Norman

Norman is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It is home to the University of Oklahoma, the largest university in the state with nearly 32,000 students. Norman lies within Tornado Alley, a geographic region where tornadic activity is particularly frequent and intense. The Oklahoma City metropolitan area, including Norman, is the world's most tornado-prone area. The city was named in honor of Abner Norman, the area's initial land surveyor, and was formally incorporated on May 13, 1891. In the early 1960s, African Americans were not allowed to stay overnight within the city limits or within the Norman City limits until the city council issued an apology. The population of Norman reached 11,429 in 1940, with the completion of Interstate 35 in June 1959, spurring additional growth. Norman has a population of 128,097 as of 2021, and is the county seat of Cleveland County, and the second-largest town in the Oklahoma City metro area, behind the state capital, Oklahoma City. It was named after Abner Ernest Norman, a 23-year-old surveyor from Kentucky, who was hired to oversee part of a federal land survey in the early 1870s. In 1887, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway began service to the area, which was later opened to settlement as part of the Land Run of 1889; early settlers decided to keep the name "Norman." In 1902, the downtown district contained two banks, two hotels, a flour mill and other businesses, and by 1913 over 3,700 people lived in Norman.

History

Norman was founded on April 22, 1889, during the first Land Run in what would become the state of Oklahoma. The City of Norman was formally incorporated on May 13, 1891. In 1941, the University of Oklahoma and Norman city officials established Max Westheimer Field, a university airstrip, and then leased it to the U.S. Navy as a Naval Flight Training Center in 1942. In 1960 Norman's population was 33,412 but by the end of the decade had grown to 52,117. The city's growth trends have continued early in the 21st century, with the population reaching 95,694 in 2000, 110,925 in 2010, and 128,026 in 2020. In 2020, the Norman City Council issued an apology for not allowing African Americans to live in the city limits until the early 1960s, when they were allowed to apply for admission to the University for the first time in their lives. In the years following World War II the airstrip was transferred back to the university's control. The remaining military presence and post-war veterans who came to Norman to get an education again grew the city's population, which was 27,006 in 1950. The population reached 11,429 in 1940, and 11,000 in 1950, when the completion of Interstate 35 in June 1959 made Norman a bedroom community to Oklahoma City. By 1913 over 3,700 people lived in Norman when the Oklahoma Railway Company decided to extend its interurban streetcar running from Oklahoma City to Moore into Norman.

Geography

As of 2010, the city has a total area of 189.42 sq mi (490.6 km²) Norman lies within Tornado Alley, the region of the United States where tornadic activity is most frequent. On average Norman receives about 38 in (970 mm) of precipitation per year; May and June are the wettest months. Average growing season in Norman is 209 days, but plants that can withstand short periods of colder temperatures may have an additional three to six weeks. Winter months tend to be cloudier than those in summer, with the percentage of possible sunshine ranging from an average of about 55% in winter to nearly 80% in summer. Average daytime highs range from 50 °F (10 °C) in January to 92.5 °F [33.6 °C] in July. On May 6, 2015, the northwestern part of Norman was hit by a weak tornado. Norman has a tornado season lasting from March through June, with over 80% of all reported tornadoes occurring during these months. The Oklahoma City metropolitan area, including Norman, is the most tornado-prone area in the U.S. There have been several tornado events in recent years. In May 10, 2010, a tornado outbreak occurred in southeastern Norman that resulted in the loss of multiple homes and businesses. On April 13, 2012 Norman was struck by aweak tornado. On July 4, 2013, a weak EF-2 tornado struck Norman, destroying several homes and a number of businesses.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 110,925 people, 44,661 households, and 24,913 families residing within the city. By population, Norman was the third-largest city in Oklahoma and the 225th- largest city in the United States. The median household income in the city was $44,396, and the median income for a family was $62,826. Of those 43.6% were Southern Baptist, 15.0% Catholic Church, 3.3% Assembly of God, 2.1% Latter-day Saint (Mormon) and 1.9% Disciples of Christ. 50.2% of the population in Norman is affiliated with a religious institution, according to a 2000 survey by Dale E. Jones of the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. About 11.8% of families and 19.2%. of the city were below the poverty line, including 18.9%. of those under age 18 and 8.9. of those age 65 or over. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was2.94. The age distribution was 5.8%. under the age of 5, 5.7% from 5 to 9, 5.4% from 55 to 59, 4.6%. from 60 to 64, 2,2% from 65 to 69, 1.3%. from 70 to 74, 1,8% from 75 to 79, and1.4%. from 80 to 84. The city's median age was 29.6 years.

Economy

The University of Oklahoma employs over 11,600 personnel across three campuses. Norman is home to the National Weather Center, which houses a number of weather- and climate-related organizations. In 2010, Norman became the 17th city in the United States to adopt a council resolution giving it status as a Fair Trade Town. The resolution states that the city of Norman supports the purchasing of goods from the local community. In 2008, CNN's Money Magazine ranked Norman as the sixth best small city within the U.S. to live in. The top employers in the city are: AT&T, Hitachi, Astellas Pharma Technologies, Xyant Technology, MSCI, SITEL, the U States Postal Service National Center for Employee Development, Sysco Corporation, and the Norman Regional Health System. University North Park, a lifestyle center with planned development on over 12×10^6 sq ft (1.1 km²) of land, is on 24th Ave NW along the I-35 corridor between Robinson Street and Tecumseh Road. Begun in 2006, the project will feature 2 mi (3.2 km) of parks, offices, and high-end retail once completed. The city is also home to Southwest NanoTechnologies, a producer of single-walled carbon nanotubes. Bergey Windpower is a supplier of small wind turbines. The Oklahoma Geological Survey and the Oklahoma Renewable Energy Council, which foster renewable energy technology with the aim of establishing more viable applications, make the city their home.

Culture

Norman is home to the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, the largest collection of French Impressionist art ever given to an American university. The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History is a museum containing over 50,000 sq ft (5,000 m2) of exhibits ranging from archaeology, paleontology, ethnology, herpetology, ornithology, and Native American studies. The Norman Medieval Fair is a celebration of medieval-themed games, art, and culture, with highlights of jousting, human chessmatch combats & other combat shows. Jazz in June is one of the major cultural events in the state as well as the City of Norman, attracting a combined concert audience of 50000 drawn from the state, region, and nation. The city is also home to many privately funded galleries and performance sites, including the Catlett Music Center at the University of Oklahoma and the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts' Schools of Dance, Drama, and Musical Theatre. Norman hosts many free festivals and community events that occur throughout the year. The National Weather Service takes place every fall, featuring food trucks, weather balloon launches, educational booths, and meet-and-greets with local meteorologists. The May Fair is an arts festival held every year during the first weekend in May at Andrews Park. The Summer Breeze Concert Series is a series of concerts held from Spring to Fall at various park venues across Norman. It features top area performers, fine art crafts, food and food and music, and post-concert jam sessions.

Sports

The University of Oklahoma sponsors many collegiate sporting events in Norman. The school is well known for its football program, having won seven NCAA Division I National Football Championships. In 1951 and 1994 its baseball team won the NCAA national championship. The men's and women's gymnastics teams have won ten national championships since 2001. Other university men's sports include: basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, football, Ultimate Frisbee, tennis, track and field, and wrestling. The OU Sooners men's hockey team competes in the American College Hockey Association, at the "club" level, but has yet to apply for higher-level play. Due to the lack of a rink in Norman, the team plays at the Blazers Ice Centre in south Oklahoma City. The Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA), a non-profit professional association of men's collegiate golf coaches, is located in Norman as is the Oklahoma Sooners women's basketball team, which has won the national championship in 2000, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2021, and 2022. The university's football program contributes significantly to Norman's economy. During game day weekends, Norman sees an influx out of town traffic from all over the country with over 80,000 people routinely attending football games. The program ranks in the top 10 of ESPN's top college football money-makers with home games generating revenues at approximately $59 million and game day operating expenses at about $6.1 million. The team has played in four BCS National Championship Games since 1998.

Parks and recreation

Norman's Parks and Recreation Department facilitates 55 neighborhood and community parks, three recreation centers, a golf course and driving range. Griffin Community Park Sports Complex includes 16 soccer fields, 14 baseball/softball fields, and four football fields. Norman has a complete swim complex with waterslides, a wading pool, 32 tennis courts, and three special services centers (that offer cultural arts and senior citizen activities) The city also has three disc golf courses and a complete disc golf complex. The city's parks and recreation department has a total of 55 parks and community centers. Norman also has a full-time recreation director and three full-year recreation directors. The town has a community center that offers cultural arts, senior citizen, and special services activities. The community center also offers sports and other activities for adults and children. Norman's parks have a complete swimming complex with Waterslides. The department has three community centers that offer sports and cultural arts activities, and a special services center for senior citizens. It also has an extensive disc golf course that offers disc golf, disc golf and other sports activities. It has a swimming complex that offers waterslide, wading pools, and other aquatic activities for people of all ages and skill levels. It is the largest city in the state in terms of number of parks, with more than 1,000 parks and rec centers in the city. The state has more than 3,000 residents, and the city has a population of more than 6,000.

Law and government

A council-manager government has been in place in Norman since the adoption of its city charter on June 28, 1919. A mayor is elected by the entire voting population of Norman and serves as an at-large councilor; the mayor serves a three-year term. The City Council appoints a professional City Manager who is responsible for the city's day-to-day administrative activities. The Norman Police Department consists of up to 171 commissioned officers and 71 office employees and is Oklahoma's third-largest police department. The city serves as the county seat of Cleveland County and has approximately 650 employees working in 11 departments and 31 boards and commissions that help oversee and implement city's policies and services. The mayor is Larry Heikkila (elected in 2022), and the city manager is Darrel Pyle (appointed in 2019). In accordance with the charter of the city of Norman, all city elected positions are nonpartisan. The council acts as the legislative body of city government; it aims to pass laws, approve the city budget, and manage efficiency in the government. It meets biweekly in City Hall, at 201 W. Gray Street; various boards and Commission meet in accordance with their own schedules. The police department consists of 171 commissionedOfficers and 71 Office Employees. It is the third largest police department in the state of Oklahoma, with up to 170 commissioned officers, 71 office workers, and a budget of $1.2 million. The Police Department is the only one of its kind in Oklahoma.

Education

The University of Oklahoma is the largest university in the state of Oklahoma, with approximately 30,000 students enrolled. Norman is served by three public libraries, all of which are part of the 12-branch Pioneer Library System which serves the entirety of Cleveland County, McClain County and Pottawatomie County. Public school districts in Oklahoma are independent of other local governments. Several districts overlap the municipal boundaries of the City of Norman. The Moore Norman Technology Center was established in 1972 and has been awarded the Oklahoma Association of Technology Center's Gold Star School Award on multiple occasions. The Bizzell Memorial Library at the University oflahoma is the biggest library in Oklahoma, containing more than five million volumes and 1.6 million photographs. The library maintains over 17,000 ft (5,200 m) in length of manuscripts and archives, and more than 1.5 million maps. It also houses more than 50 books printed before the year 1500. The Norman Public School District is one of the largest in Oklahoma with more than 17,00 students enrolled in the district. The school district is also home to several private schools, including All Saints Catholic School, Blue Eagle Christian Academy, and Rose Rock School. The city of Norman is also served by the Norman Public Library Central, Norman Public libraries East and West, as well as the Norman City Public Library, which is located in the center of the city. In 2007, The Princeton Review named the University. of Oklahoma one of its "Best Value" colleges.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Norman, Cleveland County, Oklahoma = 94. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 47. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 91. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Norman = 5.3 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 128,026 individuals with a median age of 31.4 age the population grows by 13.00% in Norman, Cleveland County, Oklahoma population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 716.64 residents per square mile of area (276.70/km²). There are average 2.27 people per household in the 44,392 households with an average household income of $46,537 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 4.70% of the available work force and has dropped -1.81% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 31.68%. The number of physicians in Norman per 100,000 population = 155.8.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Norman = 35.3 inches and the annual snowfall = 6.3 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 78. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 237. 95 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 26.8 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 27, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Norman, Cleveland County, Oklahoma which are owned by the occupant = 52.17%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 28 years with median home cost = $133,450 and home appreciation of -1.34%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $9.13 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $3,807 per student. There are 15.1 students for each teacher in the school, 351 students for each Librarian and 340 students for each Counselor. 5.55% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 23.31% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 16.70% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).