Midwest City, Oklahoma

Midwest City is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 58,409, making it the eighth largest city in the state.

The city was developed in response to talk of an air field being located nearby and named for the Tinker Air Force Base's original designation as the Midwest Air Depot.<ref name="Midwest City">Reise, Jack, Chief Historian, Tinker Air Force Base: A Pictorial History, Office of History, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, 1983, pg. 3. Hedglen, Thomas L. "Midwest City Template:Webarchive", Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture Template:Webarchive. (accessed January 13, 2010).</ref> The city suffered damage during two tornadoes, the first in May 1999 and the second on May 8, 2003.<ref name="National Climatic Data Center">National Climatic Data Center Template:Webarchive (accessed January 13, 2010).</ref><ref name="firehouse.com">Brown, Jennifer L. "104 Injured in Oklahoma City Tornado Template:Webarchive", Associated Press, May 9, 2003 (accessed January 13, 2010).</ref>

History

W.P. "Bill" Atkinson bought land in the area that would become Midwest City after hearing speculation that an air field was going to be built nearby. The city, which was incorporated on March 11, 1943, was named for the air field's original designation as the Midwest Air Depot.<ref name="Midwest City" /> When Major General Clarence L. Tinker of Pawhuska, Oklahoma became the first American general killed in World War II (June 7, 1942) near Wake Island, the airfield was renamed in his honor.<ref>May, Jon D. Tinker, Clarence Leonard (1887–1942) Template:Webarchive, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture Template:Webarchive. (accessed January 13, 2010). op. cit. Reise</ref>

Seward Mott, the director of the Federal Housing Administration's Land Planning Division, helped design the city, gaining national print and broadcast attention, and it became a model for postwar community development.<ref name="Midwest City" /> The city incorporated the Mishak community of Czech and German immigrants that had formed in what now is the southeast part of the city.<ref name="histsurvey">Template:Cite report</ref>

In 1947, returning veteran Nicholas Harroz opened Nick's Brett Drive Grocery, which later became Crest Discount Foods, which is now one of the largest discount chains in the Oklahoma City metro area. Soon after its opening, Midwest City citizens opted for a charter-council-city manager form of government to better manage their rapid growth.<ref name="Midwest City" />

Midwest City's regional hospital was dedicated October 6, 1962, built with the use of bond money. Voters also approved the creation of a junior college district in 1968. Oscar Rose Junior College opened its doors to students in 1970 and is now known as Rose State College.<ref name="Midwest City" /> The Heritage Park Mall opened in 1978 on North Air Depot and was a prime shopping area in the city for several decades.<ref name="eastword">Chambers, Kelley. "Doors get ready to close at Heritage Park Mall" Template:Webarchive, EastWord, February 10, 2010.</ref> The first Sam's Club was opened in Midwest City on April 7, 1983.

In the early 1970s, the Glenwood Addition subdivision, just north of the TAFB runway, was purchased from individual owners with funds raised in a county-wide bond election after plane crashes in the area killed several civilians and military crewmen. 835 homes were moved and an elementary school was closed down. The former subdivision is fenced off and used as storage and training exercises for TAFB personnel.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Portions of Midwest City particularly northwest of Tinker Air Force Base sustained extreme damage from a violent tornado that swept through the southern and eastern areas of the Oklahoma City Metro on May 3, 1999. While it produced F5 damage in South Oklahoma City, damage in Midwest City was rated high-end F4 (although F5 was considered), with numerous destroyed homes and three fatalities.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Another strong tornado struck almost exactly the same area four years later on May 8, 2003.<ref name="National Climatic Data Center" /><ref name="firehouse.com" />

City officials worked to revitalize S.E. 29th Street in the early 21st century, leading to the development of a new Town Center Plaza shopping area that faces Interstate 40 and Tinker Air Force Base.<ref name="smith">Chambers, Kelley. "Candidates face off in Midwest City mayoral election" Template:Webarchive, EastWord, February 23, 2010.</ref> The Town Center Plaza development replaced an aging, largely deserted Atkinson Plaza shopping center. In 2003, the Reed Center, a Template:Convert convention center, was built. Meanwhile, the Heritage Park Mall has slowly dwindled, becoming an issue of contention in the 2010 mayoral race.<ref name="smith" />

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Template:Convert, all land. The city's elevation is 1,157 feet above sea level.<ref>"Midwest City, Oklahoma" at Sperling's Best Places Website (accessed March 22, 2010)</ref>

The city is located in Oklahoma County and the area is known for low hills and two species of blackjack oak and post oak.<ref>Oklahoma Geography, NetState.com (accessed April 30, 2010).</ref> Midwest City also falls into an ecological region known as the Cross Timbers, and the Frontier Country tourism region<ref>Ecoregions of OklahomaTemplate:Dead link Environmental Protection Agency Data (accessed September 24, 2008).</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Climate

Midwest City has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa).

Demographics

As of the census<ref name="GR2" /> of 2010, there were 54,371 people, 22,726 households, and 14,293 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 25,535 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 64.6% White, 21.9% African American, 3.7% Native American, 1.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.5% from other races, and 6.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.6% of the population.

There were 22,726 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 25.2% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $44,578, and the median income for a family was $54,348. Males had a median income of $40,275 versus $32,098 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,264. About 12.4% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.6% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Midwest City's economic base is heavily dependent upon Federal tax dollars via Tinker Air Force Base, the largest single-site employer in Oklahoma.<ref>Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, GlobalSecurity.org (accessed January 26, 2010)</ref> Other large employers include the Midwest Regional Medical Center and aerospace industry businesses affiliated with the base. The General Motors Oklahoma City Assembly plant was another major employer from its opening in 1979 until its closure in February 2006. GM closed the plant as part of a cost-savings measure. The property was later acquired by Oklahoma County and leased to Tinker Air Force Base for $1/year. Tinker renamed the facility the Tinker Aerospace Complex.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

During World War II, the Midwest City Douglas Aircraft Company Plant constructed more than half of the 10,000 C-47 Skytrain U.S. Army cargo planes.<ref name="douglas">Fugate, Tally D., "Midwest City Douglas Aircraft Company Plant Template:Webarchive", Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture Template:Webarchive (accessed May 26, 2010).</ref> The plant cost $24 million and rolled out its first C-47s in March 1943.<ref name="douglas" /> Some 38,000 Oklahomans labored at the plant, the majority of them women.<ref name="douglas" /> The plant closed on August 17, 1945, and was redesignated Building 3001 and transferred to the Oklahoma City Air Technical Service Command on November 1, 1945 and is now the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center.<ref name="douglas" />

Arts and culture

Midwest City is home to a four-star 18-hole municipal golf course, a 9-hole municipal golf course, a swimming pool, splash park, and several urban parks. The nearby base hosts an annual Star-Spangled Salute each summer. The Juneteenth Midwest City Family Festival began in 2023 commemorating the national Juneteenth holiday. Rose State College hosts Global Oklahoma each year on the first Saturday in October.<ref>"Global Oklahoma", Travelok.com (accessed May 10, 2010).</ref>

When Midwest City's founder and developer, W. P. "Bill" Atkinson, passed away in 1999, he left his 1955 mansion in trust for the community's enjoyment and historical appreciation. Today, the Atkinson Heritage Center at N.E. 10th and Midwest Blvd. is owned by the Rose State College Foundation and maintained by the college. The 8,000 sq. ft. historic home, preserved in its original design when Atkinson was anticipating a run for governor, is available for free tours by appointment. To serve the community and help financially support the historic property, the house conference room and the 1951 pony barn are available for event rentals.

Education

Midwest City is within the boundaries of multiple school districts. The largest portion is within Mid-Del School District,<ref name=CensusSDmap2020>Template:Cite web</ref> and includes Midwest City High School, Carl Albert High School, Midwest City Middle School, Carl Albert Middle School and numerous elementary schools. The district also includes a post-secondary school, the Mid-Del Technology Center. Rose State College, a two-year community college, is also located in the city.

The school district was initially housed in prefabricated hutments and began with a high school and two grade schools that were precursors to the Sooner and Soldier Creek elementary schools.<ref name="histsurvey"/>

Other parts of Midwest City are in Choctaw/Nicoma Park Schools, Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS), and Crutcho Public School.<ref name=CensusSDmap2020/> Zoned schools of the OKCPS part include Willow Brook Elementary School (PreKindergarten-Grade 1), Spencer Elementary School (grades 2-4), Rogers Intermediate School (grades 5-6),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Star Spencer Mid-High School.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Points of interest

• Tinker Air Force Base

Outdoor air museum, on both sides of the I-40 freeway

Notable people

• Nina Akamu, artist
• Royce D. Applegate, actor on such TV programs as seaQuest DSV<ref>Template:IMDb name (accessed August 1, 2013)</ref>
• Ryan Budde, MLB catcher<ref>Ryan Budde Stats, Baseball Almanac. (accessed August 1, 2013)</ref>
• Mike Gundy, head coach for Oklahoma State Cowboys football team<ref>Mike Gundy – OSU Biography Template:Webarchive, OKState.com (Oklahoma State University). (accessed August 1, 2013)</ref>
• Cale Gundy, assistant coach for the University of Oklahoma Sooners .
• A. J. Hinch, manager of the Detroit Tigers<ref>A. J. Hinch Stats, Baseball Almanac. (accessed August 1, 2013)</ref>
• Matt Kemp, left fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Angela Lindvall, supermodel<ref>Template:IMDb name (accessed August 1, 2013)</ref>
• J. T. Realmuto (born 1991), a Major League Baseball player; catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies
• Brian Tallet, pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals<ref>Brian Tallet Stats, Baseball Almanac. (accessed August 1, 2013)</ref>

External links

• Official City Website
• Midwest City Guide
• Mid-Del Public Schools
• Template:Coord