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Bethany, Oklahoma
Location in Oklahoma County and the state of Oklahoma.
Location in Oklahoma County and the state of Oklahoma.
Bethany, Oklahoma is located in the United States
Bethany, Oklahoma
Bethany, Oklahoma
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Oklahoma
County Oklahoma
Government
 • Type council-manager
Area
 • Total 5.23 sq mi (13.54 km2)
 • Land 5.23 sq mi (13.54 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,309 ft (399 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 20,831
 • Density 3,984.51/sq mi (1,538.38/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
73008
Area code(s) 405
FIPS code 40-05700
GNIS feature ID 2409839
Website City of Bethany
Downtown Bethany - December 17, 2017
Photo taken during the Annual Tree Lighting Festival on December 17, 2017.

Bethany is a city located in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, in the United States. It's part of the larger Oklahoma City metropolitan area. In 2020, about 20,831 people lived in Bethany. This was a 9.3% increase from 2010. The city was started in 1909 by people from the Church of the Nazarene who moved from Oklahoma City.

About Bethany, Oklahoma

A Look Back: Bethany's History

Bethany was founded on July 28, 1909. It was created as a place where members of the Church of the Nazarene could live and practice their beliefs freely. This Christian group grew from Holiness churches. The town was named after a place called Bethany in the Bible.

Soon after, a college was started, which is now known as Southern Nazarene University (SNU). Two other important places were also built. One was the Oklahoma Orphanage, which is now a medical center called the Children's Center. The other was the Nazarene Rescue Home, which helped young mothers.

Bethany officially became a town on August 8, 1910. Its economy mainly relied on the farms nearby. In 1913, it got its own post office. Because many people in Bethany were conservative Nazarenes, the town council made strict rules. These rules banned alcohol, tobacco, gambling, dancing, movies, swearing, and working on Sundays. When Bethany became a "first class city" in 1931, some of these rules were made less strict.

On November 19, 1930, a very strong F4 tornado hit Bethany. It killed 23 people and destroyed 652 buildings. This was one of the worst November tornadoes in Oklahoma since 1900. It took a long time for the city to recover. But when World War II started, new factories opened in the area. Many people moved to Bethany to live there and work in Oklahoma City.

Where is Bethany?

Bethany is in the middle of Oklahoma County. It is about 10 miles (16 km) west of downtown Oklahoma City. To the east, it borders Warr Acres. To the west, you'll find Lake Overholser and the Stinchcomb Wildlife Refuge.

The city covers about 5.2 square miles (13.5 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the city limits.

People and Community

Bethany's population has grown a lot over the years:

Historical population
Census Pop.
1920 485
1930 2,032 319.0%
1940 2,590 27.5%
1950 5,705 120.3%
1960 12,342 116.3%
1970 22,694 83.9%
1980 22,038 −2.9%
1990 20,075 −8.9%
2000 20,307 1.2%
2010 19,051 −6.2%
2020 20,831 9.3%
Sources:

In 2020, the people living in Bethany came from many different backgrounds:

  • White or European American: 56.0%
  • Hispanic or Latino: 23.8%
  • Black or African American: 8.2%
  • Asian: 1.3%
  • Native American: 2.6%
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 0.01%
  • Other race: 0.01%
  • Two or more races (non-Hispanic): 7.6%

In 2000, there were 20,307 people living in Bethany. The average family had about 2.91 people. About 23% of the people were under 18 years old. The median age was 36 years. This means half the people were younger than 36, and half were older.

The average income for a household in Bethany was $35,073. For families, it was $43,905. About 9% of the people in Bethany lived below the poverty line.

What Does Bethany Do?

The biggest employers in Bethany include:

  • Southern Nazarene University
  • Southwestern Christian University
  • The Children's Center (a medical facility)
  • Bethany and Putnam City Public Schools
  • The City of Bethany government
  • Gilbert Medical Clinic

Bethany is also the main office for the International Pentecostal Holiness Church. It is also the headquarters for the Pinto Horse Association of America.

Learning in Bethany

Public Schools

Both the Bethany School District and the Putnam City School District serve students in Bethany. Bethany School District covers the central part of the city. Putnam City School District covers most of the rest.

For younger students, there are schools like Bethany Earl Harris Elementary. Primary school goes from pre-kindergarten to 5th grade. Bethany Middle School and Western Oaks Junior High School serve students in 6th to 8th grade. Bethany High School, whose sports teams are called the Bronchos, teaches grades 9th to 12th.

Some Putnam City schools located in Bethany include:

  • Apollo Elementary
  • Lake Park Elementary
  • Overholser Elementary
  • Western Oaks Elementary
  • Western Oaks Middle School

Many students in the Putnam City areas of Bethany go to Putnam City West High School.

Higher Education

Bethany has two universities:

  • Southern Nazarene University (SNU)
  • Southwestern Christian University (SWCU)

SNU offers programs for adults to finish their degrees. It also has many master's programs, including an MBA. SWCU is a Christian university that focuses on Bible and Christian ministries. It also offers programs for adults to complete their degrees and master's programs.

Public Libraries

The Metropolitan Library System runs the Bethany Library. It has a large space of about 23,000 square feet (2,137 square meters). The library first opened on January 31, 1965, in a different building. The current building opened on November 16, 2019. It was built with money approved in 2016.

Getting Around Bethany

Wiley Post Airport is in Bethany. It handles planes for businesses and other commercial flights. The airport also has an industrial park with about fifty businesses related to aviation. These include Rockwell International, Million Air, Servicenter Incorporated, and the Federal Aviation Administration Systems Management Office.

The main road through Bethany is the 39th Street Expressway. This road is also part of Historic Route 66.

Fun Things to Do in Bethany

Bethany has many small neighborhood parks and four larger parks:

  • Eldon Lyon Park
  • McFarland Park
  • Ripper Park
  • Stinchcomb Wildlife Refuge

Eldon Lyon Park is where the annual Fourth of July festival takes place. This is an all-day event with fireworks, a carnival, and a parade. The parade starts on Main Street. Downtown Bethany also hosts other festivals like Bethany66, the Annual Tree Lighting, and Cinco de Mayo. Many businesses on Main Street also host special music events.

Notable People

  • Chris Chamberlain (born 1985), a professional football player (NFL), was born in Bethany.
  • Shannon Lucid (born 1943), an American biochemist and astronaut, grew up in Bethany and graduated from Bethany High School.
  • Allie Reynolds (1917–1994), an American professional baseball pitcher, was born in Bethany.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Bethany (Oklahoma) para niños

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