Broken Arrow, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
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Downtown Broken Arrow (2007)
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Location within Tulsa County and the state of Oklahoma
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| Counties | Tulsa, Wagoner |
| Founded | 1902 |
| Incorporated | 1903 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| Area | |
| • City | 63.54 sq mi (164.58 km2) |
| • Land | 62.96 sq mi (163.07 km2) |
| • Water | 0.58 sq mi (1.51 km2) |
| Elevation | 755 ft (230 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • City | 113,540 |
| • Rank | US: 279th |
| • Density | 1,803.34/sq mi (696.28/km2) |
| • Metro | 411,401 (US: 54th) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
74011-74014
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| Area code(s) | 539/918 |
| FIPS code | 40-09050 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1090512 |
Broken Arrow is a city in Oklahoma, located in Tulsa and Wagoner counties. It is the largest suburb of Tulsa. In 2020, Broken Arrow had over 113,000 residents. This makes it the fourth most populated city in Oklahoma. The city is part of the larger Tulsa Metropolitan Area.
The city's name comes from a Creek community. These Native Americans were forced to move from Alabama to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears. The Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad sold land for the town in 1902. William S. Fears, a company secretary, chose the name Broken Arrow.
Even though Broken Arrow started as a farming town, it now has many different types of businesses. It is known for having the third-highest number of manufacturers in Oklahoma.
Contents
History of Broken Arrow
The name of Broken Arrow comes from an old Creek community in Alabama. Members of this community were forced to leave Alabama by the U.S. government in the 1830s. This difficult journey is known as the Trail of Tears. The Creek people then started a new community in the Indian Territory. They named it after their old home in Alabama. The name in the Muscogee language was Rekackv, which means "broken arrow." This new Creek settlement was a few miles south of where downtown Broken Arrow is today.
Around 1901, a small community called Elam began to form. It had some stores, a cotton gin, and a few homes. In 1902, the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad planned to build a railroad through this area. They were allowed to create town sites along the route. The railroad sold three of these sites to the Arkansas Valley Town Site Company. William S. Fears, who worked for that company, got to choose and name one of the locations. He picked a spot about 18 miles southeast of Tulsa. He named the new town Broken Arrow, after the Creek community. The MKT railroad was finished in 1903 and ran right through the city. Today, Union Pacific owns this railroad and uses it for freight.
For many years, Broken Arrow's economy was mostly based on farming. The coal industry was also important. There were several coal mines near the city in the early 1900s. The city's newspaper, the Broken Arrow Ledger, started soon after the city was founded. Broken Arrow's first school was built in 1904. The city did not grow much during the first half of the 1900s. Its main shopping area was along Main Street. Many churches were also located there. In 1907, a government count showed Broken Arrow had 1,383 people.
The Haskell State School of Agriculture opened in 1909. It was located in the Broken Arrow Opera House. The school closed in 1917 because it ran out of money. The building then became Broken Arrow High School. The building was taken down in 1987. Only a marker remains today. The school is remembered on the National Register of Historic Places.
In the 1960s, Broken Arrow started to grow from a small town into a larger city. The Broken Arrow Expressway (Oklahoma State Highway 51) was built in the mid-1960s. This road connected the city to downtown Tulsa. This connection helped Broken Arrow grow a lot. The population grew from about 11,000 in 1970 to over 50,000 in 1990. By 2000, it had more than 74,000 people. For a while, Broken Arrow was mostly a "bedroom community." This means many people lived there but worked or shopped in other cities. Recently, city leaders have worked to bring more businesses to Broken Arrow. This helps people work, shop, and relax right in their own town.
Geography and Climate
Broken Arrow is located in the northeastern part of Oklahoma. This area is called Green Country. It is known for its green plants, hills, and lakes. Green Country has many different types of land. It has seven of Oklahoma's 11 eco-regions.
The city covers about 45.6 square miles. Most of this area, about 45.0 square miles, is land. The rest, about 0.6 square miles, is water.
What is the climate like in Broken Arrow?
Broken Arrow has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot summers. Winters can change a lot. They can be mild or very cold. This depends on whether the air comes from the Rocky Mountains or from very cold air from Canada.
| Climate data for Broken Arrow, Oklahoma | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 45.7 (7.6) |
51.2 (10.7) |
61.3 (16.3) |
72.1 (22.3) |
79.1 (26.2) |
87.1 (30.6) |
92.9 (33.8) |
91.9 (33.3) |
83.6 (28.7) |
74.5 (23.6) |
60.9 (16.1) |
49.8 (9.9) |
70.8 (21.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 22.2 (−5.4) |
26.5 (−3.1) |
35.5 (1.9) |
46.8 (8.2) |
56.1 (13.4) |
64.8 (18.2) |
69.1 (20.6) |
66.7 (19.3) |
59.3 (15.2) |
46.4 (8.0) |
35.8 (2.1) |
26.5 (−3.1) |
46.3 (7.9) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.6 (41) |
1.8 (46) |
3.2 (81) |
3.5 (89) |
5.0 (130) |
4.6 (120) |
2.9 (74) |
2.8 (71) |
4.7 (120) |
3.7 (94) |
3.1 (79) |
2.0 (51) |
38.9 (996) |
| Source: Weatherbase.com | |||||||||||||
People of Broken Arrow
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 1,383 | — | |
| 1910 | 1,576 | 14.0% | |
| 1920 | 2,086 | 32.4% | |
| 1930 | 1,964 | −5.8% | |
| 1940 | 2,074 | 5.6% | |
| 1950 | 3,262 | 57.3% | |
| 1960 | 5,982 | 83.4% | |
| 1970 | 11,787 | 97.0% | |
| 1980 | 35,761 | 203.4% | |
| 1990 | 58,043 | 62.3% | |
| 2000 | 74,859 | 29.0% | |
| 2010 | 98,850 | 32.0% | |
| 2020 | 113,540 | 14.9% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 117,911 | 19.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2018 Estimate |
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Broken Arrow has grown a lot over the years. In 1900, there were only 1,383 people. By 2020, the population had reached 113,540. This shows how much the city has expanded.
What is the population like in Broken Arrow?
The city is home to a diverse group of people. In 2020, most residents were White. There are also significant numbers of Black, Native American, Asian, and multiracial people. About 10% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
In 2010, there were about 98,850 people living in Broken Arrow. There were over 36,000 households. About 37% of households had children under 18. Most households (76%) were married couples. The average household had 2.72 people.
The population is spread out by age. About 30% of residents are under 18. The median age in the city was 33 years old. This means half the people were younger than 33, and half were older. The average income for a family was about $74,355.
Business and Industry
Broken Arrow has many different businesses and industries. It ranks third in Oklahoma for the number of manufacturing companies. This means many things are made here.
Some major employers in the city include:
- FlightSafety International
- FedEx Ground
- Blue Bell Creameries
- Windstream Communications
FlightSafety International (FSI) has been in Broken Arrow since 1985. They build flight simulators for training pilots. FSI is the largest private employer in the city. They have over 675 employees, and about half of them are engineers.
Many new businesses are being built in the city, especially along Oklahoma State Highway 51. A Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World opened in 2005. This store is part of a larger area with hotels, restaurants, and shops. A new hospital and medical building were built in 2010. These are part of another big business area. Oklahoma's first Dick's Sporting Goods opened in 2011.
In 2007, the city created the Broken Arrow Economic Development Corporation. This group helps guide new business growth. The Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce also started a campaign called "Advance Broken Arrow." This campaign aims to grow and diversify the city's economy. In 2023, plans were announced for a new 12,500-seat amphitheater. It is expected to open by 2025 and host many concerts.
Revitalizing Downtown Broken Arrow
In 2005, the city made a plan to bring new life to its historic downtown area. This plan included building a new three-story museum. It would house the historical society and a group that studies family history. Other plans included a farmer's market, a new performing arts center, and park improvements. The historic Central Middle School on Main Street was turned into a professional development center. The city also improved roads and landscaping. They offered help to encourage new buildings and to reuse old ones. Many buildings and homes have been fixed up since then. Many new shops and offices have moved downtown. New townhomes are also being built. The new historical museum, farmer's market, and performing arts center opened in 2008.
The city also set new rules for how buildings in downtown must look. These rules make sure new buildings fit in with the older, historic ones. In 2012, downtown Broken Arrow's main street area was named the Rose District.
Education in Broken Arrow
Broken Arrow is served by several school districts. These include Broken Arrow Public Schools, Union Public Schools, and Bixby Public Schools. Most of Broken Arrow in Tulsa County is part of Broken Arrow Public Schools. The northwestern part is Union Public Schools. The far southwest part is Bixby Public Schools. All of Broken Arrow in Wagoner County is part of Broken Arrow Public Schools.
Some areas with a Broken Arrow mailing address are part of Coweta Public Schools. Bixby, Union, and Broken Arrow school districts all have at least one school within the city limits.
Colleges and Universities
For higher education, Broken Arrow has the Northeastern State University (Broken Arrow campus). This campus opened in 2001. It has about 3,000 upper-level and graduate students.
Broken Arrow also has the Tulsa Technology Center Broken Arrow Campus. It started in 1983. About 3,500 students attend full-time and part-time.
Another school in Broken Arrow is the Rhema Bible Training Center. It was started in 1974 by Kenneth E. Hagin. It is on 110 acres of land. Over 40,000 students have graduated from Rhema. It offers seven different ministry programs. Kenneth W. Hagin, the founder's son, now leads the center.
Libraries
The city has two libraries: Broken Arrow Library and South Broken Arrow Library. Both are part of the Tulsa City-County Library System.
Transportation and Roads
Major roads in Broken Arrow include Oklahoma State Highway 51, also known as the Broken Arrow Expressway. This highway runs through the north side of the city. It leads to downtown Tulsa to the northwest. If you go east on the Broken Arrow Expressway, you can get to the Muskogee Turnpike. This turnpike connects the city to Muskogee. The Creek Turnpike is a partial beltway that goes around the south side of the city. It connects to other major highways like the Turner Turnpike and the Will Rogers Turnpike.
Public transportation in Broken Arrow is provided by Tulsa Transit. There is one bus route that connects Broken Arrow to Tulsa. Bus services run from Monday through Friday.
Media and News
Broken Arrow used to have its own newspaper, the Broken Arrow Ledger. It was published every Wednesday. The Tulsa World, a major newspaper for northeast Oklahoma, also shares news about Broken Arrow. The Ledger was closed in 2017.
Television and Internet
Cox Cable channel 24 is Broken Arrow's local government TV channel. It shows information about the city government and upcoming events. It also provides general information about the city and local weather reports.
Broken Arrow has a website that offers information about the city. This includes details about its government, local places, safety, news, and economic growth. The city's chamber of commerce also has a website. It provides information about the chamber and business development in the city.
Notable People from Broken Arrow
Many well-known people have connections to Broken Arrow. These include athletes, authors, and actors.
- David Alexander, a former NFL player. He also coached the Broken Arrow High School football team.
- Brady Bacon, a racing driver.
- Alvin Bailey, an offensive lineman who played for the Seattle Seahawks.
- Jim Baumer, a former Major League baseball player and general manager for the Milwaukee Brewers.
- Archie Bradley, a pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels. He was a top pick in the 2011 MLB draft.
- Jim Brewer, a former Major League pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
- P.C. Cast, an author known for the House of Night series.
- Kristin Chenoweth, a famous singer and actress. She graduated from Broken Arrow High School. The performing arts center's theater is named after her.
- Ernest Childers, a Medal of Honor recipient from World War II.
- Marguerite Churchill, an actress who died in Broken Arrow.
- DeDe Dorsey, a running back for the Las Vegas Locomotives. He also played in the NFL.
- Phil Farrand, an author known for his Nitpicker's Guides.
- Kenneth E. Hagin, an evangelist who founded Rhema Bible Training College.
- Holley Hollan, a racing driver.
- Steve Logan, a running backs coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- JD McPherson, a singer-songwriter and guitarist.
- George O'Brien, an actor.
- Charles Ogle, a racing driver.
- Brad Penny, a Major League Baseball pitcher.
- Jamie Pinkerton, the Head Women's Softball Coach at Iowa State University. He graduated from Broken Arrow High School.
- Donald Roulet, a Presbyterian minister and civil rights activist.
- Warren Spahn, a Hall of Fame baseball pitcher who lived in Broken Arrow for a long time.
- Will Thomas, a historical mystery writer. He won Oklahoma Book Awards in 2005 and 2015.
- Andy Wilkins, a first baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers.
- Kathryn Zaremba, a stage actress.
See also
In Spanish: Broken Arrow (Oklahoma) para niños
