Tulsa
() is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 45th-largest in the United States. With an estimated population of 384,037 in 2007, [1] it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 905,755 residents [2] projected to reach one million between 2010 and 2012. [3] In 2007, the Tulsa-Bartlesville Combined Statistical Area had a population of 955,643 residents. [4] The city serves as the county seat of Tulsa County, the most densely populated county in Oklahoma, [5] and extends into Osage, Rogers, and Wagoner counties.
Tulsa was first settled in the 1830s by the Creek Native American tribe. In 1921, it was the site of the infamous Tulsa Race Riot, one of the largest and most destructive acts of racial violence in the history of the United States. [6] For most of the 20th century, the city held the nickname "Oil Capital of the World" and played a major role as one of the most important hubs for the American oil industry. [7] Tulsa, along with several other cities, claims to be the birthplace of U.S. Route 66. Tulsa is also known for its Western Swing music. [8]
Once heavily dependent on the oil industry, economic downturn and subsequent diversification efforts created an economic base in the energy, finance, aviation, telecommunications and technology sectors. [9] The Tulsa Port of Catoosa, at the head of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, is the most inland riverport in the U.S. with access to international waterways. [10] [11] Two institutions of higher education within the city operate at the NCAA Division I level, Oral Roberts University and the University of Tulsa.
Located in Tornado Alley, the city frequently experiences severe weather. It is situated on the Arkansas River at 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, [12] [13] Tulsa houses two world-renowned art museums, full-time professional opera and ballet companies, and one of the nation's largest concentrations of art deco architecture. [14] The city has been called one of America's most livable large cities by Partners for Livable Communities, [15] Forbes, [16] and Relocate America. [17] People from Tulsa are described as "Tulsans."
|
TULSA TICKETS
|
History
What was ultimately to become Tulsa was originally part of
Indian Territory and was first settled by the Lochapoka and Creek tribes in 1836.
[18] They established a home under a large oak tree at the present day intersection of Cheyenne Avenue and 18th Street, and named their new settlement "Tallasi", meaning "old town" in the Creek language, which later became "Tulsa".
On January 18, 1898, Tulsa was officially incorporated and elected its first mayor, Edward Calkins.
[19]
A small town near the banks of the
Arkansas River in 1901, Tulsa's first oil well, named Sue Bland No. 1,
was established that year. By 1905, the discovery of the large Glenn Pool nearby (site of 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.
[20] 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 the oil industry continued through the
Great Depression, helping the city's economy fare better than most in the United States during the 1930s.
[21]
In the early 20th century, Tulsa was home to the "
Black Wall Street," one of the most prosperous
African American communities in the United States at the time.
Located in the
Greenwood neighborhood, it was the site of the
Tulsa Race Riot, one of the nation's costliest acts of racial violence and civil disorder.
Sixteen hours of rioting on May 31 and June 1, 1921 resulted in over 800 people admitted to local hospitals with injuries, an estimated 10,000 left homeless, 35 city blocks composed of 1,256 residences destroyed by fire, and $1.8 million in property damage.
Twenty-three black and 16 white citizens were reported killed, but estimates suggest as many as 300, mostly blacks, died.
In 1925, Tulsa businessman
Cyrus Avery, known as the "Father of Route 66,"
[22] began his campaign to create a road linking
Chicago to
California by establishing the
U.S. Highway 66 Association in Tulsa, earning the city 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 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 remainder of the mid-20th century, a master plan called for the construction of parks, churches, museums, rose gardens, improved infrastructure, and increased national advertising.
The
Spavinaw Dam, built during this era to accommodate the city's water needs, was considered one of the largest public works projects of the era.
[23] In the 1950s, Time magazine dubbed Tulsa "America's Most Beautiful City."
A national recession greatly affected the city's economy in 1982, as areas of Texas and Oklahoma heavily dependent on oil witnessed
a freefall in gas prices and a mass exodus of oil industries.
[24] Tulsa, heavily dependent on the oil industry, was one of the hardest hit cities by the fall of oil prices.
By 1992, the state's economy had fully recovered,
but leaders would attempt to expand into sectors unrelated to oil and energy.
In 2003, the "
Vision 2025" program was approved by voters with the purpose of enhancing and revitalizing 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 a venue for major concerts and conventions. The multi-purpose arena, designed by famed architect
Cesar Pelli, broke ground in 2005
[25] and was opened on August 30, 2008.
[26] In 2004, the city was selected as the site for the world's largest free-standing statue, to be constructed on Holmes Peak near downtown.
[27] Originally slated for completion in 2007, developers in 2007 pledged an unveiling in 2011, with construction beginning in late 2007,
[28] though no construction has begun as of 2008. If built, the statue, dubbed "
The American", would stand , or about taller than the
Statue of Liberty in New York City.
[29] The 21-story monument is anticipated by developers to be a national icon similar to the
Gateway Arch,
Mount Rushmore, and the
Statue of Liberty.
[30]
Law and government
A
mayor-council government has been in place in Tulsa since 1989 when the city converted from a
city commission government deemed wasteful and less efficient.
[31] Since the change, Tulsa mayors have been given more power in accordance with a
strong mayoral system and have greater control of a more consolidated array of governmental branches.
is used to elect mayors, who serve a term in office of four years. The present mayor of Tulsa is
Kathryn Taylor, a
Democrat, who previously served as Secretary of Commerce and Tourism for the state of Oklahoma. Taylor unseated
Republican William LaFortune in his reelection campaign of April 2006. A notable Tulsa political figure,
Jim Inhofe, who represents Oklahoma in the
United States Senate, served as the mayor of Tulsa early in his political career.
[32]
A city councilor from each of the city's nine council districts is elected every two years, each serving a term of two years. Councilors are elected from their own respective districts based on a
plurality voting system, and serve on the Tulsa City Council. Roscoe Turner of District Three currently serves as the council chairman along with Vice Chairman John Eagleton of District Seven. As a whole, the council acts as the legislative body of city government, which aims to pass laws, approve the city budget, and manage efficiency in city government. In accordance with the mayor-council form of government, the Tulsa City Council and the office of the Mayor coordinate in city government operations. A third body of the government, the city auditor, is elected independently of the city council and mayor to ensure that the auditor can act in an objective manner. This position serves a term of two years, and the current city auditor is Phil Wood, a Democrat.
The city serves as the
seat of county government for Tulsa County, and lies mostly within
Oklahoma's 1st congressional district, with its far northwestern areas in southern Osage County in
Oklahoma's 3rd congressional district.
Municipal and State laws are enforced in Tulsa by the Tulsa Police Department, an organization of about 770 officers as of 2006.
[33] In 2004, Tulsa's crime rate was 7806.1 per 100,000 people, about 1.5 times the national average.
[34] There were 58 murders, 1096 robberies, and 6,592 burglaries in 2004.
Sister cities
In accordance with the Tulsa Global Alliance, which operates in conjunction with
Sister Cities International, an organization that began under President
Dwight Eisenhower in 1956, Tulsa has been given eight international
sister cities in an attempt to foster cross-cultural understanding:
[35]
- Beihai, China
- Celle, Germany
- Amiens, France
|
- San Luis Potosi, Mexico
- Tiberias, Israel
- Utsunomiya, Japan
|
- Zelenograd, Russia
- Ploiesti, Romania
- Kaohsiung, Taiwan
|
Geography
Tulsa is located in the northeastern corner of
Oklahoma, northeast of
Oklahoma City; situated between the edge of the
Great Plains and the foot of the
Ozark Mountains 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 the drier plains of the west to the wetter forests of the east.
[36] 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 high amount of hills and lakes compared to central and western areas of Oklahoma,
[37] which lie largely in the drier Great Plains region of the Central United States. Northeastern Oklahoma is the most topographically diverse part of the state, containing seven of Oklahoma's 11 ecoregions
[38] and more than half of its state parks.
[39] The region encompasses 30 lakes or reservoirs
[40] and borders the neighboring states of
Kansas,
Missouri, and
Arkansas. The
geographic coordinates of the city of Tulsa are NE (36.131294, -95.937332), with an elevation of 213 meters (700 ft) above
sea level.
Topography
The city is split by the prominent
Arkansas River, which flows in a wide, sandy-bottomed channel. Its flow through the Tulsa area is controlled by upstream
flood control reservoirs, but its width and depth can vary widely throughout the year, such as during periods of high rainfall or severe drought. However, a low-water dam maintains a full channel at all times in the area adjacent to downtown Tulsa. This portion of the river is known as Zink Lake.
[41] Heavily wooded and with abundant parks and water areas, the city holds several prominent hills with names 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, the Osage Hills extension into the northwestern part of the city further varies the landscape. Holmes Peak, the proposed future site of
The American monument in the northwest corner of the city, is the tallest point in five counties at 1030 ft (314 m).
[42] According to the
United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 483.9
square kilometers (186.8
sq mi). 473.1 square kilometers (182.6 sq mi) of it is land and 10.9 square kilometers (4.2 sq mi) of it (2.24%) is water.
Climate
Tulsa is situated near the heart of
Tornado Alley and has a
temperate climate of the
subtropical variety with a yearly average temperature of and an average rainfall of 39 in (99 cm).
[43] As is typical 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,
[44] providing the area with a disproportionate share of its annual
rainfall.
[45] Severe weather is not limited, though, to this season; on December 5, 1975, and on December 24, 1982, for example, 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 a severe flood caused by a stalled
weather front that dropped of rain overnight, killing 14, injuring 288, and destroying 7,000 buildings totaling $180 million in damage.
[46] In the early 1990s
and again in 2000,
[47] FEMA honored Tulsa as leading the nation in flood plain management.
Temperatures of 40 °C (104 °F) or higher are sometimes observed from July to early September,
[48] usually accompanied by high humidity brought in by southerly winds.
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
E.P.A. standards.
[49] The autumn season is usually short, consisting of pleasant, sunny days followed by cool nights.
Winter temperatures, while generally mild, occasionally experience extremes below -20 °C (0 °F) while annual snowfall averages about 9 inches.
Cityscape
Architecture
A building boom in the early 20th century gave Tulsa one of the largest concentrations of
art deco architecture in the United States.
[50] 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, and the
Philtower, have attracted events promoting preservation and architectural interest. In 2001, Tulsa served as the host city for the International Art Deco Congress, a semiannual event designed to promote art deco architecture internationally.
[51] Building booms in the 1970s and 80s gave the city a larger base of contemporary architectural styles. The
BOK Tower, built during this period, is the tallest building in Oklahoma and the surrounding states of
Missouri,
New Mexico,
Arkansas, and
Kansas.
[52] Tulsa also has the second-, third-, and fourth-tallest buildings in the state, including the
Cityplex Tower, which is located apart from the city's
central business district.
[53] One of 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.
[54] Intended to be an architectural icon,
[55] the building was designed by
César Pelli, the architect of the famous
Petronas Towers in
Malaysia.
Neighborhoods
Downtown Tulsa is an area of approximately surrounded by an inner-dispersal loop created by Interstate 244, Highway 64, and Highway 75.
[56] The area serves as Tulsa's financial and business district, and is the topic of a large initiative to draw tourism, which includes plans to capitalize on the area's historic architecture.
[57] Much of Tulsa's convention space is located in downtown, such as the
Tulsa Performing Arts Center and the
Tulsa Convention Center, and beginning in 2008, the
BOK Center. Prominent downtown sub-districts include the Blue Dome District, the Brady Arts district, and the
Greenwood Historical District, the site of
ONEOK Field, a new baseball stadium for the
Tulsa Drillers, now under construction with a scheduled opening in 2010.
[58] [59] [60]
The city's historical residential core lies in an area known as Midtown, containing upscale neighborhoods built in the early 1900s 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 the city's southern half was 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, a diverse racial makeup marks 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 a large percentage of Tulsa's
African-American community. Included in the region is
OSU-Tulsa, the
Gilcrease Museum, the
Tulsa International Airport, the
Tulsa Zoo, the
Tulsa Air and Space Museum, and the nation's third-largest municipal park, Mohawk Park.
[61]
Economy
Though the
oil industry has historically dominated Tulsa's economy, efforts in economic diversification have created a base in the sectors of
aerospace,
finance,
technology,
telecommunications,
high tech, and
manufacturing.
The
Tulsa International Airport (TUL) and the
Tulsa Port of Catoosa, the nation's most inland seaport, connect the region with international trade and transportation. An
American Airlines maintenance base at Tulsa International Airport is the city's largest employer and the largest maintenance facility in the world, serving as the airline's global maintenance and engineering headquarters,
[62] while the Tulsa Port of Catoosa and the Tulsa International Airport house extensive industrial parks.
[63]
Products from Tulsa manufacturers account for about 60% 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.
[64] In 2006, Forbes magazine rated Tulsa as second in the nation in income growth, and one of the best cities to do business in the country.
[65] Usually among the lowest in the nation in terms of cost of doing business, the Tulsa Metropolitan Area in 2005 was rated among the five lowest metropolitan areas in the United States for that category.
[66]
A number of large financial corporations are headquartered in Tulsa, the largest being the
BOK Financial Corporation. The semi-national
convenience store chain
QuikTrip, the national car rental companies of
Vanguard (parent to National and Alamo) and
Dollar-Thrifty, and
Mazzio's semi-national pizza chain also call Tulsa home. Many international oil and gas-related companies have headquarters in Tulsa, including
Williams Companies,
SemGroup,
Syntroleum,
ONEOK, Samson and Excel Energy. Meanwhile, there are 30 companies in Tulsa that employ more than 1,000 people,
[67] though small businesses make up more than 80% of the city's companies.
[68]
During a national recession from 2001 to 2003, the city lost 28,000 jobs.
[69] 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. As of 2007, employment levels have surpassed pre-recession heights
and the city is in a significant economic development and investment surge.
[71]
Education
There are three primary public school districts in the city of Tulsa.
Tulsa Public Schools, with nine high schools and over 41,000 students, is the largest school district in
Oklahoma [72] and includes
Booker T. Washington High School, a
magnet school judged to be the 65th best high school in the United States by
Newsweek Magazine in 2008.
[73] Each with one upper high school,
Jenks and
Union schools are the city's two other primary districts, covering the southern portion of the city near the towns of Jenks and
Broken Arrow. The Catholic Diocese of Tulsa supports a system of parochial and diocesan schools, including
Bishop Kelley High School. Another Catholic high school,
Cascia Hall Preparatory School, is administered by
Augustinians.
[74] Most other private schools have religious affiliations with various Jewish and Protestant denominations, including
Holland Hall School, affiliated with the
Episcopal Church. In 2006, there were more than 90,000 students attending Tulsa County's public schools.
[75]
The largest library system in the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, the
Tulsa City-County Library, contains over 1.7 million volumes in 25 library facilities.
[76] The library is active in the community, holding events and programs at most branches, including free computer classes, children's storytimes, business and job assistance, and scholarly databases with information on a variety of topics.
The
McFarlin Library at the University of Tulsa is a
federal depository library holding over three million items.
[77] Founded in 1930, the library is known for its collection of Native American works and the original works of Irish author
James Joyce.
The Tulsa City-County Library and the University of Tulsa's Law Library are also federal depository libraries, making Tulsa the only city in Oklahoma with more than two federal depository libraries.
[78]
Higher education
Tulsa has 15 institutions of higher education, including two private universities: the
University of Tulsa, a school founded in 1894; and
Oral Roberts University, a school founded by evangelist
Oral Roberts in 1963. Tulsa also has a Tulsa branch of Langston University, the only HBCU in the state founded in 1897. The University of Tulsa has an enrollment of 4,192 undergraduate and graduate students
[79] and is ranked 83rd among national doctoral universities in
U.S. News and World Report's 2009 edition of America's Best Colleges and among the best 123 Western Colleges by the
Princeton Review in 2007, which also ranks it in the top ten schools nationally for quality of life, overall happiness of students, and relationship with the community.
[80] Oral Roberts University, a
charismatic Christian institution with an enrollment of 5,109 undergraduate and graduate students,
[81] was rated in 2007 by the Princeton Review one of the 123 best in the Western United States and among the West's top 50 Master's Universities by U.S. News and World Report in 2005.
[82]
Rogers State University is the Tulsa area's only public four-year university, though Tulsa Community College has a partnership allowing students to complete four-year Bachelor's degrees through OU-Tulsa, OSU-Tulsa, LU-Tulsa and NSU-Broken Arrow.
[83] The largest community college in Oklahoma,
Tulsa Community College (TCC) operates four campuses spread across the area as well as a conference center in Midtown.
[84] Oklahoma State University houses three campuses in the city, the
OSU Center for Health Sciences, the
OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine, and
OSU - Tulsa, accommodating upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses. The
University of Oklahoma operates what is known as the OU-Tulsa Schusterman Center, offering bachelors, master's and doctoral degree programs in conjunction with the main campus in Norman and the OU Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City. The OU-Tulsa Schusterman Center also houses the OU College of Medicine, Tulsa. The Spartan School of Aeronautics enrolls 1,500 students at its flight programs near Tulsa International Airport
[85] and the city's
vocational education is headed by
Tulsa Technology Center, the oldest and largest vocational technology institution in the state.
[86]
Culture
Though Oklahoma is placed entirely in the
Southern United States by the
United States Census Bureau,
[87] Tulsa is influenced by the nearby
Midwest,
Southwest, and
Southern cultural regions, as well as a historical native American presence. These influences are expressed in the city's museums, cultural centers, performing arts venues, ethnic festivals, park systems, zoos, wildlife preserves, and large and growing collections of public sculptures, monuments, and artwork.
[88]
Arts and theatre
Located in the former estate of
oil pioneer
Waite Phillips,
Philbrook Museum is considered one of the top 50
fine art museums in the United States, and is one of five to offer a combination of historic home, gardens, and art collections.
[89] The collections of
Thomas Gilcrease are housed at the
Gilcrease Museum, which also holds the world's largest, most comprehensive collection of art and artifacts of the American West.
[90] With remnants of the Holocaust and artifacts relevant to Judaism in Oklahoma, the Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art preserves the largest collection of
Judaica in the
Southwest United States.
[91] Other museums, such as the
Tulsa Air and Space Museum, the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, and the Tulsa Geosciences Center, document histories of the region, while the Greenwood Cultural Center preserves the culture of the city's African American heritage, housing a collection of artifacts and photography that document the history of the Black Wall Street prior to the
Tulsa Race Riot of 1921.
Since 1969, public displays of artwork in Tulsa have been funded by one percent of its annual city budget.
Each year, a sculpture from a local artist is installed along the Arkansas River trail system, while other sculptures stand at local parks, such as an enlarged version of
Cyrus Dallin's
Appeal to the Great Spirit sculpture at
Woodward Park.
At the entrance to Oral Roberts University stands a large statue of praying hands, which, at high, is the largest bronze sculpture in the world.
[92] As a testament to the city's oil heritage, the
Golden Driller guards the front entrance to the Tulsa County Fairgrounds.
Tulsa contains several permanent dance, theater, and concert groups, including the
Tulsa Ballet, the
Tulsa Opera, the
Tulsa Symphony Orchestra,
Light Opera Oklahoma,
Tulsa Signature Symphony, the
Heller Theatre and
Theatre Tulsa, the oldest continuously operating
community theatre company west of the
Mississippi River.
[93] Tulsa also houses the Tulsa Spotlight Theater, which shows the longest-running play in America (The Drunkard) every Saturday night. Large performing arts complexes include the
Tulsa Convention Center, the
Tulsa Performing Arts Center,
Expo Square Pavilion, the
Mabee Center, the Tulsa Performing Arts Center for Education, and the River Parks Amphitheater. Beginning in 2008, the
BOK Center will host large performing arts events as Tulsa's largest venue. Ten miles west of the city, an outdoor amphitheater called "Discoveryland!" holds the official title of the world performance headquarters for the musical
Oklahoma!,
[94] while
Cain's Ballroom, considered the birthplace of
Western Swing,
[95] housed the performance headquarters of
Bob Wills and the
Texas Playboys during the 1930s. The centerpiece of the downtown Brady Arts District, the
Brady Theater, is the largest of the city's five operating performing arts venues that are listed on the
National Register of Historic Places.
[96] The city's film community hosts annual festivals such as the Tulsa United Film Festival and Tulsa Overground Film and Music Festival. The Blue Dome District is home to the annual
Diversafest (DFest), an annual live event that showcases independent and emerging artists. Attendance at DFest in 2008 surpassed 60,000 people for the two days. DFest takes place in the last weekend of July.
Outdoor recreation
The City of Tulsa manages 140 parks spread over 6,000 acres (24 km²).
[98] Most notably,
Woodward Park, a tract located in midtown Tulsa, doubles as a
botanical gardens featuring the Tulsa Municipal Rose Garden and more than 6,000 rose plants in 250 varieties.
[99] Along the Arkansas River, a linear park system runs through more than of shore with of hard-surfaced biking and running trails.
[100] An additional of unpaved trails run through Turkey Mountain Urban Wildreness Area at the summit of Turkey Mountain featuring hiking, biking, horseback riding, and vistas overlooking downtown Tulsa.
[101]
The city's zoo, the
Tulsa Zoo and Living Museum, was voted "America's Favorite Zoo" in 2005 by
Microsoft Game Studios in connection with a national promotion of its
Zoo Tycoon 2 computer game.
[102] Doubling as a museum that documents the cultures and history of various climates in North America, the zoo encompasses a total of with approximately 1,500 animals and 436 species.
[103] The zoo is located in Mohawk Park, the third largest municipal park in the United States.
On the west bank of the Arkansas River in the suburb of
Jenks, the
Oklahoma Aquarium is the state’s only freestanding aquarium, containing over 200 exhibits, including a shark tank.
[105]
The
Tulsa State Fair, operating in late September and early October, attracts over one million people during its 10 day run,
[106] and the city's
Oktoberfest celebration was named one of the top 10 in the world by
USA Today and one of the top German food festivals in the nation by
Bon Appetit magazine.
[107] The annual Mayfest arts and crafts festival entertained more than 375,000 people in its four day run in downtown during 2007.
[108] On a smaller scale, the city hosts block parties during a city-wide "Block Party Day" each year, with festivals varying in size throughout city neighborhoods.
[109] Tulsa has one major amusement park attraction, Big Splash Water Park, featuring multi-story water slides and large wave pools. Until 2006, the city also hosted
Bell's Amusement Park, which closed after Tulsa County officials declined to renew its lease agreement.
[110] Most of the park's equipment had been removed by early 2007 and the owner was discussing relocation with other cities in the Tulsa Metropolitan Area.
[111]
Sports
Tulsa supports a wide array of sports at the professional and collegiate levels. Currently, the city hosts two
NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as
Division I) colleges and five professional,
minor league sports teams, playing in basketball, arena football, baseball, hockey, and soccer.
[112] The city also contains one of the nation's top rated golf courses,
Southern Hills Country Club, which is one of two courses that have hosted seven
majors: four
PGA Championships and three
U.S. Opens, the most recent in 2007.
[113] The course has held five amateur championships
and from 2001 to 2008 the
LPGA had a regular tour stop, most recently known as the
SemGroup Championship at Cedar Ridge Country Club.
[114] The 18,000-seat
BOK Center is the centerpiece of the Vision 2025 projects and was completed in August 2008. The
BOK Center had the top ten ticket sales in the world for the first quarter of 2009. It is also the home for the city's minor league hockey and
arena football teams.
[115] Until its last season in 1984, the city hosted the
Tulsa Roughnecks, which played in the now-defunct
North American Soccer League. Also in 1984, the city hosted the
Oklahoma Outlaws for a single season, which belonged to the now-defunct
United States Football League.
[116]
Tulsa has two universities that compete at the
NCAA Division I level: the
University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane, and the
Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles. The University of Tulsa's basketball program has reached the
Sweet Sixteen three times, made an appearance in the
Elite Eight in 2000, won the
NIT championship in 1981 and 2001, and won the inaugural
College Basketball Invitational in 2008.
[117] [118] Sixteen bowl games have been played by the school in football, including the
Sugar Bowl (twice) and the
Orange Bowl.
[119] Oral Roberts University's basketball team reached the
Elite Eight in 1974 and won the
Mid-Continent Conference title three straight years, from 2005 to 2007.
[120] At the secondary level, the Tulsa area is home to several high school athletic programs that are frequently ranked among the best nationally.
[121]
The city's
running and
cycling communities support events such as the
Tulsa Tough cycling race, the Route 66 Marathon,
[122] and the
Tulsa Run, which features over 8000 participants annually.
[123] Gambling is supported by a community of
Indian gaming venues that have been allowed to expand gambling options. In 2005,
compacts between the state and various tribes allowed facilities to offer table card games and slot machines.
[124] Another popular gambling draw,
Horse racing events are housed by the
Fair Meadows Race Track and
Will Rogers Downs in nearby
Claremore.
| Club
| Sport
| League
| Stadium
|
| Tulsa Golden Hurricane
| Football
| NCAA Division 1
| Chapman Stadium
|
| Tulsa Drillers
| Baseball
| Texas League
| Drillers Stadium
|
| Tulsa Oilers
| Ice Hockey
| Central Hockey League
| BOK Center
|
| Tulsa Talons
| Arena Football
| af2
| BOK Center
|
| Tulsa 66ers
| Basketball
| NBADL
| Tulsa Convention Center
|
Tulsa Revolution | Soccer
| AISL
| Soccer City Indoor Sports Complex
|
Demographics
| Historical populations
|
| Census
| Pop.
|
| %±
|
| 1900
| | | |
| 1910
| | | {{Val |
| 1920
| | | {{Val |
| 1930
| | | {{Val |
| 1940
| | | {{Val |
| 1950
| | | {{Val |
| 1960
| | | {{Val |
| 1970
| | | {{Val |
| 1980
| | | {{Val |
| 1990
| | | {{Val |
| 2000
| | | portal
|