Edmond, Oklahoma
Location of Edmond, Oklahoma
Coordinates: 35¡Æ39¡Ç26¡ÈN 97¡Æ27¡Ç54¡ÈW / 35.65722, -97.465
Countr	United States
State	Oklahoma
County	Oklahoma
Area
- Total	87.9 sq mi (227.8 km©÷)
- Land	85.1 sq mi (220.5 km©÷)
- Water	2.8 sq mi (7.3 km©÷)
Elevation	1,204 ft (367 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	68,315
- Density	802.4/sq mi (309.8/km©÷)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes	73000-73099
Area code(s)	405
FIPS code	40-23200GR2
GNIS feature ID	1092492GR3

Edmond is a rapidly growing suburban city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma in the central part of the state. It is the sixth largest city in the state of Oklahoma and is part of the Greater Oklahoma City metropolitan area.

The city limits are located on the northern border of Oklahoma City. Two major highways connect Edmond to downtown Oklahoma City; The Broadway Extension (US-77), which runs through the center of the city, and I-35, which runs along the eastern side. As of July 2006, the city had 76,644 residents.

 Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 227.8 km©÷ (87.9 mi©÷). 220.5 km©÷ (85.1 mi©÷) of it is land and 7.3 km©÷ (2.8 mi©÷) of it (3.19%) is water.

Awards/image

• Edmond is listed as one of the "Top 100 Places to Live in 2007" by "Relocate America".
• "Universal Publications of New York" recently named it "America's best small town".
• The city is known for taking great pride in its "Edmond, America" image.
  
  Demographics

  As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 68,315 people, 25,256 households, and 18,588 families residing in the city. The population density was 309.8/km©÷ (802.4/mi©÷). There were 26,380 housing units at an average density of 119.6/km©÷ (309.9/mi©÷). The racial makeup of the city was 86.58% White, 4.04% African American, 2.27% Native American, 3.26% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.90% from other races, and 2.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.75% of the population.

  There were 25,256 households out of which 39.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.08.

  In the city the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.

  The median income for a household in the city was $54,556, and the median income for a family was $65,230. Males had a median income of $46,833 versus $28,231 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,517. About 4.4% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

   History

  Being the highest point along the Santa Fe rail line in Oklahoma Territory, Edmond was originally named "Summit" and was a watering and sanding point for the railroad in the 1880s. The town was given its current name (after an engineer on the railroad) by the Santa Fe railroad headquarters in Topeka after the Oklahoma Land Run of 1889. Though most of the remnants of the old railroad infrastructure are gone, the Santa Fe, now BNSF, line still runs through the same course.
  
  Schools

  Elementary Schools: | Angie Debo Elementary School | Centennial Elementary School | Charles Haskell Elementary School | Chisolm Elementary School | Clegern Elementary School | Clyde Howell Elementary School | Cross Timbers Elementary School | Ida Freeman Elementary School | John Ross Elementary School | Northern Hills Elementary School | Orvis Risner Elementary School | Russell Dougherty Elementary School | Sunset Elementary School | Washington Irving Elementary School | West Field Elementary School | Will Rogers Elementary School |

  Middle Schools: Central Middle School | Cheyenne Middle School | Cimarron Middle School | Sequoyah Middle School | Summit Middle School | Deer Creek Middle School

  High Schools: Edmond Memorial High School | Edmond North High School | Edmond Santa Fe High School | Deer Creek High School

  Colleges: | University of Central Oklahoma | Oklahoma Christian University

  Large Private Schools: | Oklahoma Christian School | Oklahoma Christian Academy | Providence Hall Classical Christian School | St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

  Public art and landmarks

  The City of Edmond is making efforts to promote public art, through many "statues, murals, stained glass, steel sculptures," etc.

  On July 4th, 2007, the City inaugurated a bronze statue of Nannita R.H. Daisey, pictured to be the first woman laying claim on Oklahoma land in the first (1889) land run.
  ^Sources

  1. ^ Edmond Convention and Visitors Bureau (2007). Oklahoma history cast in bronze. Retrieved on 2007-10-18.
  2. ^ Houghton, Jaclyn (2007 March 13). Oklahoma history cast in bronze. Retrieved on 2007-10-18.

The Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area is a large urban region located in the central part of the state of Oklahoma. It is often known as Oklahoma City Metroplex or Greater Oklahoma City, and contains the state capital and principal city, Oklahoma City.

Seven counties make up the Oklahoma City Metroplex; Canadian, Cleveland, Grady, Lincoln, Logan, McClain, and Oklahoma. The region had 1,172,339 residents in 2006and continues to grow rapidly

The micro urban area of Shawnee (in Pottawatomie County) is included in Oklahoma City's Consolidated Statistical Area (CSA) which brings the region's population to 1,240,977.
History

Main article: History of Oklahoma City

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. Oklahoma City was a major stop on Route 66 during the early part of the 20th century and was prominently mentioned in Bobby Troup's 1946 jazz classic, "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66," later made famous by Nat King Cole. Pre-World War II activity saw Oklahoma City's development into a major stockyard location and, with the discovery of oil within the city limits (including under the State Capitol), a center of oil production. Post-war growth occurred with Oklahoma City's location as a major interchange on the Interstate Highway System, with the convergence of I-35, I-40 and I-44 in the city, and the development of Tinker Air Force Base. The 1970s and '80s witnessed a gradual decline in the inner-city, as families increasingly chose to live in nearby suburbs. Urban Renewal projects in the 1970s removed many older historic structures but failed to result in much additional development.A notable exception was the construction of the Myriad Gardens and Crystal Bridge, a botancial garden and modernistic conservatory in the heart of the city.

Oklahoma City was forever changed on April 19, 1995 when Timothy McVeigh parked a Ryder truck in front of the Murrah building and set off a bomb at 9:02 am. The federal building on the northern fringe of downtown was destroyed and many nearby buildings suffered severe damage. The blast, which killed 168, became international news and brought to the forefront of the world's mind a city that was little known outside of the region previously. The citizens of Oklahoma City rallied around each other, and the attack served to unite the city as it began a new era of revival.

In 1993, the city passed a massive redevelopment package known as the Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS), which succeeded in helping to rebuild the city's core, adding a new baseball park, central library, renovations to the civic center, convention center and fairgrounds, and a canal to the Bricktown entertainment district. In recent years more housing has been developed downtown, creating new opportunities for developers. However, this has also raised some potential problems, such as an increased need for grocery stores and similar retail. The "Core-to-Shore" project was created to relocate I-40 one mile (1.6 km) south and replace it with a boulevard that will set as an entrance.This allows the central portion of the city to expand south toward the Oklahoma River, thus connecting the core of the city to the shore of the Oklahoma River.

Government

Main article: Government of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City has a council-manager form of government, with an elected mayor and council setting policy and an appointed city manager carrying out the day-to-day operations. The center of Oklahoma City's municipal government is historic City Hall, an original art deco style building situated on the western edge of the central business district in downtown Oklahoma City. Mick Cornett currently serves as Mayor, having first been elected in 2004 and then re-elected in 2006. Eight councilpersons represent each of the 8 wards of Oklahoma City. The City Manager

 is Jim Couch, who was appointed in late 2000. He serves on numerous city boards and agencies, and served as Assistant City Manager/MAPS (Metropolitan Area Projects) Director as well as Water/Wastewater Utilities Director prior to his service as city manager.

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 located in the Frontier Country region of Central Oklahoma, in the Southern Plains of North America. Contrary to popular belief, the geography is not flat and treeless (like in the true high plains) but rather gently rolling hills covered in places by dense low trees, shrubs, and grasses. The city is roughly bisected by the North Canadian River (recently partially renamed the Oklahoma River inside city limits). The North Canadian was once substantial enough to flood every year, wreaking destruction on surrounding areas, including the original Oklahoma City Zoo, until the 1940s when the Civilian Conservation Corps dammed the river and turned it into essentially a wide ditch for the next 50 years. In the 1990's, as part of the citywide revitalization project known as MAPS, the city built a series of low water dams, returning water to the portion of the river flows near downtown. The city also has three large lakes, Lake Hefner and Lake Overholser, in the northwestern quarter of the city, and the largest - Lake Stanley Draper, in the sparsely populated far southeast of the city.

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 its city limits can be misleading, as its urbanized zone covers 244 mi©÷, compared with the rural areas incorporated by the city, which cover 377 mi©÷.

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

Climate

Main article: Climate of Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City lies in a temperate climate. The summer can be extremely hot, as was evident in 2006 with a few week span of nearly 110 degree (Fahrenheit) temperatures. The average temperature is 60.1 ¡ÆF, though colder though the winter months, with a 45.9¡Æ average in January and warmer during the summer months, with an 80.7 ¡ÆF average in July. The city receives about 32.03 inches of rain annually and 9.0 inches of snow. Oklahoma City experiences a severe weather season from late March through August, though tornadoes have occurred in every month of the year. Oklahoma City had been struck by more tornadoes than any other city in the United States, including one of the most powerful tornadoes on record, a F-5 with wind speeds topping 320 mph (510 km/h) that devastated parts of southern Oklahoma City and nearby communities on May 3, 1999.

Further information: Oklahoma Tornado Outbreak

Demographics

As of the census^GR2 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©÷) for the entire city but was more than 2600/mi©÷ in the urbanized areas. There were 228,149 housing units at an average density of 145.1/km©÷ (375.9/mi©÷). The racial makeup of the city was 66.9% White, 14.7% Black or African American, 3.5% Native American, 3.5% Asian American, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 5.2% from other races, and 5.6% from two or more races. 12.9% 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.

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.

Metropolitan Statistical Area

Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Rec High ¡ÆF	80	92	93	100	104	105	110	110	108	96	87	86
Norm High ¡ÆF	47.1	53.5	62.5	71.2	78.9	87.2	93.1	92.5	84.1	73.4	59.6	49.8
Norm Low ¡ÆF	26.2	31.1	39.4	48.1	57.9	66.4	70.8	69.8	62.2	50.6	38.2	29.2
Rec Low ¡ÆF	-4	-3	3	20	37	47	53	51	36	16	11	-8
Precip (in)	1.28	1.56	2.9	3	5.44	4.63	2.94	2.48	3.98	3.64	2.11	1.89
Source: USTravelWeather.com [3]

Demographics

As of the census^GR2 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©÷) for the entire city but was more than 2600/mi©÷ in the urbanized areas. There were 228,149 housing units at an average density of 145.1/km©÷ (375.9/mi©÷). The racial makeup of the city was 66.9% White, 14.7% Black or African American, 3.5% Native American, 3.5% Asian American, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 5.2% from other races, and 5.6% from two or more races. 12.9% 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.

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.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City has a large and increasingly diverse economy. What was once a city known for Energy exploration and being a huge center of government has now diversified to include sectors such as biotechnology, Information Technology, Health Services, and Administration. Some Oklahoma City based companies, such as Devon Energy and Chesapeake Energy, rank among the largest corporations in the nation.

According to the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area's economic output grew by 33 percent between 2001 and 2005 due in large part to economic diversification. The area's gross metropolitan product totaled $43.1 billion in 2005.

Neighborhoods

Main article: Neighborhoods of Oklahoma City

Education

Higher education

Oklahoma City is home to several colleges and universities, including Oklahoma City University (formerly called Epworth University) in Uptown. The United Methodist university is renown for it's performing arts programs and is home to one of three law schools in Oklahoma. The university hosts many theatre, musical, and dance events for the community each year, including a Christmas event. The most recent addition to the campus of OCU is the Wanda L. Bass School of Music, home of the Oklahoma City University Symphony Orchestra and the OCU Musical Theatre Company. Three of Oklahoma's Miss Americas are graduates of OCU, and there is a sculpture in their honor on campus.

Park on campus of OU Medical Center near downtown

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:

• Oklahoma City University - Oklahoma City
• Oklahoma Baptist University (Shawnee)
• Oklahoma Baptist University - Oklahoma City
• Oklahoma Christian University
• St. Gregory's University [5] (Shawnee)
• Southern Nazarene University (Bethany)
• Southwestern Christian University
• Mid-America Christian University
• University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (Chickasha)
• University of Phoenix - Oklahoma City Campuses [6]
• DeVry University - Oklahoma City Campus [7]
• Hillsdale Free-Will Baptist College (Moore)
• Downtown College Consortium [8]
• Heartland Baptist Bible College [9]
• American Christian College and Seminary
• Oklahoma Baptist College
• Metropolitan College

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.

Culture

Museums and theatre

The Oklahoma City Museum of Art

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 The newly renovated art deco Civic Center Music Hall has performances from ballet and opera to traveling Broadway shows and concerts. Stage Center for the Performing Arts is home to many of the city's top theater companies. The building that houses Stage Center, designed by John Johansen is a modernist architectural landmark, with the original model displayed in MOMA in New York City. Also in downtown, the Ford Center was ranked by concert industry group Pollstar as one of the top ten live music venues in the world in ticket sales

The Suvivor Tree on the grounds of the Oklahoma City National Memorial

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.

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.

Outdoor recreation

The Myriad Botanical Gardens in downtown OKC

One of the more prominent landmarks downtown is the Crystal Bridge at the Myriad Botanical Gardens, a large downtown urban park. Designed by