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112-443: Anchored by Lawton , its largest city, Southwest Oklahoma's other important urban centers include Elk City , Clinton , Weatherford , Walters , Altus , and Duncan . One section of the 1890 Organic Act established that a lawsuit should be filed to clarify the boundary between Oklahoma and Texas. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1896 that what had been considered part of Texas would now be part of Oklahoma Territory. The area makes up

224-626: A National Historic Landmark , the highest classification. Lawton was the former home to the Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry , a basketball team. The team moved in 2007 from Oklahoma City to Lawton, where they won two Continental Basketball Association championships and a Premier Basketball League championship. In 2011, the Cavalry ceased operations in their second year in the PBL. Lawton operates 80 parks and recreation areas in varying sizes, including

336-659: A gross domestic product of $ 4.2 billion produced in 2008, with a majority ($ 2.1 billion) in the government sector, primarily associated with the military. Fort Sill is the largest employer in Lawton, with more than 5,000 full-time employees. In the private sector, the largest employer is Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company with 2,400 full-time employees. Some major employers in the Lawton area also include: Lawton Public Schools , Comanche County Memorial Hospital, Southwestern Hospital, City of Lawton, Cameron University , and Bar S Foods. Lawton has developed two major industrial parks . One

448-511: A mass shooting occurred in a medical center, killing at least 4 people, including the perpetrator. The United States Oil and Gas Association was founded in Tulsa on October 13, 1917. Over the city's history many large oil companies have been headquartered in the city, including Warren Petroleum (which merged with Gulf Oil in what was then the largest merger in the energy industry), Skelly Oil , Getty Oil and CITGO . In addition, ConocoPhillips

560-449: A bachelor's degree or higher, and 86.5% have a high school diploma or equivalent . The Tulsa metropolitan area , or the region immediately surrounding Tulsa with strong social and economic ties to the city, occupies a large portion of the state's northeastern quadrant. It is informally known as " Green Country ", a longstanding name adopted by the state's official tourism designation for all of northeastern Oklahoma (its usage concerning

672-761: A base in the sectors of aerospace , finance, technology, telecommunications, high tech , and manufacturing. A number of substantial financial corporations are headquartered in Tulsa, the largest being the BOK Financial Corporation . Among these financial services firms are energy trading operations, asset management firms, investment funds, and a range of commercial banks. The national convenience store chain QuikTrip , fast-casual restaurant chain Camille's Sidewalk Cafe , and pizza chain Mazzio's are all headquartered in Tulsa, as

784-574: A baseball stadium for the Tulsa Drillers opened in 2010. The city's historical residential core lies in an area known as Midtown, containing upscale neighborhoods built in the early 20th century with architecture ranging from art deco to Greek Revival . The University of Tulsa, the Swan Lake neighborhood, Philbrook Museum , and the upscale shopping districts of Utica Square , Cherry Street, and Brookside are located in this region. A large portion of

896-486: A female householder with no husband present, and 41.9% were non-families. Of all households, 34.5% are made up of only one person, and 10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 people and the average family size was 3.04. In the city proper, the age distribution was 24.8% of the population under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older, while

1008-522: A household in the city was $ 41,566, and for a family was $ 50,507. Males had a median income of $ 36,440 versus $ 31,825 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 20,655. About 16.6% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line , including 33.5% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over. Lawton is primarily centered on government, manufacturing, and retail trade industries. The Lawton MSA ranks fourth in Oklahoma with

1120-557: A large conservative following, with the majority of Tulsans being Christians. The second-largest religion in Tulsa is Islam, followed by Buddhism and Judaism. Tulsa is part of the Southern region demographers and commentators refer to as the " Bible Belt ," where Protestant and, in particular, Southern Baptist and other evangelical Christian traditions are very prominent. In fact, Tulsa, home to Oral Roberts University , Phillips Theological Seminary , and RHEMA Bible Training College (in

1232-721: A model for early childhood education . In 2004, the state ranked 36th in the nation for the relative number of adults with high school diplomas , though at 85.2 percent, it had the highest rate among southern states. Private schools in the Southwestern Oklahoma include Western Oklahoma Christian School in Clinton and Corn Bible Academy in Corn . Cameron University is the largest four-year, public university in Southwestern Oklahoma. The university has an average fall enrollment of 6,000 students with 70 endowed faculty positions. The region

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1344-574: A number of the ranch and Mid-Century Modern homes that reflect Tulsa's prosperous post-war period. The BOK Tower , built during this period, is the second tallest building in Oklahoma and the surrounding states of Missouri, New Mexico , Arkansas , and Kansas. Tulsa also has the third-, and fourth-tallest buildings in the state, including the Cityplex Tower , which is located in South Tulsa across from Oral Roberts University, far from downtown. One of

1456-540: A regional hub with substantial innovation assets. Products from Tulsa manufacturers account for about sixty percent of Oklahoma's exports, and in 2001, the city's total gross product was in the top one-third of metropolitan areas, states, and countries, with more than $ 29 billion in total goods, growing at a rate of $ 250 million each year. Tulsa's primary employers are small and medium-sized businesses: there are 30 companies in Tulsa that employ more than 1,000 people locally, and small businesses make up more than 80% of

1568-665: A severe flood caused by a stalled weather front that dropped 15 in (380 mm) of rain overnight, killing 14, injuring 288, and destroying 7,000 buildings totaling $ 180 million in damage. In the early 1990s and again in 2000, the Federal Emergency Management Agency honored Tulsa as leading the nation in flood plain management. Triple-digit temperatures (≥38 °C) are observed on average 11 days per year, most of which occur from July to early September, and are usually accompanied by high humidity brought in by southerly winds. The highest recorded temperature

1680-533: A venue for major concerts and conventions. The multi-purpose arena, designed by famed architect Cesar Pelli , broke ground in 2005 and was opened on August 30, 2008. In July 2020 the Supreme Court ruled in McGirt v. Oklahoma that as it pertains to criminal law much of eastern Oklahoma, including Tulsa, remains as Native American lands. Specifically, prosecution of crimes by Native Americans on these lands falls into

1792-458: Is 61.9 °F (16.6 °C). The summers have an average 21 days with temperatures 100 °F (37.8 °C) and above. The area averages eight days that fail to rise above freezing. The region receives about 31.6 inches (800 mm) of precipitation. Typically in late April through early June, Southwestern Oklahoma is prone to severe weather which can include tornadoes. Notably in 1957 , an F4 tornado and again in 1979 an F3 tornado struck

1904-559: Is Southern regional BBQ restaurant Rib Crib . Tulsa is also home to the Marshall Brewing Company . Tulsa is also home to a burgeoning media industry, including PennWell , consumer review website ConsumerAffairs , Stephens Media Group , This Land Press , Educational Development Corporation (the parent publisher of Kane/Miller ), GEB America , Blooming Twig Books, and a full range of local media outlets, including Tulsa World and local magazines, radio and television. Tulsa

2016-533: Is also home to Southwestern Oklahoma State University , a public university with locations in Weatherford and Sayre . It was placed at Tier 1 in the category "Regional Universities (West)" in the 2011 U.S. News & World Report . SWOSU has 15 nationally accredited academic programs—the most among Oklahoma's senior regional universities.fore i The Comanche Nation College in Lawton provided lower division programs, before its closure on July 31, 2017. The region

2128-457: Is also home to the progressive All Souls Unitarian Church , reportedly the largest Unitarian Universalist congregation in the United States. Chùa Tam Bào (Vietnamese: "Three Jewels Temple"), then Oklahoma's only Buddhist temple, was established in east Tulsa in 1993 by Vietnamese refugees. A 57-foot-tall (17 m) granite statue of Quan Âm (commonly known by her Chinese name, Guanyin )

2240-643: Is also served by the Great Plains Technology Center and Western Technology Center , both of which are part of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education System. 34°30′N 98°30′W  /  34.5°N 98.5°W  / 34.5; -98.5 Lawton, Oklahoma Lawton is a city in and the county seat of Comanche County , in the U.S. state of Oklahoma . Located in western Oklahoma, approximately 87 mi (140 km) southwest of Oklahoma City , it

2352-466: Is atypical to the rest of the Great Plains region of the United States, as it is less dry than adjacent West Texas and contains many geographic features which further differentiates the unique climate. The area has a humid subtropical climate , receiving anywhere from about 20 inches of precipitation annually in the far west, to 35 inches annually in the eastern section. Monsoon-like rains are common in

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2464-715: Is considered Indian Territory , on the land of the Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo), Wahzhazhe Ma zha ( Osage ), Muscogee (Creek), and Caddo tribes, among others, before it was first formally settled by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation in 1836. They established a small settlement under the Creek Council Oak Tree at the present-day intersection of Cheyenne Avenue and 18th Street. They named their new settlement Tallasi , meaning "old town" in Creek, which later became "Tulsa". The area around Tulsa

2576-639: Is located in the grounds. Tulsa experienced elevated levels of gang violence in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when crack cocaine flooded neighborhoods in North Tulsa. Tulsa gang problems became noticeable after an outbreak of gang-related crime between 1980 and 1983, which was traced to the Crips, a local gang which had been founded by two brothers whose family had recently moved to Oklahoma from Compton . In 1986, gang graffiti started to show up on walls and drive-by shootings started occurring on late nights. In 1990

2688-599: Is located in the southwest region of town, while the second is located near the Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport . In 2010, the city of Lawton was engaged in the Downtown Revitalization Project. Its goal is to redesign the areas between Elmer Thomas Park at the north through Central Mall to the south to be more visually appealing and pedestrian-friendly to encourage business growth in the area. Lawton had 35,374 employed civilians as of

2800-504: Is located squarely in the area known as Tornado Alley and is prone to severe weather from late April through early June. Most notably, an F4 tornado in 1957, and an F3 tornado in 1979 struck the southern region of the city. As of the census of 2010, 96,867 people, 34,901 households, and 22,508 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,195.4 inhabitants per square mile (461.5/km ). The 39,409 housing units averaged 486.3 per square mile (187.8/km ). The racial makeup of

2912-540: Is the second-most-populous city in the state of Oklahoma , after Oklahoma City , and the 48th-most-populous city in the United States. The population was 413,066 as of the 2020 census . It is the principal municipality of the Tulsa metropolitan area , a region with 1,034,123 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Tulsa County , the most densely populated county in Oklahoma, with urban development extending into Osage , Rogers and Wagoner counties. Tulsa

3024-578: Is the principal city of the Lawton, Oklahoma, metropolitan statistical area . According to the 2020 census , Lawton's population was 90,381, making it the sixth-largest city in the state, and the largest in Western Oklahoma . Developed on former reservation lands of the Kiowa , Comanche , and Apache peoples, Lawton was incorporated in 1901. It was named after Major General Henry Ware Lawton , who served in

3136-568: Is water. A building boom in Tulsa in the early 20th century coincided with the rise of art deco architecture in the United States. Most commonly in the zigzag and streamline styles, the city's art deco is dotted throughout its older neighborhoods, primarily in downtown and midtown. A collection of large art deco structures such as the Mid-Continent Tower , the Boston Avenue Methodist Church , Will Rogers High School , and

3248-473: The 2020 census , its population increased to 413,066. As of the 2010 census , there were 391,906 people, 163,975 households, and 95,246 families residing in the city, with a population density of 2,033.4 inhabitants per square mile (785.1/km ) There were 185,127 housing units at an average density of 982.3 per square mile (379.3/km ). Of 163,975 households, 27% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.2% were married couples living together, 14.6% had

3360-505: The Arkansas River and Red River were the center of Caddoan Mississippian culture , which began to develop about 800 CE. The people developed more dense settlement and a complex architecture of earthwork platform mounds. Archeological evidence has shown that these people were the direct ancestors of the historic Caddoan-language peoples who inhabited the larger region, including the Caddo and

3472-587: The Osage Hills extension into the northwestern part of the city further varies the landscape. Holmes Peak, north of the city, is the tallest point in the Tulsa Metro area at 1,360 ft (415 m) According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 186.8 square miles (484 km ), of which 182.6 square miles (473 km ) is land and 4.2 square miles (11 km ) (2.24%)

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3584-560: The Philtower , have attracted events promoting the preservation and architectural interest. In addition, the city's early prosperity funded the construction of many elegant Craftsmen, Georgian, storybook, Tudor, Greek Revival, Italianate , Spanish revival , and colonial revival homes (many of which can be found in Tulsa's uptown and Midtown neighborhoods). Noted architects and firms working in Tulsa during this period include Charles Dilbeck, John Duncan Forsyth , and Nelle Peters . Growth in

3696-850: The Smithsonian Institution , Michigan State University Museum , and Chicago's Field Museum. The National Register of Historic Places lists places in Lawton, including the Mattie Beal House , the Carnegie Library , the First Christian Church , the First Presbyterian Church of Lawton , the Mahoney-Clark House , and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South . Old Fort Sill has been designated as

3808-567: The Wichita peoples. In the 16th century, Spanish explorer Francisco Vásquez de Coronado visited in 1541, beginning European contact. Around the 1700s, two tribes from the north, the Comanche and Kiowa, migrated to the Oklahoma and Texas regions. For most of the 18th century, the French exerted nominal control over the Oklahoma region as part of French Louisiana . The largest French settlements were along

3920-711: The escarpment live oak , nolina , bigtooth maple , and sugar maple . Significant geographic landmarks include the Black Kettle National Grassland , the Taovayan Valley , the Wichita Mountains , the Antelope Hills , and the Quartz Mountains . Southwestern Oklahoma has a humid subtropical climate with frequent variations in weather. The average mean temperature for Southwestern Oklahoma

4032-680: The state senate , Lawton is in District 31 (Chris Kidd) and 32 (Dusty Deevers). In the House , District 62 (Daniel Pae), 63 (Trey Caldwell), and 64 (Rande Worthen) cover the city. Cameron University is the largest four-year, state-funded university in southwest Oklahoma, offering more than 50 degree programs in areas of business, education, liberal arts, and science and technology. Founded in 1909, Cameron has an average fall enrollment of 6,000 students, with 70 endowed faculty positions. Other colleges in Lawton include Comanche Nation College . Founded in 2004,

4144-501: The 2010 Census, and 49.1% were female. Of the civilian workers, 21,842 (61.7%) were private for-profit wage and salary workers. Of the for-profit wage and salary workers, 659 (1.9% of the total Lawton civilian workforce) were employees of their own corporations. The nonprofit sector had 2,571 (7.3%) private nonprofit wage and salary workers. The government sector included 4,713 (13.3%) federal workers, 2,545 (7.2%) state government workers, and 2,160 (6.1%) local government workers. In addition,

4256-493: The 20th century brought a wealth of modern architecture to Tulsa. Tulsa's Mies-trained modernist Robert Lawton Jones designed many buildings in the region, including the Tulsa International Airport. Other noted modernists working in Tulsa include the pioneering Texas architect O'Neil Ford and Joseph R. Koberling Jr. , who had also been active during the art deco period. South, East, and Midtown Tulsa are home to

4368-458: The 20th century. Although Lawton's economy is still largely dependent on Fort Sill, it has grown to encompass manufacturing, higher education, health care, and retail. The city has a council-manager government ; the city council members are elected from single-member districts and the mayor is elected at-large . They hire a professional city manager to direct daily operations. Interstate 44 and three major United States highways serve

4480-711: The American Civil War and commanded by Major General Philip Sheridan . He was leading a campaign in Indian Territory to stop raids into Texas by American Indian tribes. In 1874, the Red River War broke out in the region when the Comanche, Kiowa, and Southern Cheyenne left their Indian Territory reservation. Attrition and skirmishes by the US Army finally forced the return of the tribes to Indian Territory in June 1875. In 1891,

4592-479: The Central United States. Located near the western edge of the U.S. Interior Highlands , northeastern Oklahoma is the most topographically diverse part of the state, containing seven of Oklahoma's 11 eco-regions and more than half of its state parks. The region encompasses 30 lakes or reservoirs and borders the neighboring states of Kansas , Missouri , and Arkansas . The city developed on both sides of

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4704-647: The Civil War, during which most of the Southeast tribes had allied with the Confederacy, in 1867, the United States required new treaties of peace. In 1867, under the Medicine Lodge Treaty , it allotted the southwest portion of former Choctaw and Chickasaw lands to the Comanche, Kiowa, and Apache tribes. It had forced them to move out of East Texas and nearby areas of Arkansas. Fort Sill was established in 1869 after

4816-697: The Civil War, where he earned the Medal of Honor , and was killed in action in the Philippine–American War . Lawton's landscape is typical of the Great Plains , with flat topography and gently rolling hills, while the area north of the city is marked by the Wichita Mountains . The city's proximity to the Fort Sill Military Reservation , formerly the base of the Apache territory before statehood, gave Lawton economic and population stability throughout

4928-637: The Dawes Act. Under other legislation, the United States through the Dawes Commission allotted communal lands as plots to individual households of tribal members, selling off what remained as "surplus". These actions extinguished the tribal claims to communal lands, a condition needed for the admission of Oklahoma as a state in 1907. After these changes, the legislature of the new state began to organize counties. Three 320-acre sites in Kiowa , Caddo and Comanche counties were selected for county seats. Lawton

5040-731: The Gulf Coast, in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama. The limited interaction between the Native American and European peoples was based on fur trading . In 1803, the French sold this territory as Louisiana Purchase to the US, under President Thomas Jefferson . European Americans continued to migrate into the Southeast and across the Mississippi River into Indian territories, especially seeking territory to expand cotton cultivation, which

5152-570: The Lawton City Council annexed several square miles of land on the city's east, northeast, west, and northwest borders, expanding east beyond the East Cache Creek area and west to 82nd Street. On 1 March 1964, the north section of the H. E. Bailey Turnpike was completed, connecting Lawton directly to Oklahoma City, the capital. The south section of the turnpike leading to the Texas border

5264-665: The Tulsa Metropolitan Area can be traced to the early part of the 20th century). The U.S. Census Bureau defines the sphere of the city's influence as the Tulsa metropolitan statistical area (MSA), spanning seven counties: Tulsa, Rogers , Osage, Wagoner, Okmulgee , Pawnee , and Creek . The 2020 U.S. census shows the Tulsa MSA to have 1,015,331 residents The 2020 U.S. census shows the Tulsa-Muscogee-Bartlesville CSA to have 1,134,125 residents. Tulsa has

5376-519: The United States Congress appointed a commission to meet with the tribal leaders and come to an agreement allowing White settlement. Years of controversy and legal maneuvering ensued before President William McKinley issued a proclamation on 4 July 1901, that gave the federal government control over 2,000,000 acres (8,100 km ) of "surplus" Indian lands that remained after allotments of communal tribal lands to individual households under

5488-652: The United States at the time. Located in the Greenwood neighborhood, it was the site of the Tulsa Race Massacre , said to be "the single worst incident of racial violence in American history ", in which mobs of White Tulsans killed Black Tulsans, looted and robbed the Black community, and burned down homes and businesses. Sixteen hours of massacring on May 31 and June 1, 1921, ended only when National Guardsmen were brought in by

5600-416: The area with a disproportionate share of its annual rainfall. Severe weather is not limited to this season, however. For instance, on December 5, 1975, and on December 24, 1982, Tulsa experienced tornadoes. Due to its potential for major flooding events , the city has developed one of the most extensive flood control systems in the nation. A comprehensive flood management plan was developed in 1984 following

5712-791: The area's historic architecture. Much of Tulsa's convention space is located in downtown, such as the Tulsa Performing Arts Center , the Tulsa Convention Center , and the BOK Center . Prominent downtown sub-districts include the Blue Dome District, the Brady Arts district, the "Oil Capital Historic District", the Greenwood Historical District, Owen Park Historical Neighborhood, and the site of ONEOK Field ,

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5824-411: The area's unique architectural complexes, Oral Roberts University, is built in a Post-Modern Futuristic style, incorporating bright gold structures with sharp, jetting edges and clear geometric shapes. The BOK Center , Tulsa's new arena, incorporates many of the city's most prominent themes, including Native American, art deco, and contemporary architectural styles. Intended to be an architectural icon,

5936-428: The base for the group, which is largely credited for creating Western Swing music. The venue continued to attract famous musicians through its history, and is still in operation today. For the rest of the mid-20th century, the city had a master plan to construct parks, churches, museums, rose gardens, improved infrastructure, and increased national advertising. The Spavinaw Dam , built during this era to accommodate

6048-424: The building was designed by César Pelli , the architect of the Petronas Towers in Malaysia . Downtown Tulsa is an area of approximately 1.4 square miles (3.6 km ) surrounded by an inner-dispersal loop created by Interstate 244, Highway 64, and Highway 75. The area serves as Tulsa's financial and business district, and is the focus of a large initiative to draw tourism, which includes plans to capitalize on

6160-423: The city council, which approves ordinances, resolutions, and contracts. The city is divided into eight wards , or single-member districts . Each ward elects a single city council representative for a three-year term. The mayor, who is elected at-large every three years, presides and sets the agenda of the City Council, but is primarily ceremonial as a head of government. The administrative day-to-day operation of

6272-430: The city had 1,634 (4.6%) self-employed workers and unpaid family workers. In May, Lawton Arts for All, Inc hosts the Arts for All Festival. The festival includes several judged art competitions, as well as live entertainment. The festival is typically held at Shepler Park. In late September, The International Festival is held in the city. Founded in 1979, the event showcases the many different cultures, arts, and music of

6384-411: The city have sports teams at the NCAA Division I level: the University of Tulsa and Oral Roberts University . As well, the University of Oklahoma has a secondary campus at the Tulsa Schusterman Center, and Oklahoma State University has a secondary campus located in downtown Tulsa. For most of the 20th century, the city held the nickname " Oil Capital of the World " and played a major role as one of

6496-440: The city hit a record of 60 homicides, the highest since the 1981 peak. North Tulsa has the highest crime rate in the city, with public housing projects being the most heavily affected areas. , the Broken Arrow murders took place on July 22, 2015, when five members of the Bever family were murdered in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma . the attackers were identified as 18 year-old Robert Bever and 16 year-old Michael Bever. On June 1, 2022,

6608-481: The city is headed by the City Manager , who is appointed by the City Council. As of January 2024, the mayor of Lawton was Stan Booker. As of January 2022, the city manager was Michael Cleghorn. Lawton is the county seat of Comanche County, and houses county offices and courts. Three elected commissioners serving four-year terms manage the county government. At the federal level, Lawton lies in Oklahoma's 4th congressional district , represented by Tom Cole . In

6720-565: The city was 60.3% White, 21.4% African American, 4.7% Native American, 2.6% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 3.4% from other races, and 4.9% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 12.6% (7.8% Mexican, 2.8% Puerto Rican, 0.3% Panamanian). Of the 34,901 households, 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were not families. Of all households, 29.4% were made up of individuals, and 2.3% had someone living alone who

6832-435: The city was in a significant economic development and investment surge. This economic improvement is also seen in Tulsa's housing trends which show an average of a 6% increase in rent in 2010. Since 2006, more than 28,000 jobs have been added to the city. The unemployment rate of Tulsa in August 2014 was 4.5%. Though the oil industry has historically dominated Tulsa's economy, efforts in economic diversification have created

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6944-471: The city's companies. During a national recession from 2001 to 2003, the city lost 28,000 jobs. In response, a development initiative, Vision 2025 , promised to incite economic growth and recreate lost jobs. Projects spurred by the initiative promised urban revitalization, infrastructure improvement, tourism development, riverfront retail development, and further diversification of the economy. By 2007, employment levels had surpassed pre-recession heights and

7056-421: The city's demographics from neighboring communities (Tulsa has larger and more prominent Catholic and Jewish populations than most Oklahoma cities) and is reflected in the designs of early Tulsa's upscale neighborhoods. Known as the "Oil Capital of the World" for most of the 20th century, the city's success in the energy industry prompted construction booms in the popular Art Deco style of the time. Profits from

7168-399: The city's southern half has developed since the 1970s, containing low-density housing and retail developments. This region, marked by secluded homes and suburban neighborhoods, contains one of the state's largest shopping malls, Woodland Hills Mall , as well as Southern Hills Country Club , and Oral Roberts University. East of Highway 169 and north of 61st street, a diverse racial makeup marks

7280-424: The city's water needs, was considered one of the largest public works projects of the era. A national recession greatly affected the city's economy in 1982, as areas of Texas and Oklahoma heavily dependent on oil suffered the freefall in gas prices due to a glut, and a mass exodus of oil industries. Tulsa, heavily dependent on the oil industry, was one of the hardest-hit cities by the fall of oil prices. By 1992,

7392-406: The city, Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport connects Lawton by air, while Greyhound Lines and the Lawton Area Transit System provide intercity and local bus service respectively. The territory of present-day Oklahoma was long settled by ancient cultures of prehistoric American Indians, including the Clovis , 11500 BCE ; Folsom , 10600 BCE; and Plainview , 10000 BCE cultures. The valleys of

7504-474: The college provides lower-division programs and educational opportunities in higher education for the Comanche Nation and the public. Lawton is also served by the Great Plains Technology Center , which is part of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education system. Great Plains provides occupational education, training, and development opportunities to area residents. Tulsa, Oklahoma Tulsa ( / ˈ t ʌ l s ə / TUL -sə )

7616-404: The community. Lawton has three public museums. The Museum of the Great Plains is dedicated to natural history and early settlement of the Great Plains, particularly by European Americans. Outdoor exhibits include a replica of the Red River Trading Post, the original Blue Beaver schoolhouse, and Elgin Train Depot with a Frisco locomotive. The Fort Sill Museum, located on the military base of

7728-696: The constantly hot and dry summer. Frequent strong winds, usually from the south or south-southeast during the summer, help to lessen the hotter weather. Northerly winds during the winter can occasionally intensify cold periods. The average mean temperature for southwest Oklahoma is 62.6 °F (17.0 °C). The summers can be mildly hot; Lawton averages 21 days with temperatures 100 °F (37.8 °C) and above. The winters are typically mild, though periods of extreme cold can occur. Lawton averages eight days that fail to rise above freezing. The city receives about 31.6 inches (800 mm) of precipitation and less than 3 in (10 cm) of snow annually. Lawton

7840-415: The drier plains of the west to the wetter forests of the east. With a wetter climate than points westward, Tulsa serves as a gateway to " Green Country ", a popular and official designation for northeast Oklahoma that stems from the region's green vegetation and relatively large number of hills and lakes compared to central and western areas of Oklahoma, which lie largely in the drier Great Plains region of

7952-431: The eastern portions of the city, with large Asian and Mexican communities and much of the city's manufacturing industry. Areas of Tulsa west of the Arkansas River are called West Tulsa and are marked by large parks, wilderness reserves, and large oil refineries. The northern tier of the city is home to OSU-Tulsa , Gilcrease Museum , Tulsa International Airport , the Tulsa Zoo , the Tulsa Air and Space Museum , and

8064-480: The end of August is frequently dry. On average, Tulsa experiences a secondary rainfall peak in September and early October. As is typical of temperate zones, weather patterns vary by season with occasional extremes in temperature and rainfall. Primarily in the spring and early summer months, the city is subjected to severe thunderstorms containing large hail , damaging winds, and, occasionally, tornadoes , providing

8176-461: The governor. An official report later claimed that 23 Black and 16 White citizens were killed, but other estimates suggest as many as 300 people died, most of them Black. Over 800 people were admitted to local hospitals with injuries, and an estimated 1,000 Black people were left homeless as 35 city blocks, composed of 1,256 residences, were destroyed by fire. Property damage was estimated at $ 1.8 million . Efforts to obtain reparations for survivors of

8288-583: The jurisdiction of the tribal courts and federal judiciary under the Major Crimes Act , rather than Oklahoma's courts. Tulsa is located in the northeastern corner of Oklahoma between the edge of the Great Plains and the foot of the Ozarks in a generally forested region of rolling hills. The city touches the eastern extent of the Cross Timbers , an ecoregion of forest and prairie transitioning from

8400-549: The largest - Elmer Thomas Park. The Lawton branch of the YMCA offers a wide variety of recreational programs to members, and the Lawton Country Club maintains an 18-hole, par 71 golf course. Recreation can also be found in many amateur leagues, including adult softball, youth baseball, soccer, softball, and volleyball. Lawton uses the council–manager model of municipal government. The city's primary authority resides in

8512-467: The late 1950s, the city purchased large parcels of land along East Cache Creek in northern Comanche County for the construction of a dam and human-made lake, built in 1959 on the creek just north of U.S. 277 west of Elgin. Lake Ellsworth , named for a former Lawton mayor, soft-drink bottler C.R. Ellsworth, was dedicated in the early 1960s. It offered additional water resources, but also recreational opportunities and flood control along Cache Creek. In 1966,

8624-637: The legendary Wild Bunch , the Dalton Gang , and Little Britches . Around August 1, 1882, the town was almost centered at a location just north of the current Whittier Square, when a construction crew laying out the line of the St. Louis-San Francisco Railroad chose that spot for a sidetrack. However, an area merchant persuaded them to move the site further west into the Muscogee Nation, which had friendlier laws for white business owners. On January 18, 1898, Tulsa

8736-424: The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males, while for every 100 females over the age of 17 there were 90.4 males. In 2011, the median income for a household in the city was $ 40,268 and the median income for a family was $ 51,977. The per capita income for the city was $ 26,727. About 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line. Of the city's population over the age of 25, 29.8% holds

8848-593: The most important hubs for the American oil industry . It is situated on the Arkansas River between the Osage Hills and the foothills of the Ozark Mountains in northeast Oklahoma, a region of the state known as " Green Country ". Considered the cultural and arts center of Oklahoma, Tulsa houses two art museums, full-time professional opera and ballet companies, and one of the nation's largest concentrations of art deco architecture. The area where Tulsa now exists

8960-406: The most recent such occurrence being a −2 °F (−19 °C) reading on January 16, 2024. The average seasonal snowfall is 8.7 inches (22.1 cm) with the record highest seasonal snowfall of 26.1 inches (66.3 cm) occurring in the winter of 2010–2011. Only three winters on record have officially recorded trace amounts or no snowfall, the most recent being 1910–11. The lowest recorded temperature

9072-534: The nation's third-largest municipal park, Mohawk Park . Tulsa has a temperate climate of the humid subtropical variety ( Köppen : Cfa ) with a yearly average temperature of 61.3 °F (16.3 °C) and average precipitation of just under 41 inches (1,000 mm) per year. Average monthly precipitation is lowest from December to February, and peaks dramatically in May, which averages 5.9 inches (150 mm) of rainfall. Early June can still be wet, but late June through

9184-560: The nickname the "Birthplace of Route 66". Once completed, U.S. Route 66 took an important role in Tulsa's development as the city served as a popular rest stop for travelers, who were greeted by Route 66 icons such as the Meadow Gold Sign and the Blue Whale of Catoosa . During this period, Bob Wills and his group, The Texas Playboys , began their long performing stint at a small ballroom in downtown Tulsa. In 1935, Cain's Ballroom became

9296-537: The north side of Tulsa and several battles and skirmishes took place in nearby counties. After the War, the tribes signed Reconstruction treaties with the federal government that in some cases required substantial land concessions. In the years after the Civil War and around the turn of the century, the area along the Arkansas River that is now Tulsa was periodically home to or visited by a series of colorful outlaws, including

9408-618: The northern sections of the city. In the south sections of the city, Permian Garber Sandstone is commonly found with some Hennessey Group shale . Area creeks including East Cache Creek contain deposits of Quaternary alluvium . To the northwest, the Wichita Mountains consist primarily of Wichita Granite Group from the Cambrian period. Lawton lies in a relatively dry humid subtropical climate ( Köppen climate classification Cfa ), with frequent variations in weather daily, except during

9520-463: The number of people assigned there and its scope of activities. Lawton expects a continuing benefit of population and economic growth over the course of the next 20 years. Lawton is the fifth-largest city in Oklahoma.. The city has a total area of 75.1 sq mi (195 km ), all land. Lawton is located about 84 mi (135 km) southwest of Oklahoma City. Other surrounding cities include Wichita Falls about 47 mi (76 km) to

9632-471: The oil industry continued through the Great Depression , helping the city's economy fare better than most in the United States during the 1930s. In 1923, Harwelden was built by oil baron E. P. Harwell and his wife Mary, and is an example of prosperity in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the 1920s. In the early 20th century, Tulsa was home to the " Black Wall Street ", one of the most prosperous Black communities in

9744-536: The present-day town of Glenpool ) prompted a rush of entrepreneurs to the area's growing number of oil fields; Tulsa's population swelled to over 140,000 between 1901 and 1930. Unlike the early settlers of Northeastern Oklahoma, who most frequently migrated from the South and Texas , many of these new oil-driven settlers came to Tulsa from the commercial centers of the East Coast and lower Midwest. This migration distinguished

9856-634: The prominent Arkansas River , which flows in a wide, sandy-bottomed channel. Its flow through Tulsa is controlled by reservoirs at Keystone Lake , and a low-water dam was built at Zink Lake in downtown Tulsa to maintain a full channel at all times. This dam deteriorated and eventually failed, and was repaired and reopened in 2014. Heavily wooded and with abundant parks and water areas, the city has several prominent hills, such as "Shadow Mountain" and " Turkey Mountain ", which create varied terrain, especially in its southern portions. While its central and northern sections are generally flat to gently undulating,

9968-478: The region. Southwestern Oklahoma is home to both public and private primary and secondary schools, though there are fewer private schools than in other parts of the state, such as Oklahoma City and Tulsa . The Oklahoma public school system is known for its pre-kindergarten education. The National Institute for Early Education Research rated it first in the United States with regard to standards, quality, and access to pre-kindergarten education in 2004, calling it

10080-525: The same name, includes the old Fort Sill corral and several period buildings, including the old post guardhouse, chapel, and barracks. It also features several artillery pieces. The old fort is designated as a National Historic Landmark . The Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center, operated by the Comanche Nation Tribe , focuses on exhibits and art relating to the Comanche culture. The museum also hosts traveling American Indian exhibitions from

10192-438: The south, Duncan about 33 mi (53 km) to the east, and Altus about 56 mi (90 km) to the west. Lawton lies in an area typical of the Great Plains , with prairie, few trees, and flat topography with gently rolling hills. The region north of the city consists of the Wichita Mountains , including Mount Scott and Mount Pinchot , the area's highest peaks. The area consists mostly of Permian limestone on

10304-500: The southern region of Lawton. Southwestern Oklahoma's economy is anchored in the United States Armed Forces and agriculture, manufacturing, and energy industries. Two military bases, Fort Sill in Lawton and Altus Air Force Base east-northeast of Altus, Oklahoma , are large employers in the region. Cattle is a major agricultural product of the region. Wind farms and oil and gas companies are other major employers in

10416-590: The southwestern corner of Oklahoma and today consists of Beckham County , Harmon County , Jackson County , and Greer County . Another portion of Southwestern Oklahoma was opened up through the Land Run of 1892 . Land formerly owned by the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes became Oklahoma Territory and today includes Blaine County , Dewey County , Custer County , and Roger Mills County and Washita County . Consisting of grassland and gently rolling hills, Southwest Oklahoma

10528-428: The spring months, while periods of drought can occur throughout other parts of the year. The region has several small, sky island mountain ranges, the largest of which being the Wichita Mountains , considered by geologists to be one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world. The region is known for its many rare, relic plant species, acting as the northern and western boundaries for many iconic plant species such as

10640-639: The state of Oklahoma has fewer Roman Catholics than the national average, Holy Family Cathedral serves as the Cathedral for the Diocese of Tulsa. Tulsa is also home to the largest Jewish community in Oklahoma, with active Reform, Conservative and Orthodox congregations. Tulsa's Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art offers the largest collection of Judaica in the South-Central and Southwestern United States. Tulsa

10752-402: The state's economy had fully recovered, but leaders worked to expand into sectors unrelated to oil and energy. In 2003, the " Vision 2025 " program was approved by voters, to enhance and revitalize Tulsa's infrastructure and tourism industry. The keystone project of the initiative, the BOK Center , was designed to be a home for the city's minor league hockey and arena football teams, as well as

10864-622: The suburb of Broken Arrow ), is sometimes called the " buckle of the Bible Belt ". Tulsa is also home to a number of vibrant Mainline Protestant congregations. Some of these congregations were founded during the oil boom of the early twentieth century and are noted for striking architecture, such as the art deco Boston Avenue Methodist Church and First Presbyterian Church of Tulsa . The metropolitan area has at least four religious radio stations ( KCFO , KNYD , KXOJ , & KPIM ), and at least two religious TV stations ( KWHB & KGEB ). While

10976-522: The twentieth century gave the city a larger base of contemporary architectural styles, including several buildings by famed Tulsa architects Bruce Goff and Adah Robinson . The Prairie School was very influential in Tulsa: Barry Byrne designed Tulsa's Christ the King Church and, in 1927, Frank Lloyd Wright 's midtown Tulsa residential project Westhope was completed. In particular, the middle of

11088-405: The violence have been unsuccessful, but the events were re-examined by the city and state in the early 21st century, acknowledging the terrible actions that had taken place. In 1925, Tulsa businessman Cyrus Avery , known as the "Father of Route 66 ," began his campaign to create a road linking Chicago to Los Angeles by establishing the U.S. Highway 66 Association in Tulsa, earning the city

11200-667: Was 115 °F (46 °C) on August 10, 1936. Lack of air circulation due to heat and humidity during the summer months leads to higher concentrations of ozone , prompting the city to release "Ozone Alerts", encouraging all parties to do their part in complying with the Clean Air Act and United States Environmental Protection Agency standards. The autumn season is usually short, consisting of pleasant, sunny days followed by cool nights. Winter temperatures, while generally mild, dip below 10 °F (−12 °C) on average three nights per year, and occasionally below 0 °F (−18 °C),

11312-449: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.08. In the city, the population was distributed as 24.9% under the age of 18, 15.3% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.0 males. The median income for

11424-528: Was a lucrative commodity crop. They pressured the government to give them access to Indian lands. In 1830, under President Andrew Jackson , Congress passed the Indian Removal Act , which removed American Indian tribes from the Southeast and relocated them to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River . The southern part of this territory was originally assigned to the Choctaw and Chickasaw . Following

11536-495: Was active until 1922. Similarly, the US response in World War II stimulated activity and expansion at Fort Sill and Lawton. The city's population increased from 18,055 to 34,757 from 1940 to 1950. By the 1960s, it had reached 61,697. In the postwar period, Lawton underwent tremendous growth during the late 1940s and 1950s, leading city officials to seek additional water sources to supplement existing water from Lake Lawtonka. In

11648-630: Was also settled by members of the other so-called " Five Civilized Tribes " who had been relocated to Oklahoma from the Southern United States. Most of modern Tulsa is located in the Creek Nation , with parts located in the Cherokee and Osage Nations . Although Oklahoma was not yet a state during the Civil War , the Tulsa area saw its share of fighting. The Battle of Chusto-Talasah took place on

11760-520: Was completed on April 23, 1964. Urban-renewal efforts in the 1970s transformed downtown Lawton. A number of buildings dating to the city's founding were demolished to build an enclosed shopping mall , which was believed to provide a suburban attraction for shoppers. On June 23, 1998, the city expanded when Lawton annexed neighboring Fort Sill. The Base Realignment and Closure of 2005 resulted in reassignment of people from other bases and consolidation of some military activities at Fort Sill, increasing

11872-540: Was designated as the Comanche County seat. The town was named for Major General Henry W. Lawton , a quartermaster at Fort Sill, who had taken part in the pursuit and capture of Comanche chief Geronimo . The city was opened to settlement through an auction of town lots beginning on 6 August 1901, which was completed 60 days later. By 25 September 1901, the Rock Island Railroad expanded to Lawton and

11984-587: Was headquartered in nearby Bartlesville . Industry consolidation and increased offshore drilling threatened Tulsa's status as an oil capital, but new drilling techniques and the rise of natural gas have buoyed the growth of the city's energy sector. Today, Tulsa is again home to the headquarters of many international oil- and gas-related companies, including Williams Companies , ONE Gas , Syntroleum , ONEOK , Laredo Petroleum , Samson Resources, Helmerich & Payne , Magellan Midstream Partners , and Excel Energy. Tulsa has diversified to capitalize on its status as

12096-644: Was later bulldozed, and rebuilt in 2019. According to the 2010 census , Tulsa had a population of 391,906 and the racial and ethnic composition was as follows: White American : 62.6% (57.9% Non-Hispanic Whites ); Black , 15.6%; Hispanic or Latino (of any race), 14.1% (11.5% Mexican , 0.4% Puerto Rican , 0.3% Guatemalan , 0.2% Spanish , 0.2% Honduran , 0.2% Salvadoran ); some other race, 8.0%; Two or more races , 5.9%; Native American , 5.3%; Asian American , 2.3% (0.5% Hmong , 0.4% Vietnamese , 0.3% Chinese , 0.2% Indian , 0.2% Korean , 0.2% Burmese ); and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander : 0.1%. In

12208-565: Was officially incorporated and elected Edward E. Calkins as the city's first mayor. Tulsa was still a micro town near the banks of the Arkansas River in 1901 when its first oil well, named Sue Bland No. 1, was established. Much of the oil was discovered on land whose mineral rights were owned by members of the Osage Nation under a system of headrights. By 1905, the discovery of the grand Glenn Pool Oil Reserve (located approximately 15 miles or 24 kilometers south of downtown Tulsa and site of

12320-460: Was settled between 1828 and 1836 by the Lochapoka Band of Creek Native American tribe and most of Tulsa is still part of the territory of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation . Historically, a robust energy sector fueled Tulsa's economy; however, today the city has diversified and leading sectors include finance, aviation, telecommunications and technology. Two institutions of higher education within

12432-516: Was soon joined by the Frisco Line . The first city elections were held 24 October 1901. The United States' entry into World War I accelerated development at Fort Sill and Lawton. The availability of 5 million US gallons (19,000 m ) of water from Lake Lawtonka , just north of Fort Sill, was a catalyst for the War Department to establish a major cantonment named Camp Doniphan . It

12544-570: Was −16 °F (−27 °C) on January 22, 1930. See or edit raw graph data . An EF2  tornado struck Tulsa early on the morning of Sunday, August 6, 2017. The funnel touched down just after 1 A.M. near 36th Street and Harvard Avenue, then travelled in an easterly direction for about six minutes. The heaviest property damage occurred along 41st Street between Yale Avenue and Sheridan Road. Two restaurants, TGI Friday's and Whataburger , were particularly hard hit, with several people being sent to hospitals for treatment. The Whataburger

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