oklahoma city county seat located southwestern oklahoma southwest principal city according census population making fifth largest city state built reservation lands indians founded august named major general civil war medal honor recipient killed action philippine american war landscape typical great plains flat topography gently rolling hills area north city marked city proximity fort military reservation gave economic population stability 20th century economy largely dependent fort grown encompass manufacturing higher education health care retail city government run council manager government consisting city manager city council headed mayor interstate major united_states highways serve city connects air recreation found city parks lakes museums festivals notable residents city include musical literary artists professional athletes history land present day oklahoma settled prehistoric american indians including bce bce cultures historic indigenous peoples inhabited region included peoples 16th century spanish explorer visited beginning european contact tribes north migrated oklahoma texas region 18th century oklahoma region nominal french control louisiana limited interaction peoples based fur trading brought area united_states control congress passed indian removal act removed american indian tribes southeast relocated west mississippi_river southern territory originally assigned united_states southwest portion lands tribes fort established american_civil_war major general leading campaign stop raids texas american indian tribes broke region left reservation attrition skirmishes army finally forced return tribes june united_states congress appointed commission meet tribal leaders come agreement allowing white settlement years controversy legal maneuvering ensued president issued proclamation july gave federal government control acres km2 surplus indian land legislation united_states allotted communal lands plots individual households tribal members selling remained surplus actions extinguished tribal claims communal lands condition needed admission oklahoma state changes legislature new state began organize counties acre sites counties selected county seats designated seat town named major general fort taken pursuit capture city opened settlement auction town lots beginning august completed days later september expanded soon joined city elections held october entry world war accelerated growth fort availability million gallons water lake north catalyst establish major named active following world war enjoyed steady population growth population increasing 1960s reached postwar period underwent tremendous growth late 1940s 1950s leading city officials seek additional water sources supplement existing water lake late 1950s city purchased large parcels land northern construction man lake dam built creek north west named mayor soft drink dedicated early 1960s offered additional water resources recreational opportunities flood control creek annexed miles land city east northeast west northwest borders expanding east east creek area west street march north section bailey completed connecting directly capital south section leading texas border completed april urban renewal efforts 1970s transformed downtown number buildings dating city founding demolished build enclosed shopping mall june city expanded annexed neighboring fort advent increasing size expected continued population economic growth course years geography fifth largest city oklahoma city total area km2 land located southwest surrounding cities include south duncan east west lies area typical great plains prairie trees flat topography gently rolling hills region north city consists including mount scott area highest peaks area consists limestone northern sections city south sections city sandstone commonly found area creeks including contain deposits northwest mountains consist primarily era climate lies dry subtropical climate climate classification frequent variations weather daily constantly hot dry summer months frequent strong winds usually south south southeast summer help weather northerly winds winter occasionally intensify cold periods average mean temperature southwest oklahoma summers extremely hot averages days temperatures winter months typically mild periods extreme cold occur averages days fail rise freezing city receives inches precipitation snow annually located area known prone severe weather late april early june notably tornado tornado struck southern region city demographics census people households families resided city population density people square mile housing units averaged square mile racial makeup city white african american native american asian pacific races races race mexican puerto rican households children age living married couples living female husband present families households individuals living years age older average household size average family size city population distributed age years age older median age years females males females age males median income household city family males median income versus females capita income city families population poverty line including age age crime rate violent crime rate incidents people compared rate oklahoma nationwide property crime rate incidents people compared average oklahoma nationally ranked eighth dangerous city united_states women economy workforce primarily centered government manufacturing retail trade industries ranks fourth oklahoma gross domestic product billion produced majority billion government sector largest employer time employees private sector largest employer time employees major employers area include includes major industrial parks located southwest region town second located near fort regional airport present city undertaking goal redesign areas thomas park north south visually appealing pedestrian friendly encourage business growth area employed civilians census female civilian workers private profit wage salary workers profit wage salary workers total civilian workforce employees corporations nonprofit sector private nonprofit wage salary workers government sector included federal workers state government workers local government workers addition city self employed workers unpaid family workers arts culture events festivals home annual attractions including passion play held year palm sunday continuing continues longest running easter passion plays nation basis movie prince peace passion play featured documentary called jesus town usa focuses new actor portraying role jesus actor years retired role documentary light hearted amusing turns slightly announces camera buddhist struggles decision tell fellow family rejection christian church folks upset decision allowed continue role jesus despite faith inc hosts arts festival festival judged art competitions live entertainment festival typically held park late september international festival held city founded event showcases different culture arts music community museums public museums dedicated natural history early settlement great plains outdoor exhibits include replica original locomotive located military base includes old fort period buildings including old post chapel barracks artillery pieces old fort designated operated nation tribe focuses exhibits art relating culture past present museum hosts traveling american indian exhibitions chicago sports home ncaa division school noted winning school currently football program cameron remains competitive varsity sports including men women basketball baseball home cavalry moved won championships premier basketball league championship cavalry ceased operations second year parks recreation home parks recreation areas varying sizes including largest thomas park park system city near major lakes lake boating swimming camping fishing permitted branch offers wide variety recreational programs members maintains hole par golf course recreation found amateur leagues including adult youth baseball soccer northwest city managed preserve natural fauna southwest oklahoma refuge includes camping areas hiking trails lakes public explore government uses council manager model municipal government city primary authority resides city_council resolutions contracts city divided ward single city council representative year term mayor elected years sets agenda city_council primarily ceremonial head government administrative day day operation city headed city manager appointed city_council march mayor july city manager jerry county seat houses county offices courts elected commissioners serving year terms manage county government federal level lies oklahoma 4th congressional district represented house cover city education higher education largest year state funded university southwest oklahoma offering degree programs areas founded cameron average fall enrollment students endowed faculty positions colleges include founded college provides lower division programs educational opportunities higher education public served system provides education training development opportunities area residents primary secondary schools serves city district operates centers elementary schools middle schools high schools enrollment students teachers independent districts serve portions bishop operates single elementary campus campus secondary students living districts attend small portion far west served schools include elementary middle schools mary served greater area fort community years offers catholic education grades eighth grade private schools offers classes eighth grade city private independent high schools founded offers education 12th grade student body students media constitution daily newspaper published circulation addition fort newspaper published weekly primarily military personnel newspaper cameron main audience students additionally monthly magazine focuses news entertainment area radio stations include stations stations including npr affiliate free luxury magazine published mind publications inside living find inspirational stories historical pieces individuals organizations stunning distributed duncan online version magazine available amazon located falls media market encompasses households television making largest nation according channel abc affiliate broadcast television station area provides local news major stations including nbc cbs fox based infrastructure transportation primarily served interstate designated connects city northeast texas south city connected highway connects regional towns west north major include highway parallels south leads regional towns respectively north connects duncan provides public transit founded provides major routes city air served law present offers daily american eagle flights dallas fort worth international airport military transport health care major hospitals area largest bed nonprofit hospital employs physicians bed hospital staff physicians addition public health indian hospital located city provide health services large american indian population beds staff physicians notable people musicians authors notable musicians include country singers grammy nominated jazz notable authors include winning author poet science fiction writer christian fiction author political leaders prominent political leaders senator representatives speaker democratic state senator ambassador born fort frontier captured outlaw founder gang spent later years elected police chief attorney republican member charles parish born fort father stationed state representative notable residents notable residents include code actress ace time nba champion miss america infamous quarterback nfl shields contender champion boxer manager mlb mlb catcher professional creator
Lawton, Oklahoma