How boring is OKC for a young professional? (Oklahoma City, Miami: homes, living in)

[eddie gein]

Originally Posted by JoninATX

I don’t think OKC punches below it's weight, from what I've been reading and hearing lately OKC is on the ball. With Top Golf, IFly, Boathouse, and the new water rapids. As well as from Bricktown to Auto Alley, I say OKC is doing a great job attracting developers.

Yeah, OKC is really trying to improve but it's always been in the shadow of DFW and it doesn't really have a lot of natural resources to hang it's hat on.

DFW functions as the big boy in this area as does KCMO northeast of OKC and Denver to the Northwest. But if you think of it, but outside of that OKC is the next biggest place in a vast area. It's bigger than any place in Kansas, Nebraska, the Dakotas, Iowa, Wyoming, New Mexico, Montana.

I've never understood why people come here and complain expecting something different than what a plains city has to offer.

[bawac34618]

Originally Posted by eddie gein

I've never understood why people come here and complain expecting something different than what a plains city has to offer.

I agree with what you are saying. OKC is what it is and people wanting a coastal lifestyle should never come here expecting to be happy. However, the OKC Chamber tries to market this place as a bustling, vibrant, progressive up-and-coming city and reality is a long way from that. The city is trying and I give it credit, but the extreme social conservative politics at the state level and negative national perception is holding the city back and that isn't changing any time soon. It doesn't help that the city's economy is entirely based on one industry and when that industry is in a slump like it is now, all the progress comes to an end. It's also one of the least transplant-friendly cities I've ever lived in. I think that is why so many people who move here complain.

[flyingcat2k]

Originally Posted by eddie gein

Yeah, OKC is really trying to improve but it's always been in the shadow of DFW and it doesn't really have a lot of natural resources to hang it's hat on.

DFW functions as the big boy in this area as does KCMO northeast of OKC and Denver to the Northwest. But if you think of it, but outside of that OKC is the next biggest place in a vast area. It's bigger than any place in Kansas, Nebraska, the Dakotas, Iowa, Wyoming, New Mexico, Montana.

I've never understood why people come here and complain expecting something different than what a plains city has to offer.

So KCK doesn't count?!? Nobody from the Dakotas, Iowa, Wyoming or Montana would come here for "big city". There's cities like Denver, Minneapolis and Chicago that are closer. and don't need trumped up urbanism that is in OKC. Unless we are talking Wichita, I doubt Kansas would consider itself in OKC's sphere of influence. Denver to the west, KCK in the east.

[bawac34618]

Originally Posted by flyingcat2k

So KCK doesn't count?!? Nobody from the Dakotas, Iowa, Wyoming or Montana would come here for "big city". There's cities like Denver, Minneapolis and Chicago that are closer. and don't need trumped up urbanism that is in OKC. Unless we are talking Wichita, I doubt Kansas would consider itself in OKC's sphere of influence. Denver to the west, KCK in the east.

You are right. OKC doesn't have much of a sphere of influence unless its Western Oklahoma, the Texas panhandle, and Amarillo. Even Tulsa arguably offers more of a "city" experience in Oklahoma than OKC does though it is still lacking in many ways. When I say OKC "punches below its weight" this is a perfect example. In a city of 1.3 million people that is a state capital, one should not have to drive to much smaller Tulsa for shopping, music, and cultural amenities yet that is the reality when you live in OKC. People from eastern Oklahoma, Arkansas, and southern Missouri are in Tulsa's sphere of influence, not OKC's.

[eddie gein]

Originally Posted by flyingcat2k

So KCK doesn't count?!? Nobody from the Dakotas, Iowa, Wyoming or Montana would come here for "big city". There's cities like Denver, Minneapolis and Chicago that are closer. and don't need trumped up urbanism that is in OKC. Unless we are talking Wichita, I doubt Kansas would consider itself in OKC's sphere of influence. Denver to the west, KCK in the east.

KCK is part of the KCMO MSA so I didn't mention it.

As far as OKC being "transplant friendly" I would expect that since it is not as much a city that draws from all over could be a problem. However, I think if you look to your specific interests it wouldn't be as big a problem.

[eddie gein]

Originally Posted by flyingcat2k

So KCK doesn't count?!? Nobody from the Dakotas, Iowa, Wyoming or Montana would come here for "big city". There's cities like Denver, Minneapolis and Chicago that are closer. and don't need trumped up urbanism that is in OKC. Unless we are talking Wichita, I doubt Kansas would consider itself in OKC's sphere of influence. Denver to the west, KCK in the east.

KCK is part of the KCMO MSA so I didn't mention it.

As far as OKC being "transplant friendly" I would expect that since it is not as much a city that draws from all over could be a problem. However, I think if you look to your specific interests it wouldn't be as big a problem.

[Atlguy39]

Originally Posted by bawac34618

I agree with what you are saying. OKC is what it is and people wanting a coastal lifestyle should never come here expecting to be happy. However, the OKC Chamber tries to market this place as a bustling, vibrant, progressive up-and-coming city and reality is a long way from that. The city is trying and I give it credit, but the extreme social conservative politics at the state level and negative national perception is holding the city back and that isn't changing any time soon. It doesn't help that the city's economy is entirely based on one industry and when that industry is in a slump like it is now, all the progress comes to an end. It's also one of the least transplant-friendly cities I've ever lived in. I think that is why so many people who move here complain.

Especially the bolded! talk about transplant unfriendly. I mean, its beyond awful.

[bawac34618]

Originally Posted by Atlguy39

Especially the bolded! talk about transplant unfriendly. I mean, its beyond awful.

Most transplants who move here complain about this. Locals are not very embracing to anybody they haven't known their entire lives. Also you better have the same religious and political beliefs as them.

[Atlguy39]

Originally Posted by bawac34618

Most transplants who move here complain about this. Locals are not every embracing to anybody they haven't known their entire lives. Also you better have the same religious and political beliefs as them.

You don't say? Sarcasm.

[bawac34618]

Oklahoma City is a respectably sized city that acts like a small town. Many of these things people complain about OKC are pretty much the norm in small communities in the South and Midwest. Some people really like that kind of lifestyle. In a city of 600,000 people with a metro area of over 1 million you expect a little bit more diversity. To be fair to the locals, its not like the culture here is very active even for them. This is very much a "settle down and raise a family" kind of town.