What Tulsa is known for

The Owasso Destination, named for one of the cities that falls within its borders, is located in Oklahoma in the United States of America. Tulsa is the largest city in the region and the second-largest in the state of Oklahoma. An estimated 413,000 people live in Tulsa proper (as of the 2020 census), though that number expands to approximately 1.02 million in the "Tulsa Metropolitan Area," which includes Owasso and numerous other towns in the Owasso Destination.[6]

Owasso itself has a population of 38,732, according to the 2021 census estimate. This is a relatively significant increase in citizenship in the course of only ten years, given that in 2010 there were reported to be only about 29,000 residents. That growth marks the most significant population gain in a single decade since the town's founding in 1904. Most of the people living in Owasso are White (76.6%), with Native Americans, African Americans, and Asians comprising notable proportions of 5.8%, 4.7%, and 2.5% of the population, respectively. Eight percent of current Owasso citizens are classified as belonging to "two or more races."[2]

Many activities are hosted by the city of Owasso throughout a given year. The Parks and Recreation Department of the town manages many of these events, which include—but are not limited to—yoga in the park, community egg hunts for Easter, movie nights, performances by bands, farmer's markets, "functional fitness," and BBQ cook-offs. A majority of these attractions take place at Redbud Festival Park—described by locals as "a place where families make wonderful, long-lasting memories." Apart from scheduled events held in Owasso, visitors can participate in features such as the community center, the Bailey Ranch Golf Club, and the town's historical museum.[1]

For tourists that are seeking more prominent attractions, it is recommended that they visit Tulsa to the south. The Gathering Place was recently named "America's Best New Attraction" in 2019 and offers kayaking, playgrounds, a skate park, an indoor cafe, and the Four Seasons Garden. Visitors wanting to participate in activities such as cycling, fishing, disc golfing, and sightseeing are likely to find entertainment at the Gathering Place. With regard to indoor ventures, Tulsa is home to the Gilcrease Museum—which contains 10,000 works of art "including 18 of Frederic Remington's 22 bronze sculptures" and numerous anthologies—as well as the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Finally, a few other notable family attractions include the Tulsa Zoo, the Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium, and the Blue Dome Entertainment District.[7]

Geography

The entirety of the Owasso Destination can be found within the state of Oklahoma, though its upper border lies directly on the state line between Oklahoma and Kansas. Tulsa is the largest city in the region, and Owasso acts as the destination's namesake, but the area is home to numerous other towns, such as Bristow, Haskell, Nowata, Bartlesville, and Claremore. The Arkansas River passes through the destination in a northwest-to-southeast direction, specifically cutting through Tulsa in the process. Keystone Lake is the most extensive section of the Arkansas River within the destination's borders, though Oologah Lake to the northeast is the largest body of water near Owasso. Skiatook Lake, Birch Lake, and Claremore Lake are other notable geographic features of the Owasso Destination. Additionally, portions of the Osage Reservation and Muscogee (Creek) Nation lie within the region's boundaries.

Tulsa, Oklahoma, has incorporated the "Friends of Oxley Nature Center," which has the goal of helping people "reconnect to the natural world." Many of the species in the nature center are representative of the local flora and fauna that reside in the Owasso Destination. Examples of trees are giant cottonwoods, oaks, pecans, hackberry trees, and sycamores. Over 200 species of birds can be found in the nature center throughout the year, as well as 50 types of butterflies. Generally speaking, animals that are native to Tulsa or the surrounding territory include red-eared pond sliders, deer, bobcats, flying squirrels, beavers, otters, and raccoons.[8]

Looking at Owasso as a representation of the climate present in the destination as a whole, visitors can expect May, September, and October to be the "most pleasant months" with regard to temperature. Summers contain temperatures between 70 degrees and 93 degrees Fahrenheit, on average. Winters can experience sub-freezing conditions, with highs that stretch up to approximately 50 degrees Fahrenheit. An estimated 8 inches of snow and 42 inches of rain occur annually within Owasso. This puts Owasso under the U.S. average for snowfall per year (28 inches), yet above the rainfall average (38 inches). Most of the days in a given year (roughly 233) are expected to be sunny.[3]

History

Owasso, acting as the namesake of the Owasso Destination, was initially settled in 1881 in the "Cooweescoowee District of the Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory." Its first name was Elm Creek, which was the same name given to the body of water next to the settlement. According to modern records, H.T. Richardson was the first settler. Only a few businesses and places of residence were constructed in the first few decades of Elm Creek's history, and it wasn't until 1904 that the land would be incorporated as a town within the territory that would eventually become Oklahoma. The name "Owasso" came into effect on January 24, 1900, and there is "some confusion as to whether Owasso is an Osage or a Cherokee word." Some consensus has been reached pertaining to the name's meaning, which is "the turn around" or "the end." This was because, at the time, the rail line ended there. Trains coming from the north would turn around and head back with deposits of water.[4]

Oklahoma gained its statehood on November 16, 1907. By that time, Owasso had grown to have 379 citizens, and more structures and businesses were forming. However, very little additional growth would take place in the following decades. For example, by 1950, the population of the town was only 431 people. This soon changed with increases in transportation access within the region. Tulsa, which was a larger town to the south, had a need for more workers. This caused Owasso to become a "bedroom community" for Tulsa. In just five years, the number of retail outlets doubled.[5]

During this same time period, Tulsa began to gain traction as a hub for transportation. Cyrus Avery, otherwise known colloquially as "the Father of Route 66," established the U.S. Highway 66 Association in the city's limits. This caused Tulsa to eventually be known as "the Birthplace of Route 66," which was a famous highway that linked Chicago to Los Angeles. Tulsa's position on the road led to an increase in industries such as music, infrastructure, and advertising.[6]