Bethany, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bethany, Oklahoma
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Location in Oklahoma County and the state of Oklahoma.
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 Bethany, Oklahoma
Location in the United States
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| 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)
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| • 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
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| Area code(s) | 405 |
| FIPS code | 40-05700 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2409839 |
| Website | City of Bethany |
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.
Contents
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 | |||
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| 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
In Spanish: Bethany (Oklahoma) para niños
