Tulsa Metropolitan Area U.S. Census Bureau Areas
Tulsa Metropolitan Area[1]
Common names	Green Country, Tulsa Metro Area
Population	1,035,755[2]
Largest cities	Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Owasso, Sapulpa, Bixby, Sand Springs, Claremore
Counties	Tulsa , Rogers , Wagoner , Okmulgee , Creek , Pawnee , Osage
Density	151.8/sq. mi. (189.06/km²)
Area	6,240 sq. mi. (16,164 km²)
Tulsa-Bartlesville Combined Statistical Area[3]
Population	1,035,643 in 2007.[4]
Cities	Bartlesville, Dewey
Counties	Washington

The Tulsa Metropolitan Area is a region in Northeastern Oklahoma with close economic, social, and cultural ties to the city of Tulsa and its urbanized area. The corresponding seven-county Metropolitan Statistical Area is the second-largest in Oklahoma and 55th largest in the United States, containing 1,035,755 residents in 2007,^[2] with projections to exceed one million by 2009.^[5] The Tulsa-Bartlesville Combined Statistical Area is formed with the addition of Washington County, bringing the area's population to 1,035,643 in 2007.^[4]

"Green Country" is a popular term used in different scenarios to describe different aspects of the Greater Tulsa Region, but may also refer specifically to the official Tulsa MSA. Each usage of the term is derived from its official meaning as the tourism designation for all of Northeastern Oklahoma. Its name was devised in the 1960s by the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation as one of six travel destination regions within the state, but is the most historically significant of all of them, as the name's usage can be traced to the early part of the 20th century. While the Tulsa MSA only officially occupies a section of Green Country as it is defined by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, the entire region is sometimes referred to as the Greater Tulsa Area. On the same accord, the term "Green Country" often applies to the immediate Tulsa urban area or the city of Tulsa proper, but neither of these are technically the proper use for the term.

[edit] Cities

Tulsa sits at the center of an initial ring of suburbs.

Tulsa serves as the economic engine of the region.

Broken Arrow is the region's second largest city.

Bartlesville is the Tulsa-Bartlesville CSA's third largest city and the only outlining community with skyscrapers.

The Tulsa Metropolitan Area's anchor city, Tulsa, was home to 387,807 residents in 2003. Surrounded by two primary rings of suburbs, the city is enclosed on its southern, eastern, and western boundaries. Connected by suburban sprawl, the cityscapes of Tulsa and its initial outlying ring of suburbs form to make the immediate Tulsa Urban Area, an area that sits apart from a second ring of noncontiguous suburbs. Comprising the first ring of suburbs are the cities, Catoosa, Bixby, Broken Arrow,Jenks, Owasso, Sand Springs, and Sapulpa. Cities and towns in the second ring of suburbs include, Claremore, Okmulgee, Glenpool, Collinsville, Wagoner, Coweta, Skiatook, and Inola.

[edit] Largest Cities

[edit] Tulsa

Tulsa, home to 399,037 people in 2007, is the principal cultural and economic hub of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area. The city, once known as the Oil Capital of the World, is still home to a large array of international oil-related industries, financial corporations, and manufacturing bases. The city contains the region's only private four-year universities, Oral Roberts University, and the University of Tulsa. The Tulsa International Airport and Tulsa Port of Catoosa serve as the region's primary international travel and shipping hubs.

[edit] Broken Arrow

Broken Arrow is the metropolitan area's second largest city, with 109,714 people in 2007. Though Broken Arrow contains a large base of industry and retail, it is a bedroom community of Tulsa. In 2007, the city was rated the safest city in Oklahoma and 20th safest in the nation, as well as one of the nation's 100 best places to live and one of the "Top 25 Affordable Suburbs in the South".^[6]

[edit] Bartlesville

Bartlesville is an Exurb of the city of Tulsa. With 55,415 people in 2007, the city is the third largest in the Tulsa-Bartlesvile Combined Statistical Area, though it is not considered part of the immediate Tulsa Statistical Area by the Census Bureau. It is the county seat of Washington County, and contains the only skyscraper built by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the Price Tower. Oklahoma Wesleyan University, the only private four-year university in the outlining cities of the Tulsa regional area, is Bartlesville's primary institution of higher education.

[edit] Owasso

Owasso, a bedroom community of 36,352 people in 2007, is the third largest city in the Tulsa Metropolitan Area and one of the fastest growing in the state. Situated just north of the Tulsa International Airport and the Tulsa Zoo in Tulsa and Rogers counties, the city is connected to Tulsa by Highway 169 and contains a large base of upscale retail.

[edit] Sand Springs

Sand Springs, a diverse urban community of approximately 20,000 people, is one of the oldest suburbs of Tulsa. It is located along the Arkansas River, just five miles west of downtown Tulsa. It has a fast-growing residential population and is recognized as a hub of industrial activity. Attractions in Sand Springs include the Keystone Ancient Forest, Sand Springs Pogue Airport, the Canyons at Blackjack Ridge Golf Course and easy access to Keystone State Park. The city is connected to Tulsa by Highway 412/64, 41st Street and Avery Drive.

[edit] Sapulpa

Sapulpa is home to 20,908 people as of the 2007 census estimate, making it the fourth largest city in the Tulsa Metropolitan Area. The city is the county seat of Creek County.

[edit] Other Cities

North - Bartlesville, Owasso, Skiatook, Collinsville, Pawhuska, Dewey, Barnsdall

West - Sapulpa, Sand Springs, Bristow, Cleveland, Kellyville, Mannford

East - Broken Arrow, Claremore, Catoosa, Wagoner, Coweta, Inola

South - Jenks, Glenpool, Bixby, Mounds, Beggs, Okmulgee, Henryetta

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Interstate Highways and turnpikes

The Tulsa Metropolitan Area is heavily reliant on automobiles as a means of transportation. Interstate 44 (which runs northeast-southwest), U.S. Highway 75 (which runs north-south) and U.S. Highway 412 (which runs east-west) serve as the major thoroughfares of the region. Turnpikes play a vital role in the region's transportation system. The Will Rogers, Turner, Muskogee , Cimarron , and Creek turnpikes aide travel in the area.

[edit] Rail, seaport, and airport facilities

The area is home to the nation's farthest inland port, the Tulsa Port of Catoosa. This port, along with the Port of Muskogee, is situated along the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, which helps in the shipment of goods to international trade routes. Several major rail lines are located throughout the region, although the Tulsa Metropolitan Area is one of the largest urban areas in the nation not served by Amtrak.^[7] The region's principal airport is the Tulsa International Airport, which offers domestic passenger service. Other minor airports serving general aviation are located throughout the region.

[edit] Education

Rogers State University in Claremore is the Tulsa Metropolitan Area's only four-year public university.

[edit] Common Education

The Tulsa Metropolitan Area, like much of the state of Oklahoma, is served by independent school districts. Each county contains several school districts and each school district is governed by a local school board. The region's largest school district is Tulsa Public Schools.^[8]

[edit] Higher Education

The Tulsa metro is home to several colleges and universities. The Tulsa area's largest private schools are University of Tulsa and Oral Roberts University. Rogers State University is the region's only public university, with a main location in Claremore and branch campuses in Bartlesville and Pryor. Also, there are branch campuses of major state colleges, such as Oklahoma State University–Tulsa, University of Oklahoma-Tulsa and Northeastern State University in Broken Arrow. Tulsa Community College serves thousands of students as the region's primary junior college. Two medical schools are also located in the region: Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences and University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, where students serve out their last two years.

[edit] Economy

The Tulsa metropolitan area is the economic engine of eastern Oklahoma. The chief industries of the region are energy, aerospace, telecommunications, and manufacturing. Energy has long been a dominant player in the area's economy, as Tulsa was once dubbed the 'Oil Capital of the World'. Today, Fortune 500 energy companies still call the area home, such as ONEOK and Williams Companies. Also, a majority of American car rental companies are headquartered in the area, such as Fortune 1000 Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group.^[9] There are major manufacturing and maintenance operations for the aerospace industry in Tulsa. The Tulsa region is home to the 8th best workforce in aerospace, 9th best in Energy and 18th best in telecommunications. In 2001, Tulsa metro's total gross product was in the top one-third of metropolitan areas, states, and countries globally, with more than $29 billion in total goods, expected to grow at a rate of nearly $500 Million every two years.^[10]

[edit] Recreation and tourism

The area has several lakes and state parks. Major lakes include Keystone, Skiatook, Ft. Gibson, and Oologah. Popular state parks include Keystone Lake and Osage Hills.

The area contains two world renowned museums: Gilcrease and Philbrook. Museums focusing on western heritage draw visitors, such as Woolaroc and Will Rogers Memorial.

[edit] References