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| City of Tulsa | |
|---|---|
| Name | Tulsa |
| Settlement type | City |
| Nickname | "Oil Capital of the World", "T-Town" |
| Subdivision type | Country |
| Subdivision name | United States |
| Subdivision type1 | State |
| Subdivision name1 | Oklahoma |
| Established title | Founded |
| Established date | 1836 |
| Area total sq mi | 201.8 |
| Population total | 413000 |
| Population as of | 2020 |
| Website | TulsaOK.gov |
City of Tulsa Tulsa is a major city in northeastern Oklahoma located along the Arkansas River and is the county seat of Tulsa County. Founded amid 19th-century settlement and incorporated during the Oklahoma land run era, Tulsa grew rapidly as a center of petroleum extraction and refinement. The city serves as a regional hub for culture, commerce, higher education, and transportation in the American South Central United States.
Tulsa's origins trace to Muscogee (Creek) relocation and settlement patterns tied to the Trail of Tears, followed by increased Anglo-American migration during the era of the Oklahoma Land Rush and the establishment of nearby Guthrie, Oklahoma. The discovery of oil in the early 20th century, notably at the Glenn Pool Oil Reserve and later in the Osage Nation region, transformed Tulsa into a boomtown linked to companies such as Williams Companies, Phillips Petroleum Company, and Skelly Oil Company. Prominent financiers including the Mabee family and entrepreneurs behind H. H. Champlin and J. Paul Getty influenced municipal growth, while civic institutions like the Public Service Company of Oklahoma shaped utilities. Tulsa's urban expansion intersected with racial tensions culminating in the 1921 racial violence at the Greenwood district, often connected to the broader context of Red Summer conflicts and wartime migration. Mid-century redevelopment projects drew from federal programs like the New Deal and postwar initiatives influenced by figures associated with the Tennessee Valley Authority model, prompting controversy similar to urban renewal debates in cities such as Detroit and Cleveland. Late 20th-century diversification involved partnerships with corporations including ONEOK, ConocoPhillips, and Boeing, and civic revitalization connected to events like the Tulsa Race Massacre reparative efforts.
Tulsa lies on the eastern edge of the Great Plains and within the historical bounds of the Cross Timbers. The city is bisected by the Arkansas River and features tributaries such as Tulsa Creek and nearby Verdigris River systems that influence floodplain management similar to projects on the Mississippi River. Tulsa's climate is classified as humid subtropical under the Köppen climate classification and experiences seasonal patterns comparable to Oklahoma City, Wichita, and Kansas City. Severe weather events include tornado activity associated with Tornado Alley and notable storms linked historically to the 1984 tornado outbreak and other regional convective systems monitored by the National Weather Service Tulsa office.
Tulsa's population demographics reflect migration trends influenced by industrial booms and postwar suburbanization akin to patterns seen in St. Louis and Atlanta. Census data show diverse communities including descendants of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Cherokee Nation, and other Native American nations, alongside populations identifying as African American, Hispanic and Latino Americans, and European American ancestries such as Irish Americans and German Americans. Neighborhoods like Greenwood District, Brookside, and Blue Dome District illustrate socioeconomic contrasts observed in studies by urbanists comparing Tulsa to Phoenix and Minneapolis. Demographic shifts have been analyzed in relation to federal policies like the GI Bill and interstate development influenced by the Interstate Highway System.
Tulsa's economy originated in the oil and gas sector with corporate legacies including Magnum Hunter Resources, Continental Resources, and Chesapeake Energy footprints, and has diversified into aerospace with firms like Spirit AeroSystems and manufacturing linked to Johnston & Murphy histories. The city hosts headquarters and regional offices for financial institutions such as BOK Financial Corporation and professional services comparable to those in Dallas and Houston. Cultural tourism, supported by venues such as the Philbrook Museum of Art and events resembling Route 66 heritage initiatives, complements sectors in healthcare anchored by institutions like Saint Francis Health System and Hillcrest HealthCare System. Energy transition efforts involve companies and research collaborations patterned after programs at National Renewable Energy Laboratory affiliates.
Municipal governance follows a mayor-council structure with the executive office linked to municipal agencies and intergovernmental cooperation with Tulsa County and neighboring jurisdictions like Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and Bixby, Oklahoma. Political dynamics reflect state-level interactions with offices in Oklahoma City and participation in federal programs administered by agencies including the Department of Housing and Urban Development and Federal Emergency Management Agency. Local policy debates mirror national trends on urban planning and public safety discussed in forums with representatives from entities such as the U.S. Conference of Mayors and regional organizations like the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission.
Tulsa's cultural scene features institutions such as the BOK Center, Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Cain's Ballroom, and museums including the Philbrook Museum of Art and the Gilcrease Museum which houses collections related to the American West and Native American art. Music traditions intersect with figures associated with Bob Wills, Leon Russell, and movements like Western swing and Tulsa Sound, paralleled by venues that supported touring acts from the Grand Ole Opry circuit. Performing arts companies including the Tulsa Ballet and Tulsa Opera collaborate with educational institutions like the University of Tulsa and conservatories modeled on programs from the Juilliard School and Curtis Institute of Music. Festivals such as Mayfest and celebrations tied to Route 66 tourism contribute to cultural tourism strategies used by cities such as Santa Fe and Asheville.
Higher education institutions include the University of Tulsa, Oral Roberts University, Rogers State University satellite programs, and technical training centers resembling models from the Oklahoma State University system and the University of Oklahoma network. The Tulsa Public Schools district administers primary and secondary education with magnet programs and partnerships echoing initiatives from Pittsburgh Public Schools and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Specialized research and workforce development involve collaborations with organizations like the Tulsa Regional Chamber and certification programs aligned with standards from the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Tulsa's transportation infrastructure includes Tulsa International Airport, regional freight connections on rails formerly operated by Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and Union Pacific Railroad, and interstate access via Interstate 44, U.S. Route 75, and U.S. Route 169. Urban transit services are provided by Tulsa Transit while regional planning engages with entities such as the Metropolitan Planning Organization and state agencies like the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Water resources and utilities are managed through systems comparable to those overseen by Metropolitan Water District of Southern California in scale models, and flood control projects draw on engineering precedents like the Army Corps of Engineers riverine works.
Category:Cities in Oklahoma