Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City is a relatively large city that has people from diverse cultures living in harmony. Oklahoma City has many great conditions for people to live in. The city has some of the best facilities in terms of healthcare availability and availability of local transport. The economic development of the city and the diverse industries that are present in Oklahoma has made it into a place that is highly sought after. The people of the city are peace loving and this has made it attractive.

The businesses that are present in the city are largely successful, in spite of the economic downturn, and this has made the population to increase over a period of time. In fact, the Forbes magazine named Oklahoma city to be the most 'recession proof city in America'.

The presence of the Oklahoma River has made it one of the places for various water sports and other fun activities. The weather in Oklahoma is also pleasant all through the year. The frequent tornadoes in the months from March to August could put off some people from visiting the city.

Oklahoma City has many great conditions for people to live in. The city has some of the best facilities in terms of healthcare availability and availability of local transport. The economic development of the city and the diverse industries that are present in Oklahoma has made it into a place that is highly sought after.

Oklahoma City History

During the 1800s Indian tribes were forced to move to the land that was known as "Oklahoma Territory." But there was one piece of land that remained as the Unassigned Lands. In the 1880s pioneers began settling in the area without the government's authorization. These "boomers" were trying to get them to open up the unassigned territory to homesteaders.

Then in March of 1889, President Harrison signed the governmental paperwork that would open up the Unassigned Lands. People gathered along the borders and waited. The central portion of the state was opened up for settlement by a proclamation of the president. A gun sounded at high noon and thousands began to pour into the area. But the end of the day more than ten thousand people had staked their claim at "Oklahoma Station" and the city had begun.

AS people began to roar into the area pure chaos occurred. People had staked out claims but many people did not observe these boundaries and there was a lot of claim jumping. This led to many fights and quarrels and plenty of violence. Settlers would tear down other people's tents and it was a very uneasy atmosphere. It was pure mass confusion for a time. Leaders had to be elected so that there could be some order in the area. One month after the Land Run the new residents formed the Commercial Club which would later become the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce. The Commercial Club was responsible for initially attracting the railroads to the Oklahoma City area. This was the start of the area's economic success.

By early in 1900 the population had already doubled. In 1907, Oklahoma was admitted to the Union. Guthrie was the territorial capital but not long after the capital moved from Guthrie to Oklahoma City. In 1910 Governor Charles Haskell set up a secret group meeting in an OKC hotel. They made a devious midnight journey to Guthrie and basically stole the state seal. The governor then declared the hotel as the state's temporary capitol building. The permanent capitol was dedicated by 1917.

As the center of commerce, OKC began attracting many industries into the area. There was an entire section of town which was known as Packing Town that was home to many different packing plants. Prior to WWII OKC became a major developer in the stockyards so far as to attract business away from Chicago and Omaha.

But then in 1928, oil was discovered inside the city limits at SE 59th and Bryant. Before the well could be capped it had already spewed out over 100,000 barrels of oil. The city soon became a major hub for oil production. Oil remains one of Oklahoma City's most important economic resources.

About Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City is a growing, thriving metropolitan area. It is called "the biggest small town around." It is the perfect size with all the advantages of a cosmopolitan area but still able to maintain a down home friendly style that is so characteristic of the south. OKC has something for everyone's taste. Stand in awe at the Chihuly glass tower, which is the tallest in the world, enjoy the skate park designed by BMX champion Mat Hoffman, climb the rock walls built in the abandoned grain silo, or sailboard on popular Lake Hefner.

The Oklahoma City area has a rich heritage and it is celebrated in various museums throughout the area. The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is filled with galleries containing western art. And OKC is also home to an all new museum celebrating its rich Native American History, The American Indian Cultural Center and Museum.

The area also celebrates the arts in a variety of settings. The Civic Center Music Hall provides performances of many varieties such as opera, ballet and traveling Broadway shows. It also is open to many local groups who perform throughout the year. There are several other theaters in the area like the Lyric Theatre, Kirkpatrick Auditorium, Jewel Box Theatre and the Poteet Theatre. Many of the city's popular theater companies use the Stage Center for the Performing Arts for their varied performances.

For those who prefer outdoor life there are many features that are unique to the OKC area. The Myriad Botanical Gardens is a beautiful urban park situated in the downtown area. It houses one of the more well-known landmarks, the Crystal Bridge which is a tropical conservatory. Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park uses the park's amphitheater for its exhibitions. For animal lovers the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is just a short drive from downtown. And Frontier City is a theme park which uses an "old west" setting.

OKC fans love their sports teams. They support a pro basketball team, a pro hockey team and a minor league baseball team. The arenas for these teams are all located in the historic Bricktown district.

The metropolitan area is loaded with events, shows, races and activities all year round. Just beyond the edges of downtown lie numerous neighborhoods. While the downtown area has many apartments and condominiums, the neighborhoods are full of homes, schools and parks. The people are friendly and it is not uncommon to be greeted by total strangers while taking a stroll.

Oklahoma is a more relaxed atmosphere when compared to other areas of the US.OKC is a generally friendly, welcoming community. It is more likely to see a real cowboy than a gang member on a stroll through the urban areas of the city. It is an area that is proud of its rich heritage.

About Oklahoma County, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City proper lies in four counties in central Oklahoma: Canadian, Cleveland, Oklahoma and Pottawatomie. These four counties are part of a ten county economic system that works together in central Oklahoma. Although they have some common characteristics, they each have unique qualities.

Canadian County was organized in 1890. The history of the county is rich as it was home to the cattle industry, land runs, land lotteries, various Indian tribes, frontier military, and settlements of various ethnic groups. It is still a large part of gas and oil production as well as a leader in the agricultural industry.

Cleveland County was settled during the Land Run of 1889 and was included as one of the seven original counties that were organized as part of Oklahoma Territory. The county's industry is very diverse as it includes the equine industry, research and development, agribusiness, energy, and retail trade/tourism.

Oklahoma County remains the economic center of Oklahoma. This county is the main market for the state's thriving agricultural and livestock industries. Oil, business, manufacturing, government and agriculture are the main sources of income in the central Oklahoma area. One of the amenities in Oklahoma County is the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Other points of interest are the Oklahoma City Zoo, the Historic Bricktown district, Remington Park Race Track and the Oklahoma City National Memorial which commemorates the Murrah Building bombing.

Pottawatomie County was opened in the Land Run of 1891. The area was originally settled by several Indian tribes including the Sac and Fox tribes, Seminole, Absentee Shawnee, Creek, Citizen Band Pottawatomie and Kickapoo tribes. The county's economic history is in agriculture, railroad and energy. The county is home to a certified Aerospace/Aviation Training Center and Shawnee Milling Company which has been in the business of food manufacturing for over 100 years.