OKC Facts and Figures

OKLAHOMA CITY HISTORY
At the sound of a gunshot, Oklahoma City was founded by a historic land run involving on April 22, 1889. Located equidistant from both coasts and at the convergence of I-35, I-40 and I-44, as well as the development of Tinker Air Force Base, made Oklahoma City into a major interchange on the interstate highway system – with 130-plus miles of federal interstate and state highways. And with the central location of the nation’s major highway arteries, Oklahoma City became a principal distribution center within the state and the southwest region. Efficient transportation has been the cornerstone in the overall planning of Oklahoma City. As a result, getting to any part of the city (621 square miles!) takes about 20 minutes or less. During the 1970s and 80s, Oklahoma witnessed a decline in the inner-city as residents were choosing to live in the suburbs. 

OKLAHOMA CITY TIDBITS

• Most populous city in the State of Oklahoma.
• Nation’s 22nd largest city with approximately 681,054 residents.
• In land area, it is the 3rd largest in the nation.
• The Greater Oklahoma City area includes 10 counties with more than 1.4 million citizens.
• The capitol building at 23rd and Lincoln is the only capitol in the nation with a working oil well on its grounds.
• Tinker Air Force Base is the largest military air depot in the nation.
• The world’s first installed parking meter was in Oklahoma City, on July 16, 1935.

OKLAHOMA CITY GOVERNMENT 
Mayor David Holt became Oklahoma City’s 36^th mayor in 2018. He was elected in 2018 with 78.5 percent of the vote, the largest percentage achieved by a non-incumbent since 1947. In 2022, he was re-elected with more votes than any candidate for Mayor since 1959. Holt is the first Native American mayor of Oklahoma City. At the time he took office, Holt was the youngest mayor of Oklahoma City since 1923 and the youngest mayor of a U.S. city with more 500,000 residents. In his second year in office, Mayor Holt recorded his signature achievement, shepherding the development and successful passage of MAPS 4, an ambitious, nearly $1 billion package that will address 16 critical challenges and opportunities.

OKC QUICK FACTS