Stillwater

 

City (1990 pop. 36,676), seat of Payne co., N central Okla.; inc. 1899. It is the seat of Oklahoma State Univ., which was established during the first year of settlement and was responsible for the city's growth. Stillwater is also the market and processing center of a wheat and cattle area. Textiles, clothing, transportation equipment, and building materials are manufactured. Gas wells are in the area. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame is in Stillwater.

Stillwater, Oklahoma
Motto: Where Oklahoma Began!
Location in the State of Oklahoma
Coordinates: 36°7′18″N 97°4′7″W / 36.12167, -97.06861
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
County	Payne
Incorporated
Government
- Mayor	Roger L. McMillian
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	CST (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes	74074-74078
Area code(s)	405
FIPS code	40-703002
GNIS feature ID	10985413
Website: http://www.stillwater.org/

Stillwater is a city in Payne County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 39,065 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Payne County⁶. Founded December 12, 1884 it was the first settlement in the Unassigned Lands. The geographical position of Stillwater is located between both the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area and Tulsa Metropolitan Area and is considered its own Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

Stillwater is located at 36°7′18″N, 97°4′7″W (36.121538, -97.068537)¹, 50 miles North Northeast of downtown Oklahoma City.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 73.3 km² (28.3 mi²). 72.1 km² (27.9 mi²) of it is land and 1.2 km² (0.5 mi²) of it (1.62%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 39,065 people, 15,604 households, and 7,318 families residing in the city. The population density was 541.6/km² (1,402.7/mi²). There were 16,827 housing units at an average density of 233.3/km² (604.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.48% White, 4.30% African American, 3.89% Native American, 5.05% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.88% from other races, and 3.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.50% of the population.

There were 15,604 households out of which 20.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.1% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 53.1% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the city the population was spread out with 15.2% under the age of 18, 38.2% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 13.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females there were 102.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,432, and the median income for a family was $41,938. Males had a median income of $31,623 versus $22,312 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,789. About 12.6% of families and 27.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.2% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.

Culture

Oklahoma State University is the largest employer, biggest land-owner, and cultural center of the town. A quintessential college town, Stillwater has undergone tremendous changes in the past decade with the opening of several new strip malls and shopping centers. More national chains are moving in to replace regional and locally owned businesses, fueled by the expanding population and bulging youth demographic.

There is a thriving bar district near campus referred to as "The Strip." Although the Strip technically is only Washington Street between 6th Street (Highway 51) and University Street, colloquially it can also cover other bars within walking distance, such as the Stonewall or Eskimo Joe's. The national success of Stillwater bands Kunek, Colourmusic, and All-American Rejects hint at possibilities of seeing good local music at any of the bars or venues located there.

The thriving economy of Stillwater is dictated by the college and the accompanying swell of population. Many businesses, especially restaurants, cafes or bars, shorten their hours during the summer. Weekend hours often are expanded to include Thursday, the traditional party night before the students leave town for the weekend. Parking is premium on Saturdays during football games, and many residents earn extra money selling lawn-parking for anywhere from $10-30.

The college culture has led to numerous provisions by the city to limit loud, drunken parties. Oklahoma law prohibits alcohol sale after 2am, and that is when all the bars close as well. Stillwater city ordinance prohibits the consumption of alcohol in public, including the front or backyard of a property and the sidewalks. Enforcement depends on the neighborhood and strength of the party.

Unemployment is one of the lowest and with its modern cultural international flavor and middle American warmth and values, Stillwater continues to attract national attention as a desirable place to live with many former OSU students returning to raise their families or retire.

Education

Post Secondary

• Oklahoma State University
• Northern Oklahoma College

CareerTech

• Meridian Technology Center

Items of interest

Stillwater is hosting the 2007 US Chess Championshp May 15-23, 2007

• Stillwater Convention and Visitors Bureau http://www.visitstillwater.org offers free visitor guides as well as information about upcoming events.
• Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education is located in Stillwater
• Pop punk band The All-American Rejects formed in Stillwater.
• Stillwater is home to Red Dirt, a branch of alternative country music that is quickly gaining popularity in much of the United States; Alternative country bands Jason Boland & the Stragglers and The Great Divide, were formed in Stillwater. Cross Canadian Ragweed also called Stillwater home during their early years.
• Stillwater is home to Oklahoma State University with enrollment of over 21,000 students in 2002. Notable alumni include country singer Garth Brooks and former NFL running backs Thurman Thomas and Barry Sanders. Chester Gould, creator of the Dick Tracy comic strip, attended the school when it was known as Oklahoma A&M.
• The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum was dedicated in 1976 in Stillwater.(http://www.wrestlinghalloffame.com/)
• Popular Oklahoma pizza chain Hideaway Pizza was established here in 1957 and can be found at the corner of Knoblock and University.
• The game Pente was invented in Stillwater at Hideaway Pizza.
• A popular hangout for tourists, Eskimo Joe's restaurant is on Elm street near the OSU campus. Locals claim that the Eskimo Joe's T-Shirt is the second most collected t-shirt in the world, after the Hard Rock Cafe T-Shirts. (http://www.eskimojoes.com/)
• Stillwater is home to Premier Longhorns~raising worldclass registered Texas Longhorn cattle [1]
• James Marsden, Cyclops in the movie X-Men, was born in Stillwater and attended Oklahoma State University
• The Sheerar Museum on Duncan Street houses a collection of historical artifacts of daily life from before and through the time of Oklahoma's statehood. (http://www.sheerarmuseum.org/)
• Oklahoma Botanical Garden and Arboretum
• Karsten Creek Golf Club is an exclusive golf course located in Stillwater that houses a world-class clubhouse, restaurant, secluded lodges, and a renowned championship golf course that is the home of the OSU Men's and Women's golf teams. (http://www.karstencreek.net/)
• Stillwater is served by the Pawnee Bill District, Cimarron Council of the Boy Scouts of America
• Stillwater is home to two eighteen-hole disc golf courses located at Hoyt Grove and Boomer Lake Park.
• Stillwater is home to the first official Sonic Drive-In restaurant chain.

External links

• http://www.stillwater.org/ City of Stillwater Website
• Urban OK Forums -- Stillwater Civic & Development Discussion

Coordinates: 36.121538° N 97.068537° W

• Stillwater Bars & Night Clubs @ OklahomaNightLife.com
• Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education

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