Ardmore, Oklahoma

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Ardmore, Oklahoma, USA
Seal
Location within the state of Oklahoma
Coordinates: 34°10′52″N 97°7′46″W / 34.18111, -97.12944
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
County	Carter
Government
- Mayor	Sheryl Ellis
Area
- Total	50.0 sq mi (129.5 km²)
- Land	49.1 sq mi (127.2 km²)
- Water	0.9 sq mi (2.3 km²)
Elevation	873 ft (266 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	23,711 (city proper)
- Density	482.8/sq mi (186.4/km²)
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-6)
ZIP codes	73401-73403
Area code(s)	580
FIPS code	40-02600[1]
GNIS feature ID	1089691[2]
Website: http://www.ardmorecity.com/

Ardmore is a business, cultural and tourism city in and the county seat of Carter County, Oklahoma, United States.^[3] As of the 2006 census estimates, the city had a population of 24,535^[4], while a 2007 estimate has the Ardmore micropolitan statistical area totaling 56,694^[5] residents. Ardmore is located 90 miles (140 km) equidistant from Oklahoma City and Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas at the junction of Interstate 35 and U.S. Highway 70, and is generally considered the hub of the 10-county region in South Central Oklahoma, also known by state tourism pamphlets as Arbuckle Country and Lake and Trail Country. Geologically, Ardmore is situated about 16 kilometers south of the Arbuckle Mountains, and is located at the eastern margin of the Healdton Basin, one of the most oil-rich regions of the United States.

Ardmore was named after the affluent Philadelphia suburb and historic Pennsylvania Main Line stop Ardmore, Pennsylvania, which was named after Ardmore, Ireland by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1873. The name Ardmore is Gaelic signifying high grounds or hills.

Contents 1 History 2 Geography 2.1 Topography 3 Demographics 4 Culture 5 Famous people from Ardmore 6 Education 6.1 Colleges and Universities 6.2 Primary and secondary schools 6.3 CareerTech 7 Newspapers & Media 7.1 Newspaper 7.2 Television 7.3 Radio 8 Transportation 8.1 Highways 8.2 Airports 8.3 Rail 8.4 Mass Transit 9 Economy 10 References 11 External links

[edit] History

Ardmore, Indian Territory began with a plowed ditch for a Main Street in the summer of 1887 in Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation. It owes much of its existence to the construction of the Santa Fe railroad through the area during that time. It grew, as most frontier towns grew, over the years into a trading outpost for the region. A large fire in 1895 destroyed much of the fledgling town, which forced residents to rebuild nearly the entire town. In the early 1900s, Ardmore became well known for its abundance of cotton growing fields and eventually became known as the world's largest inland cotton port.

After the fields were stripped of their fertility, however, the city fortunately found itself positioned next to one of the largest oil fields ever produced in Oklahoma, the Healdton Oil Field. After its discovery in 1913, entrepreneurs and wildcatters flooded the area, and Carter County quickly became the largest oil-producing county in Oklahoma, and has remained so ever since^[6]. Ardmore has remained an energy center for the region ever since, with the region's natural wealth giving birth to such energy giants as Halliburton and the Noble Energy companies, among others. Ardmore also learned the perils of being energy-rich with yet another disaster in 1915, when a railroad car containing casing gas exploded, killing 45 people and destroying much of downtown, including areas rebuilt after the 1895 fire. The disaster, which made national news at the time, gave residents the resolve to establish the city's first fire department to ensure that such events would not compound themselves in the future. The city has not experienced any major setbacks since the 1915 fire, save for a 1995 tornado that nearly destroyed the Uniroyal Goodrich (now Michelin) Tire Plant in west Ardmore. Despite a shift at the plant working at the time, miraculously no one was killed as the tornado ripped through the area, thanks to the public being alerted by area news and tornado sirens.

Over the years, the city has seen both the riches and setbacks of the energy boom-bust cycles, but has diversified as of late to create a uniquely wealthy and vibrant city in southern Oklahoma. In the last decade, Ardmore has owed much of its growth to the creation of jobs in the retail distribution sector, with its location 1 1/2 hours from Oklahoma City and Dallas-Fort Worth as a key selling point. A new MG Automobile Plant was announced for the area but has yet to materialize, although the Ardmore Airpark has made improvements to accommodate the revived auto brand manufacturer. Amenities in the area include the Arbuckle Mountains, geologically the most important landform in the south central United States, as well as several lakes, namely Lake Murray and Lake Texoma, on the Texas-Oklahoma border.

Ardmore gained relative notoriety in May of 2003 when the 51 Democrats from the Texas Legislature defected to Ardmore as to avoid a hotly-contested redistricting battle, which inevitably led to a case that was settled in June 2006 by the U.S. Supreme Court. The event drew several protesters and celebrities to the Holiday Inn, which housed the runaway legislators.

[edit] Geography

Ardmore is located at 34°10′52″N, 97°7′46″W (34.181240, -97.129363)^[7].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 50.0 square miles (129.5 km²), of which, 49.1 square miles (127.2 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it (1.74%) is water.

[edit] Topography

Ardmore is located about 16 km south of the Arbuckle Mountains, an ancient, eroded range spanning some 100 km across southern Oklahoma. The geology is highly variegated within the area, with uplifted and folded ridges visible within the shoreline of some of the lakes surrounding Ardmore. The city of Ardmore has no intracity streams or rivers, but is part of the Washita and Red River watersheds, with two tributaries, Caddo and Hickory creeks, flanking the broad, low valley in which Ardmore is situated. Ardmore is also 5 km north of Lake Murray, an impoundment of the two arms of Anadarche Creek, which eventually flows into the western reaches of Lake Texoma.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 23,711 people, 9,646 households, and 6,308 families residing in the city. The population density was 482.7 people per square mile (186.4/km²). There were 10,926 housing units at an average density of 222.4/sq mi (85.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 73.02% White, 11.27% African American, 8.78% Native American, 0.99% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.55% from other races, and 4.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.70% of the population.

There were 9,646 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,046, and the median income for a family was $37,758. Males had a median income of $28,685 versus $23,070 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,502. About 13.6% of families and 18.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.9% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Culture

Being home to many pioneers in the dawn of the American oil industry, Ardmore has been blessed with riches far beyond most cities of its size, as well as the colorful past that often accompanies such 'instant' wealth. Such wealth has been channeled into many philanthropical endeavors, as well as reinvested into the area in various art and infrastructure endowments.

Such amenities include:

• Charles B. Goddard Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, sponsors various exhibits and productions brought into the region.
• Greater Southwest Historical Museum
• Ardmore Little Theatre
• Ardmore Convention Center, newest convention facility in region.
• Hardy Murphy Coliseum, historic WPA-built facility that hosts rodeos, cutting shows and various regional events.

Ardmore is also home to a number of cultural festivals:

• Ardmoredillo Chili Cookoff, early April.
• Red River Roadkill Rally, bicycling event, early June.
• Festival of Lights, Ardmore Regional Park, late November to December 31.

Ardmore has many civic organizations committed to its betterment.

In 2006, The Ardmore Young Professionals Organization (AYPO) was formed and began to have a positive impact on the area through their community service and social activities.

[edit] Famous people from Ardmore

• Rue McClanahan, Emmy award winning actress best known for her role of Blanche Devereaux on The Golden Girls
• Mark Gastineau, Former All-Pro NFL defensive star for the New York Jets, was born at Ardmore in 1956.^[8].

• John Hinckley Jr., the man who shot former President Ronald Reagan in a failed assassination attempt in 1981.

[edit] Education

[edit] Colleges and Universities

Ardmore is home to the Ardmore Higher Education Center (a consortium-model system of higher education) which offers courses and degrees to the local population from four participating institutions of higher education: Murray State College, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, East Central University and Oklahoma State University (from the Oklahoma City campus).

[edit] Primary and secondary schools

Ardmore City Schools [1] operates public schools in Ardmore.

Ardmore-Plainview Public Schools [2] operates public schools in Ardmore.

Dickson Public Schools [3] , within close proximity, however, more importantly part of the incorporated townlimits of Dickson, which operates this small, public (rural) school district adjacent to the city limits of Ardmore.

Ardmore-Oak Hall Episcopal School [4] one of only three episcopal diocesan schools in the state of Oklahoma.

[edit] CareerTech

Southern Oklahoma Technology Center, a career and technical education school for high school, college and adult continuing education in technology and career development.

[edit] Newspapers & Media

[edit] Newspaper

• The Daily Ardmoreite, local newspaper since 1893.

[edit] Television

• KTEN - Channel 10 (NBC)
• KTEN - DT Channel 10-2 (The CW Texoma)
• KXII - Channel 12 (CBS)
• KXII - DT Channel 12-2 (My Texoma)
• KXII - DT Channel 12-3 (FOX Texoma)
• CableONE (Cable Operator)

[edit] Radio

AM

• KVSO - 1240 (Oldies)

FM

• KLCU - 90.3 (Public/NPR - Cameron University, Lawton)
• KTRX - 92.7 (Classic Rock)
• KKAJ - 95.7 (Country)
• KICM - 97.7 (Country)
• KYNZ - 107.1 (Oldies)

[edit] Transportation

.

[edit] Highways

Interstate 35 is located within the city limits of Ardmore, as it transverses the United States from Duluth, Minnesota to Laredo, Texas.

Ardmore has four exits off of I-35:

• Exit 29 (US-70 East)
• Exits 31A-B (State Highway 199 East/US-70 West, respectively)
• Exit 32 (12th St NW)
• Exit 33 (State Highway 142).

In addition to Interstate 35, Ardmore is also home to the junction of US-70 and US-77, SH-142, and SH-199. Ardmore is connected to Lake Murray via SH-77S.

[edit] Airports

Ardmore has two general aviation airports, Ardmore Downtown Executive Airport and Ardmore Industrial Airpark. The nearest scheduled air service occurs at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, both 90 miles (140 km) from Ardmore. Ardmore is linked by rail with the DFW Airport via the Heartland Flyer to Trinity Railway Express connection.

[edit] Rail

Ardmore has one principal rail line^[9], that being one of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe mainlines running from Fort Worth, Texas to Oklahoma City (also connecting with Kansas City & Chicago), formerly part of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe rail network before the merger with Burlington Northern. The line dates back to 1887, and the first train arrived the 28th of July in that year^[10]. The company has multiple parallel tracks (5+) running through central Ardmore (MP 450.5), added concomitantly with the rise of the trading status of the city and region throughout the early 1900s. There is also a lightly-used transverse rail spur from the BNSF line to the Michelin Tire Plant in west Ardmore, mainly intended for the transport of raw materials to the factory.

Historically, Ardmore has also contained lines operated by the Frisco and Rock Island companies^[10].

[edit] Mass Transit

The historic Santa Fe depot in downtown Ardmore is also a stop on Amtrak's Heartland Flyer train route, with daily service to/from Oklahoma City and Fort Worth.

Ardmore also has a scheduled stop on the Greyhound/Jefferson Bus Lines system.

Southern Oklahoma Rural Transit System (SORTS) provides transit services for the public in Ardmore and the surrounding areas.

Historically speaking, Ardmore had a fairly extensive traction (streetcar/interurban) railway system, franchised in February 1905, that linked outlying areas, such as the Dornick Hills Country Club, to the central business district^[10]. The main part of the streetcar line originally ran down the center lane of Main Street. Service ended in 1922.

[edit] Economy

Ardmore is the principal center of trade for a 10 county region in south central Oklahoma, with a retail pull factor of 1.7 - 1.9. Ardmore's major employers are Michelin North America, with 1,900 employees and Mercy Memorial Health Center, with 900 employees. Several hundred employees work for regional distribution centers for Best Buy, Circuit City, Dollar Tree (Marietta) and Dollar General Stores, among others. Several hundred more are employeed by the 1-800-Flowers.com Service Center, one of the top employers of women in the area. The 85,000 bbl/d (13,500 m³/d) Valero Refinery in northeast Ardmore employs some 250 area residents. Ardmore is also home to the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, among the nation's 50 largest private foundations, primarily engaged in agricultural bioresearch activities.

In July 2006, it was announced that the Chinese-owned Nanjing Automobile Group would build an assembly plant at the Ardmore Air Park, 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Ardmore, for the MG TF Coupe. It would be the first Chinese automaker to build an assembly plant in the United States, and is expected to have statewide payroll of $30 million. The construction and opening of the plant has since been delayed due to contractual issues that have arisen between the involved U.S. and Chinese parties. Little news concerning the future of the proposed MG plant in Ardmore has emerged in the wake of the December 2007 merge of Nanjing and fellow Chinese automaker SAIC.^[11].

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• City of Ardmore - Official Web Site
• Ardmore Chamber of Commerce
• Ardmore Tourism Authority
• Ardmore Development Authority
• The Ardmore Higher Education Center home page
• Ardmore Forum

• Ardmore, Oklahoma is at coordinates 34°10′53″N 97°07′46″W / 34.18124, -97.129363 (Ardmore, Oklahoma)Coordinates: 34°10′53″N 97°07′46″W / 34.18124, -97.129363 (Ardmore, Oklahoma)
• [5]Ardmore OK Visitors Guide

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