Owasso, Oklahoma facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Owasso, Oklahoma
City
Nickname(s):  The City Without Limits
Location of within Tulsa County, and the state of Oklahoma
Owasso, Oklahoma Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
Counties	Tulsa, Rogers
Incorporated	1904 (town in Indian Territory); 1972 (city chartered in Oklahoma)
Government
• Type	Mayor–council government
Area
• Total	17.02 sq mi (44.07 km2)
• Land	17.00 sq mi (44.02 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation	709 ft (216 m)
Population  (2022)
• Total	39,328
• Density	2,249.94/sq mi (868.73/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central Standard Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (Central Daylight Time)
ZIP Code	74055
Area codes	Area codes 918 and 539
FIPS code	40-56650
GNIS feature ID	2411345
Website	www.cityofowasso.com

Owasso is a city in Oklahoma, located in Rogers and Tulsa Counties. It is the largest northern suburb of Tulsa. In 2022, about 39,328 people lived there. This was a big increase from 28,915 people in 2010. Owasso started as a settlement in 1881 in Indian Territory. It became an official town in 1904 and a city in 1972.

History of Owasso

Owasso began in 1881 as a small settlement. It was in the Cherokee Nation part of Indian Territory. The first name for the area was Elm Creek. This name came from Elm Creek, a small river that flows into Bird Creek. The first person to settle there was H.T. (Tole) Richardson.

Early Settlement and the Railroad

In 1893, people started planning a rail line from Bartlesville. This line would go south to the cattle ranches near Bird Creek. At that time, Elm Creek already had homes, a blacksmith shop, and a general store. Preston Ballard, who owned the general store, opened the first post office there in 1898. He became the first postmaster.

In 1897, a railroad company bought land about 3 miles (4.8 km) away. They built a dam to create a lake for the train's water supply. They also built a train station, called a depot, about a mile south of the lake. Many people and businesses from Elm Creek moved to this new area. The post office also moved, and the new community kept the name Elm Creek.

The Name Change to Owasso

The railroad line was finished in 1899. The first train arrived in Elm Creek on November 1, 1899. As the land around the end of this railroad grew, the area got a new name. It was called Owasso, which is an Osage Indian word. It means "the end of the trail" or "turn around." This name was chosen because the train line ended in a special "Y" shape near the depot, where trains could turn around. The Elm Creek post office officially changed its name to Owasso on January 24, 1900. The railroad line did not reach Tulsa until 1905.

Becoming a Town and City

The original plan for Owasso was approved in 1904. This plan showed three streets running north and south, and eight streets running east and west. The north-south streets were named Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri. The east-west streets were named after famous generals. Later, around 1960, these names were changed. East-west streets now have numbers, and north-south streets are named after trees.

When Oklahoma became a state on November 16, 1907, Owasso had 379 people. The first local newspaper, The Owasso Ledger, started in 1903. The first telephone exchange was set up in 1905. For many years, water was brought into town in barrels from Owasso Lake. A water tower was built in 1924, bringing water from Spavinaw. Owasso officially became a city on September 28, 1972.

Geography and Climate

Owasso is a northern suburb of Tulsa. It is in the northeastern part of Oklahoma, known as "Green Country". This area has lots of vegetation, hills, woods, and lakes. This is different from the drier Great Plains in central and western Oklahoma. The city covers about 16.31 square miles (42.24 km²). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.

Weather in Owasso

Owasso is in Tornado Alley. This means it can have many tornadoes. The city has a temperate climate that is often humid. The average yearly temperature is about 60°F (15.5°C). The city gets about 39.5 inches (100 cm) of precipitation each year.

People of Owasso (Demographics)

In 2021, about 38,732 people lived in Owasso. There were about 10,689 households. The population density was about 2,259.5 people per square mile (5,852.08/km²).

Most people in Owasso are White (76.6%). There are also people who are Black (4.7%), Native American (5.8%), and Asian (2.5%). About 8.0% of the people are from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos make up 5.4% of the population.

The average household has 2.81 people. About 37.6% of the population is under 18 years old. About 11.1% of the people are 65 years old or older. The average income for a household in Owasso is $66,897. The average income per person is $30,465. About 6.8% of the people live below the poverty line. Many adults in Owasso have a bachelor's degree or higher (33.8%).

Economy and Jobs

In the 1950s, Owasso became a "bedroom community" for Tulsa. This means many people lived in Owasso but worked in Tulsa, which was only about 12 miles (19 km) away. As Tulsa grew, more businesses came to Owasso. This helped the city grow even more.

During the 1980s and 1990s, more factories and companies came to Owasso. Some of these included American Airlines, Nordam Group, Whirlpool, and MCI WorldCom. Owasso is also served by the South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad. This railroad connects the city to Tulsa and the Port of Catoosa.

Media and News

Owasso has two local newspapers: the Owasso Reporter and the Owasso Progress. Both newspapers are published once a week. The Owasso Reporter was bought by BH Media in 2015. BH Media is part of Berkshire Hathaway, a large company led by Warren Buffett. The Owasso Progress is owned by Community Newspaper Holdings.

Notable People from Owasso

Many interesting people have connections to Owasso, including:

• Tommy Allsup, a Rockabilly and Western swing musician
• Randy Blake, a kickboxer
• Jaime Bluma, a former MLB pitcher for the Kansas City Royals
• Randy Brogdon, a former Oklahoma Senate member and former mayor of Owasso
• Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, famous country music singers; they lived near Owasso for many years.
• Dylan Bundy, a pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles
• Dennis Byrd, a defensive end for the New York Jets
• Aaron Colvin, a cornerback for the Houston Texans
• Russ Dugger, a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver
• Jo Anna Dossett, a member of the Oklahoma Senate
• Brian Flynn, an MLB pitcher for the Kansas City Royals
• Stacie L. Hixon, an attorney and judge
• Vic Koenning, a professional football linebacker and college coach
• Jon Kolb, an offensive lineman with the Pittsburgh Steelers
• Pete Kozma, an MLB shortstop
• Shake Milton, an NBA player for the Los Angeles Lakers
• Reese Mishler, an actor
• Daryn Pittman, a 2013 World of Outlaws sprint car champion
• Paul Smith, a quarterback who won the Wuerffel Trophy
• Rebel, an AEW wrestler and former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader

See also

In Spanish: Owasso (Oklahoma) para niños