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100-443: Anchored by Lawton , its largest city, Southwest Oklahoma's other important urban centers include Elk City , Clinton , Weatherford , Walters , Altus , and Duncan . One section of the 1890 Organic Act established that a lawsuit should be filed to clarify the boundary between Oklahoma and Texas. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1896 that what had been considered part of Texas would now be part of Oklahoma Territory. The area makes up

200-644: A National Historic Landmark , the highest classification. Lawton was the former home to the Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry , a basketball team. The team moved in 2007 from Oklahoma City to Lawton, where they won two Continental Basketball Association championships and a Premier Basketball League championship. In 2011, the Cavalry ceased operations in their second year in the PBL. Lawton operates 80 parks and recreation areas in varying sizes, including

300-663: A gross domestic product of $ 4.2 billion produced in 2008, with a majority ($ 2.1 billion) in the government sector, primarily associated with the military. Fort Sill is the largest employer in Lawton, with more than 5,000 full-time employees. In the private sector, the largest employer is Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company with 2,400 full-time employees. Some major employers in the Lawton area also include: Lawton Public Schools , Comanche County Memorial Hospital, Southwestern Hospital, City of Lawton, Cameron University , and Bar S Foods. Lawton has developed two major industrial parks . One

400-601: A Sirloin Stockade restaurant on the city's south side were murdered execution-style in the restaurant's freezer. An intensive investigation followed, and the three individuals involved, who also killed three others in Purcell, Oklahoma , were identified. One, Harold Stafford, died in a motorcycle accident in Tulsa not long after the restaurant murders. Another, Verna Stafford, was sentenced to life without parole after being granted

500-597: A bomb in front of the Murrah building . The building was destroyed (the remnants of which had to be imploded in a controlled demolition later that year), more than 100 nearby buildings suffered severe damage, and 168 people were killed. The site has been commemorated as the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. Since its opening in 2000, over three million people have visited. Every year on April 19, survivors, families, and friends return to

600-640: A central business district left almost deserted by the Oil Bust of the early 1980s. The centerpiece of downtown is the newly renovated Crystal Bridge and Myriad Botanical Gardens, one of the few elements of the Pei Plan to be completed. In 2021, a massive new central park will link the gardens near the CBD and the new convention center to be built just south of it to the North Canadian River as part of

700-481: A female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. One person households account for 30.5% of all households, and 8.7% of all households had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.11. According to the American Community Survey 1-year estimates in 2022, the median income for a household in

800-527: A household in the city was $ 41,566, and for a family was $ 50,507. Males had a median income of $ 36,440 versus $ 31,825 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 20,655. About 16.6% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line , including 33.5% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over. Lawton is primarily centered on government, manufacturing, and retail trade industries. The Lawton MSA ranks fourth in Oklahoma with

900-420: A massive works project known as "Core to Shore"; the new park is part of MAPS3, a collection of civic projects funded by a one-cent temporary (seven-year) sales tax increase. Oklahoma City has a temperate humid subtropical climate ( Köppen : Cfa), along with significant continental influences. The city features hot, humid summers and cool winters. Prolonged and severe droughts (sometimes leading to wildfires in

1000-739: A model for early childhood education . In 2004, the state ranked 36th in the nation for the relative number of adults with high school diplomas , though at 85.2 percent, it had the highest rate among southern states. Private schools in the Southwestern Oklahoma include Western Oklahoma Christian School in Clinton and Corn Bible Academy in Corn . Cameron University is the largest four-year, public university in Southwestern Oklahoma. The university has an average fall enrollment of 6,000 students with 70 endowed faculty positions. The region

1100-555: A new trial after she had been sentenced to death. Roger Dale Stafford , considered the mastermind of the murder spree, was executed by lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in 1995. The Oklahoma City Police Department has a uniformed force of 1,169 officers and 300+ civilian employees. The department has a central police station and five substations covering 2,500 police reporting districts that average 1/4 square mile in size. On April 19, 1995,

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1200-650: A population greater than 600,000 residents and the first city in the Great Plains region to record a population greater than 600,000 residents. It is the largest municipal population of the Great Plains region (Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota). In the 2020 census , there were 268,035 households in the city, out of which 81,374 households (30.4%) were individuals, 113,161 (42.2%) were opposite-sex married couples , 17,699 (6.6%) were unmarried opposite-sex partnerships , and 2,930 (1.1%) were same-sex married couples or partnerships . According to

1300-530: A population of 1,396,445, and the Oklahoma City– Shawnee Combined Statistical Area had a population of 1,469,124, making it Oklahoma's largest municipality and metropolitan area by population. Oklahoma City's city limits extend somewhat into Canadian , Cleveland , and Pottawatomie counties. However, much of those areas outside the core Oklahoma County area are suburban tracts or protected rural zones ( watershed ). The city

1400-534: A rating of F5 on the Fujita scale before the Enhanced Fujita scale replaced it in 2007. While the tornado was in the vicinity of Bridge Creek to the southwest, wind speeds of 318 mph (510 km/h) were estimated by a mobile Doppler radar, the highest wind speeds ever recorded on Earth. A second top-of-the-scale tornado occurred on May 20, 2013; South Oklahoma City, along with Newcastle and Moore ,

1500-455: A water canal in the Bricktown entertainment district. Water taxis transport passengers within the district, adding color and activity along the canal. MAPS has become one of the most successful public-private partnerships undertaken in the U.S., exceeding $ 3 billion in private investment as of 2010. As a result of MAPS, the population in downtown housing has exponentially increased, with

1600-402: A width of 2.6 miles (4.2 km), making it the widest tornado ever recorded. Additionally, winds over 295 mph (475 km/h) were measured, one of the two highest wind records for a tornado. With 19.48 inches (495 mm) of rainfall, May 2015 was Oklahoma City's record-wettest month since record-keeping began in 1890. Across Oklahoma and Texas generally, there was a record flooding in

1700-458: Is 61.9 °F (16.6 °C). The summers have an average 21 days with temperatures 100 °F (37.8 °C) and above. The area averages eight days that fail to rise above freezing. The region receives about 31.6 inches (800 mm) of precipitation. Typically in late April through early June, Southwestern Oklahoma is prone to severe weather which can include tornadoes. Notably in 1957 , an F4 tornado and again in 1979 an F3 tornado struck

1800-539: Is also home to Southwestern Oklahoma State University , a public university with locations in Weatherford and Sayre . It was placed at Tier 1 in the category "Regional Universities (West)" in the 2011 U.S. News & World Report . SWOSU has 15 nationally accredited academic programs—the most among Oklahoma's senior regional universities.fore i The Comanche Nation College in Lawton provided lower division programs, before its closure on July 31, 2017. The region

1900-664: Is also served by the Great Plains Technology Center and Western Technology Center , both of which are part of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education System. 34°30′N 98°30′W  /  34.5°N 98.5°W  / 34.5; -98.5 Lawton, Oklahoma Lawton is a city in and the county seat of Comanche County , in the U.S. state of Oklahoma . Located in western Oklahoma, approximately 87 mi (140 km) southwest of Oklahoma City , it

2000-475: Is atypical to the rest of the Great Plains region of the United States, as it is less dry than adjacent West Texas and contains many geographic features which further differentiates the unique climate. The area has a humid subtropical climate , receiving anywhere from about 20 inches of precipitation annually in the far west, to 35 inches annually in the eastern section. Monsoon-like rains are common in

2100-563: Is based on days receiving more than one inch of rainfall. Oklahoma City has an active severe weather season from March through June, especially during April and May. Being in the center of what is colloquially referred to as Tornado Alley , it is prone to widespread and severe tornadoes, as well as severe hailstorms and occasional derechoes . Tornadoes occur every month of the year, and a secondary smaller peak also occurs during autumn, especially in October. The Oklahoma City metropolitan area

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2200-656: Is in the middle of an active oil field, and oil derricks dot the capitol grounds. The federal government employs a large number of workers at Tinker Air Force Base and the United States Department of Transportation 's Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center (which house offices of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Department's Enterprise Service Center, respectively). Oklahoma City

2300-529: Is land and 19.23 square miles (49.8 km ) is water. Oklahoma City lies in the Sandstone Hills region of Oklahoma, known for hills of 250 to 400 feet (80 to 120 m) and two species of oak: blackjack oak ( Quercus marilandica ) and post oak ( Q. stellata ). The northeastern part of the city and its eastern suburbs fall into an ecological region known as the Cross Timbers . The city

2400-625: Is located in the southwest region of town, while the second is located near the Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport . In 2010, the city of Lawton was engaged in the Downtown Revitalization Project. Its goal is to redesign the areas between Elmer Thomas Park at the north through Central Mall to the south to be more visually appealing and pedestrian-friendly to encourage business growth in the area. Lawton had 35,374 employed civilians as of

2500-504: Is located squarely in the area known as Tornado Alley and is prone to severe weather from late April through early June. Most notably, an F4 tornado in 1957, and an F3 tornado in 1979 struck the southern region of the city. As of the census of 2010, 96,867 people, 34,901 households, and 22,508 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,195.4 inhabitants per square mile (461.5/km ). The 39,409 housing units averaged 486.3 per square mile (187.8/km ). The racial makeup of

2600-449: Is on the I-35 and I-40 corridors, one of the primary travel corridors south into neighboring Texas and New Mexico , north towards Wichita and Kansas City , west to Albuquerque , and east towards Little Rock and Memphis . Located in the state's Frontier Country region, the city's northeast section lies in an ecological region known as the Cross Timbers . The city was founded during

2700-411: Is one of the most tornado-prone major cities in the world, with about 150 tornadoes striking within the city limits since 1890. Since the time weather records have been kept, Oklahoma City has been struck by 13 violent tornadoes, eleven rated F/EF4 and two rated F/EF5. On May 3, 1999 , parts of Oklahoma City and surrounding communities were impacted by a tornado. It was the last U.S. tornado to be given

2800-530: Is ranked thirteenth on Forbes ' list of private companies. As of March 2024, the top 20 employers in the city were: Other major corporations with a significant presence (over 1,000 employees) in the city of Oklahoma City include the United Parcel Service , Farmers Insurance Group , Great Plains Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Deaconess Hospital , Johnson Controls , MidFirst Bank , Rose State College, and Continental Resources. While not in

2900-546: Is roughly bisected by the North Canadian River (recently renamed the Oklahoma River inside city limits). The North Canadian once had sufficient flow to flood every year, wreaking destruction on surrounding areas, including the central business district and the original Oklahoma City Zoo. In the 1940s, a dam was built on the river to manage the flood control and reduce its level. In the 1990s, as part of

3000-460: Is the eighth-largest in the United States by area including consolidated city-counties ; it is the second-largest, after Houston , not including consolidated cities. The city is also the second-largest by area among state capital cities in the United States, after Juneau, Alaska . Oklahoma City has one of the world's largest livestock markets. Oil, natural gas, petroleum products , and related industries are its economy's largest sector. The city

3100-594: Is the principal city of the Lawton, Oklahoma, metropolitan statistical area . According to the 2020 census , Lawton's population was 90,381, making it the sixth-largest city in the state, and the largest in Western Oklahoma . Developed on former reservation lands of the Kiowa , Comanche , and Apache peoples, Lawton was incorporated in 1901. It was named after Major General Henry Ware Lawton , who served in

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3200-460: The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was destroyed by a fertilizer bomb manufactured and detonated by Timothy McVeigh . The blast and catastrophic collapse killed 168 people and injured over 680. The blast shock-wave destroyed or damaged 324 buildings within a 340-meter radius, destroyed or burned 86 cars, and shattered glass in 258 nearby buildings, causing at least an estimated $ 652 million. McVeigh

3300-516: The Arkansas River and Red River were the center of Caddoan Mississippian culture , which began to develop about 800 CE. The people developed more dense settlement and a complex architecture of earthwork platform mounds. Archeological evidence has shown that these people were the direct ancestors of the historic Caddoan-language peoples who inhabited the larger region, including the Caddo and

3400-527: The City of Oklahoma City , and often shortened to OKC , is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma . The county seat of Oklahoma County , its population ranks 20th among United States cities and 8th in the Southern United States . The population grew following the 2010 census and reached 681,054 in the 2020 census . The Oklahoma City metropolitan area had

3500-513: The Clean Air Act . Oklahoma City neighborhoods are highly varied, with affluent historic neighborhoods located next to districts that have not wholly recovered from the economic and social decline of the 1970s and 1980s. The city is bisected geographically and culturally by the North Canadian River, which divides North Oklahoma City and South Oklahoma City. The north side is characterized by diverse and fashionable urban neighborhoods near

3600-416: The Fujita and Enhanced Fujita scales , and two rated F5 and EF5. Oklahoma City was settled on April 22, 1889, when the area known as the " Unassigned Lands " was opened for settlement in an event known as " The Land Run ". On April 26 of that year, its first mayor was elected, William Couch . Some 10,000 homesteaders settled in the area that would become the capital of Oklahoma. The town grew quickly;

3700-619: The Land Run of 1889 and grew to a population of over 10,000 within hours of its founding. It was the site of the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building , in which 167 people died, the deadliest terror attack in U.S. history until the attacks of September 11, 2001 , and the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history. Since weather records have been kept beginning in 1890, Oklahoma City has been struck by 14 violent tornadoes , 11 of which were rated F4 or EF4 on

3800-739: The MAPS 3 proposal approved by voters in late 2009. Oklahoma City lies along one of the primary corridors into Texas and Mexico and is a three-hour drive from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex . The city is in the Frontier Country region in the state's center, making it ideal for state government. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 620.34 square miles (1,606.7 km ), of which 601.11 square miles (1,556.9 km )

3900-534: The Pei Plan , removed older structures but failed to spark much new development, leaving the city dotted with vacant lots used for parking. A notable exception was the city's construction of the Myriad Gardens and Crystal Bridge , a botanical garden and modernistic conservatory in the heart of downtown. Architecturally significant historic buildings lost to clearances were the Criterion Theater,

4000-917: The Smithsonian Institution , Michigan State University Museum , and Chicago's Field Museum. The National Register of Historic Places lists places in Lawton, including the Mattie Beal House , the Carnegie Library , the First Christian Church , the First Presbyterian Church of Lawton , the Mahoney-Clark House , and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South . Old Fort Sill has been designated as

4100-581: The Wichita peoples. In the 16th century, Spanish explorer Francisco Vásquez de Coronado visited in 1541, beginning European contact. Around the 1700s, two tribes from the north, the Comanche and Kiowa, migrated to the Oklahoma and Texas regions. For most of the 18th century, the French exerted nominal control over the Oklahoma region as part of French Louisiana . The largest French settlements were along

Southwestern Oklahoma - Misplaced Pages Continue

4200-754: The escarpment live oak , nolina , bigtooth maple , and sugar maple . Significant geographic landmarks include the Black Kettle National Grassland , the Taovayan Valley , the Wichita Mountains , the Antelope Hills , and the Quartz Mountains . Southwestern Oklahoma has a humid subtropical climate with frequent variations in weather. The average mean temperature for Southwestern Oklahoma

4300-689: The state senate , Lawton is in District 31 (Chris Kidd) and 32 (Dusty Deevers). In the House , District 62 (Daniel Pae), 63 (Trey Caldwell), and 64 (Rande Worthen) cover the city. Cameron University is the largest four-year, state-funded university in southwest Oklahoma, offering more than 50 degree programs in areas of business, education, liberal arts, and science and technology. Founded in 1909, Cameron has an average fall enrollment of 6,000 students, with 70 endowed faculty positions. Other colleges in Lawton include Comanche Nation College . Founded in 2004,

4400-567: The 1928 discovery of oil within the city limits (including under the State Capitol), Oklahoma City became a major center of oil production. Post-war growth accompanied the construction of the Interstate Highway System , which made Oklahoma City a major interchange as the convergence of I-35 , I-40 , and I-44 . It was also aided by the federal development of Tinker Air Force Base after successful lobbying efforts by

4500-501: The 2010 Census, and 49.1% were female. Of the civilian workers, 21,842 (61.7%) were private for-profit wage and salary workers. Of the for-profit wage and salary workers, 659 (1.9% of the total Lawton civilian workforce) were employees of their own corporations. The nonprofit sector had 2,571 (7.3%) private nonprofit wage and salary workers. The government sector included 4,713 (13.3%) federal workers, 2,545 (7.2%) state government workers, and 2,160 (6.1%) local government workers. In addition,

4600-463: The 2020 census, the racial composition of Oklahoma City was as follows: White or European American 49.5%, Hispanic or Latino 21.3%, Black or African American 13.8%, Asian 4.6%, Native American 2.8%, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0.2%, other race 0.4%, and two or more races (non-Hispanic) 7.6%. Its population has diversified since the 1940s census, where 90.4% was non-Hispanic white . An analysis in 2017 found Oklahoma City to be

4700-458: The 20th century. Although Lawton's economy is still largely dependent on Fort Sill, it has grown to encompass manufacturing, higher education, health care, and retail. The city has a council-manager government ; the city council members are elected from single-member districts and the mayor is elected at-large . They hire a professional city manager to direct daily operations. Interstate 44 and three major United States highways serve

4800-612: The 8th least racially segregated significant city in the United States. Of the 20 largest US cities, Oklahoma City has the second-highest percentage of the population reporting two or more races on the Census, 7.6%, second to 8.9% in New York City . Oklahoma City is the principal city of the eight-county Oklahoma City metropolitan statistical Area in Central Oklahoma and is the state's largest urbanized area. As of 2015,

4900-743: The American Civil War and commanded by Major General Philip Sheridan . He was leading a campaign in Indian Territory to stop raids into Texas by American Indian tribes. In 1874, the Red River War broke out in the region when the Comanche, Kiowa, and Southern Cheyenne left their Indian Territory reservation. Attrition and skirmishes by the US Army finally forced the return of the tribes to Indian Territory in June 1875. In 1891,

5000-686: The Baum Building, the Hales Building, and the Biltmore Hotel. In 1993, the city passed a massive redevelopment package known as the Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS), intended to rebuild the city's core with civic projects to establish more activities and life in downtown. The city added a new baseball park ; a central library; renovations to the civic center , convention center , and fairgrounds; and

5100-672: The Civil War, during which most of the Southeast tribes had allied with the Confederacy, in 1867, the United States required new treaties of peace. In 1867, under the Medicine Lodge Treaty , it allotted the southwest portion of former Choctaw and Chickasaw lands to the Comanche, Kiowa, and Apache tribes. It had forced them to move out of East Texas and nearby areas of Arkansas. Fort Sill was established in 1869 after

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5200-717: The Civil War, where he earned the Medal of Honor , and was killed in action in the Philippine–American War . Lawton's landscape is typical of the Great Plains , with flat topography and gently rolling hills, while the area north of the city is marked by the Wichita Mountains . The city's proximity to the Fort Sill Military Reservation , formerly the base of the Apache territory before statehood, gave Lawton economic and population stability throughout

5300-650: The Dawes Act. Under other legislation, the United States through the Dawes Commission allotted communal lands as plots to individual households of tribal members, selling off what remained as "surplus". These actions extinguished the tribal claims to communal lands, a condition needed for the admission of Oklahoma as a state in 1907. After these changes, the legislature of the new state began to organize counties. Three 320-acre sites in Kiowa , Caddo and Comanche counties were selected for county seats. Lawton

5400-761: The Gulf Coast, in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama. The limited interaction between the Native American and European peoples was based on fur trading . In 1803, the French sold this territory as Louisiana Purchase to the US, under President Thomas Jefferson . European Americans continued to migrate into the Southeast and across the Mississippi River into Indian territories, especially seeking territory to expand cotton cultivation, which

5500-401: The Lawton City Council annexed several square miles of land on the city's east, northeast, west, and northwest borders, expanding east beyond the East Cache Creek area and west to 82nd Street. On 1 March 1964, the north section of the H. E. Bailey Turnpike was completed, connecting Lawton directly to Oklahoma City, the capital. The south section of the turnpike leading to the Texas border

5600-454: The United States Congress appointed a commission to meet with the tribal leaders and come to an agreement allowing White settlement. Years of controversy and legal maneuvering ensued before President William McKinley issued a proclamation on 4 July 1901, that gave the federal government control over 2,000,000 acres (8,100 km ) of "surplus" Indian lands that remained after allotments of communal tribal lands to individual households under

5700-415: The area of its city limits can be misleading. Its urbanized zone covers roughly 244 square miles (630 km ) resulting in a 2013 estimated density of 2,500 per square mile (970/km ), compared with larger rural watershed areas incorporated by the city, which cover the remaining 377 sq mi (980 km ) of the city limits. Oklahoma City is one of the largest cities in the nation in compliance with

5800-435: The capital was moved from Guthrie to Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City was a significant stop on Route 66 during the early part of the 20th century; it was prominently mentioned in Bobby Troup 's 1946 jazz song " (Get Your Kicks on) Route 66 " made famous by artist Nat King Cole . Before World War II , Oklahoma City developed significant stockyards , attracting jobs and revenue formerly in Chicago and Omaha, Nebraska . With

5900-483: The city center and sprawling suburbs further north. South Oklahoma City is generally more blue-collar working class and significantly more industrial, having grown up around the Stockyards and meat packing plants at the turn of the century. It is also the center of the city's rapidly growing Latino community. Downtown Oklahoma City , which has 7,600 residents, is seeing an influx of new private investment and large-scale public works projects, which have helped to revitalize

6000-423: The city council, which approves ordinances, resolutions, and contracts. The city is divided into eight wards , or single-member districts . Each ward elects a single city council representative for a three-year term. The mayor, who is elected at-large every three years, presides and sets the agenda of the City Council, but is primarily ceremonial as a head of government. The administrative day-to-day operation of

6100-430: The city had 1,634 (4.6%) self-employed workers and unpaid family workers. In May, Lawton Arts for All, Inc hosts the Arts for All Festival. The festival includes several judged art competitions, as well as live entertainment. The festival is typically held at Shepler Park. In late September, The International Festival is held in the city. Founded in 1979, the event showcases the many different cultures, arts, and music of

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6200-481: The city is headed by the City Manager , who is appointed by the City Council. As of January 2024, the mayor of Lawton was Stan Booker. As of January 2022, the city manager was Michael Cleghorn. Lawton is the county seat of Comanche County, and houses county offices and courts. Three elected commissioners serving four-year terms manage the county government. At the federal level, Lawton lies in Oklahoma's 4th congressional district , represented by Tom Cole . In

6300-429: The city was $ 63,713, and the median income for a family was $ 80,833. Married-couple families $ 99,839, and nonfamily households $ 40,521. The per capita income for the city was $ 35,902. 15.5% of the population and 11.2% of families were below the poverty line. Of the total population, 20.1% of those under 18 and 10.6% of those 65 and older lived below the poverty line. In the 2000 census , Oklahoma City's age composition

6400-565: The city was 60.3% White, 21.4% African American, 4.7% Native American, 2.6% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 3.4% from other races, and 4.9% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 12.6% (7.8% Mexican, 2.8% Puerto Rican, 0.3% Panamanian). Of the 34,901 households, 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were not families. Of all households, 29.4% were made up of individuals, and 2.3% had someone living alone who

6500-406: The city, Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport connects Lawton by air, while Greyhound Lines and the Lawton Area Transit System provide intercity and local bus service respectively. The territory of present-day Oklahoma was long settled by ancient cultures of prehistoric American Indians, including the Clovis , 11500 BCE ; Folsom , 10600 BCE; and Plainview , 10000 BCE cultures. The valleys of

6600-435: The citywide revitalization project known as MAPS, the city built a series of low-water dams, returning water to the portion of the river flowing near downtown. The city has three large lakes: Lake Hefner and Lake Overholser , in the northwestern quarter of the city; and the largest, Lake Stanley Draper , in the city's sparsely populated far southeast portion. The population density typically reported for Oklahoma City using

6700-507: The college provides lower-division programs and educational opportunities in higher education for the Comanche Nation and the public. Lawton is also served by the Great Plains Technology Center , which is part of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education system. Great Plains provides occupational education, training, and development opportunities to area residents. Oklahoma City Oklahoma City ( / ˌ oʊ k l ə ˈ h oʊ m ə -/ ), officially

6800-404: The community. Lawton has three public museums. The Museum of the Great Plains is dedicated to natural history and early settlement of the Great Plains, particularly by European Americans. Outdoor exhibits include a replica of the Red River Trading Post, the original Blue Beaver schoolhouse, and Elgin Train Depot with a Frisco locomotive. The Fort Sill Museum, located on the military base of

6900-696: The constantly hot and dry summer. Frequent strong winds, usually from the south or south-southeast during the summer, help to lessen the hotter weather. Northerly winds during the winter can occasionally intensify cold periods. The average mean temperature for southwest Oklahoma is 62.6 °F (17.0 °C). The summers can be mildly hot; Lawton averages 21 days with temperatures 100 °F (37.8 °C) and above. The winters are typically mild, though periods of extreme cold can occur. Lawton averages eight days that fail to rise above freezing. The city receives about 31.6 inches (800 mm) of precipitation and less than 3 in (10 cm) of snow annually. Lawton

7000-501: The demand for additional residential and retail amenities, such as groceries, services, and shops. Since the completion of the MAPS projects, the downtown area has seen continued development. Several downtown buildings are undergoing renovation/restoration. Notable among these was the restoration of the Skirvin Hotel in 2007. The famed First National Center is also being renovated. Residents of Oklahoma City suffered substantial losses on April 19, 1995, when Timothy McVeigh detonated

7100-415: The director of the Chamber of Commerce Stanley Draper . In 1950, the Census Bureau reported the city's population as 8.6% black and 90.7% white. In 1959, the city government launched a "Great Annexation Drive" that expanded the city's area from 80 to 475.55 square miles (207.2 to 1,231.7 square kilometers) by the end of 1961, making it the largest U.S. city by land mass at the time. Patience Latting

7200-562: The largest - Elmer Thomas Park. The Lawton branch of the YMCA offers a wide variety of recreational programs to members, and the Lawton Country Club maintains an 18-hole, par 71 golf course. Recreation can also be found in many amateur leagues, including adult softball, youth baseball, soccer, softball, and volleyball. Lawton uses the council–manager model of municipal government. The city's primary authority resides in

7300-467: The late 1950s, the city purchased large parcels of land along East Cache Creek in northern Comanche County for the construction of a dam and human-made lake, built in 1959 on the creek just north of U.S. 277 west of Elgin. Lake Ellsworth , named for a former Lawton mayor, soft-drink bottler C.R. Ellsworth, was dedicated in the early 1960s. It offered additional water resources, but also recreational opportunities and flood control along Cache Creek. In 1966,

7400-967: The latter part of the month . In the 2010 census , there were 579,999 people, 230,233 households, and 144,120 families in the city. The population density was 956.4 inhabitants per square mile (321.9/km ). There were 256,930 housing units at an average density of 375.9 per square mile (145.1/km ). By the 2020 census , its population grew to 681,054. Of Oklahoma City's 579,999 people in 2010, 44,541 resided in Canadian County, 63,723 lived in Cleveland County, 471,671 resided in Oklahoma County, and 64 resided in Pottawatomie County. In 2010, there were 230,233 households, 29.4% of which had children under 18 living with them, 43.4% were married couples living together, 13.9% had

7500-450: The memorial to read the names of each person lost. McVeigh was executed by lethal injection on June 11, 2001. The "Core-to-Shore" project was created to relocate I-40 one mile (1.6 km) south and replace it with a boulevard to create a landscaped entrance to the city. This also allows the central portion of the city to expand south and connect with the shore of the Oklahoma River. Several elements of "Core to Shore" were included in

7600-562: The metro area was the 41st largest in the nation based on population. The Association of Religion Data Archives in 2020 reported that the Southern Baptist Convention was the city and metropolitan area's most prominent Christian tradition with 213,008 members, Christianity being the area's predominant religion. Non/interdenominational Protestants were the second largest tradition with 195,158 members. The Roman Catholic Church claimed 142,491 adherents throughout

7700-527: The metropolitan region and Pentecostals within the Assemblies of God USA numbered 48,470. The remainder of Christians in the area held to predominantly Evangelical Christian beliefs in numerous evangelical Protestant denominations. Outside of Christendom, there were 4,230 practitioners of Hinduism and 2,078 Mahayana Buddhists . An estimated 8,904 residents practiced Islam during this study. Law enforcement claims Oklahoma City has traditionally been

7800-515: The monthly daily average ranging from 39.2 °F (4.0 °C) in January to 83.0 °F (28.3 °C) in July. Extremes range from −17 °F (−27 °C) on February 12, 1899 to 113 °F (45 °C) on August 11, 1936, and August 3, 2012 ; The last sub-zero (Fahrenheit) reading was −14 °F (−26 °C) on February 16, 2021. Temperatures reach 100 °F (38 °C) on 10.4 days of

7900-631: The northern sections of the city. In the south sections of the city, Permian Garber Sandstone is commonly found with some Hennessey Group shale . Area creeks including East Cache Creek contain deposits of Quaternary alluvium . To the northwest, the Wichita Mountains consist primarily of Wichita Granite Group from the Cambrian period. Lawton lies in a relatively dry humid subtropical climate ( Köppen climate classification Cfa ), with frequent variations in weather daily, except during

8000-463: The number of people assigned there and its scope of activities. Lawton expects a continuing benefit of population and economic growth over the course of the next 20 years. Lawton is the fifth-largest city in Oklahoma.. The city has a total area of 75.1 sq mi (195 km ), all land. Lawton is located about 84 mi (135 km) southwest of Oklahoma City. Other surrounding cities include Wichita Falls about 47 mi (76 km) to

8100-485: The population doubled between 1890 and 1900. Early leaders of the development of the city included Anton H. Classen , John Wilford Shartel , Henry Overholser , Oscar Ameringer , Jack C. Walton , Angelo C. Scott , and James W. Maney . By the time Oklahoma was admitted to the Union in 1907, Oklahoma City had surpassed Guthrie , the territorial capital, as the new state's population center and commercial hub. Soon after,

8200-478: The region. Southwestern Oklahoma is home to both public and private primary and secondary schools, though there are fewer private schools than in other parts of the state, such as Oklahoma City and Tulsa . The Oklahoma public school system is known for its pre-kindergarten education. The National Institute for Early Education Research rated it first in the United States with regard to standards, quality, and access to pre-kindergarten education in 2004, calling it

8300-534: The same name, includes the old Fort Sill corral and several period buildings, including the old post guardhouse, chapel, and barracks. It also features several artillery pieces. The old fort is designated as a National Historic Landmark . The Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center, operated by the Comanche Nation Tribe , focuses on exhibits and art relating to the Comanche culture. The museum also hosts traveling American Indian exhibitions from

8400-438: The south, Duncan about 33 mi (53 km) to the east, and Altus about 56 mi (90 km) to the west. Lawton lies in an area typical of the Great Plains , with prairie, few trees, and flat topography with gently rolling hills. The region north of the city consists of the Wichita Mountains , including Mount Scott and Mount Pinchot , the area's highest peaks. The area consists mostly of Permian limestone on

8500-511: The southern region of Lawton. Southwestern Oklahoma's economy is anchored in the United States Armed Forces and agriculture, manufacturing, and energy industries. Two military bases, Fort Sill in Lawton and Altus Air Force Base east-northeast of Altus, Oklahoma , are large employers in the region. Cattle is a major agricultural product of the region. Wind farms and oil and gas companies are other major employers in

8600-545: The southwestern corner of Oklahoma and today consists of Beckham County , Harmon County , Jackson County , and Greer County . Another portion of Southwestern Oklahoma was opened up through the Land Run of 1892 . Land formerly owned by the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes became Oklahoma Territory and today includes Blaine County , Dewey County , Custer County , and Roger Mills County and Washita County . Consisting of grassland and gently rolling hills, Southwest Oklahoma

8700-428: The spring months, while periods of drought can occur throughout other parts of the year. The region has several small, sky island mountain ranges, the largest of which being the Wichita Mountains , considered by geologists to be one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world. The region is known for its many rare, relic plant species, acting as the northern and western boundaries for many iconic plant species such as

8800-621: The territory of the notorious Juárez Cartel , but the Sinaloa Cartel has been reported as trying to establish a foothold in Oklahoma City. There are many rival gangs in Oklahoma City, one whose headquarters has been established in the city, the Southside Locos, traditionally known as Sureños . Oklahoma City also has its share of violent crimes, particularly in the 1970s. The worst occurred in 1978 when six employees of

8900-411: The vicinity) and hefty rainfall leading to flash flooding and flooding occur regularly. Consistent winds, usually from the south or south-southeast during the summer, help temper the hotter weather. Consistent northerly winds during the winter can intensify cold periods. Severe ice storms and snowstorms happen sporadically during the winter. The average temperature is 61.4 °F (16.3 °C), with

9000-600: The year, 90 °F (32 °C) on nearly 70 days, and fail to rise above freezing on 8.3 days. The city receives about 35.9 inches (91.2 cm) of precipitation annually, of which 8.6 inches (21.8 cm) is snow. The report "Regional Climate Trends and Scenarios for the U.S. National Climate Assessment" ( NCA ) from 2013 by NOAA projects that parts of the Great Plains region can expect up to 30% (high emissions scenario based on CMIP3 and NARCCAP models) increase in extreme precipitation days by mid-century. This definition

9100-406: Was 25.5% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males. Oklahoma City has experienced significant population increases since the late 1990s. It is the first city in the state to record

9200-449: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.08. In the city, the population was distributed as 24.9% under the age of 18, 15.3% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.0 males. The median income for

9300-541: Was a lucrative commodity crop. They pressured the government to give them access to Indian lands. In 1830, under President Andrew Jackson , Congress passed the Indian Removal Act , which removed American Indian tribes from the Southeast and relocated them to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River . The southern part of this territory was originally assigned to the Choctaw and Chickasaw . Following

9400-501: Was active until 1922. Similarly, the US response in World War II stimulated activity and expansion at Fort Sill and Lawton. The city's population increased from 18,055 to 34,757 from 1940 to 1950. By the 1960s, it had reached 61,697. In the postwar period, Lawton underwent tremendous growth during the late 1940s and 1950s, leading city officials to seek additional water sources to supplement existing water from Lake Lawtonka. In

9500-520: Was completed on April 23, 1964. Urban-renewal efforts in the 1970s transformed downtown Lawton. A number of buildings dating to the city's founding were demolished to build an enclosed shopping mall , which was believed to provide a suburban attraction for shoppers. On June 23, 1998, the city expanded when Lawton annexed neighboring Fort Sill. The Base Realignment and Closure of 2005 resulted in reassignment of people from other bases and consolidation of some military activities at Fort Sill, increasing

9600-473: Was convicted and subsequently executed by lethal injection on June 11, 2001. The economy of Oklahoma City, once just a regional power center of government and energy exploration, has since diversified to include the sectors of information technology, services , health services , and administration. The city is headquarters to two Fortune 500 companies: Expand Energy and Devon Energy , as well as being home to Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores , which

9700-556: Was designated as the Comanche County seat. The town was named for Major General Henry W. Lawton , a quartermaster at Fort Sill, who had taken part in the pursuit and capture of Comanche chief Geronimo . The city was opened to settlement through an auction of town lots beginning on 6 August 1901, which was completed 60 days later. By 25 September 1901, the Rock Island Railroad expanded to Lawton and

9800-417: Was elected Mayor of Oklahoma City in 1971, becoming the city's first female mayor. Latting was also the first woman to serve as mayor of a U.S. city with over 350,000 residents. Like many other American cities, the center city population declined in the 1970s and 1980s as families followed newly constructed highways to move to newer housing in nearby suburbs. Urban renewal projects in the 1970s, including

9900-549: Was hit by an EF5 tornado. The tornado was 0.5 to 1.3 miles (0.80 to 2.09 km) wide and killed 23 people. On May 31, less than two weeks after the May 20 event, another outbreak affected the Oklahoma City area. Within Oklahoma City, the system spawned an EF1 and an EF0 tornado, and in El Reno to the west, an EF3 tornado occurred. This lattermost tornado , which was heading in the direction of Oklahoma City before it dissipated, had

10000-529: Was soon joined by the Frisco Line . The first city elections were held 24 October 1901. The United States' entry into World War I accelerated development at Fort Sill and Lawton. The availability of 5 million US gallons (19,000 m ) of water from Lake Lawtonka , just north of Fort Sill, was a catalyst for the War Department to establish a major cantonment named Camp Doniphan . It

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