OKLAHOMA CITY Relocation Guide
EXPERIENCE
OKLAHOMA CITY
Oklahoma City…Born In A Single Day
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Community Fabric
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Opportunity Awaits
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Living the American Dream
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Education Excellence
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Leaders in Medical Science
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Crossroads of America
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Getting Established
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Get to know Oklahoma City’s history and the urban renaissance of the past decade.
Oklahoma City is a diverse community with a wide variety of arts and entertainment available.
Oklahoma City has a thriving business climate with a talented workforce.
Oklahoma City has some of the most affordable housing in the nation with something for everyone’s budget & taste.
Oklahoma City is a community committed to excellence in education.
Oklahoma City is home to some of the nation’s leading patient care and research institutions.
Oklahoma City is centrally located and convenient to get around.
Some helpful numbers to get you established in Oklahoma City.
This Relocation Guide contains important information to help make Oklahoma City your new home. The accompanying DVD, which plays in a DVD player or on your computer, contains videos about exciting opportunities awaiting you in Oklahoma City. When you play the disc in your computer, you can also access additional printable resources, including a list of contacts for setting up services. If you have difficulties viewing the disc or accessing the materials, please contact us. We want to be your partner in making our city, your city, too. Greater Oklahoma City Chamber 123 Park Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73102 405.297.8900 phone • 405.297.8916 fax www.okcchamber.com
OKLAHOMA CITY Take a closer look at Oklahoma City and see why more and more people are building futures in this young city full of promise. Over the past decade, Oklahoma City has seen unprecedented growth, and the end is nowhere in sight. Fresh off the largest urban makeover in national history with more than $3 billion invested in new development, Oklahoma City has spruced up, renovated and entered the 21st Century with what has become signature gusto. You’ll see our new-found adrenaline reflected in a gleaming downtown; a robust economy; a sparkling, reclaimed river and a neon-lit canal flowing through Bricktown – one of the fastestgrowing entertainment districts in the Southwest. Most importantly, you’ll find it reflected in the faces of the people who make their homes, lives and livings here.
Top to bottom: Bricktown Canal, 4th of July Celebration, Bricktown Water Park
A City Born in a Single Day Unstoppable Momentum Oklahoma City comes by its momentum naturally. On April 22, 1889, more than 50,000 people raced on horseback, in wagons, on bicycles – even on foot – to claim a piece of what would become central Oklahoma in the country’s first land run. By nightfall, 10,000 of the luckiest ones became Oklahoma City’s first residents and immediately set out to transform acres of lush prairie into a thriving community. The dust from that great race settled long ago, and the tent city born in a day has grown into an urban oasis surrounded by neighborhoods steeped in personality, colorful art enclaves and plenty of clean, green spaces to stretch your body and mind. The momentum that created Oklahoma City hasn’t stopped. We continue to race to the head of the pack in bioscience, technology, manufacturing, education, small business and, most of all, livability.
Land Run Statue on Bricktown Canal
A Modern Day Renaissance Oklahoma City’s rambunctious beginning left in its wake a boundless spirit brimming with optimism and ingenuity. That same spirit was a driving force more than a decade ago when the city’s current renaissance began with MAPS, or the Metropolitan Area Projects. This initiative brought sweeping changes to the city’s urban core, creating an undeniable energy that reverberates throughout the entire metro area. Today, downtown Oklahoma City is a vibrant district, with more than $3 billion in public and private investments and more on the horizon. The vitality is evident in Bricktown, the 30-block entertainment district east of downtown, where property values have increased 231% since 2004. You can also see it along the Oklahoma River, where the sleek, privately funded $3.5 million Chesapeake Boathouse is a striking landmark and fast becoming a national and international destination for rowers and paddlers alike. Our renaissance does not stop there. A slate of new housing developments is underway in and around downtown, providing more than 850 housing units in the last seven years, with an additional 728 units in various stages of development. And, downtown is home to more than 1,600 hotel rooms, with the recent opening of three new hotels and restoration of two historic hotels.
Top to bottom: AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, Cox Business Services Convention Center, Ford Center
The vibrant spirit of renewal has reached the arts community, too. The Oklahoma City Museum of Art, a jewel anchoring the downtown Arts District, regularly hosts world-class traveling exhibitions, and offers the most comprehensive film and video program in the region. Other projects that have contributed to the city’s renaissance include: AT&T Bricktown Ballpark: Completed in 1998, this $34.2-million, 15,000-seat ballpark is home to the Oklahoma RedHawks, the Texas Rangers Triple-A affiliate, and has been named one of the nation’s top minor league facilities. Bricktown Canal: Water taxis travel this one-mile canal that winds through the bustling Bricktown entertainment district. The canal brims with restaurants, clubs, shops, a multiplex theater, trails and park areas. At a cost of $32.1 million, the canal opened in 1999. Cox Business Services Convention Center: A $63.1-million renovation of the Myriad Convention Center updated the complex for meetings, exhibits, conferences, concerts and special events – just steps away from Bricktown and first-rate dining and entertainment. Civic Center Music Hall: With a striking design that blends Art Deco and contemporary styles, a $54.2Civic Center Music Hall
million renovation transformed the Civic Center into one of America’s top performance halls and the premier performing arts venue in the Southwest. Ford Center: Always buzzing with activity, this 20,000-seat arena hosts big-name national concerts and tours. The most expensive of all nine MAPS projects at $87.7 million, the Ford Center includes 56 suites and 3,600 club-level seats. Oklahoma State Fairgrounds: With a nod to Oklahoma City’s western heritage, a $14-million renovation makes the fairgrounds the preferred venue for more than a dozen national and world championship horse shows each year – a big reason why Oklahoma City is known as the Horse Show Capital of the World. Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library & Learning Center: This $21.5-million, 110,000square-foot public space in the heart of downtown offers a business center; top-of-theline information services; classrooms and lecture rooms; special exhibits and events; and meeting spaces for area universities. Oklahoma Spirit Trolley: Covering a threemile area and looping through downtown, this trolley system makes getting to Oklahoma City’s hot spots easy. An additional line links the state fairgrounds area with downtown and the Bricktown entertainment district.
Top to bottom: Rowing on the Oklahoma River, Downtown Library, Trolley Tours
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The Oklahoma River: Six years of work and a $23.1-million investment transformed a once almost non-existent river into a sevenmile-long series of sparkling river-lakes bordered by landscaped areas, trails and recreational facilities. Regattas, festivals and other outdoor events make the river a popular destination year-round.
Quality of Living We admit it: Oklahoma City may be the biggest small town around – the perfect blend of cosmopolitan advantages with a friendly style. No matter how you like to spend your down time, Oklahoma City has something for everyone. Gaze in awe at the world’s tallest Chihuly glass tower, or climb to the top of one of the region’s tallest rock climbing walls (built in an abandoned grain silo); conquer a skate park designed by Oklahoma City’s own champion BMX racer Mat Hoffman, or skim across Lake Hefner in a sailboat or on a sailboard. Explore the galleries of our major museums overflowing with treasures or enjoy the organic creativity flowing from dozens of art galleries and performance venues. From sporting events and outdoor adventure, to theatre and ballet, Oklahoma City will dazzle you.
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297-7777
COMMUNITY FABRIC Oklahoma City has one of America’s largest artist communities, with more than 4,500 artists and 21 arts organizations. Community If you think Oklahoma City has Western flavor – you’re right. We are proud of the colorful cowboy heritage that resonates in our warm hospitality, sense of adventure, art and traditions. But here, the West has a new twist. Sure, you can stroll and shop along the streets of authentic Stockyards City and sit in on one of the largest weekly cattle auctions in the country. But, just blocks away, the clamoring of cattle is replaced with the clattering of silverware at dozens of trendy restaurants; Dell, Inc. operates one of its fastest-growing customer service facilities; and cocktails are served overlooking the skyline from the rooftop of the city’s downtown art museum. The truth is – Oklahoma City escapes definition. Authentic, inspired and unpretentious, we sit at the nation’s crossroads, corralling the best from all directions. Our central location has lead to a diverse population, creating a mosaic of cultures and experiences. A Native American Cultural Center will be completed in 2009 on the banks of the Top to bottom: Paseo District, Asian District, Oklahoma City Art Museum
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Oklahoma River just south of downtown. The complex will hold exquisite treasures and showcase the proud history and rich traditions of Oklahoma’s tribes and American Indian experience. Every June, the city hosts the Red Earth Festival, the largest American Indian dance competition and art show in the country. Oklahoma’s Asian District, nestled north of downtown, bustles with exceptional Red Earth Festival restaurants, shops and cultural experiences. The historic Deep Deuce area, once a hotbed of jazz on downtown’s northeast side, again resonates with music and activity as a newly-developed residential neighborhood. And, a thriving Hispanic population adds to the city’s multicultural flavor, while enhancing business opportunities. One of the fastest growing segments of Oklahoma City’s population, the number of Hispanic residents increased 133 percent from 1990 to 2000.
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A Creative Place Oklahoma is definitely in touch with its creative side. With three major arts festivals each year and more than 50 independent galleries showcasing local artists, Oklahoma City’s exuberant arts scene provides the perfect mix of main stream and off-beat art encounters. A rite of spring each April in Oklahoma City is the ever-popular Festival of the Arts downtown. With more than 150 local and nationally known artisans, enticing taste treats along International Food Row and tunes from a mixture of musical genres, Festival of the Arts is sure to satisfy your soul. The three-day holiday weekends of summer bring two more opportunities to enjoy art in Oklahoma City. Catch the Paseo Arts Festival on Memorial Day weekend, when artists and musicians fill the streets of the Paseo District, a charming neighborhood offering studios, boutiques and restaurants. Built in 1929, the Paseo was the first commercial shopping district north of downtown and is now home to Oklahoma City’s artists’ community. Visit a stained glass workshop or pottery studio, watch a painter at work, see a children’s theater group performance or just have dinner and shop. Over Labor Day weekend, South Oklahoma City hosts Arts Festival Oklahoma on the campus of Oklahoma City Community College. Top to bottom: Festival of the Arts, Arts Festival Oklahoma, Paseo Arts Festival
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This festival treats more than 30,000 visitors to original artwork and handicrafts, live music performances and tasty food. The spectacular Oklahoma City Museum of Art anchors the city’s up-and-coming Arts District. In addition to an amazing permanent collection and special exhibitions, the museum holds the world’s largest, most comprehensive exhibit by glass sculptor Dale Chihuly. Now an Oklahoma City icon, a three-story atrium welcomes museum visitors with a 55-foot Chihuly glass tower. With 15 galleries, the museum regularly hosts world-class traveling exhibitions, and offers the most comprehensive film and video program in the region, with weekly screenings of independent, foreign and classic films. Create your own masterpiece through the Museum School, which provides year-round camps and classes to people of all ages. A gourmet café and Cocktails on the Skyline served from the rooftop during the summer months ensure the museum pays tribute to the culinary arts as well. Take in the mind-expanding exhibits throughout the year at several galleries around town, including Untitled [Art Space], Red Earth Gallery, and the Individual Artists of Oklahoma Gallery.
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Performance Art Abounds The Allied Arts program of Oklahoma City provides more than $1.5 million in funding each year for the arts, collected from citizens through an annual workplace campaign. Oklahoma City ranks sixth in its individual giving to the arts and has one of America’s largest artist communities, with more than 4,500 artists and 21 arts organizations. Ballet Oklahoma In the Civic Center Music Hall in downtown Oklahoma City, you can experience the performing arts in the splendor of the recently renovated Art Deco concert hall. The hall features a multi-tiered auditorium with three balconies, 2,500 private suites, a hydraulic orchestra pit and virtually perfect acoustics. The Civic Center is home to the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra, Ballet Oklahoma, Canterbury Chorale Society, BLAC, Inc., and Lyric Theatre. It also plays host to touring Broadway musicals and an annual series of national artists.
Art takes center stage in Oklahoma City’s many theatre experiences. USA Today named Lyric Theatre one of “10 great places to see the lights way off Broadway.” Lyric offers year-round productions and programs, including special performances for young people. Also 15
of note are Carpenter Square Theatre, Jewel Box Theatre, Oklahoma Children’s Theatre, Oklahoma Opry and Stage Center. With so many theatres and performance groups, there is truly something to entertain everyone in Oklahoma City. The downtown Ford Center is a 20,000 Oklahoma City National Memorial and seat, state-of-the-art facility that brings Museum entertainment to a whole new level. This 586,000-square-foot facility features four seating levels, a press level and suites. The first year the Ford Center was in operation, it hosted 26 top-name concerts and ranked among the top 10 entertainment venues in the United States.
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Urban Adventures Oklahoma City’s list of stellar attractions covers it all – from western heritage and natural history to space, science and, most importantly, fun! The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum houses a vast collection of classic and contemporary western art, including works by Charles Russell, Frederic Remington and the awe-inspiring 18-foot “End of the Trail” sculpture by James Earle Fraser. There are also five breathtaking western landscapes known as “Windows to the West” by Albuquerque artist Wilson Hurly. All ages love Prosperity Junction, a re-created western town. The museum also has an amazing gift shop and restaurant, and serves as one of Oklahoma City’s elegant special event venues. The creation of a peaceful monument offers visitors from around the world comfort and hope at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. The interactive learning museum honors the survivors and those who lost their lives in the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing on April 19, 1995. The museum, and outdoor memorial with its reflecting pool, gives pause to all who visit and provides important insights through special exhibits. Just 30 minutes south of Oklahoma City is the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History on the campus of the University of Oklahoma in Top to bottom: Oklahoma History Center, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Frontier City Amusement Park
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Norman. This museum boasts thousands of artifacts tracing Oklahoma’s natural history, including dinosaur fossils and Native American cultural exhibits. In its new home across from the State Capitol, the 215,000-square-foot Oklahoma History Center offers a chance to explore Oklahoma’s unique story through interactive exhibits covering geology, transportation, commerce, culture aviation, heritage and more. Oklahoma City also has its share of fast-paced, family-friendly attractions, such as the Oklahoma City Zoo and the Science Museum Oklahoma with its Omnidome large-format theater. Fun and excitement during warmer months can be found at Frontier City or at White Water Bay, where you can cool off on more than 30 water rides. The city also has 140 public parks offering a variety of family activities, including exercise paths, picnic areas, swimming pools and tennis courts.
Enjoy the Nightlife Just a short walk from downtown, Bricktown is bustling with dining and nightlife. Once an old commercial warehouse district, the fastest growing entertainment and dining district in the Southwest is home to restaurants, clubs and shops. Bricktown is also home to the AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, the Coca-Cola Bricktown Events Center, Harkins
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Theatre and Bass Pro Shops. Visitors can stay along the canal at the Residence Inn by Marriott, located across from popular attraction Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill, the first such restaurant opened by the Oklahoma native. Water taxi tours along the mile-long canal offer a unique perspective. Bricktown’s restaurants, night clubs and lounges are constantly evolving to keep up with every taste. CityWalk features nine rooms, each offering a different music genre; Maker’s is a quiet jazz lounge for the cigar-smoking crowd and SKKYbar Ultra Lounge is the place for a trendy evening. Dining adventures range from Chelino’s and Abuelo’s Mexican restaurants to Cajun specialties at Bourbon Street to Zio’s and Spaghetti Warehouse for Italian. In between, you can sample custom brews at the Bricktown Brewery or get messy eating down-home barbecue at Earl’s Rib Palace. If upscale dining is on the menu, a pleasant evening can be found at Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse, The Mantel or Nonna’s Euro-American Ristorante and Bar. Throughout Oklahoma City, you’ll find cozy venues and clubs to enjoy the city’s vibrant live music scene, and restaurants that serve up the best in local flavor. On Lake Hefner’s East Warf, enjoy waterfront dining, while watching boats sail off into a famous Oklahoma sunset; or, savor sushi on historic Western Avenue. If you’re hungry for Lake Hefner
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more choices, try one of the nearly 100 restaurants that line Meridian Avenue, dubbed “restaurant row” by the locals.
Shop ‘til You Drop Whether you are looking for art in the Paseo, or searching for treasures in one of our many antique malls, shopping is definitely a favorite Oklahoma City pastime. You’ll find eight major retail shopping malls located in all corners of the city, with new shopping areas springing up all the time. You don’t have to be a cowboy to appreciate Langston’s Western Wear and the other businesses in Stockyards City. And, for cultural finds, visit the shops in the Asian District along Classen Boulevard and N.W. 23rd Street. Colorful boutiques and quaint antiques stores line the streets along the Western Avenue District or North May Avenue, bordering several historic neighborhoods. The exclusive Nichols Hills area offers an elegant shopping experience.
Pick Your Sport Whether you prefer to be in the stands or on the field, Oklahoma City is a sports lover’s paradise. From rowing to running and Frisbee golf to softball, Oklahoma City will keep you moving. The downtown Ford Center is home to the Oklahoma City Blazers of the Central Hockey League and the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz Arena Football Team. 20
Mat Hoffman Action Sports Park
With the Cox Business Services Convention Center arena just across the street from the Ford Center, downtown is buzzing with people out on the town during game nights. Fans can also be found cheering on the Oklahoma RedHawks Triple-A baseball team at the AT&T Bricktown Ballpark. The “Brick” is recognized as one of the top minor league ballparks in the country. For those on the quest for the unexpected, Oklahoma City is home to Mat Hoffman Enterprises and Hoffman Bikes, leaders in BMX freestyle biking. Visit one of the most challenging skateparks in the region: the 26,000-square-foot Mat Hoffman Action Sports Park. The facility is designed for skateboards, in-line skating and BMX freestyle biking. If that isn’t enough for you, just across the Bricktown canal is OKC Rocks, an indoor climbing facility built inside an old concrete grain silo. GC
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Another sport taking hold in Oklahoma City is rowing. With the Chesapeake Boathouse on the Oklahoma River, Oklahoma City is gaining a reputation as a first-class rowing venue. The Boathouse provides a venue for several college varsity rowing teams and offers memberships for individuals that include access to equipment, boat storage and training facilities and services.
Urban Retreats With more than 50 lakes within an hour’s drive, 83 miles of trails and 33 public and private golf courses, Oklahoma City offers plenty of opportunities to connect with nature in its urban landscape. And, the city’s extensive park system provides attractive, well-maintained areas for tennis, swimming, biking, jogging and even horseback riding. The Myriad Botanical Gardens, a 17-acre oasis of landscaped walkways, dancing waterfalls, sculptures and ponds, fills the heart of downtown. The Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory – a seven-story cylinder suspended over a lake the size of a football field – serves as the gardens’ centerpiece. The “tube,” as it is called, is filled with lush tropical plant life. Another quiet retreat in the city is Martin Park Nature Center. This 140-acre park in far northwest Oklahoma City is a protected natural wildlife refuge with hiking trails, as well as a nature center and a hands-on museum. 22
Myriad Botanical Gardens
OPPORTUNITY AWAITS Oklahoma City is all about accessibility. It’s easy to get around, easy to balance work and play and easy to make your mark. Our high-tech, low-hassle lifestyle packs appeal, whether you are looking to start a career, a business, a family or the next phase of your life. In the Greater Oklahoma City region, growing industry clusters, a strategic location, an unrivaled workforce and an entrepreneurial business environment create opportunities as boundless as the Oklahoma sky. The city’s business climate is in a constant state of growth, fueled by the same character that led our city founders in a race to claim their 16-acres of promise in the 1889 Land Run. Homegrown companies personifying that visionary spirit include: Sonic, America’s Drive-In; Devon Energy; Chesapeake Energy; Express Personnel Services; Braum’s; and Hobby Lobby, among others. Here you’ll find a business community that naturally fosters diversification and steady growth. One of Oklahoma City’s largest employers, the family-run insurance company American Fidelity Assurance Company, has been named to Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” three years in a row. Another member of that 24
Top to bottom: Sonic Headquarters, Quad Graphics, Dell, Inc.
impressive list, national printer/publisher Quad/Graphics, expanded operations into the Oklahoma City market in 2003. They have since grown from 92,000 to 750,000 square feet and now employ 1,000 people. National technology companies like Dell, Inc. also have operations in Oklahoma City. Dell, Inc. was so impressed with the quality of the Oklahoma City workforce it doubled its original facility in just under two years. Dell has two buildings on the Oklahoma River and employs 1,000 people with plans to hire another 600 and add a third building.
Star Performers Aviation/aerospace and biosciences are dynamic industries with seemingly unlimited potential in this thriving region. Aviation/aerospace represent more than 38,000 employees at 265 firms. Centered on the work at the Oklahoma City Air Logistic Center at Tinker Air Force Base, private companies, such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney, partner with military personnel to operate the largest aircraft and jet engine repair center in the United States. Another star performer is the FAA’s Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, whose 5,500 employees provide aviation training and logistics support to the nation’s aerospace system. Cutting-edge research is transferring into successful businesses in the city’s fast-growing biosciences cluster. Spurred by the presence of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center near downtown, the number of employees has grown to nearly 4,200 in just a few short years.
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Job Diversity Top 25 Local Employers Company
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Product/Service
Employed
State of Oklahoma
Government
38,000
Tinker Air Force Base
Military
24,000
U.S. Postal Service
Government
8,706
INTEGRIS Health
Health Care
7,000
Oklahoma City Public Schools Education
5,900
FAA Aeronautical Center
Aerospace Training
5,600
Chesapeake Energy Corp.
Oil and Gas
4,900
Devon Energy Corp.
Oil and Gas
4,600
City of Oklahoma City
Government
4,320
OU Health Science Center
Education
4,200
Hertz Reservation Center
Auto Rental/Leasing
3,400
OU Medical Center
Health Care
3,250
AT&T
Telecommunications
3,193
OG&E Energy
Electric Utility
3,044
Dobson Communications
Telecommunications
3,000
Putnam City Schools
Education
2,600
Hobby Lobby Stores
Wholesale/Retail
2,522
Mercy Health System of OK
Health Care
2,426
SSM Health Care of Oklahoma Health Care
2,355
Dell, Inc.
Customer Service
2,195
Cox Communications
Telecommunications
2,000
Oklahoma County
Government
1,700
Deaconess Hospital
Health Care
1,600
Farmers Insurance Group
Customer Services
1,450
BankFirst Corp.
Finance
1,400
LIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM No wonder Places Rated Almanac cited Oklahoma City as one of the “Best Places To Live In North America.” It’s affordable. It’s desirable. It’s a vibrant, active city just reaching its stride. Here, you can realize your potential and still have a balanced life full of fun, fulfilling work, creativity and relaxation. We are long on sunshine, short on drive time, and full of opportunity.
Affordable Living One key aspect that makes Oklahoma City such a uniquely livable region is its affordability. Unlike many metropolitan areas today, you can afford to live in a quality home, while still enjoying the area’s arts and entertainment, as well as traveling and engaging in other recreational interests. In fact, the cost of living in Oklahoma City consistently ranks around 10 percent below the national average. According to the most recent cost of living survey conducted by the Council for Community and Economic Research
Oklahoma City offers affordable living
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(C2ER), Oklahoma City remains one of the most affordable major metropolitan areas in which to live. The cost of living index measures the differences in costs of 57 consumer goods and services, excluding taxes, across 300 cities nationwide. At the beginning of 2007, the composite index for the Oklahoma City MSA was 91.1, or 8.9 percent below the National Average of 100.
A Good Investment Nowhere does your budget see the advantages of Oklahoma City more than in the housing column – without compromising on quality. Low housing costs are the principal reason Oklahoma City’s cost of living remains relatively low. With a housing index value of 84.5, Oklahoma City’s housing market is 15.5 percent below the national average. The home market in Oklahoma City offers an impressive variety of housing at one of the nation’s most affordable rates. Home prices range from $60,000 to more than $359,000 for single-family homes, with condominiums and townhouses ranging from $65,000 to $300,000. Oklahoma Association of Realtors listed the average Oklahoma City home price in the first quarter of 2007 to be $144,165. Bottom line: You simply get more for your housing dollar here than in just about any urban area in the nation, leaving you plenty of money to enjoy living in Oklahoma City. In fact, an Ernst and Young study showed Oklahoma City to have the lowest-cost executive homes in America. What’s more, 28
Oklahoma housing is a good investment
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homes in Oklahoma City appreciate by up to 5 percent each year, making your home a worthwhile investment. The other distinct advantage to the Oklahoma City region is the variety of housing options available. From a funky, urban loft in the heart of downtown, to a historic home on a tree-lined street, new suburban homes, or the simple life of a smaller community within a short commute, Greater Oklahoma City offers a wide choice of desirable neighborhoods. The span of architectural styles provides something for every design taste, from Arts and Craft bungalows to Tudor-style cottages, mid-century modern to traditional ranch homes, to European-inspired homes. The resale home market in Oklahoma City also allows those with more modest budgets to get more living space for their dollar.
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Amenities Managed by
Also available are hundreds of rental apartment complexes ranging from brand new luxury complexes to modest, garden-style apartments with rental prices ranging from $600 to $1,500. In fact, the average 950-square-foot apartment in Oklahoma City costs $731 per month, compared to $1,503 in Chicago, or even higher in other cities. Just think of what you can do with the $772 difference – that’s nearly $10,000 per year!
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EDUCATION EXCELLENCE A Community Committed to Excellence in Education Quality, commitment and accountability – these are just a few of the words that reflect the sweeping changes and improvements in education for the Greater Oklahoma City area. When civic, business and education leaders applied their talents to address the needs of the area’s largest school district, Oklahoma City Public Schools, they developed a blueprint that has changed the urban district’s learning landscape forever. In 2001, Oklahoma City voters approved MAPS for Kids, a comprehensive education reform plan that raised $700 million for Oklahoma City Public Schools and surrounding school districts. In addition to building seven schools and renovating 65 others, the comprehensive plan calls for strategic academic reforms; improved student achievement; restored classroom discipline; and increased accountability for schools with students, parents and the community. This innovative vision for our school system helped Oklahoma City earn a spot as one of the “100 Best Communities for Young People” by the America Promise Alliance in 2005 and 2007.
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Oklahoma schools have received national recognition for alternative education, early childhood accessibility and the increasing number of teachers earning National Board Certification – the profession’s top credential. A national study by Education Week gave Oklahoma education high marks for standards and accountability, efforts to improve teacher quality and resources. There are also several excellent suburban school districts adjacent to Oklahoma City, including Putnam City Schools, which was named by Money magazine as one of the nation’s “100 Top Schools in Towns You Can Afford.” In addition to Oklahoma City and Putnam City Schools, other school districts located in Oklahoma County include: Choctaw / Nicoma Park, Crooked Oak, Deer Creek, Edmond, Jones, Luther, McLoud, Mid-Del, Millwood, and Moore. Oklahoma students score above the national average on the SAT and have seen the largest performance increase on the ACT test over the last 13 years in the Southwest Region. In fact, the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics (OSSM), a tuition-free residential high school Oklahoma students score above national average on the SAT
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in Oklahoma City for juniors and seniors with exceptional ability in math and science, has achieved the highest composite ACT scores of any high school in the country twice since 1998, and has produced 225 National Merit Scholars in the 14 years it has been in operation. Oklahoma also has a nationally acclaimed Career and Technology system, including nine technology centers with 18 campuses in the Greater Oklahoma City area. Not only do these centers provide training to high school and post-secondary students, the centers also provide invaluable training services to a variety of businesses in a number of different skill areas.
and for
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Higher education in Oklahoma bridges the crucial gap between instruction, research and economic development. The Oklahoma Regents for Higher Education developed a bold plan to build Oklahoma’s economy through the EDGE (Economic Development Generating Excellence) Bioscience Research and Development Fund, which helps grow Oklahoma City’s biotech research investment. In the Greater Oklahoma City area, there are 16 public and private colleges and universities, including two comprehensive universities, Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma. These institutions of higher learning provide thousands of undergraduate graduate degree opportunities, as well as flexibility the individual and for businesses and organizations.
Top to bottom: More than 20,000 graduate from Oklahoma colleges each year, OSSM prepares students for math or science careers, MAPS for Kids is reforming K-12 education
LEADERS IN MEDICAL SCIENCE With one of the nation’s leading heart transplant teams, one of the country’s most important and complete medical research centers, and one of the medical profession’s most respected eye institutes, area residents’ access to health care is among the very best. Oklahoma City residents have access to dedicated and quality health care at 35 hospitals. Most of these hospitals provide important specialty services in areas such as: oncology and hemotology; orthopedics; burn treatment; hearing and vision care; neonatal care; infertility; spinal disorder care; and sports medicine, as well as after-hours urgent care. The state’s only Level 1 Trauma Center with MediFlight service is based in Oklahoma City, the perfect location for regional service. Medical leaders are also in the planning and fundraising stages to build a Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Oklahoma City Diabetes Center, which will both bring even more cutting-edge technology, research, clinical care and alternative therapies to Oklahoma City. There are fewer than 40 of these centers in the country, based primarily on the East and West coasts and in the Great Lakes area. And, the Oklahoma City area’s thriving biosciences industry further adds to the quality of health care, with organizations and businesses dedicated to the discovery, development and distribution of advanced technology to improve treatments and health.
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It doesn't take an expert to know that children are not little adults. But when a child is sick and needs medical care, it does take special doctors, nurses and staff, who are experts at treating children. It takes special equipment, designed just for children. It takes medication that is suitable for children. It takes treatments and procedures created for the small, growing bodies of children. It takes a hospital that knows children – the Children's Hospital.
www.childrens.oumedcenter.com To find a doctor who specializes in the care of children, call 271-5000.
CROSSROADS OF AMERICA The ease of getting from one place to another is perhaps the greatest advantage to living in Oklahoma City. From the lack of congestion, to its location at the heart of the nation’s transportation system, to the growing number of nonstop destinations – now 27 – out of the newly expanded airport, destinations across the country and overseas are more accessible. Its location, equidistant from both coasts and at the junction of three of the nation’s major arteries, ensures easy travel and transportation from Oklahoma City to anywhere in the United States.
Easy commutes Gridlock simply doesn’t exist. Rush hour is better described as “rush minutes” in this easily navigable region. Even though more than 130,000 of the area’s workers travel outside their county of residence to go to work each day, they still have an average commute of only 20-30 minutes each way.
The Road to Everywhere The area’s surface transportation system is extensive. In fact, in the City of Oklahoma City alone there are 12,647 miles of streets, a distance equal to driving from Oklahoma City to Valdez, Alaska. The average commute of workers in the Oklahoma City area is only 20-30 minutes
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When combined with the Federal and State highways that criss-cross the city, you are rarely more than 15 or 20 minutes from any destination in the area. Two of the nation’s most important highways, Interstate 40, which runs from Los Angeles to Raleigh, N.C. and Interstate 35, which runs all the way from Mexico to Canada, meet in downtown Oklahoma City. Joining them is Interstate 44, running from Wichita Falls, Texas to St. Louis, Missouri. This intersection of highways ensures Oklahoma City’s status as a transportation hub.
Fly OKC! Oklahoma’s largest airport, Will Rogers World Airport, is named for the famous Oklahoma humorist who was also an avid aviation supporter. A recent, $110-million expansion added eight new gates to the airport, which serves nine major airlines, seven regional airlines and a growing number of charter services with more than 75 daily departures. Oklahoma City has excellent nonstop service to 27 key destinations and direct service to even more. Wiley Post Airport, a relief airport for Will Rogers and center for corporate travel and general aviation, is named for Wiley Post, a pioneer aviator and friend of Will Rogers. Other airports in the area include CE Page Airport and Sundance Airport in western Oklahoma City.
Newly renovated Will Rogers World Airport
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Take the Amtrak Amtrak service via The Heartland Flyer makes daily runs between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, Texas. The train departs and arrives at the historic Santa Fe Depot at the front door of Bricktown – Oklahoma City’s entertainment district.
Transportation for Everyone The area has a growing and aggressive public transportation system, including a metro bus system, which covers 465 miles of the metropolitan area, including Edmond and Norman. Additionally, a trolley system operates to connect downtown areas with hotels and other visitor attractions. Other transportation offerings include carpooling and special services for seniors and disabled persons.
GETTING ESTABLISHED IN OKLAHOMA CITY The myriad of tasks that goes along with a move to a new city can be overwhelming. The following list includes members of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber that can assist you in this process. Surrounding communities may have different services for some utilities. More information about moving to Oklahoma City and surrounding cities is available on the data section of the attached DVD, or at www.okcchamber.com under the Moving to Oklahoma City section.
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About Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City Chamber (405) 297-8900 www.okcchamber.com Downtown Oklahoma City Inc. (405) 235-3500 www.downtownokc.com Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau (405) 297-8912 www.okccvb.org
Important Numbers:
Health Department of Oklahoma County (405) 427-8651 www.cchdoc.com Poison Control Center Office: (405) 271-5062 Emergency: (405) 271-5454 Outside Oklahoma City: (800) 222-1222 www.oklahomapoison.org Oklahoma City Police (405) 297-1000 www.ocpd.com
Area Hospitals
Bone and Joint Hospital 1111 N. Dewey Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73103 (405) 272-9671 www.boneandjoint.com
The Children’s Center 6800 N.W. 39th Expressway Bethany, OK 73008 (405) 789-6711 www.tccokc.org The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center 940 N.E. 13th St. Oklahoma City, OK 73104 (405) 271-5911 www.oumedcenter.com Deaconess Hospital 5501 N. Portland Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73112 (405) 604-6000 www.deaconessokc.com INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center 3300 N.W. Expressway Oklahoma City, OK 73112 (405) 949-3011 www.integris-health.com INTEGRIS Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Hospital 4219 S. Western Oklahoma City, OK 73109 (405) 644-5200 www.integris-health.com INTEGRIS Southwest Medical Center 4401 S. Western Oklahoma City, OK 73109 (405) 636-7000 www.intergris-health.com Kindred Hospital 1407 N. Robinson Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73103 (405) 232-8000 www.kindredhealthcare.com
Kindred Hospital-South 2129 S.W. 59th St. Oklahoma City, OK 73119 (405) 713-5955 www.kindredhealthcare.com Lakeside Women’s Hospital 11200 N. Portland Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73120 (405) 936-1500 www.lakeside-wh.com McBride ClinicOrthopedic Hospital 9600 N. Broadway Ext Oklahoma City, OK 73114 (405) 486-2100 www.mcrideclinic.com Mercy Health Center 4300 W. Memorial Rd Oklahoma City, OK 73120 (405) 755-1515 www.mercyok.net Oklahoma Heart Hospital 4050 W. Memorial Rd. Oklahoma City, OK 73120 (405) 608-3300 www.okheart.com OU Medical Center 1200 Everett Drive Oklahoma City, OK 73104 (405) 271-4700 www.oumedcenter.com St Anthony Hospital 1000 N. Lee Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73102 (405) 272-7000 www.saintsok.com
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Valir Rehabilitation Hospital 700 N.W. 7th St Oklahoma City, OK 73102 (405) 236-3131 www.valir.com Veterans Affairs Medical Center 921 N.E. 13th St. Oklahoma City, OK 73104 (405) 270-0501 www.oklahoma.va.gov
Auto Tag and Voter Registration
In the State of Oklahoma, tag agents are the designated location for a variety of services including: vehicle registration, driver’s license renewal, and voter registration. www.oktax.state.ok.us Classen Tag Agency & Mail Center (405) 521-1151 www.oktagagent.com Downtown OKC Tag Agency (405) 232-5299
downtownokctagagency.com
Midwest City Tag Agency (405) 737-7640 www.oktax.state.ok.us
Motor Vehicle Registration (405) 321-2977 www.oktax.state.ok.us Nicoma Park Tag Agency (405) 769-3353 www.oktax.state.ok.us Northwest Tag Agency (405) 840-1739 northwesttagagency.com Oklahoma Tax Commission (405) 521-3221 www.tax.ok.gov Price Tag Agency (405) 634-3333 www.oktax.state.ok.us Purcell Tag Agency (405) 527-3446 www.oktax.state.ok.us Santa Fe Tag Agency (405) 330-2112 www.oktax.state.ok.us Warwick Tag Agency (405) 720-0002 www.oktax.state.ok.us
Cable Service
Drivers License
Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (405) 425-2424 www.dps.state.ok.us/dls
Education
For information about enrollment, school board announcements and community involvement in public schools visit www.okcps.org. Find public shchool rankings at www.psk12.com/rating/ USindexphp/STATE_OK_ Ads_AdWords.html Oklahoma State Department of Education 2500 North Lincoln Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73105 (405) 521-3301 www.sde.state.ok.us/ home/defaultns.html Langston University 4205 N. Lincoln Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73105 (405) 962-1628 www.lunet.edu
Cox Communications (405) 600-8282 www.cox.com/okc
- Professional Packing & Interstate Relocation - Family and Veteran Owned - Dept. of Def. Contractor
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Agents for:
Mid-America Christian University 3500 S.W. 119th St. Oklahoma City, OK 73170 (405) 691-3800 www.macu.edu OBU International Graduate School 111 N. Harrison Oklahoma City, OK 73104 (405) 319-8470 www.igs.okbu.edu Oklahoma Christian University 2501 E. Memorial Rd. Edmond, OK 73013 (405) 425-5100 www.oc.edu Oklahoma City Community College 7777 S. May Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73159 (405) 682-1611 www.occc.edu Oklahoma City University 2501 N. Blackwelder Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73106 (405) 208-5000 www.okcu.edu Oklahoma State University 107 Whitehurst Stillwater, OK 74078-1015 (405) 744-6384 www.okstate.edu
Platt Technology College 309 S. Ann Arbor Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73128 (405) 946-7799 www.plattcollege.org Rose State College 6420 S.E. 15th St. Midwest City, OK 73110 (405) 733-7673 www.rose.edu Southern Nazarene University 6729 N.W. 39th Expressway Bethany, OK 73008 (405) 789-6400 www.snu.edu South Western College 1140 S. Douglas Blvd. Midwest City, OK 73130 (405) 733-3301 southwesterncollege.org University of Central Oklahoma 100 N. University Dr. Edmond, OK 73034 (405) 974-2000 www.ucok.edu
University of PhoenixOklahoma City Campus 6501 N. Broadway Ext. Oklahoma City, OK 73116 (405) 842-8007 www.phoenix.edu Vatterott College 4621 N.W. 23rd St. Oklahoma City, OK 73127 (405) 945-0088 vatterott-college.com Working for Independent Living, Inc. 517 N. University Blvd. Norman, OK 73069 (405) 364-1224
Electric Service
OG&E (405) 272-9741 www.oge.com
Gas Service
Oklahoma Natural Gas Co. (405) 551-4000 www.ong.com
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center P.O. Box 26901 Oklahoma City, OK 73190 (405) 271-2332 www.ouhsc.edu
OU Medical Center 1200 Everett Dr. Oklahoma City, OK 73136 (405) 271-5911 www.oumedcenter.com 43
123 Park Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73102 (405) 297-8900 www.okcchamber.com