106-773: The Golden Driller is a 76-foot-tall (23 m), 43,500-pound (19,700 kg) statue in Tulsa, Oklahoma , depicting an oil worker. The structure is a steel frame covered with concrete and plaster. It is the sixth-tallest statue in the United States and has been located in front of the Tulsa Expo Center since 1966. A version of the Golden Driller was originally built in 1952 by the Mid-Continent Supply Company of Fort Worth as
212-515: 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
318-694: A "green light" rating from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression in recognition of the university's commitment to free speech. Tulsa's sports teams participate in NCAA Division I as a member of the American Athletic Conference (The American); its football team is part of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Tulsa has the smallest undergraduate enrollment of any FBS school. TU has had
424-449: 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
530-786: 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
636-586: 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
742-762: A depleted oil field in Seminole, Oklahoma . An inscription at the base of the statue reads: "The Golden Driller, a symbol of the International Petroleum Exposition. Dedicated to the men of the petroleum industry who by their vision and daring have created from God's abundance a better life for mankind." In 1979, the Oklahoma Legislature adopted the Golden Driller as the state monument. As part of an online promotional contest sponsored by Kimberly-Clark in October 2006,
848-486: 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
954-654: A gift from the energy company, which hosts events and programming to promote diversity on campus. Although TU has historic ties to the Presbyterian Church, the university has long embraced religious diversity. In 2002, TU was home to the first mosque built on an American university campus. TU also hosts a chapter of Hillel International , an organization to support Jewish life on campus. The university also hosts several organizations reflecting different streams of Christian spiritual practice, including Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox. In February 2015, after
1060-562: 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
1166-842: A number of distinguished individuals among its alumni, including current Walmart CEO Doug McMillon , New York School poet Ted Berrigan , The Outsiders author S.E. Hinton , voicemail inventor Gordon Matthews , Golden Girls actress Rue McClanahan , actor Peter McRobbie , roboticist and author Daniel H. Wilson , radio legend Paul Harvey , Kuwaiti Petroleum Company CEO Hani Abdulaziz Al Hussein , TV personality Dr. Phil McGraw (who played football for TU but did not graduate), Cherokee Nation Chief Chad "Corntassel" Smith , botanist and ecologist Harriet George Barclay , U.S. Congressman and Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Steve Largent , NBA basketball player Steve Bracey , and Brazilian billionaire businessman Ermirio Pereira de Moraes ; HE Suhail Al Mazroui , Minister of Energy & Industry for
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#17327987640501272-643: 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
1378-543: A public-private partnership with the City of Tulsa. The museum has one of the largest collections of American Western art in the world (including famous works by Frederic Remington , Thomas Moran , and others) and houses growing collections of artifacts from Central and South America. The museum sits on 460 acres (1.9 km ) in northwest Tulsa. The Bob Dylan Archive is a collection of documents and objects relating to iconic American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan (whose mentor
1484-540: 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
1590-496: A restructuring of academic programs at the university that would eliminate several academic programs. The plan was met with resistance from some faculty who believed it was formulated without adequate input from faculty. Although faculty members voted " no confidence " in the president and provost in November, the university's board of trustees publicly affirmed their support of the plan. In January 2020, President Clancy informed
1696-446: A rivalry with the slightly larger Rice University and a football rivalry with the substantially larger University of Houston . It also has two current rivalries with D-I schools that do not sponsor football—an in-conference rivalry with Wichita State University , especially in men's basketball , and a crosstown rivalry, most prominently in basketball , with Summit League member Oral Roberts University . The university's nickname
1802-679: 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
1908-518: A state. These first students attended classes at the First Presbyterian Church until permanent buildings could be erected on the new campus. This became the start of higher education in Tulsa. Kendall Hall, the first building of the new school, was completed in 1908 and was quickly followed by two other buildings. All three buildings have since been demolished, with Kendall the last to be razed in 1972. The bell that once hung in
2014-660: A temporary feature of the International Petroleum Exposition . Six years later, one was erected again for the 1959 show. Due to the positive attention it attracted, the company donated the statue to the Tulsa County Fairgrounds Trust Authority which had it anatomically redesigned and permanently installed in front of the Tulsa Expo Center for the 1966 International Petroleum Exposition. The statue's right hand rests on an oil derrick which had been moved from
2120-544: 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
2226-518: A wide-ranging array of topics including 20th-century British , Irish , and American literature , which includes the world's second-largest collection of materials by James Joyce . It also houses the papers of Nobel Prize winners V.S. Naipaul and Doris Lessing , as well as novelists and poets Jean Rhys , Eliot Bliss , David Plante , Anna Kavan , and Stevie Smith , just to name a few. In addition to these famous novelists, McFarlin Library houses
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#17327987640502332-569: 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
2438-579: Is also a hub for national construction and engineering companies including Manhattan Construction Company and Flintco . A number of the Cherokee Nation Businesses are also headquartered or have substantial operations in Tulsa. University of Tulsa The University of Tulsa ( TU ) is a private research university in Tulsa, Oklahoma . It has a historic affiliation with the Presbyterian Church , although it
2544-401: 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 )
2650-739: 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
2756-649: 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
2862-615: Is not far from Tulsa's downtown and midtown neighborhoods. The campus, in particular its football venue Skelly Field, is located on the historic U.S. Route 66 , America's "Mother Road" stretching from Chicago to Los Angeles . Tulsa Golden Hurricane football has played home games at Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium since 1930. McFarlin Library: Resources and Notable Collections The library's Department of Special Collections and University Archives houses over 12 million archival items and has over 1,000 collections on
2968-685: Is now nondenominational, and the campus architectural style is predominantly Collegiate Gothic . The school traces its origin to the Presbyterian School for Indian Girls, which was established in 1882 in Muskogee, Oklahoma, then a town in Indian Territory, and which evolved into an institution of higher education named Henry Kendall College by 1894. The college moved to Tulsa, another town in the Creek Nation in 1904, before
3074-569: Is ranked 6th among petroleum engineering graduate schools and 10th among undergraduate PE schools by U.S. News & World report. The Presbyterian School for Indian Girls (also known as "Minerva Home") was founded in Muskogee , Indian Territory , in 1882 to offer a primary education to young women of the Creek Nation . In 1894, the young school expanded to become Henry Kendall College, named in honor of Reverend Henry Kendall, secretary of
3180-493: 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
3286-816: Is the Golden Hurricane (it was originally the Golden Tornadoes). The Sound of the Golden Hurricane marching band plays at all home football and basketball games as well as traveling to championships in support of the Golden Hurricane. Tulsa has won six national championships (three NCAA): four in women's golf and two in men's basketball. The University of Tulsa currently fields a varsity team in seven men's sports and ten women's sports. The school's colors are old gold ( PMS 7502), royal blue (PMS 661C), and crimson (PMS 186). The university's original motto was, in full: "Faith, Wisdom, Service: For Christ, For State." The University of Tulsa Collegian
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3392-509: Is the long-standing independent and student-run newspaper on campus. The following scholarly journals are published by the university: In 2003 Tulsa joined the efforts of Brown University on the Modernist Journals Project , an online archive of early 20th-century periodicals. Tulsa has contributed various modernist texts from McFarlin Library's Special Collections to the project's website. Sean Latham, then-editor of
3498-589: 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
3604-529: The James Joyce Quarterly , brought the 2003 North American James Joyce Conference to the University of Tulsa. TU students have won 67 Goldwater Scholarships , 5 Marshall Scholarships , 3 Rhodes Scholarships (9 Rhodes finalists), 28 Fulbright Scholarships , and numerous Department of Defense, National Science Foundation, and Morris K. Udall Fellowships. The University of Tulsa counts
3710-637: The James Joyce Quarterly , developed a North Campus center for petroleum engineering research, and expanded many main campus facilities. He was succeeded by Eugene L. Swearingen, a Stanford University -trained economist and Oklahoma native who served on the National Finance Committee for the Jimmy Carter Presidential Campaign. Swearingen increased TU's endowment and expanded the footprint of its campus. In 2004, anthropologist Steadman Upham joined
3816-473: 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
3922-487: The Golden Driller was named the grand prize as a top ten "quirkiest destination" in the United States, winning its nominator a $ 90,000 international vacation for two. His stats are said to include: Belt size - 48 ft in circumference, Shoe size- 393DDD, and Hat size - 112 hard hat. His belt originally read "MID-CONTINENT", but was changed in 1979 to the current buckle that says "TULSA". On May 20, 2020, as part of Tulsa's bid for Gigafactory 5 construction by Tesla, Inc. ,
4028-610: 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%)
4134-565: 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
4240-673: The United Kingdom . The University of Tulsa is home to more than 150 student organizations, registered with and partially funded by the Student Government Association. Several groups exist to support diversity on the University of Tulsa campus. There are at least 25 campus organizations existing to support and sustain a diverse campus community. In addition, TU hosts the Chevron Multicultural Resource Center, funded by
4346-646: The University of Cambridge ). TU's athletic teams are collectively known as the Tulsa Golden Hurricane and compete in Division I of the NCAA as members of the American Athletic Conference (The American). The University of Tulsa is designated as a National Security Agency Center of Academic Excellence in both Information Assurance and Cyber Defense. The McDougall School of Petroleum Engineering
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4452-504: 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
4558-488: 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
4664-627: The Kendall Building tower was saved and displayed in Bayless Plaza. The Kendall College presidents during 1907–1919 were Arthur Grant Evans, Levi Harrison Beeler, Seth Reed Gordon, Frederick William Hawley, Ralph J. Lamb, Charles Evans, James G. McMurtry and Arthur L. Odell. In 1918, the Methodist Church proposed building a college in Tulsa, using money donated by a Tulsa oilman Robert M. McFarlin . The proposed college
4770-652: The Presbyterian Board of Home Missions. The first president was William A. Caldwell, who served a brief two-year term, which ended in 1896. Caldwell was succeeded by William Robert King, a Presbyterian minister and co-founder of the college, who had come to Oklahoma from Tennessee , by way of the Union Theological Seminary in New York City (affiliated with Columbia University ). Kendall College, while still in Muskogee, granted
4876-693: 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
4982-675: 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
5088-497: The University of Tulsa as president, having served in faculty and leadership positions at the University of Oregon and Arizona State University . Within five years of his arrival, TU saw 13 major construction projects and renovations on campus, ranging from the construction of the Roxana Rozsa and Robert Eugene Lorton Performance Center to the overhaul of Keplinger Hall, and plans for seven more major projects finalized (despite
5194-431: The University of Tulsa assumed management of the famous Gilcrease Museum in northwest Tulsa. In 2016, President Upham retired and was succeeded by Gerard Clancy, who previously served as a psychiatry professor and held leadership positions at the University of Iowa and the University of Oklahoma . About two and a half years into his presidency, in the spring of 2019, President Clancy and Provost Janet K. Levit announced
5300-603: The University of Tulsa centers on a wide, grassy, quad-like space known as Dietler Commons, formerly called "The U." The predominant architectural style is English Gothic. Most of the buildings are constructed from tan and rose-colored Crab Orchard sandstone from Tennessee interspersed with stone quarried in Arkansas . Other materials include Bedford limestone from Indiana and slate quarried in Vermont . The university's campus borders Tulsa's Kendall Whittier neighborhood and
5406-483: The University of Tulsa suspended a student under its zero-tolerance policy for harassment for threatening and defamatory Facebook postings by his fiancée against multiple faculty members and a female student, administrators attempted to discourage the campus newspaper from publishing information the university deemed "confidential". The controversy was picked up by two websites that claimed the administration used "threats" and "intimidation" to "cover up" their handling of
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#17327987640505512-416: 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
5618-845: 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 ,
5724-411: 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,
5830-428: 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
5936-810: The board that he needed to cut back on his activities because of unspecified medical issues. The board named Provost Levit as interim president of the school, effective in January 2020. Former Congressman Brad R. Carson became president of the University of Tulsa on July 1, 2021. The University of Tulsa offers liberal arts, music, film, and professional programs, including engineering , English , computer science , natural sciences , social sciences, health sciences, business, law, and other disciplines. The university has an undergraduate research program, evidenced by 45 students receiving Goldwater Scholarships since 1995. The Tulsa Undergraduate Research Challenge (TURC) allows undergraduates to conduct advanced research with
6042-543: 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
6148-540: 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
6254-552: 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,
6360-435: 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
6466-471: 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
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#17327987640506572-421: 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
6678-399: 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
6784-424: 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,
6890-427: The college. Club members who packaged a bid in 1907 to move the college to Tulsa included: B. Betters, H. O. McClure, L. N. Butts, W. L. North, James H. Hall ( sic ) , Grant C. Stebbins, Rev. Charles W. Kerr , C. H. Nicholson. The offer included $ 100,000, 20 acres of real estate, and a guarantee for utilities and street car service. The college opened to 35 students in September 1907, two months before Oklahoma became
6996-403: The disciplinary issue. In January 2016, the former student filed a lawsuit against the university, claiming his dismissal was unfair and was a breach of the institution's commitment to due process. The incident earned the university a spot on the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) 2016 "10 Worst Colleges for Free Speech". By 2023, however, the University of Tulsa had received
7102-415: 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
7208-431: 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
7314-428: 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
7420-405: The first post-secondary degree in Oklahoma in June 1898. Under King, the college was moved from its original location in downtown Muskogee to a larger campus on lands donated by Creek Nation Chief Pleasant Porter . Kendall College students, faculty and administrators were instrumental in efforts to get the State of Sequoyah recognized; they wrote most of the proposed constitution and designed
7526-461: 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
7632-553: The guidance of top TU professors. USNWR graduate school rankings USNWR departmental rankings U.S. News & World Report ' s 2023 edition of "Best Colleges" ranked the University of Tulsa 195th among "national universities" and tied at 90th for "Best Value". TU students have won 67 Goldwater Scholarships , 5 Marshall Scholarships , 3 Rhodes Scholarships (9 Rhodes finalists), 28 Fulbright Scholarships , and numerous Department of Defense, National Science Foundation, and Morris K. Udall Fellowships. The campus of
7738-662: 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
7844-653: 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
7950-424: 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
8056-668: 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
8162-406: 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
8268-537: 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
8374-572: The nationwide recession). The university also launched the Oxley College of Health Sciences, in downtown Tulsa, named in recognition of a major gift from Tulsa's Oxley Foundation. In 2023, the unit was renamed the Oxley College of Health & Natural Sciences. The university also partnered with the George Kaiser Family Foundation to temporarily house The Bob Dylan Archive at TU in 2016. Under Upham's leadership,
8480-574: 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
8586-604: 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
8692-479: 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
8798-590: The original "Tulsa" on the statue's belt buckle was replaced by the world "Tesla," to create a caricature of Elon Musk . This was the first time wrap advertising had been applied to the driller's face. A free-fall drop ride in Fraispertuis City amusement park in France is named Golden Driller, and uses a smaller replica of the statue as part of the decor around the ride. Tulsa, Oklahoma Tulsa ( / ˈ t ʌ l s ə / TUL -sə )
8904-419: The papers of Congresswoman Alice Mary Robertson , literary critic Richard Ellmann , comic book innovator E. Nelson Bridwell , Cherokee Principal Chief J.B. Milam , and writer/sexologist Edward Charles , among others. The Department of Special Collections also contains a vast collection of books on Native American history. In July 2008, the University of Tulsa took over management of Gilcrease Museum in
9010-546: 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
9116-634: 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,
9222-517: The request of the administration, the Synod of Indian Territory assumed control as trustees and began to look at alternatives for the future of the school. When the administration was approached by the comparatively smaller town of Tulsa and offered a chance to move, the decision was made to relocate. The Tulsa Commercial Club (a forerunner of the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce) decided to bid for
9328-494: The school's finances. A dean's council would take charge of academic issues. However, Pontius' accomplishments went beyond raising money. During his tenure, the following events occurred: After William G. Skelly died, his widow donated the Skelly Mansion, at the corner of 21st Street and Madison Avenue, to the University of Tulsa. The school sold the mansion and its furnishings to private owners in 1959. On July 5, 2012,
9434-439: The seal among other things. The opening of the new campus coincided with the start of the tenure of the third president, A. Grant Evans . Over the next 10 years, Evans oversaw the struggling school's growth. In most years, class sizes remained small and although the academy, the attached elementary, middle, and high school was more successful; by the end of the 1906–07 year Kendall College had had only 27 collegiate graduates. At
9540-663: 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
9646-674: The state of Oklahoma was created. In 1920, Kendall College was renamed the University of Tulsa. The University of Tulsa is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity". It manages the Gilcrease Museum , which includes one of the largest collections of American Western art and indigenous American artifacts in the world. TU also hosts the Tulsa Studies in Women's Literature , founded by former TU professor and noted feminist critic Germaine Greer (now at
9752-402: 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
9858-628: 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
9964-536: 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
10070-456: The university announced that it would repurchase the house as a residence for its president. TU sold the property in 2021. In 1958, Ben Graf Henneke , a scholar of theater and communications, became the first alumnus to hold the presidency of the University of Tulsa. During his tenure, the university established new doctoral programs, increased the proportion of faculty with doctorates, started new publications including Petroleum Abstracts and
10176-456: The university hard. By 1935, the school was about to close because of its poor financial condition. It had a debt of $ 250,000, enrollment had fallen to 300 students (including many who could not pay their tuition), the faculty was poorly paid and morale was low. It was then that the oil tycoon and TU-patron Waite Phillips offered the school presidency to Clarence Isaiah ("Cy") Pontius, a former investment banker. His primary focus would be to rescue
10282-405: 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
10388-674: 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),
10494-596: Was Oklahoman Woody Guthrie ). It was announced on March 2, 2016, that the archive had been acquired by the George Kaiser Family Foundation (GKFF) and the University of Tulsa. The university has since relinquished ownership to GKFF. Students at the University of Tulsa represent 47 states and over 79 foreign countries, of which 58% are Oklahoma residents. Among the most common countries of origin for TU international students are China , Iran , Azerbaijan , India , Nigeria , Pakistan , and
10600-596: 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
10706-587: 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
10812-644: 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
10918-571: 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
11024-467: 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
11130-640: Was to be named McFarlin College. However, it was soon apparent that Tulsa could not yet support two competing schools. In 1920, Henry Kendall College merged with the proposed McFarlin College to become the University of Tulsa. The McFarlin Library of TU was named for the principal donor of the proposed college. The name of Henry Kendall has lived on to the present as the Kendall College of Arts and Sciences. The University of Tulsa opened its School of Petroleum Engineering in 1928. The Great Depression hit
11236-570: 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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