Edmond, Oklahoma facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Edmond, Oklahoma
City
Flag Seal Wordmark
Motto(s):  "A Great Place To Grow"
Location in Oklahoma County and the state of Oklahoma.
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
County	Oklahoma
Founded	April 22, 1889
Government
• Type	Council – Manager
Area
• Total	87.55 sq mi (226.75 km2)
• Land	84.44 sq mi (218.71 km2)
• Water	3.10 sq mi (8.04 km2)
Elevation	1,122 ft (342 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	94,428
• Density	1,118.23/sq mi (431.75/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	73003, 73012, 73013, 73025, 73034, 73083
Area code(s)	405 and 572
FIPS code	40-23200
GNIS feature ID	2410402
Website	City of Edmond

Edmond is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, USA. It is part of the larger Oklahoma City metropolitan area. In 2020, about 94,428 people lived here. This makes Edmond the 5th largest city in Oklahoma.

Edmond is right next to the northern part of Oklahoma City. You can get around using the Citylink Edmond bus service.

History of Edmond, Oklahoma

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

Edmond started as a water and coal stop for steam trains. The Santa Fe Railroad built its line through Indian Territory in 1887. They chose this spot because it was the highest point in Oklahoma County. Trains could easily go downhill from here.

The railroad named the station after Edmond Burdick, a freight agent. When the town formed after the Oklahoma Land Run of 1889, settlers kept the name. Today, the BNSF Railway freight line still runs through the same area.

The town of Edmond grew very quickly during the Oklahoma Land Run on April 22, 1889. People claimed land around the Santa Fe station. The first mayor and city leaders were chosen in May 1889. By 1890, Edmond had 394 people.

The first public school in Oklahoma Territory was built in Edmond. It was finished in August 1889. This historic building is still standing on 2nd Street. You can visit it on the first two Saturdays of each month.

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church was the first church to open after the land run. It was located on East First and South Boulevard. The church still exists today, but in a different building.

In December 1890, the government created three universities. One was a "normal" school, or teaching school, in Edmond. This school, now called the University of Central Oklahoma, started classes on November 9, 1891. Its first main building, Old North, opened in 1893.

The Edmond Sun newspaper started on July 18, 1889. It is the oldest newspaper in Oklahoma that has been printed continuously since the territory days.

Famous Events in Edmond

Edmond is the hometown of Shannon Miller. She is America's most decorated Olympic gymnast. Shannon won five medals in the 1992 Summer Olympics. She also won two gold medals in the 1996 Summer Olympics. A part of Interstate 35 is named the Shannon Miller Parkway in her honor.

The city had a legal discussion about its city seal. The original seal showed a Christian cross. In 1996, a court ruled that the cross should be removed. The city is still deciding on a new design for that spot on the seal.

A special service for famous Oklahoman baseball player Bobby Murcer was held in Edmond. Many famous baseball players attended, like Reggie Jackson and Derek Jeter.

In 2009, Edmond was named one of the "Top 25 Most Uniquely American Cities and Towns" by Newsmax magazine. This was partly because of its 10-day LibertyFest event. LibertyFest has Oklahoma's largest parade, fireworks, a beauty pageant, and a rodeo.

Geography of Edmond, Oklahoma

Edmond is located just north of Oklahoma City in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. The city covers about 87.9 square miles (227.7 square kilometers). About 2.8 square miles (7.2 square kilometers) of this is water.

Arcadia Lake is on the east side of Edmond. It is a popular spot for fishing. You can find fish like bluegill, channel catfish, and largemouth bass there. Twin Bridges Lake is another lake in the city.

Edmond is in the Sandstone Hills region of Central Oklahoma. This area is known for its hills and oak trees. The city is part of an ecological region called the Cross Timbers.

Edmond's Climate

Edmond has a humid subtropical climate. This means the weather can change often during some parts of the year. Summers are usually very hot. Long dry periods can cause wildfires. Heavy rains can lead to flash floods.

Winds often blow from the south in summer. This helps to cool down the hot weather. In winter, winds from the north can make cold periods even colder. Sometimes, severe ice storms and snowstorms happen in winter.

The city is in Tornado Alley. This means it often experiences strong tornadoes and hailstorms. The Oklahoma City metropolitan area is one of the most tornado-prone major cities in the world.

Population of Edmond, Oklahoma

In 2020, Edmond had 94,428 residents. About 72% of the population is White. About 6.4% are Black or African American. Around 2.2% are Native American. About 3.6% are Asian. People of mixed races make up about 8.4%. About 7% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.

The population is slightly more female (51.5%) than male (48.5%). The average age of residents is 36.3 years. This is a bit younger than the average age for all of Oklahoma. The average household income in Edmond is about $101,811.

Economy of Edmond, Oklahoma

The supermarket chain Crest Foods has its main office in Edmond. The University of Central Oklahoma is also a very large employer. Edmond focuses on industries like wholesale trade, light manufacturing, and professional services.

Top Employers in Edmond

Here are some of the biggest employers in Edmond:

• Edmond Public Schools (2,975 employees)
• University of Central Oklahoma (1,350 employees)
• City of Edmond (764 employees)
• INTEGRIS Health Edmond (550 employees)
• Mercy Edmond I-35 (507 employees)
• OU Medical Center Edmond (500 employees)
• Crest Foods (307 employees)
• Petra Industries (238 employees)
• Adfitech (247 employees)
• Pelco Products (193 employees)

Arts and Culture in Edmond

Edmond is working to promote public art. You can see murals, stained glass, and steel sculptures around the city. On Main Street, there are statues on many corners.

In 2007, a bronze statue of Nannita Daisey was put up. She is believed to be the first woman to claim land in Oklahoma during the 1889 land run. In 2015, a large sculpture of Chief Touch the Clouds was moved to Edmond. This 18-foot-tall statue is at the entrance of the University of Central Oklahoma.

Edmond has many different places of worship. These include Protestant and Catholic churches, Latter-day Saint congregations, a Unitarian Universalist church, an Islamic mosque, and a Haziratu'l-Quds for followers of the Baháʼí Faith.

A very tall cross, 163 feet high, stands at the Edmond Campus of Life.Church. The church had a discussion with the city to build the cross.

Parts of the movies Rudderless (2014), American Underdog (2021), and Reagan (2024) were filmed in Edmond.

Sports in Edmond

Hafer Park Pond

Rugby union is becoming more popular in Edmond. The city has two rugby clubs: The Edmond Rugby Club and the University of Central Oklahoma Rugby Football Club.

Golf is also a favorite sport in Edmond. There are 7 golf courses, including the famous Oak Tree National.

Soccer is growing in Edmond too. The city is home to the Edmond Soccer Club.

Education in Edmond

Most of Edmond is served by Edmond Public Schools. Some parts are in other school districts like Deer Creek Public Schools, Jones Public Schools, and Luther Public Schools.

Elementary Schools

• Angie Debo Elementary School
• Centennial Elementary School
• Charles Haskell Elementary School
• Chisholm Elementary School
• Clegern Elementary School
• Clyde Howell (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
• Scissortail Elementary

Middle Schools

• Central Middle School
• Cheyenne Middle School
• Cimarron Middle School
• Heartland Middle School
• Oakdale Middle School
• Sequoyah Middle School
• Summit Middle School

High Schools

• Edmond Memorial High School
• Edmond North High School
• Edmond Santa Fe High School
• Boulevard Academy

Colleges and Universities

• Herbert W. Armstrong College
• University of Central Oklahoma

Private Schools

• Holy Trinity Lutheran School
• Mercy School Institute
• Oklahoma Christian School
• Oklahoma Christian Academy
• The Academy of Classical Christian Studies
• St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School
• St. Mary's Episcopal School

Notable People from Edmond

Many interesting people have connections to Edmond:

• Dusty Allen, a Major League Baseball player, graduated from Edmond Memorial High School.
• Brian Anderson, a baseball player for the Milwaukee Brewers, was born in Edmond.
• Jim Beaver, an actor from Deadwood and Supernatural, lived in Edmond.
• Paul Blair, an NFL player, graduated from Edmond Memorial High School.
• Allison Brown, Miss Teen USA 1986.
• Joel Comm, a New York Times best-selling author, lived in Edmond.
• Greyson Chance, an Internet celebrity and singer.
• Daryl Dike, a professional soccer player, graduated from Edmond North High School.
• Kristian Doolittle, a basketball player.
• Robert Galbreath, Jr., a deputy U.S. marshal and postmaster in Edmond.
• Jim Gentile, a Major League Baseball player.
• KC Green, a comic artist, graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma.
• Kelly Gregg, a retired Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens player.
• Blake Griffin, an NBA player, graduated from Edmond's Oklahoma Christian School.
• Johny Hendricks, a UFC champion, graduated from Edmond Memorial High School.
• Mat Hoffman, a BMX rider, graduated from Edmond Memorial High School.
• DaQuan Jeffries, an NBA G League player.
• Hoda Katebi, a writer and activist, graduated from Edmond Santa Fe High School.
• Trey Kennedy, an Internet comedian.
• Darci Lynne, a ventriloquist and winner of America's Got Talent.
• Brady Manek, a college basketball player.
• Shannon Miller, an Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics.
• Daniel Nayeri, an author.
• Garrett Richards, a Major League Baseball player.
• Josh Richardson, a Miami Heat basketball player.
• Bob Ricks, a former Edmond Chief of Police.
• Mookie Salaam, a professional sprinter.
• Bill Self, a college basketball coach, is in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
• Mark Snyder, an Oklahoma state senator.
• Laura Spencer, an actress.
• Ekpe Udoh, a former basketball player and coach.
• William C. Wantland, a Bishop.
• Brandon Weeden, played for the New York Yankees and Cleveland Browns.
• Russell Westbrook, a former Oklahoma City Thunder basketball player.
• Brandon Whitaker, a CFL running back.
• Steve Zabel, an NFL player, lives in Edmond.
• Music artists Mike Kennerty and Chris Gaylor from The All-American Rejects, and Mikaila.
• The Christian band Mercy Me was founded in Edmond.
• Many PGA Tour golfers call Edmond home, including Bob Tway, Doug Tewell, Scott Verplank, David Edwards, and Gil Morgan.
• Charlie Haas, a professional wrestler, was born in Edmond.

See also

In Spanish: Edmond (Oklahoma) para niños