Moore, Oklahoma Facts for Kids

Moore is a city in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States. It is part of the larger Oklahoma City metropolitan area. In 2020, about 62,793 people lived there. This makes Moore the seventh-largest city in Oklahoma.

Moore is located between Oklahoma City and Norman. The city has faced several very strong tornadoes. Two major tornadoes in 1999 and 2013 gained worldwide attention. The three most expensive tornadoes in Oklahoma's history all happened in Moore.

History of Moore
Moore's Climate and Tornadoes
- Tornado Alley and Warnings
  - The 1999 Tornado
  - The 2013 Tornado
Education in Moore
Moore Veterans Memorial
Famous People from Moore
Images for kids
See also

History of Moore

The Moore post office opened on May 27, 1889. This was during the Land Rush of 1889, when people claimed land in Oklahoma. The town was named after Al Moore. He was a worker for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.

Al Moore lived in a boxcar at the railway camp. He had trouble getting his mail. So, he painted his name, "Moore," on a board and put it on his boxcar. When a postmaster was chosen, they kept calling the settlement "Moore." The name became official when the town became a city in 1893.

The community stayed small for many years. In 1961, Moore added a lot of land, about 21.6 square miles (56 square kilometers). It became a full city in 1962. This caused its population to grow from 1,221 people in 1960 to 18,761 in 1970. By 2010, the population was 55,081.

In the 1970s, Moore started a "Smile America" campaign. Giant red, white, and blue smiley faces were painted on the city's water towers. A smiley face is also on the city's official logo. Some water towers now say, "Moore - Home of Toby Keith."

Moore's Climate and Tornadoes

Moore has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot summers. The weather can change a lot during other parts of the year. Long dry periods can cause wildfires. Heavy rains can lead to floods. Winds, usually from the south, help cool the hot summer weather. Cold winds from the north can make winters very cold. Sometimes, severe ice storms and snowstorms happen in winter.

Tornado Alley and Warnings

Moore is located in an area called Tornado Alley. This is where tornadoes happen very often. The Oklahoma City metropolitan area, which includes Moore, is one of the most tornado-prone major cities in the world.

Between 1998 and 2015, Moore experienced nine tornadoes. Three of these were very strong and caused deaths and huge damage. To help warn people, 42 siren warning devices are placed around Moore.

The 1999 Tornado

On May 3, 1999, a powerful tornado hit Moore and nearby areas. This tornado was rated an F5 on the Fujita scale. At the time, it was the most expensive tornado in history. It had recorded wind speeds of about 301 miles per hour (484 km/h). This is the highest wind speed ever recorded on Earth.

The tornado left a path of destruction over 1 mile (1.6 km) wide and 38 miles (61 km) long. It killed 36 people in the Oklahoma City area. This was the deadliest F5 tornado since 1971.

The 2013 Tornado

2013 tornado southwest of Moore

Aerial view of 2013 Moore tornado damage

On May 20, 2013, another very strong tornado hit parts of Moore. It also affected nearby Newcastle and southern Oklahoma City. This tornado was classified as an EF5. Its winds were estimated to be 200–210 miles per hour (320–340 km/h). It was 1.3 miles (2.1 km) wide and traveled 17 miles (27 km).

The tornado destroyed entire neighborhoods. It hit Plaza Towers Elementary School and Briarwood elementary schools in Moore while students were there. Sadly, 24 people died, including 10 children. Over 140 people, including at least 70 children, were treated at hospitals. This was the deadliest U.S. tornado since the 2011 Joplin tornado in Missouri.

Education in Moore

Moore has many schools for students of all ages.

Higher Education

Randall University is the only college located directly in Moore. It has about 225 students. Moore's neighbor to the south, Norman, Oklahoma, is home to the much larger University of Oklahoma. The Moore Norman Technology Center offers career and technology education. Its campuses are in Norman and South Oklahoma City.

Schools for Kids

Moore Public Schools has three high schools: Moore, Southmoore, and Westmoore. There are also six junior high schools and 25 elementary schools.

On May 20, 2013, the tornado damaged or destroyed several schools. This included Plaza Towers Elementary, Briarwood Elementary, and Highland East Junior High. However, these schools were rebuilt and reopened for the 2014–15 school year.

Libraries

The Moore Public Library serves the city. It is part of the Pioneer Library System.

Moore Veterans Memorial

The City of Moore built a memorial to honor America's veterans and their families. A park called JD Estates Park was renamed Veterans Memorial Park. The memorial was built at the park entrance.

The main part of the memorial is a 15-foot (4.6 m) black granite obelisk. It has a special message written on it. There are also five black granite tablets with the seals of the five branches of the American armed forces. In the center is a flag plaza with poles for the American flag, the Oklahoma flag, and the POW/MIA flag.

The park was destroyed by the May 2013 tornado. But it won "America's Favorite Park" in an online contest by Coca-Cola. The prize was a $100,000 grant. This money helped rebuild the park. The park's playgrounds are now open for everyone to enjoy.

Famous People from Moore

Kellie Coffey, a country music artist
Tom Cole, a U.S. congressman
Danny Cooksey, an actor and musician
Mike Hinckley, a former baseball pitcher
Jimmy Houston, a professional fisherman and TV host
Toby Keith, a country music singer, songwriter, and actor

Images for kids

(2024)
Seal of Moore, Oklahoma
Location within Cleveland County and Oklahoma

Moore, Oklahoma facts for kids

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