the park inhabited by large Japanese Koi replete with waterfalls and fountains.
The Oklahoma City Zoological Park is home to numerous natural habitats, WPA era architecture and landscaping, and hosts major touring concerts during the summer at its amphitheater. Oklahoma City also has two amusement parks, Frontier City theme park and White Water Bay water park. Frontier City is an '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 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 leashless 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.
Outdoor Recreation
See also: Broadcast Media in Oklahoma City
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 positive developments in 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.
Sports
Additionally, Oklahoma City is home to several now defunct sports teams:
Oklahoma Wranglers : Arena Football League
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 Professional Teams
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 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.
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.
There are also a number of private colleges and universities throughout the city and surrounding suburbs, including:
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
Oklahoma Christian University
St. Gregory's University [5]
Southern Nazarene University
Southwestern Christian University
Mid-America Christian University
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
University of Phoenix - Oklahoma City Campuses [6]
DeVry University - Oklahoma City Campus [7]
Downtown College Consortium [8]
Heartland Baptist Bible College [9]
American Christian College and Seminary
Oklahoma Baptist College
Metropolitan College
Higher EducationOklahoma City Public Schools is the city's largest school district and second-largest in the state.General Information. Oklahoma City Public Schools. Retrieved on 2007-07-18.</ref> 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.
Primary and Secondary
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.
Private career and technology education schools in Oklahoma City include Oklahoma Technology Institute, Platt College, Vatterott College, and Heritage College.
CareerTech
Culture
The Omniplex Science Museum in the Kirkpatrick Center houses exhibits on science, photography, aviation, and an IMAX 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 and 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. Other theaters include the Lyric Theatre, Jewel Box Theatre, the Kirkpatrick Auditorium and the 488-seat Petree Recital Hall, at the Oklahoma City University campus. The university also opened the Wanda L Bass School of Music and auditorium in April of 2006.
Museums and theatre
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 an amphitheater, known as the Water Stage. In 2007, following a renovation of the stage, Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park relocated to the Myriad Gardens. There is also a lake in the middle of the park inhabited by large Japanese Koi replete with waterfalls and fountains.
The Oklahoma City Zoological Park is home to numerous natural habitats, WPA era architecture and landscaping, and hosts major touring concerts during the summer at its amphitheater. Oklahoma City also has two amusement parks, Frontier City theme park and White Water Bay water park. Frontier City is an '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 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 leashless 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.
Outdoor Recreation
See also: Broadcast Media in Oklahoma City
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 positive developments in 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.
Sports
Additionally, Oklahoma City is home to several now defunct sports teams:
Oklahoma Wranglers : Arena Football League
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 Professional Teams
Main article: Transportation in Oklahoma City Economy
List of famous Oklahoma City Area Citizens
List of famous Oklahoma City Area Citizens
No comments:
Post a Comment