Tulsa, Oklahoma

Oklahoma's second largest city, Tulsa was formerly an oil city. Earning the nickname "Oil Capital of the World", this county seat of Tulsa County is projected to cross one million in population in the near future. Tulsa, in the early 1900s became famous for its oil and gas industries, and also infamous for its racial crimes. For it was in 1921, the city's character was diminished by the Tulsa Race Riots. These riots were so large in scale, that its effect is still felt today.

Being the oil capital of the world for several years, the city of Tulsa propped up the American economy with its abundance of oil industries. A major part of America was employed in the many oil factories of Tulsa.

But Tulsa didn't quite remain an oil city always. Vagrant economic conditions made the investors in the city to diversify. Soon financial institutions, telecommunications, energy, and aviation industries came in.

Tulsa, being uneasily located in Tornado Alley, is a sitting duck for tornadoes. It frequently experiences rough weather. Alongside the city runs the Arkansas River and nearby are the Ozark Mountains. Tulsa is also a place of art and culture. It has museums, art houses and many more places of historical and cultural interest.

Tulsa is an attractive city for both local residents as well as tourists. There are intriquing options in entertainment, education, affordable living and many other benefits the city offers its residents. Many businesses in the city also thrive.

Tulsa History

In 1836, Lochapoka and Creek tribes inhabited the place which was originally comprised of native indians. A large oak tree was used as the central emblem of a housing establishment surrounding it. Tallasi, the name of the indigenous settlement, was a settlement of native indian hamlets.

Slowly, Tallasi made way for Tulsa, through years of mispronunciation. And the name Tulsa stuck. By 1898, Tulsa gained recognition. In the same year, the city was incorporated and had its first mayor. In 1901, the first oil well came into the city. Called Sue Bland No. 1, the oil well was situated beside the Arkansas River. By 1905, word had spread that Tulsa was rich with oil. Oil exploration started and investors started taking an active interest in the place.

Glen Pool, a large oil well was found in the early 1900s, and this triggered a chain of events. People started rushing into Tulsa. Entrepreneurs, investors, and businessmen made a mad rush to Tulsa in a hope to strike fortune. Tulsa, a small town, became populous. And by 1930, more than one forty thousand people where residing here.

Soon Tulsa was the oil capital of the world. Oil industries gave employment to local and international people. Parallel economic activities like construction boomed. Even during the Great Depression period, Tulsa was reaping returns, thanks to its blessed location rich with oil resources.

The black population was prominent in Tulsa. Most of them came as laborers and then made the city their home. They became prosperous too. Black Wall Street is one such African community that was well known for its wealth. But with the prosperity came problems. At Greenwood, the place which had a high black population, racial riots happened. More than eight hundred people were injured, and around ten thousand people's homes were in shambles. Around one hundred residences were destroyed, causing the people and local administration of Tulsa losses of around one million.

Tulsa is also known as the beginning point of highway 66. This famous highway connects Chicago to California. Cyrus Avery, the businessman behind this idea, set up this highway. The interesting thing was that the association behind the setting up of this highway was in Tulsa and hence it became the origin place of this highway.

Highway 66 benefitted Tulsa immensely and became a stopover place for travelers. To accommodate this, plenty of motels, visitor inns, and the like were developed in here. Soon, Tulsa's reputation for being an oil city was diminished. It became a place of leisure, and entertainment.

About Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tulsa is a place of museums, art galleries, churches, entertainment centers, and more. The Philbrook Museum of Art is a must-visit here. This museum was the former residence of oil baron Waite Phillips. Featuring rare art works by some of the most prolific artists from around the world, the museum takes care of all these works and more with around 60 staff.

Like the Philbrook, another museum that offers a large collection of American western art is the Gilcrease Museum. Native American art and paraphernalia is extensively stocked here. Visitors get a glimpse into how people lived in the past while seeing the wares of Native Americans. A guided tour is best to know more about the artifacts, and the mysteries behind them. A handful of guides are around to take assistance of.

At one point of time, the Tulsa Municipal Airport handled more air traffic and passengers than any other airport in the world. In the 1930s Tulsa's airport was an important connecting point. Given this fact, it is hard not to deny that Tulsa has had a rich aerospace history. Tulsa has also been a place for aerospace manufacturing and research.

The Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium is the place where all this history has been captured and displayed. With vintage aircraft and interesting exhibits, the museum is also the place of Spartan C-2, Rockwell Ranger and a lot of other planes built during the early part of the 19th century. Even modern planes like F-14A Tomcat fighter jet are present here.

A complete state-of-the-art planetarium, the Tulsa Air and Space Museum and Planetarium also features a fifty foot dome. In this dome, people are traversed through a mock-universe in a series of virtual simulations.

Visitors are allowed to sit on cockpit-simulators, which give a sense of how it feels sitting in the cockpit of a fighter jet. Video simulations allow people to fly through virtual environments and counter obstacles. This place could easily get young minds inspired for a career in the skies.

Tulsa is also a place for wanderlust, given the numerous open spaces and parks. A popular park area in Tulsa is River Parks, falling beside the Arkansas River. With miles and miles of walking and biking trails, and a lush green scenic background, the park is perfect for bonding with nature. A place of multiple events, river parks has an amphitheater. There is always some event happening here. There is no better way to liberate the soul than listening to music against the backdrop of nature.

About Tulsa County, Oklahoma

Tulsa is located in Tulsa County, and is the county seat. The city of Tulsa and Tulsa County have a shared history in many ways. Historians still do not have a clear picture of the origin of Tulsa County. Most information regarding this is a speculation.

A good resource to find information about Tulsa County is the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. This digital encyclopedia, apart from giving some recorded details of Tulsa County, still does not mention clearly how the County came about in existence.

Tulsa County is bounded by seven counties. To the north are Washington County, Rogers County, and Pawnee County & Osage County. To the south are Wagoner County, Okmulgee County, and Muskogee County. To the west is Creek County.

Tulsa County has many historical sites of visiting value. The Circle Cinema in Tulsa County is a waft of fresh air for chronic movie fanatics. Known for providing a great experience, the Circle Cinema keeps the spirit of independent film making alive. Featuring films that might not be high on blockbuster value, and yet may achieve the same effect, the Circle Cinema is for the discerning cinematic minds.

Tulsa County is the home of Gillette Historic District. Consisting of great looking homes, this residential avenue has a handful of family residences. When visiting the place, it is hard not to miss the quality of construction of the houses. Having a unique aesthetic charm, it is hard not to think of owning or making a house like these. Historically, this place suggests the type of construction-designs that prevailed in the past, and the beauty of it. For once, people get to understand that modernity might not always mean progression of human creativity and imagination.

Tulsa County has many well known cities and towns. Apart from its county seat Tulsa, some other cities are Bixby, Glenpool, and Sand Springs. Served by at least 8 national highways, Tulsa County is a well-connected place. Tulsa County is still living in the shadow of the city of Tulsa. This in a way is lending some identity to the county.