Edmond, Oklahoma

Edmond is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area in the central part of the state. The population is approximately 94,054, according to estimates from ESRI. Edmond is the fifth largest city in the state of Oklahoma.

Edmond, Oklahoma
City
Motto(s): 
"A Great Place To Grow"
Location in Oklahoma County and the state of Oklahoma.
Edmond, Oklahoma
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 35°39′N 97°28′W
CountryUnited States
StateOklahoma
CountyOklahoma
FoundedApril 22, 1889[1]
Government
 • TypeCouncil – Manager
 • MayorDan O'Neil[2]
 • City managerLarry Stevens
Area
 • Total87.86 sq mi (227.55 km2)
 • Land84.74 sq mi (219.47 km2)
 • Water3.12 sq mi (8.08 km2)
Elevation
1,204 ft (367 m)
Population
 • Total81,405
 • Estimate 
(2019)[6]
94,054
 • Density1,109.94/sq mi (428.55/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
73003, 73012, 73013, 73025, 73034, 73083
Area code(s)405
FIPS code40-23200[7]
GNIS feature ID1092492[8]
WebsiteCity of Edmond

The city borders the northern boundary of Oklahoma City. Two major highways connect Edmond to downtown Oklahoma City: U.S. Route 77 (Broadway Extension), which runs along the west side of Edmond, and Interstate 35, which runs through the center of Edmond. Additionally historic U. S. Route 66 enters Edmond from the east as it passes just north of Arcadia Lake (Oklahoma) to join 2nd Street. As U. S. Route 66 continues west on 2nd Street it joins U. S. Route 77 in downtown Edmond where it turns south as Broadway. Public transportation is provided by Citylink Edmond bus service.

Geography

Edmond is located just north of Oklahoma City in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 87.9 square miles (228 km2), of which 85.1 square miles (220 km2) is land and 2.8 square miles (7.3 km2) or 3.19% is water. Arcadia Lake on the east side of the city is a fishing spot for the Oklahoma City metropolitan area and contains bluegill, channel catfish, blue catfish, and largemouth bass.[9] Twin Bridges Lake is a second lake in the city.

Edmond lies in the Sandstone Hills region of Central Oklahoma, known for hills, blackjack oak, and post oak.[10] The city falls into an ecological region known as the Cross Timbers.[11]

Climate

Edmond has a humid subtropical climate with frequent variations in weather during part of the year and consistently hot summers. Prolonged and severe droughts often lead to wildfires and heavy rainfall often leads to flash flooding and flooding. Consistent winds, usually from the south or south-southeast during the summer, help temper the hotter weather. Consistent northerly winds during the winter can intensify cold periods. Severe ice storms and snowstorms happen sporadically during the winter.

The city is located in Tornado Alley and is subject to frequent and severe tornadoes and hailstorms. The Oklahoma City metropolitan area is one of the most tornado-prone major cities in the world.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1890294—
1900965228.2%
19102,090116.6%
19202,45217.3%
19303,57645.8%
19404,00211.9%
19506,08652.1%
19608,57740.9%
197016,63393.9%
198034,637108.2%
199052,31551.0%
200068,31530.6%
201081,40519.2%
Est. 201994,054[6]15.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
2018 Estimate[13]

According to estimates from ESRI: There are approximately 94,000 residents and approximately 37,000 housing units. Population estimates by race/ethnicity are 79.8% white, 5.8% black, 2.7% American Indian, 4.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.5% other race and 5% two or more races. 7.2% of the population is of Hispanic origin. The population is 51.5% female and 48.5% male. The median age of residents is 36.3 years, lower than the Oklahoma median age of 37.8. The average household income is $110,811.

History
Edmond, Oklahoma Territory, 1891. Drawn by T.M. Fowler.

The Santa Fe rail line in Oklahoma Territory established a water and coaling station for steam engines at this location when the Santa Fe Railroad built into Indian Territory in 1887.[14] The site for the station was chosen because it was the highest point on the line in Oklahoma County; train could more easily accelerate going downhill while leaving the station in either direction. The railroad then named the station for Edmond Burdick, the Santa Fe's traveling freight agent.[15] When the town was formed after the Oklahoma Land Run of 1889, early settlers decided to adopt the name. Though most of the remnants of the old railroad infrastructure are gone, the Santa Fe, now BNSF, freight line still runs through the same course.[16]

The town of Edmond sprang up overnight during the great Oklahoma land run on April 22, 1889, when homesteads were staked around the Santa Fe station.[1] The original plat for Edmond was prepared by the Seminole Town and Development Company, a newly formed syndicate with ties to the railroad.[14] Many of the original streets were named for men associated with either the Santa Fe Railroad or the town syndicate. The first mayor and city officers were elected in May 1889, and Edmond's population was 294 in the 1890 census.

The first public schoolhouse in Oklahoma Territory, completed in August 1889, is in Edmond.[15] It still stands as a historic monument on 2nd Street between Boulevard and Broadway and is open to the public on the first two Saturdays of each month or by appointment.

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, the first church opened after the land run,[15] was located on the southwest corner of East First and South Boulevard. The congregation still exists, although not in its original building or location.[17]

In December 1890, the territorial legislature established three universities: the state university in Norman, the agricultural and mechanical college in Stillwater, and a "normal" or teaching school in Edmond. The first classes for the Territorial Normal School (University of Central Oklahoma) were held November 9, 1891, in the Methodist Church on the southwest corner of North Broadway and West Hurd. Old North, the Territorial Normal School's iconic first building, was opened for classes on January 2, 1893, and ahead of Oklahoma State University's Central Hall or Oklahoma University's Science Hall.[18]

The Edmond Sun, established by Milton W. "Kicking Bird" Reynolds on July 18, 1889, is the state's oldest continuous newspaper dating from Oklahoma Territorial days.[15]

Notable events
Main article: Edmond post office shooting

Edmond was the site of the post office massacre on August 20, 1986, in which 14 people were killed and six wounded by Patrick Sherrill, an ex-postman who then committed suicide. This event was the deadliest killing in a string of U.S. postal employee murder–suicides which inspired the slang term "going postal".[19] A memorial to the victims of the attack stands outside of the U.S. Post Office in downtown Edmond.[20]

Edmond is the home town of Olympic gymnast Shannon Miller, America's most decorated Olympic gymnast. She won five medals (2 silver, 3 bronze) in the 1992 Summer Olympics and 2 gold medals at the 1996 Summer Olympics. Interstate 35 has been designated as the Shannon Miller Parkway from the Memorial Road exit to the Logan/Oklahoma County line.[21]

The city was the subject of a Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals case challenging the depiction of a Christian cross on the city seal, raising issues concerning the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution. In May 1996, the Supreme Court let stand a Federal Appeals Court ruling ordering the city to remove the cross from the seal.[22] A replacement icon has yet to be agreed upon, resulting in the curiously vacant spot on the city's seal.

A memorial service for famed Oklahoman baseball player Bobby Murcer was held in Edmond on August 6, 2008, at the Memorial Road Church of Christ. Among the some 2,000 attending the memorial were Reggie Jackson, Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, and former Yankees manager Joe Girardi.[23]

In 2009, Edmond appeared on Newsmax magazine's list of the "Top 25 Most Uniquely American Cities and Towns," a piece written by current CBS News travel editor Peter Greenberg. In determining his ranking, Greenberg cited the city's 10-day LibertyFest event, which includes the state's largest parade, as well as fireworks, a beauty pageant, kite festival, and rodeo.[24]

Economy

The supermarket chain Crest Foods is based in Edmond. The University of Central Oklahoma is a major employer.[14] Some of Edmond's targeted industries include Wholesale Trade; Light Manufacturing; Information; and Professional, Scientific and Technical Services.

Top employers

According to the City's 2017 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[25] the top employers in the city are:

# Employer # of Employees
1 Edmond Public Schools 2,412
2 University of Central Oklahoma 1,450
3 City of Edmond 771
4 Mercy Edmond Clinics and Wellness Center 429
5 Integris Health Edmond 347
6 OU Medical Center Edmond 305
7 Petra Industries 277
8 Crest Foods 226
9 Adfitech 217
10 Summit Medical Center 177

Parks

There are many parks in Edmond:[26]

  • Bickham-Rudkin Park
  • Brookhaven Park
  • Centennial Park
  • Chitwood Park
  • Clegern Park
  • Dog Park
  • E.C. Hafer Park (or simply Hafer Park)
  • Fink Park
  • Gossett Park
  • J.L. Mitch Park (or simply Mitch Park)
  • Johnson Park
  • Kelly Park
  • Mathis Skate Park (or Mathis Brothers Skatepark)
  • Meadow Lakes Park
  • Penick Park
  • Shannon Miller Park
  • Stephenson Park
  • Ted Anderson Park
  • Westborough Park
  • Whispering Heights Park

Education

Elementary schools

[27]

  • Angie Debo Elementary School
  • Centennial Elementary School
  • Charles Haskell Elementary School
  • Chisholm Elementary School
  • Clegern Elementary School
  • Clyde Howell (This is the district’s early-childhood education center)
  • Cross Timbers Elementary School
  • Frontier Elementary School
  • Heritage Elementary School
  • Ida Freeman Elementary School
  • John Ross Elementary School
  • Northern Hills Elementary School
  • Orvis Risner Elementary School
  • Russell Dougherty Elementary School
  • Sunset Elementary School
  • Washington Irving Elementary School
  • West Field Elementary School
  • Will Rogers Elementary School
  • Redbud Elementary (scheduled to open Fall 2021) [28]
  • Scissortail Elementary (scheduled to open TBD)

Middle schools
  • Central Middle School
  • Cheyenne Middle School
  • Cimarron Middle School
  • Heartland Middle School
  • Oakdale Middle School
  • Sequoyah Middle School
  • Summit Middle School (outside of Edmond)

High schools

Colleges and universities

Private schools
  • Holy Trinity Christian School
  • Mercy School Institute
  • Oklahoma Christian School
  • Oklahoma Christian Academy
  • Providence Hall Classical Christian School
  • St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School
  • St. Mary's Episcopal School

Awards for schools
  • Sequoyah Middle School became a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 2004 and later won in 2015.
  • Deer Creek Middle School became a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 2002.
  • Edmond Memorial High School became a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 2001.
  • Edmond Memorial High School was named the Siemens Foundation 2007-2008 award winner for the state of Oklahoma. This award is given to one high school per state, and only .033 high schools in the nation, in recognition of outstanding performance in AP math, science, and technology.[29]
  • Edmond North High School became a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 2007.[30]
  • Edmond Santa Fe High School became a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 2012.[31]

Public art and landmarks

The city of Edmond is making efforts to promote public art with murals, stained glass and steel sculptures. On a portion of Main Street, statuary lines nearly every corner.[32] On July 4, 2007, the City inaugurated a bronze statue of Nannita R.H. Daisey, believed to be the first woman laying claim on Oklahoma land in the first (1889) land run.[33] In 2015 the Dave McGary sculpture of Chief Touch the Clouds was relocated to Edmond from Houston's Astrodome. The 18-foot-tall, 15-foot-wide sculpture is located on Second Street at the entrance of the University of Central Oklahoma.[34]

Edmond residents have access to 57 Protestant and 2 Catholic congregations, 6 Latter-day Saint congregations, one Unitarian Universalist church, one Islamic mosque, and one Bahá'í center.

A 163 foot tall cross sits at the Edmond Campus of Life.Church on the corner of Edmond Road and the I-35 Service Road.

Rugby

Rugby union is a developing sport in Edmond as well as in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. Edmond boasts two rugby clubs: The Edmond Rugby Club (aka "The Storm")[35][36] and the University of Central Oklahoma Rugby Football Club.[37][38]

Notable people

Sources
  1. Stan Hoig, "Land Run of 1889," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Accessed November 7, 2018)
  2. https://www.edmondsun.com/news/o-neil-returns-to-mayor-s-seat/article_3784087a-55b8-11e9-91d2-ab404d1132d1.html
  3. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  4. "State & County QuickFacts: Edmond (city), Oklahoma". United States Census Bureau. April 22, 2015. Archived from the original on May 27, 2015. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  5. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  7. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  8. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  9. Arcadia Lake, City of Edmond. (accessed October 1, 2013)
  10. Oklahoma Geography, NetState.com. (accessed October 1, 2013)
  11. "Ecoregions of Oklahoma" (PDF). Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  12. United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  13. "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  14. Oklahoma Municipal Government, Oklahoma Almanac, 2005, p. 535. (accessed October 1, 2013)
  15. Brenda Granger, "Edmond," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Accessed October 1, 2013
  16. "Land Run of 1889 | The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture". www.okhistory.org. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  17. "Parish History - An Overview Archived November 20, 2009, at the Wayback Machine," Official St. John the Baptist Website. (accessed October 1, 2013)
  18. Sooner Magazine, September 1965 (Volume 38, Issue 1), http://digital.libraries.ou.edu/sooner/issue_info.asp?issueID=478
  19. Staff (September 4, 1994). "Shootings Seal Post Office Rep". Chicago Sun Times  – via HighBeam Research (subscription required) . Archived from the original on June 29, 2014. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  20. "Edmond Post Office Memorial Fountain - Edmond, Oklahoma - Fountains on Waymarking.com". www.waymarking.com.
  21. www.coloredbean.com, Colored Bean Productions, LLC -. "Edmond Convention and Visitors Bureau". www.visitedmondok.com.
  22. "FindLaw's United States Tenth Circuit case and opinions". Findlaw.
  23. Bob Hersom (August 6, 2008). "Late Yankee slugger Bobby Murcer's life celebrated in Edmond". NewsOK.com.
  24. Greenberg, Peter. "Newsmax Magazine Rates the Top 25 Most Uniquely American Cities And Towns". Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  25. City of Edmond CAFR(accessed April 29, 2018)
  26. City Parks, City of Edmond official website
  27. "Edmond Elementary Schools". Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  28. https://edmondschools.net/our-schools/upcoming-projects/
  29. EdmondSchools.Net (2007). "Edmond Memorial Wins Prize". Retrieved January 15, 2007.
  30. "2007 Blue Ribbon Schools" (PDF).
  31. "2012 Blue Ribbon Schools" (PDF).
  32. Edmond Convention and Visitors Bureau (2007). "Oklahoma history cast in bronze". Retrieved October 18, 2007.
  33. Houghton, Jaclyn (March 13, 2007). "Oklahoma history cast in bronze". Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved October 18, 2007.
  34. "Touch the Clouds statue installation scheduled for Sunday". May 21, 2015. Archived from the original on June 28, 2017. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  35. Moriak, Meredith. News OK. Rugby gives Edmond athlete healthier goals.
  36. www.edmondrugbyclub.com Official Website of the Edmond Rugby Club
  37. Wescot, Chris. The Vista. ("Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 2, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link))
  38. ucowellnesscenter.com UCO Sports Clubs Archived June 17, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  39. "The Oklahoman's All-State Team". newsok.com. May 26, 1991.
  40. http://www.missuniverse.com/members/profile/271afec62b1414a8473d3f186cd7f3b6
  41. Williams, John A. "Ruling the 'dot-comm'". edmondsun.com.
  42. Larry O'Dell, "Galbreath Robert (1863 - 1953)." Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
  43. "Garrett Richards - The Baseball Cube". www.thebaseballcube.com.
  44. "Edmond Police Chief Bob Ricks' career spans the world". newsok.com. May 23, 2010.
  45. "Bill Self coach profile". KUAthletics.com. Archived from the original on 2017-02-20. Retrieved 2017-02-20.
  46. "Russell Westbrook's House in Edmond, OK (Google Maps) (#2)". virtualglobetrotting.com. 5 January 2013.
  47. "Russell Westbrook's House in Edmond, OK (Google Maps)". virtualglobetrotting.com. 5 November 2012.
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