Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Nickname:  B.A.
Location in the state of Oklahoma
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
Counties	Tulsa County, Oklahoma
Founded	1902
Incorporated	1903
Government
• City Manager	Jim Twomby
Area
• City	45.6 sq mi (118.1 km2)
Population  (2006)
• City	88,314
• Metro	881,815
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Website	http://www.brokenarrowok.gov

Broken Arrow is a city located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Oklahoma, primarily in Tulsa County with an extension into western Wagoner County. It is the largest suburb of Tulsa. As of the 2006 census estimates, the city had a total population of 88,314 while a census conducted by the city in 2005 put its population at a little over 90,000.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 74,859 people, 26,159 households, and 21,162 families residing in the city. The population density was 642.4/km² (1,664.0/mi²). There were 27,085 housing units at an average density of 232.4/km² (602.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.34% White, 3.73% African American, 4.02% Native American, 1.90% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.22% from other races, and 3.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.56% of the population.

There were 26,159 households out of which 45.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.0% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.1% were non-families. 15.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the city the population was spread out with 30.8% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $53,507, and the median income for a family was $58,891. Males had a median income of $42,397 versus $27,559 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,555. About 3.4% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.

Geography

Location of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

Broken Arrow is located at 36°2′11″N 95°47′1″W (36.036305, -95.783616)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 118.1 km² (45.6 mi²). 116.5 km² (45.0 mi²) of it is land and 1.6 km² (0.6 mi²) of it (1.34%) is water.

History

The name comes from an old Creek community in Alabama. When they moved to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears, they started a new community named after the original settlement in Alabama. The town's Creek name was Rekackv (pronounced thlee-Kawtch-kuh), meaning broken arrow. This new settlement was located several miles south of present-day downtown Broken Arrow.

Decades later, the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway company built a railroad which ran through the area. MKT was granted town site privileges along the route. They sold three of the as-yet-unnamed sites in 1902 to the Arkansas Valley Town Site company. William. S. Fears, secretary of the company, was allowed to choose and name one of the locations. He selected a site about 18 miles southeast of Tulsa and about five miles north of the thlee-Kawtch-kuh settlement and named the new town site Broken Arrow, after the former Indian settlement. The MKT railroad, which ran throught the middle of the city, still exists today and is now owned by Union Pacific which currently uses it for freight.

For the first decades of Broken Arrow's history, the town was based mainly on agriculture. The coal industry was also important in BA, as there were several strip coal mines near the city during parts of the early 20th century. The city's newspaper, the Broken Arrow Ledger, started within a couple of years after the city's founding. BA's first school was built in 1904. The city did not grow much during the first half of the 1900s. During this time Broken Arrow's main commercial center was along Main Street. Most of the city's churches were also located on or near Main Street as well.

In the 1960s, Broken Arrow began to grow from a small town into a suburban city. The Broken Arrow Expressway (Highway 51) was constructed in the mid-1960s and connected the city with downtown Tulsa, fueling growth in Broken Arrow. The population swelled from a little above 11,000 in 1970 to more than 50,000 in 1990, and then more than 74,000 by the year 2000. During this time, the city was more of a bedroom community. In recent years, city leaders have pushed for more economic development to help keep more Broken Arrowans shopping and dining in BA rather than going to Tulsa.

Awards

• A recent national crime survey found Broken Arrow to be the 20th safest city in the nation and the safest city in Oklahoma.
• Broken Arrow was listed as #66 in the CNN Money list of the 100 best places to live.
• The Pride of Broken Arrow marching band won 1st place in the Grand Nationals Bands Of America championship at Indianapolis in 2006.
• The Police Department has won several national awards for their work in reducing the crime rate.
• Broken Arrow has been listed as a "Tree City USA" for over 6 years in a row.
• Broken Arrow was listed as one of the "Top 25 Affordable Suburbs in the South" by Business Week Magazine in 2007.

Image

File:Statue downtown Broken Arrow Oklahoma.jpg

Statue of a ealy 20th century family and their pet rooster, located in Centennial Park on Main Street in downtown (July 2007).

• The city plans on changing its logo and having a new slogan by Fall 2007.
• Broken Arrow was once known as "The city of Roses and Pure Water"
• Broken Arrow has been unofficially considered by some to be the "Church capitol of Oklahoma" due to the city's large number of churches.
• In 2005 a campaign to plant daffodils in public places around the city was begun. the project was successful and has now become an annual project.
• Plans are being made to revamp several of the city's major arterial roads with landscaping and medians to make the roads more aesthetically pleasing.
• The city is planning to revamp the streetscape along Main Street in downtown within the next couple of years.
• Plans are in the works to add new sidewalks and lighting to streets throughout the downtown area over the next couple of years.
• A new performing arts center is to being constructed at 81st & Main. Construction is currently under way and the facility is expected to be completed in 2008.
• A new Historical Society Museum is being constructed on the corner of Main and El Paso in downtown. The 3-story facility, which will house the BA historical society and the geneological society, is expected to open in 2008. Construction is under way and money is being raised by the historical society to pay for the museum exhibits.

Business and Industry

The city has the 3rd largest concentration of industries in the state, with industries ranging from aerospace, machine tools, plastics, and food processing, to metal fabrication, furniture, sporting goods, computers, and telecommunications. Some of Broken Arrow's largest and most notable companies and/or employers include:

Headquarters of Arkansas Valley State Bank on Main Street in downtown BA. Broken Arrow's landmark grain elevator can be seen in the background (December 2006).

Headquarters of First National Bank and Trust on Main Street in downtown BA (July 2007).

• Blue Bell Creameries
• FlightSafety International
• Skycam
• R.L. Hudson and Co
• Braden-Carco-Gearmatic-Winch
• Xeta Corporation
• Addvantage Tech
• Tulsat
• SJS Hospitality
• Windstream Communications
• Air Cooled Exchange
• E47 Technologies
• Gatesway Foundation
• MicahTek, Inc.
• Baker Oil Tools
• GAVCO Plastics
• R.D.S. Manufacturing company
• L-3 AMI Instruments
• Arrow Concrete
• Electronic Label Technology
• Russelectic
• A G Equipment
• Communications Graphics
• Hanover Company
• Paragon Films
• Montag Fine Candle Company
• Kenneth Hagin Ministries
• Arkansas Valley State Bank
• First National Bank and Trust
• Neighbor Newspapers

There are many new commercial developments happening in the city. Stone Wood Hills is a large, mixed use development located next to the Broken Arrow Expressway. It is anchored by a Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World. The development will have several hotels, a lifestyle center, several restaurants, and many other retail, entertainment, and dining establishments. It was announced in 2006 that another large 2-phase lifestyle center, named Albany Hills, will be built near Stone Wood Hills. There is another large development called The Park at Adam's Creek, on Kenosha Street (71st St). It is anchored by Lowe's Home Improvement. There are several restaurants there, and more is soon to be built, including a large new retail center next door to The Part at Adam's Creek that will be anchored by a Target Store. In addition, there are many new business opening up around Broken Arrow. There are also more than 11 industrial parks throughout the city.

in 2007, the city hired Texas-based AngelouEconomics to create a new "world class" economic development plan for the city. The city also created a Broken Arrow Economic Development Corporation to help oversee economic development.

Downtown redevelopment

Historic building on Main Street after a total restoration (August, 2006).

Historic 1904 victorian home on Main Street in downtown BA that has been converted into a buisiness. (July, 2007).

In 2005, the city adopted a downtown revitalization master plan to help revive the city's historic downtown area. Some of the plans include a new 3-story museum to house the historical society and geniologocial society, a farmer's market and plaza, a new performing arts center, updates and expansions to area parks, the conversion of the historic Central Middle School on Main Street into a professional development center, infastructure and landscape improvements, and incentives to encourage denser infill, redevelopment, and reuse of the area's historic structures. The city also hopes to eventually build a new library in downtown. Numerous buildings and homes have since been renovated, many new shops and offices have moved to downtown, and new townhomes are being built. The new historical museum and performing arts center will open in 2008. The city also listed several sites along Main Street that should be completely redeveloped and officials say that the city will buy and clear more land in downtown if more public or private development opportunities arise in the future.

The city also set strict new design standards in place that all new developments in the downtown area must adhere to. These standards were created to prevent "suburban" development in favor of denser, "urban" development and to ensure that new structures compliment and fit in with the historic buildings in downtown.

In 2007 the city began to make plans for a voluntary buyout and demolishion of 30 dilapitated properties in the downtown area. The properties that the city acquires would be cleared and made available for new residential or commercial development.

Community events

• Rooster Days (May 10-13 at Central Park in downtown Broken Arrow)
• The Broken Arrow Civitan Christmas Parade (downtown Broken Arrow)
• Rhema Christmas lights tour (November 24 to January 1 at Rhema Bible Church)
• The Historical Society Holiday Home Tour (Downtown Broken Arrow)
• Tuesdays in the park Concert series (every Tuesday in June at Central Park in downtown Broken Arrow)
• Blue Bell Creameries' "Taste of Summer" (June 23 at the Blue Bell Creameries factory)
• Freedom Live/Rockets over Rhema (July 1, 2007 at Rhema Bible Church)

Sports

Broken Arrow is home to the state's best competitive and recreational soccer league. Broken Arrow Soccer Club (BASC) has thousands of youth and adult voluteers and players which make it a great organization. Huricane Futbol Club (competitive division of BASC) is constantly showcasing its talented players through its tournament and state championships amongst all age groups. Broken Arrow Soccer Club also boasts the largest soccer complex in the state. Broken Arrow also has public support of football, baseball, and basketball.

Education

Historic former Central Middle School on Main Street. Built in 1925 on the site of BA's first school, the building is being renovated and converted into a professional development center called Central on Main. (August, 2006).

Schools

• Broken Arrow Public Schools. The school district contains the following schools:

One senior high school: Broken Arrow Senior High.

Two intermediate high schools: North Intermediate and South Intermediate.

Five middle schools: Childers, Oliver, Haskell, Sequoyah, and Centennial.

Fourteen elementary schools: Arrow Springs, Arrowhead, Country Lane, Indian Springs, Leisure Park, Liberty, Lynn Wood, Oak Crest, Park Lane, Rhoades, Spring Creek, Vandever, Westwood, and Wolf Creek.

• Union Public Schools

• There are also several private schools located in the city as well.

Colleges and universities

• Northeastern State University Broken Arrow
• Rhema Bible College

Other schools

• Tulsa Technology Center Broken Arrow Campus

Libraries

• Broken Arrow Central library
• South Broken Arrow library

Transportation

Road

• Highway 51 (Broken Arrow Expressway)
• Creek Turnpike

Rail

Plans are being considered to add passenger rail service to Broken Arrow using an existing Union Pacific rail line that runs from downtown Tulsa through downtown Broken Arrow.

Air

Broken Arrow is serviced by the Tulsa International Airport

Media

Newspapers

Broken Arrow has one newspaper, the Broken Arrow Ledger. The Ledger has been in buisiness for over 100 years. Formerly published daily, the paper was revamped in early 2007 and is now published every Wednesday and Saturday.

The Tulsa World, Northeast Oklahoma's major daily, publishes news daily about Broken Arrow in print and online editions. The Tulsa World also maintains an office in Broken Arrow that produces a Community World section localized for Broken Arrow published in the newspaper each Wednesday that targets local news and information for all of Broken Arrow.

Television

Cox Cable channel 24 is the Broken Arrow municipal information channel. It displays, among other things, information about city departments, upcoming events, and general information about the city. The city also added local weather reports to the channel after new weather montering equipment was installed at city hall. The weather reports are live and are aired throughout the day and night.

Notable residents

• Kristin Chenoweth, actress and soprano.
• Phil Farrand, author and novelist.
• Brad Penny, starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
• Kahlen Rondot, America's Next top model contestant
• Ester Drang, Indie rock band.
• Ralph Blane Hunsecker, famous Hollywood singer, composer, and songwriter.
• Phenie Lou (Gillett) Ownby, Former mayor. The first woman in the state and the 6th in the nation become a mayor. She served for 1 term in the 30s and became nationally famous for her strict policy on water payments.
• Col. Ernest Childers, a soldier in World War 2 who received a Medal of Honor for his actions on the battlefield.
• Danny Berrios, Singer/songwriter
• Destiny Frankenstein, Professional Softball Player for the New England Riptide.
• Warren Spahn Hall of fame pitcher for major league baseball and longtime Broken Arrow resident. He was born in Buffalo, New York and died at his home in Broken Arrow in 2003 at age 82.
• Will Thomas, historical mystery writer, winner of the 2005 Oklahoma Book Award for fiction.
• Robert Goranson, Renowned Civil Engineer and Civic Standout.

Trivia

• Broken Arrow was the first city in the state and the 6th city in the nation to elect a woman as mayor.
• Rooster Days, a local annual festival, is the oldest annual event in the state. It started in the 1930s when chicken farmers would come into town to sell chickens, eggs, and other agricultural products.
• According to a Life magazine article published on June 5, 1950, Rooster Days was originally celebrated as a span of time in which to rid community members of unwanted roosters through various inhumane - yet highly participated in events. A google search only returned the pleasant, modern-day interpretation. Below is what was published in the Life magazine feature:

According to Life magazine: "When spring hatching season ends, there is no longer a need for fertile hens eggs. All unwanted male birds from the country side were brought into Broken Arrow for sale. May 13, 1950: the 16th annual Rooster Day. A number of roosters were selected for a special ceremony. Dollar bills were fastened to their legs, birds were thrown above eager children - cheered on by their parents - struggled in a welter of gore and feathers to grab the money. Roosters usually died or were crippled. Blood was washed off dollar bills once home. Also, there was the Rooster Race. 100 birds were prodded, pinched and kicked down mainstreet by adults."

Many of the townspeople were appalled by the magazine's portrayal of Rooster Days. The official poster for Rooster Days 2006 featured a rooster with a dollar tied to its leg, a reference to the infamous Life Magazine incident.

• The city was once home to a car company. In 1960 Glenn Pray bought the entire stock of car parts left over from the original Auburn-Cord Duesenberg car company of Auburn, IN. Pray then moved the entire operation to Broken Arrow where he continued to manufacture cars until 1981.
• The 1950 western, "Broken Arrow" had its world premiere at the Nusho Theater which was located on the northwest corner of Main Street and Commercial Street in downtown Broken Arrow. The city celebrated with, among other things, a parade down Main Street. The building that the Nusho Theater occupied still stands and has most recently housed an insurance company.

External links

• City website
• Chamber of Commerce
• City economic development
• Broken Arrow Public Schools
• CNN survey