[Jammie]

I don't know about the parks in OKC. Happytown???

One of the things about OKC that looks neat is their Myriad Gardens. They also have concerts during the summertime. But like I said, we've never been to OKC, but have been to Tulsa and like it there.

Someone (maybe Stillwater Townie?) has pics posted of Stillwater and it looks nice, too.

[EclecticEars]

Originally Posted by Synopsis

My choice would be Tulsa, mainly for the greenery and hills of the area. Coming from Kentucky the topography/terrain would be more like home, but that may not be important to you. The other thing I like about Tulsa is the architecture, it's fabulous. Not that OkC is without fantastic architecture, but Tulsa is an art deco city; one of few cities in the US with so much art deco. In fact, I think this Fall Tulsa is hosting some kind of art deco consortium from around the world.

Yeah, I've noticed in pics that Tulsa seems to be green with an array of historic architecture. OKC does seem to be preserving its historic architecture pretty well, too. (As indicated by the sticky pic threads I've seen in both the Tulsa and OKC forums.)

What architecture is OKC more renowned for?

Terrain is not terribly important, I've been around green hills for my entire life. Something different, if even for a few months, wouldn't hurt me.

Originally Posted by cobolt

I don't think the toll roads are a big deal in Tulsa because for the most part, they don't affect you... for Tulsa proper it's a non-issue.

I used to work in Tulsa and I really liked it. I didn't care for OKC. ...See how each feels to you.

To answer your question about moving to KY--it's on my list for possible relocation, as is Tulsa and Lexington (not my first choice), but my career field isn't really well represented in any of these areas (the Ville is my first choice) so I may have to resort to other tactics and locations. I'm trying to hammer that all out right now.

Tulsa is a pretty expansive city. Of course, if I stayed on the secondary roads I feasibly wouldn't have to use any toll roads at all. For the trip to OKC or STL, using a toll road would make the trip faster, so there's a trade off.

If you move to Kentucky, hopefully you can make it to Louisville or northern Ky. (Boone, Kenton, and Campbell Counties.) They're the best of what Ky. has to offer. Lexington has remarkably bad traffic considering its metro area is only 1/2 as populated as Tulsa MSA and 2/5 as populated as Louisville MSA. Plus Lexington will get boring very quickly, I promise!

Originally Posted by happytown

I love both cities but OKC has a much better metro and has more to do. Tulsa is very pretty, but holds on to its past enough to possibly destroy its future. Its really a toss up. Considering Norman is down the road, I would choose OKC and I truly have an open mind for both towns.

Here's why I'm torn b/t OKC and Tulsa:

OKC: Has close proximity to Norman, investing $3 billion dollars into its downtown, has some apparently nice and well-preserved neighborhoods, the safest major OK city according to stats, signs of very strong but steady economic growth (#1 for income growth in 2007 according to Forbes,) and bad traffic is (from what I hear) non-existent.

Tulsa: beautiful and well-preserved history, surprisingly rich arts and culture for a city its size, Vision 2025, the river parks system, Chandler Park, nearby Ouachita Mountains, Jenks and Broken Arrow are apparently beautiful suburbs, more urban density like Louisville or Cincinnati.

I asked about Norman and Stillwater b/c they are gravitational points for the young in Oklahoma. I wanted to see if there was anything more to offer in those towns than just the colleges and their sports.

Believe me, when I say "I'm torn," it really is hard to decide which one I like better. I guess no other way is better than just a good ol' fashioned visit. But, when you're a fresh college grad with not a lot of money to spare at the moment, that's a little hard. Oklahoma does appear to have more options and a lower cost of living for young graduates than Kentucky--believe me! You have two large cities, not one, plus two sizable small cities with large universities that are so close to the majors.

Oh...when you say Tulsa "holds on to its past enough to possibly destroy its future," what do you mean? I'm interested.

[Jammie]

Boston Methodist Church, Tulsa Pictures by Travel Photo Base

Tulsa Philbrook Museum - a set on Flickr

Virtual Gilcrease

Above are a few sites to look at that shows some of the architecture in Tulsa.

Bricktown - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - Dining, Shopping, Events

Myriad Botanical Gardens and Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory

The two bottom sites are places that look very nice in OKC.

Are we confusing you more? I guess it's all in what a person likes the best.

http://www.city-data.com/album/album...-Oklahoma.html

You've got to admit that for a town the size of Stillwater, it looks pretty good, too.

[lv_ramsey]

Originally Posted by jcm1986

I've never been to Oklahoma, so I need your help. I really want to learn about Oklahoma in addition to scoping these threads!

I've been given the option of pursuing a retail management position in my company. My company will allow me to choose an assortment of metro areas to which I'd willingly relocate.

I am 22, male, single, no children, and a recent college grad. I'd like to live in a city with people a little friendlier, less "standoffish," and, well, not as, uhmmm...white trash and scroungy (in dress, attitude and behavior) overall than much of my state of Kentucky. (That's not a snooty remark, I promise. )

I'm a friendly guy, great with people, and have plans very soon (18 mos. or less) to pursue a Master's degree conjunctively while working. The job would start at $40-48K yearly. I'm sure I can live on that comfortably in Oklahoma.

I like local music and the occasional good hole-in-the-wall bar or restaurant, but I'm not a bar hopper, heavy-duty partier and the like. In fact, I'm kind of reserved until you get to know me.

Tulsa is the greenest city in Oklahoma, so I've heard, plus it has a nice array of museums, historic architecture, and cool neighborhoods. Tulsa also has a high crime rate, which concerns me. Stillwater and Norman are college towns, so obviously we're talking a high population of 20-somethings. Oklahoma City is apparently doing a lot to revitalize its downtown area and stimulate economic growth. So, which metro would you recommend and why?

Any and all help is appreciated! I am researching several states, but Texas and Oklahoma are my top two states of preference as of now.

Run away from Oklahoma.It is full of narrow minded people.Flat lands and bad weather.Congestion on the roads and everything is overcrowded.The only good thing about norman is the school.Lately that has been debatable.

[lv_ramsey]

Run away from Oklahoma.It is congested,flat,and full of narrow minded people.Not to mention the weather and poverty.It is the worst place to live.

[EclecticEars]

Originally Posted by Jammie

Boston Methodist Church, Tulsa Pictures by Travel Photo Base

Tulsa Philbrook Museum - a set on Flickr

Virtual Gilcrease

Boston Church is a prime example of art deco. Lovely! Isn't the Philbrook an old oil baron's mansion?

Bricktown - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - Dining, Shopping, Events

Myriad Botanical Gardens and Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory

Bricktown: I liked that it's close to the OKC Museum of Art and the Ford Center. Is it a hugely popular attraction w/ the locals on weekends or only during holiday events?

Are we confusing you more? I guess it's all in what a person likes the best.

http://www.city-data.com/album/album...-Oklahoma.html

You've got to admit that for a town the size of Stillwater, it looks pretty good, too.

Like I said, this will probably necessitate a trip to Oklahoma to check out the locales. There's more to offer there than what meets the naked eye and than what I thought. It seems to have developed and preserved such a rich history in such a short amount of time.

Stillwater looks very small-town Americana, kind of like stepping back 25-30 years. Not that modern skylines necessarily comprise the character of a town; Stillwater looks very charming.

Who has any pictures of Norman?

[Bass&Catfish2008]

Originally Posted by lv_ramsey

Run away from Oklahoma.It is congested,flat,and full of narrow minded people.Not to mention the weather and poverty.It is the worst place to live.

Where are you from Ramsey? I'm thinking you are not from around these parts. Am I wrong? Please explain your assertion that OK is narrow minded. This has not been my experience and I'm interested in your insights.

[#1soonerfan]

Hey jcm1986! think I can offer an opinion as to living in Norman. Norman has approx. 105K people, with about 25K at OU. Norman does have your young demographic, and believe it or not, its not just students from OU. It has a cool, college town vibe. But its big enough to where the college culture isn't dominating and I would say you would fit in nicely here even if you didn't go to OU. Its also very affordable and there are a ton of cheap apartments. I don't know where you will be working but Norman has a multitude of places to work. Obviously I'm a little bias but Stillwater just doesn't do it for me. In addition to being less than half the size of Norman, its 60 miles to both OKC and Tulsa and thats a bit far to go for your "big city fix" in this age of $4 gas. Most people I know who went to OSU loved the school but couldn't wait to get out of that town because there's such a lack of things to do outside things put on by the college.

As far as the two big cities, I agre with everyone who says that you should take a visit and see. If I could compare it to your part of the country: OKC is very similar to Indy, Tulsa is very similar in Cincy. I've made a list of sorts to compare them

Terrain
OKC, scenery-wise, isn't much to look at. While we have some great parks (Lake Hefner, Martin Park, the Myraid Gardens) the terrain is flat and quite brown, especially in the winter. Tulsa is in the Cross Timbers region (which makes for BEAUTIFUL autumns) and the terrain is very rolling. Edge Tulsa

Historical Districts
OKC has some great historical neighborhoods like Heritage Hills, Mesta Park, etc. But for the simple fact that OKC is one of the "newest" cities to be established (it is one of the few large cities in the US that was settled in the 20th century), the historical areas simply don't compare to the beautiful areas in Tulsa. You will find many of these areas are similar to what you'd find on the east coast. Midtown Tulsa IMO is the most beautiful neighborhood in the state. Edge Tulsa

Entertainment
Tulsa has some cool little districts like Brookside, Cherry Street, Riverwalk Crossing, etc. Cains Ballroom gets some of the best concerts in the state IMO. As far as sports, theres the Drillers and the 66ers. Unfortunately its downtown is disappointingly inactive. OKC has Bricktown, Midtown (still up and coming), Western Avenue (home to VZDS!!!!) As far as sports is concerned, OKC is a college sports mecca thanks to OU and OSU. Redhawk games at the fairly new Bricktown Ballpark are always a cheap hoot. And it can't be overstated that OKC will soon be home to a new NBA team. Edge OKC

Young Scene
I am currently interning in Tulsa this summer, so I definitely have a good feel for both. Since you however are looking for the college crowd, you might be disappointed in Tulsa. There aren't any big public schools (big as in > 10K; remember TU only has about 4K students) OKC metro has OU, OUHSC, UCO, SNU, OKCU, Ok. Christian, and more. I'd estimate that there's probably 50K students between those 6 schools, with half in Norman and the rest in OKC/Edmond proper. For me I liked Tulsa more in this respect because I was burnt out on all of the skanky college girls I kept running into in Norman But based on your description you may think differently. Edge OKC

Economy
There is no doubt OKC's economy is on fire. Oklahoma City was named by Forbes in April as the most "Recession Proof" city in the US. Like Houston and Calgary, Alberta, the city has benefited greatly from the current upturn in energy prices. With that being said, anyone who's been in Oklahoma or Texas for any time knows that energy booms do not last forever. Ironically, Tulsa was once the "oil capital of the world" yet most of its energy business either closed or moved to Houston. Even still its economy is doing quite well itself. Unemployment in Tulsa County is currently under 3 percent, if that gives you any idea. Draw

City Layout
Both cities are hard to get lost in, and neither have traffic issues. OKC has freeways everywhere and you can get across town in 20 minutes. Tulsa doesn't have the best freeways but its got a well laid out grid. One thing that bugs me about Tulsa are the ATROCIOUS streets. How bad are they? Before I came here in May I got a new alignment. Less than 7 weeks after getting it I will need another one!!! They are estimating that it will take $2 BILLION to get the roads fixed here. IMO that might be a little conservative. One thing about both cities: make sure you have a car. Neither OKC or Tulsa have a decent public transportation system. Edge OKC

As you can see both cities have their strengths and weaknesses. I would strongly suggest that you come down and see them all. No matter what you choose, you will always be close to other cities in and around Oklahoma. In fact its not uncommon for people to take day trips to Norman, OKC, Tulsa, etc, so don't feel like your cutting your self short by choosing one over the others.

Hope this helps!!

[briansgi]

Originally Posted by #1soonerfan

Hey jcm1986! think I can offer an opinion as to living in Norman. Norman has approx. 105K people, with about 25K at OU. Norman does have your young demographic, and believe it or not, its not just students from OU. It has a cool, college town vibe. But its big enough to where the college culture isn't dominating and I would say you would fit in nicely here even if you didn't go to OU. Its also very affordable and there are a ton of cheap apartments. I don't know where you will be working but Norman has a multitude of places to work. Obviously I'm a little bias but Stillwater just doesn't do it for me. In addition to being less than half the size of Norman, its 60 miles to both OKC and Tulsa and thats a bit far to go for your "big city fix" in this age of $4 gas. Most people I know who went to OSU loved the school but couldn't wait to get out of that town because there's such a lack of things to do outside things put on by the college.

As far as the two big cities, I agre with everyone who says that you should take a visit and see. If I could compare it to your part of the country: OKC is very similar to Indy, Tulsa is very similar in Cincy. I've made a list of sorts to compare them

Terrain
OKC, scenery-wise, isn't much to look at. While we have some great parks (Lake Hefner, Martin Park, the Myraid Gardens) the terrain is flat and quite brown, especially in the winter. Tulsa is in the Cross Timbers region (which makes for BEAUTIFUL autumns) and the terrain is very rolling. Edge Tulsa

Historical Districts
OKC has some great historical neighborhoods like Heritage Hills, Mesta Park, etc. But for the simple fact that OKC is one of the "newest" cities to be established (it is one of the few large cities in the US that was settled in the 20th century), the historical areas simply don't compare to the beautiful areas in Tulsa. You will find many of these areas are similar to what you'd find on the east coast. Midtown Tulsa IMO is the most beautiful neighborhood in the state. Edge Tulsa

Entertainment
Tulsa has some cool little districts like Brookside, Cherry Street, Riverwalk Crossing, etc. Cains Ballroom gets some of the best concerts in the state IMO. As far as sports, theres the Drillers and the 66ers. Unfortunately its downtown is disappointingly inactive. OKC has Bricktown, Midtown (still up and coming), Western Avenue (home to VZDS!!!!) As far as sports is concerned, OKC is a college sports mecca thanks to OU and OSU. Redhawk games at the fairly new Bricktown Ballpark are always a cheap hoot. And it can't be overstated that OKC will soon be home to a new NBA team. Edge OKC

I find it interesting you lump OSU in with Oklahoma City to become a "sports mecca", I guess Tulsa could do the same since OSU is the same distance from Tulsa as it is OKC!

Young Scene
I am currently interning in Tulsa this summer, so I definitely have a good feel for both. Since you however are looking for the college crowd, you might be disappointed in Tulsa. There aren't any big public schools (big as in > 10K; remember TU only has about 4K students) OKC metro has OU, OUHSC, UCO, SNU, OKCU, Ok. Christian, and more. I'd estimate that there's probably 50K students between those 6 schools, with half in Norman and the rest in OKC/Edmond proper. For me I liked Tulsa more in this respect because I was burnt out on all of the skanky college girls I kept running into in Norman But based on your description you may think differently. Edge OKC

Economy
There is no doubt OKC's economy is on fire. Oklahoma City was named by Forbes in April as the most "Recession Proof" city in the US. Like Houston and Calgary, Alberta, the city has benefited greatly from the current upturn in energy prices. With that being said, anyone who's been in Oklahoma or Texas for any time knows that energy booms do not last forever. Ironically, Tulsa was once the "oil capital of the world" yet most of its energy business either closed or moved to Houston. Even still its economy is doing quite well itself. Unemployment in Tulsa County is currently under 3 percent, if that gives you any idea. Draw

City Layout
Both cities are hard to get lost in, and neither have traffic issues. OKC has freeways everywhere and you can get across town in 20 minutes. Tulsa doesn't have the best freeways but its got a well laid out grid. One thing that bugs me about Tulsa are the ATROCIOUS streets. How bad are they? Before I came here in May I got a new alignment. Less than 7 weeks after getting it I will need another one!!! They are estimating that it will take $2 BILLION to get the roads fixed here. IMO that might be a little conservative. One thing about both cities: make sure you have a car. Neither OKC or Tulsa have a decent public transportation system. Edge OKC

As you can see both cities have their strengths and weaknesses. I would strongly suggest that you come down and see them all. No matter what you choose, you will always be close to other cities in and around Oklahoma. In fact its not uncommon for people to take day trips to Norman, OKC, Tulsa, etc, so don't feel like your cutting your self short by choosing one over the others.

Hope this helps!!

I find it interesting you lump OSU in with Oklahoma City when talking about a "sports mecca", yet OSU is the same distance from Tulsa as it is OKC!

[EclecticEars]

#1soonerfan, thank you for taking the time to compose a thorough, well-balanced answer. It definitely gives me something to compare the two cities with.

I have say, though, that I've never been one to chase "skanky college girls," even though they exist in sheer magnitude.