All About Oklahoma City - Home of Car Hops
Route 66 runs along the northern part of the city, from I-44 on the east and crossing highways 44, 3a, 74/I-44, and the John Kilpatrick Turnpike. It stretches alongside parks and green spaces as well as ponds and lakes. The Stinchcomb Wildlife Refuge in northwestern Oklahoma City lies just north of Route 66, Lake Overholser to the south.
Parks and Lakes Surround the City
The North Canadian River enters the region from the northwest and cuts between North Oklahoma City and South Oklahoma City, which were once separate towns.
Home of Sonic Drive-Ins
The SONIC Drive-Ins World Headquarters is expanding operations to 1,000 new restaurants in 2015 - 2016. HQ is located at 300 Johnny Bench Drive; Oklahoma City, OK 73104. An annual Car Hops Contest is held and makes a popular attraction that is a lot of fun.
Keep your Eye On Sonic for New jobs
SONIC HQ: 300 Johnny Bench Drive; Oklahoma City, OK 73104. - Selected Downtown Oklahoma Attractions
On the map above, notice the several attractions around the SONIC company headquarters. You can see Bricktown, the Riverwalk and its adjacent park, sports parks, and green spaces. The retail establishments in this area also draw many visitors.
Economic Growth
Oklahoma City is the capital of the state, located in the eight-county center of Oklahoma and in Oklahoma County.
This city is also home to over half a million individual residents that produce a median income of $37,000+ annually. The average yearly income of Central Oklahomans is rising as the growth of new openings among higher-income jobs climbs.
New jobs include those in the Government and Healthcare sectors of business, particularly in Healthcare. The Cost of Living in Oklahoma City in the interior of America is lower than on either of the nation's coastlines.
Social Services and Education Services will continue to grow in jobs and importance to the economy and the people of an aging population. The median age of the Greater Oklahoma City Area is 36-38 in 2015.
Greater Oklahoma City Area - Eight Counties Large
Native North Americans and Indian Reservations
"Indian" is the legal term used by the US Federal Government to reference Native North Americans recognized by that government, although some of the legally incorporated names for tribal groups here include "Native American Nation" instead of "Indian." Some indigenous people in America object to the latter term and some do not.
Oklahoma has been popularized in the public jargon as "Indian Country", because a number of different nations settled here during and after the Indian Removals initiated by President Andrew Jackson. Despite this tragic history, many native groups provide interesting exhibits, art showings, and facilities for residents and visitors to experience.
What we call "totem poles" have proliferated in Asian countries and Siberia for thousands of years along the Pacific Rim, in the Pacific Northwest, and in Washington State, Oregon, and parts of California. Other locales have purchased poles from modern carvers. Oklahoma City is southwest of the interesting Ed Galloway Totem Pole Park on Route 66 in Foyle OK. The pole there is concrete and strange, but entertaining.
Real Carved Cedar Poles ("Totem")
- Totem Poles in the Pacific Northwest, Vancouver BC, Siberia, Alaska, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea a
The history of totem poles around the Pacific Rim and the Sub-Polar regions is many centuries old. In-depth research and interviewing from 1700 to the 21st Century have revealed a history of totem poles globally that was previously unknown. - A Totem Pole is a Person - The Legacy of Native North American Carvers, Customs and History in the
Carved cedar poles have often been misunderstood and misrepresented globally. Such a pole is traditionally a person - a respected story teller. Here is part of the story.
Native American Culture, Arts and Business
The Red Earth Museum is an fascinating attraction in Oklahoma City and is a recognized center for Native American Fine Arts, holding a juried arts and dance competition yearly. A Grand Parade is held yearly before the start of the Red Earth Festival in Downtown Oklahoma City. Over 1200 artists and dancers participate in the Yearly Grand Parade before entering arts, junior arts, dancing, running and other competitions.
Red Earth Fesitval 2007
New Green Spaces and Parks
Tragedy has struck Oklahoma City, but it has healed and grown since that time.
Recovering from the notorious Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995, the city is now features the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial on the site of the tragedy, offering a garden and seating to visitors and local families.
The area around the bombing of the former Federal Building in Oklahoma City was reconstructed as a beautiful park commemorating the victims and their families. Altogether, that installation joins other cultural and historical venues, welcoming people, and good jobs to make Oklahoma City one of the 25 Best Large American Cities for Jobs and Business.
Oklahoma City has been named The Most Recession-Proof City in America.
Reference Map, Downtown Area - About 8,000 Residents
Myriad Garden - 
Oklahoma City Mayor Office - 
Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial 620 N Harvey Ave, Oklahoma City, OK - 
Bricktown - Projected Long-Term Growth Industries
Oklahoma City has been named The Most Recession-Proof City in America.
The particular Industries or Industry Clusters expanding the most quickly through the year 2020 and to offer the greatest numbers of jobs in Central Oklahoma include:
- Administrative and Support Services
- Educational and Health Services
- Government - State, County, Local
- Leisure and Tourism: Dining, Retail Sales, and especially Museums and Historical Sites
- Trade, Transportation and Utilities
- Professional and Tech/Science & Business Services
- Financial Products and Services
Largest Employers in the Greater Oklahoma City Area:
- State of Oklahoma
- Tinker Air Force Base
- US Postal Service University of Oklahoma
- Oklahoma City Public Schools
- US FAA Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center
- City of Oklahoma
- INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center
Top 10 Fastest Growing Jobs In Oklahoma City
According to a number of government and financial/economic databases, the Top 10 Jobs In Oklahoma City through the year 2014 appear on the following list. These occupations include an interesting variety and range of jobs in greaters numbers than offered in other large cities.
This variety and range of job titles makes the Greater Oklahoma City Area an attractive location to which to relocate for new or upgraded employment opportunities. This is one of the factors making Oklahoma City one of the best Top 25 Large Cities in America for employment and business success.
- Registered Nurses - includes Travel Nursing
- Medical Assistants and Other Health Providers
- General Management
- Social Assistance - Social Services Professionals, Personal Aides
- Retail Sales & Customer Service
- Teachers - Mainstream, elementary and secondary; College and Vocational
- Administrative and Support Staff
- Waste Management and Recycling
- Information Technology
- Construction and Manufacturing
Myriad Garden Downtown
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Green Businesses and Jobs
Green Collar Jobs are increasing as waste management, recycling, and many other industries and businesses are going green. Oklahoma Green Business has pages of business and employment listings at Oklahoma Green Businesses on the web, a directory of hundreds of businesses that are eco-friendly, listed alphabetically. The Organic Consumers website also lists businesses that deal in organic and natural foods, including native and traditional plants.
Health Related Job Opportunities in Oklahoma City
Areas Hospitals and Specialty Clinics include the following long list of employers. Search their websites for employment listings and training programs on the health services.
- Baptist Medical Center
- Bone & Joint Hospital
- Cedar Ridge
- Community Hospital
- Deaconess Hospital
- Integris Mental Health Center
- Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Hospital
- Kindred Hospital Oklahoma City
- Lakeside Women's Hospital
- McBride Clinic Orthopedic Hospital
- Mercy Health System of Oklahoma
- Northwest Surgical Hospital
- Oklahoma City Surgical Center
- Oklahoma City VA Medical Center
- Oklahoma Spine Hospital
- Oklahoma Surgicare
- Orthopedic Hospital
- OU Medical Center
- Children's Hospital at OU Medical Center
- Saint Anthony Hospital
- Saint Michael Hospital
- Select Medical Corporation
- Southwest Medical Center
- Valir Health
Leisure & Tourism - Downtown District
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Greater Oklahoma City Pages
Stockyards Along Old Route 66
Route 66 via Oklahoma City
Old Route 66 is no longer marked on most maps, but it once connected most of Middle America with the West Coast.
During Old West cattle drives, ranchers and cattle drovers moved the herds from the Oklahoma Stockyards all along the trail that would later become Route 66, to California markets.
Route 66 in Oklahoma - The Will Rogers Highway
- The International Professional Rodeo Association
- The Official Site of Will Rogers
The Cherokee Kid - Oklahoma National Stockyards
Located directly on Route 66.
Colleges and Unversities in Greater Oklahoma City
Faith-Based Schools
Universities and Colleges
- Mid-America Christian University
- Oklahoma Christian University
- Oklahoma City Community College
- Oklahoma City University
- Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City
- University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Community Colleges
- Platt College
- Heritage College
- Rose State College
- Vatterott College
- Wright Career College
© 2008 Patty Inglish
Comments
I visited the site of the Oklahoma bombing with friends who live in Ponca City to the north of there. I was moved to tears.
We also went to Eskimo Joes, which is not in Oklahoma City, but well worth the visit!
I saw my first tornado while we were driving through Oklahoma.
- Author
Hi Chef Jeff - Thanks for posting your experiences in and around Oklahoma City.
Pictures of the Memorial make my blood run cold, but mesmerize me. It's beautiful, but so many people died. It's the empty chairs...
I will checkout Eskimo Joe's online! Glad you were not whisked away in the wind!
Great hub. Very informative