Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 

The capital of Oklahoma State in the United States, Oklahoma City is also the seat of Oklahoma County since 1907. It is located near the state's geographic center along the North Canadian River, about 100 miles (160 km) southwest of Tulsa. The city site is situated in a valley that rises up into gently undulating hills, at an elevation of roughly 1,200 feet (365 meters). The long, hot summers and cold, brief winters are typical of the southern Great Plains region. The majority of the moderate amount of precipitation falls during the hotter months. 

The largest city in the state, Oklahoma City, is located in the middle of a six-county metropolitan area. The nearby cities of El Reno, Midwest City, and Edmond are all in the north, east, and south, respectively (west). City's area is 621 square miles (1,608 square km). Population: 579 999 in 2010; 1,252,987 in the Oklahoma City metro area; 681 054 in 2020; and 1,425,695 overall. 

Geography 

It takes three hours to travel from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex to Oklahoma City, which is located along one of the main routes into Texas and Mexico. The city is ideally situated for the state government because it is in the Frontier Country region in the state's middle. 

The city has a total area of 620.34 square miles (1,606.7 km2), of which 601.11 square miles (1,556.9 km2) is land and 19.23 square miles (49.8 km2) is water, according to the United States Census Bureau. 

The Sandstone Hills, where Oklahoma City is located, are characterized by hills that range in height from 250 to 400 feet (80 to 120 meters) and two types of oak: the post oak and the blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica) (Q. stellata). The city's eastern suburbs and northeastern portion are located in the Cross Timbers ecological region. 

The North Canadian River roughly divides the city in half (recently renamed the Oklahoma River inside city limits). The ancient Oklahoma City Zoo and the central commercial district were destroyed, and the North Canadian used to flood annually due to an adequate flow. A dam was constructed on the river in the 1940s to control flooding and lower its level. The city constructed a number of low-water dams in the 1990s to restore water to the section of the river that flows close to downtown as part of the MAPS project, which was a citywide redevelopment initiative. The largest lake, Lake Stanley Draper, is located in the city's sparsely populated far southeast. Lake Hefner and Lake Overholser are located in the city's northern quarter. 

The area of Oklahoma City's city limits, which is typically used to calculate population density, can be deceiving. In comparison to the greater rural watershed areas that the city has integrated, which span the remaining 377 sq mi (980 km2) of the city limits, its urbanized zone has an estimated density of 2,500 per square mile (970/km2) as of 2013. 

One of the biggest cities in the US that complies with the Clean Air Act is Oklahoma City. 

Climate 

Oklahoma City has a substantial continental influence and a temperate humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa). The city experiences cold winters with sporadic snowfall and extremely hot, humid summers. Long-lasting, severe droughts, which can occasionally spark nearby wildfires, as well as extremely strong rains, which can cause flash flooding and flooding, occasionally occur. Consistent winds, which often blow in the summer from the south or south-southeast, help to moderate the warm temperatures. Cold spells can get worse if there are consistent northerly winds during the winter. During the winter, there are periodic severe ice and snowstorms. 

The monthly daily average temperature varies from 39.2 °F (4.0 °C) in January to 83.0 °F (28.3 °C) in July. The average temperature is 61.4 °F (16.3 °C). The most recent sub-zero (Fahrenheit) reading was 14 °F (26 °C) on February 16, 2021. Extreme temperatures range from 17 °F (27 °C) on February 12, 1899 to 113 °F (45 °C) on August 11, 1936, and August 3, 2012. On 10.4 days a year, the temperature reaches 100 °F (38 °C), on approximately 70 days it reaches 90 °F (32 °C), and on 8.3 days it doesn't go above freezing. About 35.9 inches (91.2 cm) of precipitation fall on the city each year, of which 8.6 inches (21.8 cm) are snow. 

Parts of the Great Plains region should anticipate an increase in extreme precipitation days of up to 30% by mid-century (high emissions scenario based on CMIP3 and NARCCAP models), according to the 2013 NOAA report "Regional Climate Trends and Scenarios for the U.S. National Climate Assessment" (NCA). The basis for this definition is days with more than an inch of precipitation. 

Economy 

The economy of Oklahoma City has subsequently diversified to include the fields of information technology, services, health services, and administration. Previously, the city was just a regional powerhouse for government and petroleum exploration. Two Fortune 500 firms, Chesapeake Energy and Devon Energy, as well as Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores, which is placed twelfth on Forbes' list of private corporations, have their corporate headquarters in the city. 

United Parcel Service, Farmers Insurance Group, Great Plains Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Deaconess Hospital, Johnson Controls, MidFirst Bank, Rose State College, and Continental Resources are some more significant businesses having a sizable presence (more than 1,000 people) in Oklahoma City. 

Other significant employers in the Oklahoma City MSA, but outside the city limits, include the Norman Regional Hospital, the University of Oklahoma, and the United States Air Force at Tinker AFB, which employs 27,900 people (2,800). 

The Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce reports that economic diversification played a major role in the metropolitan area's 33% increase in economic output between 2001 and 2005. In 2005, it had a gross metropolitan product (GMP) of $43.1 billion, and by 2009, it had increased to $61.1 billion. The GMP increased to $73.8 billion in 2016 alone. 

According to a 2008 Forbes magazine article, the city had declining unemployment, one of the nation's strongest housing markets, and strong growth in the manufacturing, agriculture, and energy sectors. However, due to the 1982 failure of Penn Square Bank and the subsequent post-1985 oil price crash, Oklahoma City experienced one of the worst housing and employment markets in the early 1980s (oil bust). 

Sports 

The Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association is one of the professional sports teams that call Oklahoma City home. After the now-defunct AFL Oklahoma Wranglers, the Thunder is the city's second "permanent" major professional sports franchise. When you take into account the temporary hosting of the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets for the 2005–06 and 2006–07 NBA seasons, the Thunder is the city's third major-league team. But before the Sonics relocated to OKC in 2008, they were known as the Thunder. 

The Oklahoma City Energy FC of the United Soccer League, the Crusaders of Oklahoma Rugby Football Club of USA Rugby, and the Oklahoma City Dodgers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, are some of the other professional sports teams in Oklahoma City. Since 2014, a junior team in the Western States Hockey League has gone by the name "Oklahoma City Blazers," a moniker that had been used for decades by the city's hockey team in the Central Hockey League. 

The primary multipurpose venue in the city is the Paycom Center in downtown, which also plays host to several of the pro sports teams and NHL exhibition games. The Oklahoma City Thunder became the primary tenant in 2008. The Dodgers, the city's baseball franchise, call the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Bricktown their home. It is regarded as one of the best minor league parks in the country and is affectionately referred to as "The Brick." 

The NCAA Women's College World Series, the Big 12 Baseball Tournament, and the World Cup of Softball are all held annually in Oklahoma City. The Big 12 Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments were held in the city in 2007 and 2009, as well as the First and Second Rounds of the 2005 NCAA Men's Basketball. Although the majority of their home games are played at their campus stadiums, the area's three largest universities, the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City University, and Oklahoma State University, frequently schedule important basketball games and other sporting events at the Paycom Center and Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. 

Numerous horse exhibits and equine competitions are held annually at the state fairgrounds, along with the Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing circuits at Remington Park. Around the city, there are many golf courses and country clubs. 

Population 

Cleveland County and Oklahoma County in Oklahoma are both home to the city of Oklahoma City. It serves as Oklahoma County's county seat as well. It is the largest city in Oklahoma and the 22nd largest city in the United States as of 2020, with a population of 701,266. Oklahoma City's population has grown by 2.97% since the most recent census, which showed a population of 681,054 in 2020, and is now rising at a pace of 1.46% year. The population of Oklahoma City, which spans over 621 miles, is 1,156 persons per square mile. 

With an 18.98% poverty rate, Oklahoma City's average household income is $77,896. The median monthly cost of rent in recent years has been, and the median value of a home is. In Oklahoma City, the median age is 34.4 years, 33.5 years for men and 35.4 years for women. 

In terms of population, Oklahoma City, the state's capital and largest city, is ranked 29th in the US. It had a population of 579,999 as of the 2010 Census, although the metropolitan area had a population of more than 1.25 million. 

1.41 million people live in the Oklahoma City metro area, up from 1.25 million in 2010. With a population of 1.34 million, the Oklahoma City-Shawnee Combined Statistical Area is a little bigger. Oklahoma City is the eighth-largest city in the US overall, while having the 29th-highest population. 

Top 2 News Websites 

#1 KFOR 

Oklahoma's Own KFOR is the go-to source for breaking news, streaming live video, traffic, and severe weather coverage in Central Oklahoma. The staff at KFOR.com brings you the most recent news and updates. 

#2 NEWS 9 

In Oklahoma City, News 9 is the top source for information, including local news, breaking news, weather, sports, and video. 

Current City Mayor 

The mayor of Oklahoma City is David Holt. Holt started in his position on April 10, 2018. The current term of Holt expires in 2026. 

For a second term as mayor of Oklahoma City, Holt ran. The general election was won by Holt on February 8, 2022. 

From 2011 until 2018, Holt served as a Republican in the Oklahoma State Senate, representing District 30. 

Holt graduated from the George Washington University with a B.A. in political science and the Oklahoma City University School of Law with a J.D. His professional background includes working for former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, spending two years working for former President George W. Bush in the White House, supporting Bush's reelection campaign in Oklahoma, supporting U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe and Lt. Governor Mary Fallin of Oklahoma, and acting as chief of staff for the mayor of Oklahoma City.