Oklahoma City is the 36th largest city in the nation.

The city's estimated population as of 2005 was 531,324, with 1.2 million residents in its metropolitan area. Oklahoma City was founded during the Land Run of 1889, first of five land runs in what became Oklahoma.

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

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. Oklahoma City is the second largest city in the nation still in compliance with the Clean Air Act (after Jacksonville, Florida).

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 census of 2000, there were 506,132 people, 204,434 households, and 129,406 families residing in the city.  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. 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.

Links of interest

Attractions

Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World
200 Bass Pro Drive, OKC 73102   405-218-5200
http://www.basspro.com

City Arts Center
3000 Pershing Blvd, State Fair Park, (405) 951-0000
www.cityartscenter.org

Coles Garden
1415 NE 63rd St, Oklahoma City, (800) 334-5576, (405) 478-1529
http://www.colesgarden.net/

Express Ranches Clydesdale Center
12701 W. Wilshire Blvd., Yukon, OK; approx.3 miles north of I-40 on Garth Brooks Blvd., (405) 350-6404, www.expressclydesdales.com

Public Farmers Market
311 South Klein Ave, Oklahoma City, South of the I-40 and Western Exit, (405) 232-6506, www.okcfarmersmarket.com

Ford Center
100 West Reno, Oklahoma City, (405) 602-8700, www.okfordcenter.com

45th Infantry Division Museum
2145 NE 36th St., Oklahoma City, (405) 424-5313, www.45thdivisionmuseum.com

Frontier City Theme Park
I-35 North, Exit 122nd Street, (405) 478-2412, www.sixflags.com/parks/frontiercity

Governor's Mansion
820 NE 23rd, Oklahoma City, (405) 521-9211, www.gov.ok.gov/mansion.php

Harn Homestead Museum
313 NE 16th St., Oklahoma City, (405) 235-4058, www.harnhomestead.com

Individual Artists of Oklahoma Gallery
811 N. Broadway, Oklahoma City, (405) 232-6060 www.iaogallery.org

Martin Park Nature Center
5000 W. Memorial, Oklahoma City, (405) 755-0676, www.okc.gov/query.html?parks/martin_park/index.html

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
• ONEOK - Fortune 500

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)
• Feed the Children
• WW Steel
• Dolese
• Benham Group
• Weldon Parts, Inc.
• Official Entertainment 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