81-523: The Heartland Flyer is a daily passenger train that follows a 206-mile (332 km) route between Oklahoma City, Oklahoma , and Fort Worth, Texas . It is operated by Amtrak and jointly funded by the states of Oklahoma and Texas . The train's daily round-trip begins in Oklahoma City in the morning and reaches Fort Worth in the early afternoon. It leaves Fort Worth during the afternoon rush for an evening return to Oklahoma City. Future plans call for
162-468: A "Name the Train" contest, encouraging Oklahoma schoolchildren to pick a name for the new route. The winning name was submitted by Katie Moore, who christened the new train on its first run. The Heartland Flyer was inaugurated on June 14, 1999, with a demonstration trip from Fort Worth to Oklahoma City, which carried state officials, Amtrak board members, and mayors for the serviced cities. Regular service began
243-561: A PK-12 school district, serves the town of Thackerville as well as unincorporated areas in south central Love County. Terry Bradshaw , four-time Super Bowl champion, maintains a ranch in Thackerville which is the home location for his reality TV show, The Bradshaw Bunch . Thackerville was also the site of a proposed relocation of the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park once run by Joe Exotic and subject of
324-587: A Sirloin Stockade restaurant on the city's south side were murdered execution-style in the restaurant's freezer. An intensive investigation followed, and the three individuals involved, who also killed three others in Purcell, Oklahoma , were identified. One, Harold Stafford, died in a motorcycle accident in Tulsa not long after the restaurant murders. Another, Verna Stafford, was sentenced to life without parole after being granted
405-580: A bomb in front of the Murrah building . The building was destroyed (the remnants of which had to be imploded in a controlled demolition later that year), more than 100 nearby buildings suffered severe damage, and 168 people were killed. The site has been commemorated as the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. Since its opening in 2000, over three million people have visited. Every year on April 19, survivors, families, and friends return to
486-618: A central business district left almost deserted by the Oil Bust of the early 1980s. The centerpiece of downtown is the newly renovated Crystal Bridge and Myriad Botanical Gardens, one of the few elements of the Pei Plan to be completed. In 2021, a massive new central park will link the gardens near the CBD and the new convention center to be built just south of it to the North Canadian River as part of
567-470: A female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. One person households account for 30.5% of all households, and 8.7% of all households had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.11. According to the American Community Survey 1-year estimates in 2022, the median income for a household in
648-420: A massive works project known as "Core to Shore"; the new park is part of MAPS3, a collection of civic projects funded by a one-cent temporary (seven-year) sales tax increase. Oklahoma City has a temperate humid subtropical climate ( Köppen : Cfa), along with significant continental influences. The city features hot, humid summers and cool winters. Prolonged and severe droughts (sometimes leading to wildfires in
729-544: A new trial after she had been sentenced to death. Roger Dale Stafford , considered the mastermind of the murder spree, was executed by lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in 1995. The Oklahoma City Police Department has a uniformed force of 1,169 officers and 300+ civilian employees. The department has a central police station and five substations covering 2,500 police reporting districts that average 1/4 square mile in size. On April 19, 1995,
810-644: A population greater than 600,000 residents and the first city in the Great Plains region to record a population greater than 600,000 residents. It is the largest municipal population of the Great Plains region (Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota). In the 2020 census , there were 268,035 households in the city, out of which 81,374 households (30.4%) were individuals, 113,161 (42.2%) were opposite-sex married couples , 17,699 (6.6%) were unmarried opposite-sex partnerships , and 2,930 (1.1%) were same-sex married couples or partnerships . According to
891-468: A rally was held at the Oklahoma State Capitol to demand that the state fund the train, as well as expand the service to Kansas. Oklahoma City mayor Mick Cornett served as a keynote speaker at the event alongside the mayors of Perry , Guthrie , and Purcell. In response, state lawmakers passed House Bill 1078, which provided an annual $ 2 million subsidy to continue the service; however, the route
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#1732855218105972-523: A rating of F5 on the Fujita scale before the Enhanced Fujita scale replaced it in 2007. While the tornado was in the vicinity of Bridge Creek to the southwest, wind speeds of 318 mph (510 km/h) were estimated by a mobile Doppler radar, the highest wind speeds ever recorded on Earth. A second top-of-the-scale tornado occurred on May 20, 2013; South Oklahoma City, along with Newcastle and Moore ,
1053-450: A water canal in the Bricktown entertainment district. Water taxis transport passengers within the district, adding color and activity along the canal. MAPS has become one of the most successful public-private partnerships undertaken in the U.S., exceeding $ 3 billion in private investment as of 2010. As a result of MAPS, the population in downtown housing has exponentially increased, with
1134-402: A width of 2.6 miles (4.2 km), making it the widest tornado ever recorded. Additionally, winds over 295 mph (475 km/h) were measured, one of the two highest wind records for a tornado. With 19.48 inches (495 mm) of rainfall, May 2015 was Oklahoma City's record-wettest month since record-keeping began in 1890. Across Oklahoma and Texas generally, there was a record flooding in
1215-558: Is based on days receiving more than one inch of rainfall. Oklahoma City has an active severe weather season from March through June, especially during April and May. Being in the center of what is colloquially referred to as Tornado Alley , it is prone to widespread and severe tornadoes, as well as severe hailstorms and occasional derechoes . Tornadoes occur every month of the year, and a secondary smaller peak also occurs during autumn, especially in October. The Oklahoma City metropolitan area
1296-515: Is land and 19.23 square miles (49.8 km ) is water. Oklahoma City lies in the Sandstone Hills region of Oklahoma, known for hills of 250 to 400 feet (80 to 120 m) and two species of oak: blackjack oak ( Quercus marilandica ) and post oak ( Q. stellata ). The northeastern part of the city and its eastern suburbs fall into an ecological region known as the Cross Timbers . The city
1377-411: Is one of the most tornado-prone major cities in the world, with about 150 tornadoes striking within the city limits since 1890. Since the time weather records have been kept, Oklahoma City has been struck by 13 violent tornadoes, eleven rated F/EF4 and two rated F/EF5. On May 3, 1999 , parts of Oklahoma City and surrounding communities were impacted by a tornado. It was the last U.S. tornado to be given
1458-521: Is ranked thirteenth on Forbes ' list of private companies. As of March 2024, the top 20 employers in the city were: Other major corporations with a significant presence (over 1,000 employees) in the city of Oklahoma City include the United Parcel Service , Farmers Insurance Group , Great Plains Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Deaconess Hospital , Johnson Controls , MidFirst Bank , Rose State College, and Continental Resources. While not in
1539-530: Is roughly bisected by the North Canadian River (recently renamed the Oklahoma River inside city limits). The North Canadian once had sufficient flow to flood every year, wreaking destruction on surrounding areas, including the central business district and the original Oklahoma City Zoo. In the 1940s, a dam was built on the river to manage the flood control and reduce its level. In the 1990s, as part of
1620-661: The Southwest Chief in Newton, Kansas . Some proposals would further extend the Heartland Flyer from Newton to Kansas City along the route of the Southwest Chief . A 2009 study conducted by Amtrak proposed four options for the extension: Through coach service with the Southwest Chief was also stated as a possibility. By September 2010, only the first and third options were said to remain under consideration. In late 2011,
1701-456: The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was destroyed by a fertilizer bomb manufactured and detonated by Timothy McVeigh . The blast and catastrophic collapse killed 168 people and injured over 680. The blast shock-wave destroyed or damaged 324 buildings within a 340-meter radius, destroyed or burned 86 cars, and shattered glass in 258 nearby buildings, causing at least an estimated $ 652 million. McVeigh
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#17328552181051782-544: The Chickasaw Nation . The Heartland Flyer uses equipment from Amtrak's national fleet, typically two General Electric Genesis locomotives and two or three Superliner railcars. One of the Superliner cars is a snack coach with seating on the upper level of the car and a small Café area on the lower level. Previously, the Heartland Flyer used a combination of Hi-Level and Superliner railcars. For many years,
1863-506: The Clean Air Act . Oklahoma City neighborhoods are highly varied, with affluent historic neighborhoods located next to districts that have not wholly recovered from the economic and social decline of the 1970s and 1980s. The city is bisected geographically and culturally by the North Canadian River, which divides North Oklahoma City and South Oklahoma City. The north side is characterized by diverse and fashionable urban neighborhoods near
1944-602: The Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Department's Enterprise Service Center, respectively). Oklahoma City is on the I-35 and I-40 corridors, one of the primary travel corridors south into neighboring Texas and New Mexico , north towards Wichita and Kansas City , west to Albuquerque , and east towards Little Rock and Memphis . Located in the state's Frontier Country region,
2025-669: The Heartland Flyer extension to Newton. In June 2021, Amtrak included the extension to Newton in its 15-year expansion vision. The plan also includes two additional round trips between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth. In November 2021, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act , which could fund the plan. The extension was endorsed by the Oklahoma City Council in April 2022, and by Dodge City in October 2022. The governors of Oklahoma and Kansas supported
2106-496: The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) released the results of a study into these options. A night train to Newton had an estimated start-up cost of $ 87.5 million and an annual subsidy of $ 4.4 million, while a day train to Kansas City had an estimated start-up cost of $ 245.5 million and an annual subsidy of $ 10 million. On June 9, 2017, Amtrak ran an inspection train between Oklahoma City and Kansas City in order to explore
2187-708: The MAPS 3 proposal approved by voters in late 2009. Oklahoma City lies along one of the primary corridors into Texas and Mexico and is a three-hour drive from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex . The city is in the Frontier Country region in the state's center, making it ideal for state government. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 620.34 square miles (1,606.7 km ), of which 601.11 square miles (1,556.9 km )
2268-519: The Pei Plan , removed older structures but failed to spark much new development, leaving the city dotted with vacant lots used for parking. A notable exception was the city's construction of the Myriad Gardens and Crystal Bridge , a botanical garden and modernistic conservatory in the heart of downtown. Architecturally significant historic buildings lost to clearances were the Criterion Theater,
2349-656: The Southern United States . The population grew following the 2010 census and reached 681,054 in the 2020 census . The Oklahoma City metropolitan area had a population of 1,396,445, and the Oklahoma City– Shawnee Combined Statistical Area had a population of 1,469,124, making it Oklahoma's largest municipality and metropolitan area by population. Oklahoma City's city limits extend somewhat into Canadian , Cleveland , and Pottawatomie counties. However, much of those areas outside
2430-549: The 1928 discovery of oil within the city limits (including under the State Capitol), Oklahoma City became a major center of oil production. Post-war growth accompanied the construction of the Interstate Highway System , which made Oklahoma City a major interchange as the convergence of I-35 , I-40 , and I-44 . It was also aided by the federal development of Tinker Air Force Base after successful lobbying efforts by
2511-463: The 2020 census, the racial composition of Oklahoma City was as follows: White or European American 49.5%, Hispanic or Latino 21.3%, Black or African American 13.8%, Asian 4.6%, Native American 2.8%, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0.2%, other race 0.4%, and two or more races (non-Hispanic) 7.6%. Its population has diversified since the 1940s census, where 90.4% was non-Hispanic white . An analysis in 2017 found Oklahoma City to be
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2592-649: The 8th least racially segregated significant city in the United States. Of the 20 largest US cities, Oklahoma City has the second-highest percentage of the population reporting two or more races on the Census, 7.6%, second to 8.9% in New York City . Oklahoma City is the principal city of the eight-county Oklahoma City metropolitan statistical Area in Central Oklahoma and is the state's largest urbanized area. As of 2015,
2673-654: The Baum Building, the Hales Building, and the Biltmore Hotel. In 1993, the city passed a massive redevelopment package known as the Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS), intended to rebuild the city's core with civic projects to establish more activities and life in downtown. The city added a new baseball park ; a central library; renovations to the civic center , convention center , and fairgrounds; and
2754-588: The Oklahoma City–Wichita–Newton extension into its Corridor Identification and Development Program . The program grants $ 500,000 toward service planning and prioritizes the extension for future federal funding. It could include stops in Edmond , Guthrie , Perry , and Ponca City . During the 1990s, a reroute of the Texas Eagle was considered that would have removed Austin and San Antonio in favor of
2835-506: The Oklahoma Department of Transportation carried out a research project to run the train on a biodiesel blend known as B20 (20% pure biofuel and 80% diesel). In 2022, Amtrak announced plans to replace its aging fleet of locomotives and railcars over the next ten years. Under the plan, the rolling stock utilized by the Heartland Flyer will be replaced between 2027 and 2032, though the exact trainset has not yet been determined. From
2916-466: The age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 23.5% of households were one person and 9.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.18. The age distribution was 29.2% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% 65 or older. The median age
2997-415: The area of its city limits can be misleading. Its urbanized zone covers roughly 244 square miles (630 km ) resulting in a 2013 estimated density of 2,500 per square mile (970/km ), compared with larger rural watershed areas incorporated by the city, which cover the remaining 377 sq mi (980 km ) of the city limits. Oklahoma City is one of the largest cities in the nation in compliance with
3078-536: The city center and sprawling suburbs further north. South Oklahoma City is generally more blue-collar working class and significantly more industrial, having grown up around the Stockyards and meat packing plants at the turn of the century. It is also the center of the city's rapidly growing Latino community. Downtown Oklahoma City , which has 7,600 residents, is seeing an influx of new private investment and large-scale public works projects, which have helped to revitalize
3159-564: The city limits, other large employers within the Oklahoma City MSA include United States Air Force – Tinker AFB (27,000); University of Oklahoma (11,900); University of Central Oklahoma (2,900); and Norman Regional Hospital (2,800). Thackerville, Oklahoma Thackerville is a town in Love County, Oklahoma , United States. It is located near the Texas state border. The population
3240-429: The city was $ 63,713, and the median income for a family was $ 80,833. Married-couple families $ 99,839, and nonfamily households $ 40,521. The per capita income for the city was $ 35,902. 15.5% of the population and 11.2% of families were below the poverty line. Of the total population, 20.1% of those under 18 and 10.6% of those 65 and older lived below the poverty line. In the 2000 census , Oklahoma City's age composition
3321-516: The city's northeast section lies in an ecological region known as the Cross Timbers . The city was founded during the Land Run of 1889 and grew to a population of over 10,000 within hours of its founding. It was the site of the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building , in which 167 people died, the deadliest terror attack in U.S. history until the attacks of September 11, 2001 , and
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3402-435: The citywide revitalization project known as MAPS, the city built a series of low-water dams, returning water to the portion of the river flowing near downtown. The city has three large lakes: Lake Hefner and Lake Overholser , in the northwestern quarter of the city; and the largest, Lake Stanley Draper , in the city's sparsely populated far southeast portion. The population density typically reported for Oklahoma City using
3483-538: The community. Thackerville's population fluctuated throughout the remainder of the 20th century, reaching a low of 178 in 1950 and peaking at 431 in 1980. Thackerville is the location of the WinStar World Casino , operated by the Chickasaw Nation . Thackerville is part of the Ardmore, Oklahoma Micropolitan Statistical Area . At the 2000 census there were 404 people, 149 households, and 108 families living in
3564-506: The community. On July 5, 1899, Thackerville was officially incorporated into Indian Territory by Judge Hosea Townsend. At the time of its founding, Thackerville was located in Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation . U.S. Highway 77 was established from the Red River through Thackerville in 1926. At that time, the town moved to each side of the highway, which became the new "main" street in
3645-413: The core Oklahoma County area are suburban tracts or protected rural zones ( watershed ). The city is the eighth-largest in the United States by area including consolidated city-counties ; it is the second-largest, after Houston , not including consolidated cities. The city is also the second-largest by area among state capital cities in the United States, after Juneau, Alaska . Oklahoma City has one of
3726-483: The deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history. Since weather records have been kept beginning in 1890, Oklahoma City has been struck by 14 violent tornadoes , 11 of which were rated F4 or EF4 on the Fujita and Enhanced Fujita scales , and two rated F5 and EF5. Oklahoma City was settled on April 22, 1889, when the area known as the " Unassigned Lands " was opened for settlement in an event known as " The Land Run ". On April 26 of that year, its first mayor
3807-603: The demand for additional residential and retail amenities, such as groceries, services, and shops. Since the completion of the MAPS projects, the downtown area has seen continued development. Several downtown buildings are undergoing renovation/restoration. Notable among these was the restoration of the Skirvin Hotel in 2007. The famed First National Center is also being renovated. Residents of Oklahoma City suffered substantial losses on April 19, 1995, when Timothy McVeigh detonated
3888-520: The director of the Chamber of Commerce Stanley Draper . In 1950, the Census Bureau reported the city's population as 8.6% black and 90.7% white. In 1959, the city government launched a "Great Annexation Drive" that expanded the city's area from 80 to 475.55 square miles (207.2 to 1,231.7 square kilometers) by the end of 1961, making it the largest U.S. city by land mass at the time. Patience Latting
3969-534: The exception of 2020, when the train was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic . Oklahoma City Oklahoma City ( / ˌ oʊ k l ə ˈ h oʊ m ə -/ ), officially the City of Oklahoma City , and often shortened to OKC , is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma . The county seat of Oklahoma County , its population ranks 20th among United States cities and 8th in
4050-611: The first grocery store, built by Oce McCage, opened across from it. Soon after, a school, churches, and a post office were constructed. Thackerville had a dirt main street with board walks that connected store porches. Court records filed in the United States Court, Southern District, in Indian Territory at Ardmore indicate that citizens of the community petitioned to incorporate Thackerville under Arkansas law on October 15, 1898. At that time, approximately 175 people lived in
4131-519: The former Texas & Pacific route via Abilene and Midland/Odessa to Sierra Blanca . To compensate for the loss, the Heartland Flyer would have been extended south to San Antonio, connecting with the Sunset Limited . This reroute was ultimately rejected. In 2020, Amtrak reported it was working to add a new stop in Thackerville, Oklahoma with access to the WinStar World Casino operated by
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#17328552181054212-936: The latter part of the month . In the 2010 census , there were 579,999 people, 230,233 households, and 144,120 families in the city. The population density was 956.4 inhabitants per square mile (321.9/km ). There were 256,930 housing units at an average density of 375.9 per square mile (145.1/km ). By the 2020 census , its population grew to 681,054. Of Oklahoma City's 579,999 people in 2010, 44,541 resided in Canadian County, 63,723 lived in Cleveland County, 471,671 resided in Oklahoma County, and 64 resided in Pottawatomie County. In 2010, there were 230,233 households, 29.4% of which had children under 18 living with them, 43.4% were married couples living together, 13.9% had
4293-503: The local Indians and together they farmed a very productive corn crop. Before long, many people began settling in the area. After Thacker's death in 1887, the community relocated from its original site near where Wolf Creek enters the Red River, to its present location. The main reason behind the move was to be closer to the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway . A depot was constructed and
4374-450: The memorial to read the names of each person lost. McVeigh was executed by lethal injection on June 11, 2001. The "Core-to-Shore" project was created to relocate I-40 one mile (1.6 km) south and replace it with a boulevard to create a landscaped entrance to the city. This also allows the central portion of the city to expand south and connect with the shore of the Oklahoma River. Several elements of "Core to Shore" were included in
4455-551: The metro area was the 41st largest in the nation based on population. The Association of Religion Data Archives in 2020 reported that the Southern Baptist Convention was the city and metropolitan area's most prominent Christian tradition with 213,008 members, Christianity being the area's predominant religion. Non/interdenominational Protestants were the second largest tradition with 195,158 members. The Roman Catholic Church claimed 142,491 adherents throughout
4536-521: The metropolitan region and Pentecostals within the Assemblies of God USA numbered 48,470. The remainder of Christians in the area held to predominantly Evangelical Christian beliefs in numerous evangelical Protestant denominations. Outside of Christendom, there were 4,230 practitioners of Hinduism and 2,078 Mahayana Buddhists . An estimated 8,904 residents practiced Islam during this study. Law enforcement claims Oklahoma City has traditionally been
4617-506: The monthly daily average ranging from 39.2 °F (4.0 °C) in January to 83.0 °F (28.3 °C) in July. Extremes range from −17 °F (−27 °C) on February 12, 1899 to 113 °F (45 °C) on August 11, 1936, and August 3, 2012 ; The last sub-zero (Fahrenheit) reading was −14 °F (−26 °C) on February 16, 2021. Temperatures reach 100 °F (38 °C) on 10.4 days of
4698-675: The most notable was the Texas Chief , which traveled from Chicago to Galveston . In 1971, following the Rail Passenger Service Act, the Texas Chief was transferred to the newly-formed Amtrak. The route (renamed to the Lone Star in 1974) remained in service until 1979, when budget cuts at Amtrak caused the route to close. The closure of the Lone Star ended passenger rail service in
4779-609: The next day, ending a 20-year absence of passenger rail in Oklahoma and North Texas. First-year ticket sales totaled 71,400 passengers, more than triple Amtrak's projection of 20,000 riders. The route carried its 500,000th passenger in September 2007 and its millionth in November 2013. The state of Oklahoma initially received $ 23 million in federal funding for the route, which expired in September 2005. In anticipation of this, on April 11, 2005,
4860-404: The northbound Heartland Flyer struck a car hauler north of Thackerville, Oklahoma . The train partially derailed and four passengers were injured. Since its inception, numerous proposals have been made to extend the Heartland Flyer northward from Oklahoma City to Kansas along the original route of the Lone Star . The extended line would serve Wichita Union Station before connecting with
4941-412: The route's inception in 1999, additional cars have been added during the week of the Red River Rivalry football game to accommodate fan travel to and from Dallas , where the game is held. Dubbed the "Big Game Train", this layout originally consisted of one additional coach, but has since been increased to as many as three coaches plus a Sightseer lounge. This configuration has been used every year, with
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#17328552181055022-433: The state of Oklahoma. In late 1998, Oklahoma and Kansas state officials began meeting in an effort to restore passenger service along the corridor. Initial plans called for a train from Fort Worth to Kansas City , though this was eventually pared down to the current route for budgetary reasons. On May 18, 1999, Amtrak began taking reservations for the route, tentatively named "The New Train". Senator Don Nickles sponsored
5103-430: The territory of the notorious Juárez Cartel , but the Sinaloa Cartel has been reported as trying to establish a foothold in Oklahoma City. There are many rival gangs in Oklahoma City, one whose headquarters has been established in the city, the Southside Locos, traditionally known as Sureños . Oklahoma City also has its share of violent crimes, particularly in the 1970s. The worst occurred in 1978 when six employees of
5184-415: The town has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km ), all land. Thackerville was founded in the mid-19th century. The community is named after Zacariah Thacker, a pioneer from Arkansas . It is believed that he was headed for the Amarillo , Texas area, but he camped one night at Wolf Hollow Creek in Indian Territory and remained there until his death a few years later. Thacker befriended some of
5265-406: The town. The population density was 189.5 inhabitants per square mile (73.2/km ). There were 166 housing units at an average density of 77.9 per square mile (30.1/km ). The racial makeup of the town was 89.85% White, 4.70% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.99% from other races, and 4.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.97%. Of the 149 households 34.9% had children under
5346-523: The train was powered by only one locomotive with a Non-Powered Control Unit (NPCU) on the opposite end of the train to facilitate bi-directional travel. In 2009, the NPCU was replaced with a standard Genesis P42DC, giving the train locomotive power on both ends. The train returned to having an NPCU in 2015 until an accident in 2017 took one NPCU out of operation so the train alternated between both configurations. It later returned to having locomotive power on both ends. From April 2010 to April 2011, Amtrak and
5427-516: The train's northern terminus to be extended from Oklahoma City to Newton, Kansas with increased frequency along the original route by 2029. The rail corridor utilized by the Heartland Flyer was built in 1887 by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (shortened to the "Santa Fe") to join its Texas-based Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe subsidiary to the main Santa Fe network. The railroad consisted of two segments: one built south from Arkansas City, Kansas , and one built north from Fort Worth, Texas;
5508-408: The two segments met in modern-day Purcell, Oklahoma . The Land Rush of 1889 followed shortly after, causing many of the railroad stations in Oklahoma to become the centerpieces of permanent settlements; Oklahoma City is a notable example. The corridor saw use by the Santa Fe for both freight (particularly the movement of cattle) and for passenger rail. Of the passenger routes that used the corridor,
5589-425: The use of state funding for the plan. In June 2023, Oklahoma and Kansas state officials began seeking federal approval and funding to extend the Heartland Flyer from Oklahoma City to Newton. In November 2023, KDOT said the service would start in 2029 if approved, but could begin sooner were the project to be fast tracked. In December 2023, the Federal Railroad Administration accepted an application by KDOT to enter
5670-411: The vicinity) and hefty rainfall leading to flash flooding and flooding occur regularly. Consistent winds, usually from the south or south-southeast during the summer, help temper the hotter weather. Consistent northerly winds during the winter can intensify cold periods. Severe ice storms and snowstorms happen sporadically during the winter. The average temperature is 61.4 °F (16.3 °C), with
5751-429: The world's largest livestock markets. Oil, natural gas, petroleum products , and related industries are its economy's largest sector. The city is in the middle of an active oil field, and oil derricks dot the capitol grounds. The federal government employs a large number of workers at Tinker Air Force Base and the United States Department of Transportation 's Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center (which house offices of
5832-594: The year, 90 °F (32 °C) on nearly 70 days, and fail to rise above freezing on 8.3 days. The city receives about 35.9 inches (91.2 cm) of precipitation annually, of which 8.6 inches (21.8 cm) is snow. The report "Regional Climate Trends and Scenarios for the U.S. National Climate Assessment" ( NCA ) from 2013 by NOAA projects that parts of the Great Plains region can expect up to 30% (high emissions scenario based on CMIP3 and NARCCAP models) increase in extreme precipitation days by mid-century. This definition
5913-406: Was 25.5% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. 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. Oklahoma City has experienced significant population increases since the late 1990s. It is the first city in the state to record
5994-508: Was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 117.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.3 males. The median household income was $ 22,750 and the median family income was $ 45,893. Males had a median income of $ 29,375 versus $ 18,611 for females. The per capita income for the town was $ 19,605. About 7.7% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line , including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 22.2% of those age 65 or over. Thackerville Public Schools ,
6075-406: Was 400 at the 2020 census . Thackerville is situated near the intersection of U.S. Highway 77 and State Highway 153 , five miles north of the Texas state line and ten miles south of Marietta in south central Love County. Interstate 35 passes through town, putting Thackerville on the main route between Oklahoma City and Dallas/Ft. Worth. According to the United States Census Bureau ,
6156-753: Was admitted to the Union in 1907, Oklahoma City had surpassed Guthrie , the territorial capital, as the new state's population center and commercial hub. Soon after, the capital was moved from Guthrie to Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City was a significant stop on Route 66 during the early part of the 20th century; it was prominently mentioned in Bobby Troup 's 1946 jazz song " (Get Your Kicks on) Route 66 " made famous by artist Nat King Cole . Before World War II , Oklahoma City developed significant stockyards , attracting jobs and revenue formerly in Chicago and Omaha, Nebraska . With
6237-473: Was convicted and subsequently executed by lethal injection on June 11, 2001. The economy of Oklahoma City, once just a regional power center of government and energy exploration, has since diversified to include the sectors of information technology, services , health services , and administration. The city is headquarters to two Fortune 500 companies: Expand Energy and Devon Energy , as well as being home to Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores , which
6318-417: Was elected Mayor of Oklahoma City in 1971, becoming the city's first female mayor. Latting was also the first woman to serve as mayor of a U.S. city with over 350,000 residents. Like many other American cities, the center city population declined in the 1970s and 1980s as families followed newly constructed highways to move to newer housing in nearby suburbs. Urban renewal projects in the 1970s, including
6399-408: Was elected, William Couch . Some 10,000 homesteaders settled in the area that would become the capital of Oklahoma. The town grew quickly; the population doubled between 1890 and 1900. Early leaders of the development of the city included Anton H. Classen , John Wilford Shartel , Henry Overholser , Oscar Ameringer , Jack C. Walton , Angelo C. Scott , and James W. Maney . By the time Oklahoma
6480-541: Was hit by an EF5 tornado. The tornado was 0.5 to 1.3 miles (0.80 to 2.09 km) wide and killed 23 people. On May 31, less than two weeks after the May 20 event, another outbreak affected the Oklahoma City area. Within Oklahoma City, the system spawned an EF1 and an EF0 tornado, and in El Reno to the west, an EF3 tornado occurred. This lattermost tornado , which was heading in the direction of Oklahoma City before it dissipated, had
6561-484: Was not extended. In April 2016, Amtrak began Thruway bus service between the Heartland Flyer in Oklahoma City and the Southwest Chief in Newton, Kansas , with one stop in Wichita . The schedule runs mostly overnight because the Southwest Chief running both eastbound and westbound calls on Newton in the early morning hours. Initial service was operated under contract by Village Tours of Wichita. On October 15, 2021,
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