Norman²

 

city (1990 pop. 80,071), seat of Cleveland co., central Okla.; inc. 1891. It is the center of a livestock region. Oil wells, food processing, and printing and publishing contribute to the economy, and there is diverse manufacturing (machinery, communication equipment, nutritional products, and consumer goods). Norman is the seat of the Univ. of Oklahoma. The city's population grew considerably in the late 20th cent.

Norman, Oklahoma
Location of Norman, Oklahoma
Coordinates: 35°13′18″N 97°25′6″W / 35.22167, -97.41833
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
County	Cleveland
Area
- City	sq mi (km²)
- Land	sq mi ( km²)
- Water	sq mi ( km²)
Elevation	ft ( m)
Population (2000)
- City
- Density	/sq mi (/km²)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes	73000-73099
Area code(s)	405
FIPS code	40-525002
GNIS feature ID	10959033

Norman, Oklahoma, is the county seat and largest city in Cleveland County in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, and is part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Norman is situated approximately 20 miles south of downtown Oklahoma City and is the third largest city in the state^[1]. As of July 2006, the city had 102,827 full-time residents^[2]. It is the business and employment center of Cleveland County⁶.

Overview

Norman is best known as the location of the University of Oklahoma (with about 30,000 full-time students), making it a center of culture, technology, and scientific research. OU is home to the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, one of the largest of its kind, and the Fred Jones, Jr. Museum of Art. The Jones Museum made news in 2001 when it was given the Weitzenhoffer Collection, the single most important collection of impressionist art ever given to an American university^{[citation needed]}, including works by Mary Cassatt, Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Camille Pissarro, among others.

Norman's picture-book Main Street is a great source of pride for Normanites, as are the many shady, tree-lined housing areas that surround the OU campus. The west side of town has seen the most development in recent years, including affluent areas like Brookhaven, a sprawling neighborhood of townhomes, apartments, large estates and upscale retail and dining. Growth in Norman is also occurring close to campus, where there are infill developments underway that are making Norman a denser, and more chic college town. The central and eastern sections of town are older and include the areas around the OU campus and downtown. Both areas retain their historic appearance and resemble what most people would think of as the core area of a college town. In 2006, Money Magazine ranked Norman as the 40th best place to live in the United States, the highest of any city in Oklahoma.^[3]

Residents of Norman are split on whether or not it should be considered a suburb of Oklahoma City. The city itself actually pulls from a shopping base and a workforce outside of its own city, with major new shopping developments, and major employers like OU and the USPS. The city has also recently put a major emphasis on sustainable growth, which also makes it unusual compared to other suburbs in Central Oklahoma, and abroad.^{[citation needed]}

Meteorology

Main article: National Weather Center

Norman is a prominent center of meteorological research, specifically severe weather. The National Weather Center, located on OU's Research Campus near Oklahoma State Highway 9 and Jenkins Avenue, houses several NOAA organizations, including a regional National Weather Service Forecast Office, the Storm Prediction Center, and the National Severe Storms Laboratory along with the University's weather-related departments. Private sector meteorological companies are located alongside the 2006 facility at "Partners Place".

Geography

Norman is located at 35°13′18″N, 97°25′6″W (35.221617, -97.418236)¹.

The city has a total area of 189.51 mi² (490.8 km²), of which 177.01 mi² (458.5 km²) is land and 12.5 mi² (32.4 km²) or 6.60% is water^[4]. Approximately 27 square miles are developed. Elevations within the city limits are between 320 and 410 meters above sea level (approximately 360 meters (1184 feet) above sea level at the Max Westheimer Airport). The lowest point within city limits is the Little River, a tributary of the Canadian River, just after it exits the Lake Thunderbird Dam. Many hills in the eastern suburbs exceed 400 meters above sea level. The terrain in the undeveloped western parts of Norman is prairie and the eastern section, including the area surrounding Lake Thunderbird, are cross timbers forest.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 95,694 people, 38,834 households, and 22,562 families residing in the city. The population density was 208.7/km² (540.6/mi²). There were 41,547 housing units at an average density of 90.6/km² (234.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.36% White, 4.26% African American, 4.45% Native American, 3.49% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.37% from other races, and 4.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.89% of the population.

There were 38,834 households out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.9% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.2% under the age of 18, 21.4% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,713, and the median income for a family was $51,189. Males had a median income of $35,896 versus $26,394 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,630. About 7.8% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

History

The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway planned Norman as a station site in Indian Territory in 1886-87, taking the name "Norman's Camp," a phrase that (the story goes) had been carved in a nearby tree 16 years earlier by the crew of a U.S. Land Office surveyor, Abner E. Norman, who camped nearby while mapping the area. The town itself, while platted by the railroad, wasn't settled until the Great Land Run of 1889, the mad dash by settlers to claim the Unassigned Lands at the center of Indian Territory.

By nightfall on April 22, 1889, Norman probably had several hundred residents, camped in tents and covered wagons on town lots that wouldn't remain vacant for long. Almost overnight, the settlement developed into a thriving town. It was near Norman, in 1895, that Doolin Gang members George "Bittercreek" Newcomb and Charlie Pierce were killed by the "Dunn Brothers", who were bounty hunters from Ingalls, Oklahoma.

Business

Norman is a global center for the sciences of Meteorology (See above) and Geology and related research fields. The local business community boasts major employers like Johnson Controls, Hitachi, Astellas Pharma, Albon Engineering, Xyant Technology, Office Max, ClientLogic, the National Center for Employee Development (a/k/a USPS Training Center), Immuno-Mycologics, and several research companies and smaller firms that take advantage of Norman's business climate.

Currently the nation's 4th largest retail site (University Town Center, a project by the OU Regents), is being built in Norman along I 35, between Robinson Street and Tecumseh Road (2-mile stretch). When completed, the site will also include mixed-use development such as hotels and offices in addition to retail.

Community events

• Medieval Fair (Reeves Park)
• GrooveFest (Andrew's Park)
• Jazz in June (different venues)
• May Fair Arts Festival (Andrew's Park)
• SummerBreeze Concert Series
• Mardi Gras parade (downtown Norman)
• Midsummer Nights' Fair (Lion's Park)

Transportation

Air

Norman is served locally by Max Westheimer Airport, a general aviation airport run by the University of Oklahoma.^[5] Major commercial air transportation is available at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, approximately 20 miles north of Norman.

Public Transit

Cleveland Area Rapid Transit provides bus service to the Norman area on weekdays with some routes also running on Saturdays. A route also runs to Oklahoma City and connects with OKC's Metro Transit.^[6] The service is run by the University of Oklahoma and is free to faculty, staff, and students.

Rail

Norman's Depot is served by Amtrak's daily Heartland Flyer.

Road

Norman is served by several major roadways.

• Interstate 35
• State Highway 9
• U.S. Route 77
• State Highway 77H
• State Highway 74A

Education

Colleges and universities

• University of Oklahoma
• University of Phoenix

Career and Technical Education

• Moore Norman Technology Center

Public primary and secondary schools

• Norman Public Schools (or Independent School District Number 29 of Cleveland County, Oklahoma), which includes:
  • Norman High School,
  • Norman North High School,
  • 4 Middle Schools named after famous writers (Whittier, Longfellow, Alcott, and Irving)
  • 16 elementary schools

Private primary and secondary schools

• Community Christian School - kindergarten through 12th grade
• Robinson Street Christian School - kindergarten through 12th grade
• Blue Eagle Christian Academy - kindergarten through 11th grade
• All Saints Catholic School - pre-kindergarten through 8th grade
• Norman Christian Academy - pre-kindergarten through 7th grade
• Trinity Lutheran School - pre-kindergarten through 6th grade
• Veritas Classical Christian Academy - kindergarten through 8th grade

Misc. Schools

• Hollywood Cosmetology Center

Notable residents and natives

Actors

Candy Clark, James Garner (a statue of Garner as Bret Maverick was unveiled in Norman on April 21, 2006, with Garner present at the ceremony), Alice Ghostley^{[citation needed]}, Milena Govich, Christian Kane, Jim Ross

Musicians and bands

Chainsaw Kittens, Joe Diffie^{[citation needed]}, The Flaming Lips^{[citation needed]}, Vince Gill, Toby Keith^[7], Starlight Mints, Evangelicals

Athletes

Dean Blevins, Mark Bradley, Nadia Comaneci, Bart Conner, Tommie Harris, Steve Owens, Bob Stoops, Barry Switzer, Jason White, Roy Williams, Steve Williams, Adrian Peterson

Writers

Martin Gardner^{[citation needed]}, Harold Keith

Politicians

Carl Albert, David L. Boren

Scientists

Karl Guthe Jansky

Designers

Kayne Gillaspie, Robert Ridner

Sister cities

• Clermont-Ferrand, France
• Colima, Mexico
• Seika, Japan

See also

• 2005 University of Oklahoma bombing

References

External links

• Coordinates: 35.221617° N 97.418236° W
• Visit Norman
• Urban OK Forums -- Norman Civic & Development Discussion
• Official city website
• Jazz in June festival
• SummerBreeze Concert Series

Municipalities of the Greater Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area
Population over 500,000	Oklahoma City
Population over 100,000	Norman
Population over 50,000	Edmond • Midwest City
Population over 20,000	Bethany • Del City • Moore • Shawnee • Yukon
Population over 10,000	Chickasha • Choctaw • El Reno • Guthrie • Mustang
Population over 5,000	Blanchard • Newcastle • Noble • Piedmont • Purcell • Tecumseh • Tuttle • The Village • Warr Acres
Population over 2,000	Bethel Acres • Chandler • Harrah • Jones • Kingfisher • Lexington • Nichols Hills • McLoud • Nicoma Park • Prague • Slaughterville • Spencer • Stroud
Population over 1,000	Crescent • Forest Park • Goldsby • Luther • Langston • Maud • Minco • Ninnekah • Okarche • Pink • Rush Springs • Union City
Population over 500	Alex • Amber • Calumet • Carney • Davenport • Earlsboro • Meeker • Valley Brook • Verden • Washington • Wayne • Wellston
Population over 200	Agra • Arcadia • Asher • Byars • Cedar Valley • Cole • Coyle • Dibble • Johnson • Marshall • Mulhall • Orlando • Pocasset • St. Louis • Tribbey • Tryon • Wanette • Warwick
Population under 200	Bradley • Bridge Creek • Brooksville • Cimarron City • Etowah • Fallis • Kendrick • Lake Aluma • Macomb • Meridian • Norge • Rosedale • Smith Village • Sparks • Woodlawn Park
Unincorporated areas	Canadian • Cleveland • Grady • Logan • Lincoln • McClain • Oklahoma • Pottawatomie
Regional Government	Association of Central Oklahoma Governments

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