Norman, Oklahoma

Norman, Oklahoma
City
Main Street (2019)
Flag Seal
Motto: "Building an Inclusive Community"
Location of Norman in Cleveland County and Oklahoma
Coordinates:35°13′15″N97°26′37″W / 35.22083°N 97.44361°W /35.22083; -97.44361
Country	United States
State	Oklahoma
County	Cleveland
Named for	Abner Ernest Norman
Government
• Type	Council-manager
• Mayor	Larry Heikkila[1]
• City manager	Darrel Pyle
Area [2]
•City	189.19 sq mi (490.00 km2)
• Land	178.65 sq mi (462.69 km2)
• Water	10.54 sq mi (27.31 km2)
Elevation [3]	1,125 ft (343 m)
Population ( 2020)
•City	128,026
• Rank	U.S.:216th
• Density	716.64/sq mi (276.70/km2)
•Urban	120,191 (U.S.:279th)
•Metro	1,425,695 (U.S.:42nd)
Demonym	Normanite
Time zone	UTC−6(Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5(CDT)
ZIP codes	73019, 73026, 73069, 73070, 73071, 73072
Area code(s)	405/572
FIPScode	40-52500[4]
GNISfeature ID	2411267[3]
Website	normanok.gov

Norman(/ˈnɔːrmən/) is the3rd most populous cityin the U.S. state ofOklahoma, with a population of 128,026 as of the2020 census.^[5]It is the most populous city and thecounty seatofCleveland Countyand the second-most populous city in theOklahoma City metropolitan areaafter the state capital,Oklahoma City, 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Norman.

The city was settled during theLand Run of 1889, which opened the formerUnassigned LandsofIndian TerritorytoAmerican pioneersettlement. It was named in honor ofAbner Norman, the area's initialland surveyor, and was formally incorporated onMay 13, 1891. Norman has prominent higher education and related research industries, as it is home to theUniversity of Oklahoma, the largest university in the state, with nearly 32,000 students. The university is well known for its sporting events by teams under the banner of the nickname "Sooners", with over 85,000 people routinely attendingfootballgames. The university is home to several museums, including theFred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, which contains the largest collection ofFrench Impressionistart ever given to an American university, as well as theSam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History.

Norman'sNational Weather Center(NWC) houses a unique collection of university, state, federal, and private-sector organizations that work together to improve the understanding of events related to theEarth's atmosphere. Norman lies withinTornado Alley, a geographic region colloquially known for frequent and intense tornadic activity. TheStorm Prediction Center(SPC), a branch of theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) that delivers forecasts for severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and other high-impact hazardous weather in the contiguous United States, is located at the NWC. Additionally, research is conducted at the co-locatedNational Severe Storms Laboratory(NSSL), which operates various experimentalweather radarsand develops innovative tools, applications, and techniques aimed at improving forecasts and warnings of severe weather.

The Oklahoma region became part of the United States with theLouisiana Purchasein 1803. Before theAmerican Civil War, the U.S. government began relocating theFive Civilized Tribes—the five Native American tribes that the United States officially recognized via treaty—to Oklahoma. Treaties of 1832 and 1833 assigned the area known today as Norman to theCreek Nation.^[6]

After the Civil War, theCreekswere accused of aiding theConfederacy; as a result they ceded the region back to the United States in 1866.^[6]In the early 1870s, the federal government undertook a survey of these unassigned lands. Abner Ernest Norman, a 23-year-old surveyor fromKentucky, was hired to oversee part of this project.^[6]Norman's work crew set up camp near what is today the corner of Classen Boulevard and Lindsey Street; it was there that the men, perhaps jokingly, carved a sign on an elm tree that read "Norman's Camp," in honor of their young boss.^[6][7]In 1887, theAtchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railwaybegan service to the area,^[6]which was later opened to settlement as part of theLand Run of 1889;^[6][8]early settlers decided to keep the name "Norman."^[6][7]

OnApril 22, 1889, that first Land Run in what would become the state of Oklahoma saw the founding of Norman, with at least 150 residents spending the night in makeshift campsites,^[6]and by the next morning a downtown was already being constructed.^[6]Almost immediately two prominent Norman businessmen, former Purcell railroad freight agent Delbert Larsh and railroad station chief cashier Thomas Waggoner, began lobbying for the territorial government to locate its first university in Norman.^[6]The two were interested in growing the city and had reasoned that, rather than try to influence territorial lawmakers to locate the heavily contested territory capital in Norman, it made sense to attempt to secure the state's first university instead (a move that would be far less controversial).^[6]OnDecember 19, 1890, Larsh and Waggoner were successful with the passage of Territorial Council Bill 114, establishing theUniversity of Oklahomain Norman about 18 years before Oklahoma statehood.^[6]

The City of Norman was formally incorporated onMay 13, 1891.^[9]

The new Norman was asundown town. African Americans were not allowed to live within the city limits or stay overnight until the early 1960s,^{[10][11][12][13]}nor could they study at the University of Oklahoma. In 2020, the Norman City Council issued an apology.^[14]

Norman has grown throughout the decades. By 1902 the downtown district contained two banks, two hotels, a flour mill, and other businesses; by 1913 over 3,700 people lived in Norman when theOklahoma Railway Companydecided to extend itsinterurbanstreetcarrunning from Oklahoma City toMooreinto Norman, spurring additional population growth.^[15]The rail lines eventually transitioned to freight during the 1940s as theUnited States Numbered Highwaysystem developed. The population reached 11,429 in 1940.^[16]

With the completion ofInterstate 35in June 1959,^[17]Norman found its role as abedroom communityto Oklahoma City increasing rapidly; in 1960 Norman's population was 33,412 but by the end of the decade had grown to 52,117.^[15][16]Throughout the 1960s Norman's land mass increased by 174 sq mi (450 km²) by annexing surrounding areas.^[15]The city's growth trends have continued early in the 21st century, with the population reaching 95,694 in 2000,^[15][16]110,925 in 2010,^[16][18]and 128,026 in 2020.^[16]

In 1941, theUniversity of Oklahomaand Norman city officials established Max Westheimer Field, a university airstrip, and then leased it to theU.S. Navyas a Naval Flight Training Center in 1942.^[15]It became theNaval Air Station Norman, and it was used for training combat pilots duringWorld War II. A second training center, known as Naval Air Technical Training Center, and a naval hospital were later established to the south.^[15]In the years following World War II the airstrip was transferred back to the university's control.^[19]Today the airstrip is called theUniversity of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport. Following the war the remaining military presence and post-war veterans who came to Norman to get an education again grew the city's population, which was 27,006 by 1950.^[15][16]The Navy again utilized the bases in a lesser capacity from 1952 to 1959 in support of theKorean Wareffort.^[15]

As of 2010, the city has a total area of 189.42 sq mi (490.6 km²), of which 178.77 sq mi (463.0 km²) is land and 10.65 sq mi (27.6 km²) is water.^[20]

The center of this large incorporated area is 20 mi (30 km) from the center ofOklahoma City, and separated primarily byMoore, is in theOklahoma City metropolitan area.^[21]

Norman and the surrounding areas are mostly flat with an elevation near 1,171 ft (357 m).^[22]The terrain in the western section of Norman is prairie,^[23]while the eastern section, including the area surroundingLake Thunderbird, consists of some 6,000 acres (24 km²) of lakes andCross Timbersforest.^[23]

Norman has a wide variety of neighborhoods. Downtown Norman is an area of approximately 2 sq mi (5 km²) bounded by University Blvd., Symmes St., Porter Ave., and Daws St.; primary streets include Main St. and Gray St.^[24]The area consists of restaurants, art galleries, and other businesses;^[24]it is home to some of the oldest buildings in Oklahoma.^[25]

Hall Parkis an area northeast of downtown Norman that was originally an independent township; in 2005 it wasannexedinto Norman, becoming one of its neighborhoods.^[26]The area is home to many middle-class suburban homes and is historically important in that it was advertised as the United States' first "all-electric town."^[26]PresidentRonald Reagan, then an executive withGeneral Electric, attended Hall Park's grand opening ceremonies in 1962 where he was named the town's honorary first mayor.^[26]

TheUniversity of Oklahomaand the area surrounding it are home to many historically significant neighborhoods.^[27]The university itself has a uniqueGothic-inspired architectureknown as "Cherokee Gothic," so named by architectFrank Lloyd Wright.^[28]Churches and houses in the surrounding neighborhoods can be described asneo-GothicorQueen Annein style. Norman has two city-designatedhistoric preservationdistricts in the area: the Miller Historic District, bounded by Symmes St., Classen Blvd., and Miller Ave.;^[27]and the Chautauqua Historic District, bounded by Symmes St., Brooks St., Chautauqua Ave., and Lahoma Ave.^[27]Both of these residential neighborhoods contain houses designed from a mixture of architectural styles dating from 1903 to 1935, with the majority of the Miller neighborhood being of theBungaloworAmerican Craftsmanstyle homes.^[27]Any external changes or repairs to homes in these areas must be approved by the Norman Historic Preservation Commission.^[27]

The area immediately north of the university is known asCampus Cornerand contains a mixture of businesses, bars, and restaurants.^[29]The neighborhoods to the east of the campus are home to many students, both in residential housing and high-rise condos/apartments.^[30]

Norman enjoys many tree-lined landscapes, participating in the ReLeaf Norman andTree City USAprograms.^[31][32][33]

Norman falls within atemperate,humid subtropical climateregion that is identified as "Cfa" class on theKöppen climate classification.^[36]On average Norman receives about 38 in (970 mm) of precipitation per year;^[34]May and June are the wettest months.^[34]Temperatures average 61 °F (16 °C) for the year.^[23][34]Average daytime highs range from 50 °F (10 °C) in January to 92.5 °F (33.6 °C) in July; average lows range from around 28 °F (−2 °C) in January to 71 °F (22 °C) in July.^[23][34]While Summers generally range from warm to hot, some summers can be very hot, as was evident in the historically hot summers of 1980 and 2011, when temperatures climbed above 100 °F (38 °C) over most days from mid-June through early September in those years.^[34][37][23]Consistent winds, averaging near 10 mph (16 km/h) and usually from the south to southeast, help to temper hotter weather during the summer and intensify cold periods during the winter.^[23]

The average growing season in Norman is 209 days, but plants that can withstand short periods of colder temperatures may have an additional three to six weeks.^[23]Winter months tend to be cloudier than those in summer, with the percentage of possible sunshine ranging from an average of about 55% in winter to nearly 80% in summer.^[23]

Norman lies within an area colloquially referred to as "Tornado Alley", a region of the United States known for frequent tornadic activity, and theOklahoma City metropolitan area, which encompasses Norman, is known for being one of the more tornado-prone areas in the United States.^[38][39]The risk for tornadoes is greatest in the springtime months of March through June when the majority of all reported tornadoes occur.^[39]Severe weather, including tornadoes, still occurs outside this range. Notably, a high-endEF2 tornadotore through the southeastern side of Norman on the night ofFebruary 26, 2023, passing within a mile of the NWC.^[40]There have been several other tornado events in recent years. OnMay 10, 2010, numerous tornadoes occurred inCleveland County, resulting in the loss of multiple homes and businesses within Norman city limits. Weak tornadoes also struck Norman onApril 13, 2012andMay 6, 2015.^[41][42]

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	787		—
1900	2,225		182.7%
1910	3,724		67.4%
1920	5,004		34.4%
1930	9,603		91.9%
1940	11,429		19.0%
1950	27,006		136.3%
1960	33,412		23.7%
1970	52,117		56.0%
1980	68,020		30.5%
1990	80,071		17.7%
2000	95,694		19.5%
2010	110,925		15.9%
2020	128,026		15.4%
2023 (est.)	130,046	[5]	1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[43]

Norman, Oklahoma – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000[44]	Pop 2010[45]	Pop 2020[46]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White(NH)	76,852	84,384	86,007	80.31%	76.07%	67.18%
Black or African American(NH)	4,022	4,674	6,176	4.20%	4.21%	4.82%
Native AmericanorAlaska Native(NH)	4,139	5,027	5,246	4.33%	4.53%	4.10%
Asian(NH)	3,321	4,211	5,028	3.47%	3.80%	3.93%
Pacific IslanderorNative Hawaiian(NH)	44	74	98	0.05%	0.07%	0.08%
Some other race(NH)	97	148	1,263	0.10%	0.13%	0.99%
Mixed race or Multiracial(NH)	3,496	5,325	12,381	3.65%	4.80%	9.67%
Hispanic or Latino(any race)	3,723	7,082	11,827	3.89%	6.38%	9.24%
Total	95,694	110,925	128,026	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the census of 2010, there were 110,925 people, 44,661 households, and 24,913 families residing within the city.^[47]By population, Norman was the third-largest city in Oklahoma^[18]and the225th-largest cityin the United States.^[48]The population density was 616 inhabitants per square mile (238/km²).^[49]The racial makeup of the city was 84.7% White, 4.3% African American, 4.7%Native American, 3.8%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 1.9% from other races, and 5.5% from two or more races.^[47]Hispanicor Latino of any race were 6.4% of the population.^[47]

Of the 44,661 households, 25.0% had children under the age of 18, 41.5% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.2% were non-families.^[47]Individuals living alone made up 30.7% of all households; 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[47]The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.94.^[47]

The age distribution was 5.8% under the age of 5, 5.7% from 5 to 9, 5.2% from 10 to 14, 8.9% from 15 to 19, 16.0% from 20 to 24, 9.0% from 25 to 29, 6.6% from 30 to 34, 5.6% from 35 to 39, 5.3% from 40 to 44, 5.9% from 45 to 49, 5.9% from 50 to 54, 5.4% from 55 to 59, 4.6% from 60 to 64, 3.2% from 65 to 69, 2.3% from 70 to 74, 1.8% from 75 to 79, 1.4% from 80 to 84, and 1.3% over 85 years of age.^[47]The median age was 29.6 years.^[47]Malesmade up 49.7% of the population whilefemalesmade up 50.3%.^[47]

The median household income in the city was $44,396, and the median income for a family was $62,826.^[50]Males had a median income of $41,859 versus $35,777 for females.^[50]The per capita income for the city was $24,586.^[50]About 11.8% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.9% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.^[50]

Although religious information is not collected by the U.S. census, according to a 2000 survey by Dale E. Jones of the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies, 50.2% of the population in Norman is affiliated with a religious institution.^[49]Of those 43.6% wereSouthern Baptist, 15.0%Catholic Church, 13.0%United Methodist, 3.3%Assembly of God, 2.8%Churches of Christ, 2.1% Latter-day Saint (Mormon), 2.1%Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, 1.9%Disciples of Christ, 1.7%Presbyterian Church, and 14.6% otherChristian denominationsor religions.^[49]

TheUniversity of Oklahomaemploys over 11,600 personnel across three campuses, making it a significant driver of Norman's economy.^[51][52]The campus is a center for scientific and technological research, having contributed over $277 million to such programs in 2009.^[53]

Norman is also home of theNational Weather Center, a cooperative research effort between theUniversity of Oklahomaand theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationthat houses a number of weather- andclimate-related organizations;^[54]the city is also the location of the National Weather Museum & Science Center.^[55]As a result of this ongoing academic and public weather research, several privatemeteorologicalbusinesses are present in the city, including Weathernews Americas, Inc., Vieux and Associates, Inc.,Verisk Analytics, Pivotal Weather, andDTN(formerly Weather Decision Technologies).^{[56][57][58][59]}

In addition to weather, Norman is a center for other scientific ventures, public and private. The Oklahoma Geological Survey, which conducts geological research,^[60]and the Oklahoma Renewable Energy Council, which is a public-private alliance that fostersrenewable energytechnology with the aim of establishing more viable applications, make the city their home.^[61]Southwest NanoTechnologies is a producer of single-walledcarbon nanotubes.^[62][63]Bergey Windpower is a supplier ofsmall wind turbines.^[64]

Other major employers in the city include Norman Regional Health System,Norman Public Schools,Johnson Controls, Griffin Memorial Hospital,Hitachi,Astellas PharmaTechnologies, Albon Engineering, Xyant Technology,MSCI,SITEL, theUnited States Postal ServiceNational Center for Employee Development,Sysco Corporation, andAT&T.^[65]

In 2010, Norman became the 17th city in the United States to adopt a council resolution giving it status as aFair TradeTown.^[66][67]The resolution states that the city of Norman supports the purchasing of goods from the local community; when goods cannot be purchased locally the city will support buying from producers abroad who meet Fair Trade standards.^[66]These standards include supporting quality of life in developing countries and planning for environmental sustainability.^[66]

According to the Norman's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,^[68]the top employers in the city are:

#	Employer	# of employees
1	University of Oklahoma	11,085
2	Norman Regional Hospital	3,040
3	Norman Public Schools	1,923
4	York International/Johnson Controls	1,030
5	Walmart	950
6	City of Norman	896
7	Hitachi	400
8	NOAA	400
9	Cleveland County	396
10	Target	380

Norman enjoys many cultural attractions that are funded by the university. TheFred Jones Jr. Museum of Artmade national and international news in 2000 when it was given the Weitzenhoffer Collection, the largest collection ofFrench Impressionistart ever given to an American university.^[69][70][71]The collection includes works byMary Cassatt,Claude Monet,Vincent van Gogh,Paul Gauguin,Pierre-Auguste Renoir, andCamille Pissarro.^[72]

TheSam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural Historyis a museum containing over 50,000 sq ft (5,000 m²) of exhibits^[73]ranging fromarchaeology,paleontology,ethnology,herpetology,ornithology, andNative American studies.^[74]Its exhibits are intended to immerse visitors in the state's long history. The museum features many complete collections ofdinosaurfossils and is also noted for itsPaleozoiccollection, considered to be one of the largest and most important in existence.^[75]

TheMoore-Lindsay Houseis aQueen Anne-style home built prior to 1900 by prominent Normanhome builderWilliam Moore;^[25]it was purchased by the city of Norman in 1973 and today serves as the city andCleveland County'shistorical museum.^[76]Located at 508 N. Peters, the Moore-Lindsay House's architecture is representative of Norman during theVictorian era.^[76]The Cleveland County Historical Society maintains a collection of over 5,000 rare books, documents, and other artifacts in its archives located inside the house.^[77]

Catlett Music Center at theUniversity of Oklahomafeatures many orchestral and jazz performances and theWeitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts' Schools of Dance, Drama, and Musical Theatre offer many student programs throughout the year.^[78]

The city is also home to many privately funded galleries and performance sites.^[79]

Norman hosts many free festivals and community events that occur throughout the year.

The Norman Medieval Fair is a celebration ofmedieval-themed games, art, and culture, with highlights of jousting, human chessmatch combats & other combat shows, and several musical & dance acts. The event is typically held during the last weekend of March or first weekend of April in Reaves Park, near the university. It has been held annually in Norman since 1976 and was originally a forum for the English Department at theUniversity of Oklahoma.^[80]It is the largest weekend event held in the state ofOklahoma, with over 325,000 people in attendance in 2006 and growing yearly.^[81]Events Media Network has named Medieval Fair one of the top 100 events in the United States.

Norman Music Festivalis an annual weekend music festival held in April in downtown Norman. Established in 2008, the event had over 26,000 people in attendance during the 2009 festival.^[82]Originally a one-day event, the festival has quickly grown so large that it is now an all-weekend concert series. The festival highlights both local musicians and internationally acclaimed artists and features many forms and styles of music.^[83]

Groovefest is a music festival hosted annually at Andrews Park. On the last Sunday in September, the music festival is held to help raise awareness about human rights. The event was established in 1986 by theUniversity of Oklahomachapter ofAmnesty International.^[84]

The Chocolate Festival, the only fundraiser of the year for the city's Firehouse Arts Center, was ranked No. 3 for food festivals across America by the Food Network. This festival offers various chocolate tasting sessions, chocolate art competitions and exhibits, chocolate dessert competitions and more. It has been an annual tradition since 1983.

The National Weather Festival takes place at theNational Weather Serviceevery fall, featuringfood trucks,weather balloonlaunches, educational booths, and meet-and-greets with localmeteorologists.^[85]

Jazz in June is a music festival held the last full weekend in June at various venues across Norman. The festival features bothjazzand blues musical performances as well as jazz educationalclinicstaught by professional musicians appearing in the festival and post-concert jam sessions at local venues which bring headliners and local artists together.^[86]Jazz in June, one of the major cultural events in the state as well as the City of Norman, attracts a combined concert audience of 50,000 drawn from throughout the state, region and nation. Another 100,000 or more enjoy these same performances through post-festival broadcasts on KGOU Public Radio as well as other public radio stations throughout the state, region and nation.

May Fair is anarts festivalheld every year during the first weekend in May at Andrews Park. It features top area performers, fine art, crafts, and food.^[87]

Summer Breeze Concert Series is a series of concerts held from Spring to Fall at various park venues across Norman. The series is sponsored by the Performing Arts Studio.^[88]

Midsummer Nights' Fair is a nighttimearts festivalheld during two evenings in June. The fair features art, music, and food and is held outside the Firehouse Art Center located in Lions Park.^[89]

The Norman Mardi Gras parade is a celebration ofMardi Grasoccurring on the Saturday closest toFat Tuesday. The parade is held in downtown Norman and features themed costumes andfloats.^[90]

The Main Street Christmas Holiday Parade is a celebration of Christmas and theholiday seasonheld every December in downtown Norman. The parade features holiday-themed costumes andfloats.^[91]

Norman is served by three public libraries, Norman Public Library Central, Norman Public Library East, and Norman Public Library West, all of which are part of the 12-branchPioneer Library Systemwhich serves the entirety ofCleveland County,McClain CountyandPottawatomie Countyin Central Oklahoma.^[92]The library has a reciprocal agreement with theMetropolitan Library Systemof Oklahoma City through which those eligible for a library card in one system are also eligible in the other.^[93]Cardholders are also able to borrow books unavailable in the PLS collection through the use of Interlibrary Loan.^[94]Books can be reserved and shipped to a local library free of charge. In addition to books, the library maintains a collection of periodicals, DVD videos, audio books, e-books and research materials.^[92]

TheBizzell Memorial Libraryat theUniversity of Oklahomais the largest library in the state of Oklahoma, containing more than five million volumes.^[95]In addition to books, the library maintains over 17,000 ft (5,200 m) in length of manuscripts and archives, 1.6 million photographs, and more than 1.5 million maps.^[95]The library also houses more than 50 books printed before the year 1500.^[95]

The University of Oklahoma sponsors many collegiate sporting events in Norman. The school is well known for itsfootball program, having won sevenNCAA Division INational Football Championships.^[96]In addition, it has the best winning percentage of anyDivision I FBSteam since the introduction of theAP Pollin 1936^[97]and has played in fourBCS National Championship Gamessince 1998.^[98][99]

During football season, the Oklahoma Sooners football program contributes significantly to Norman's economy. During game day weekends, Norman sees an influx out of town traffic from all over the country with over 80,000 people routinely attendingfootballgames.^[100]Norman's local businesses, especially areas around campus and Campus Corner, benefit greatly from the game day traffic alone. The program ranks in the top 10 of ESPN's top college football money-makers with home games generating revenues at approximately $59 million and game day operating expenses at about $6.1 million.^[101]

In 1951 and 1994 its baseball team won theNCAAnational championship,^[102]and the women's softball team won the national championship in 2000, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.^[103]The men's and women'sgymnasticsteams have won ten national championships since 2001.^[104]

Other university men's sports include: basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, football, Ultimate Frisbee, tennis, track and field, and wrestling.^[105]The OU Sooners men's hockey team competes in the American College Hockey Association, at the "club" level, but has yet to apply for higher-level play. Due to the lack of a rink in Norman, the team plays at the Blazers Ice Centre in south Oklahoma City. Women's sports include: basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, football, Ultimate Frisbee, rowing, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.^[105]

TheGolf Coaches Association of America(GCAA), a non-profit professional association of men's collegiate golf coaches, is located in Norman.^[106]

Norman's Parks and Recreation Department facilitates 55 neighborhood and community parks, three recreation centers, a golf course and driving range, three disc golf courses, a complete swim complex with waterslides, a wading pool, 32 tennis courts, and three special services centers (that offer cultural arts and senior citizen activities). Griffin Community Park Sports Complex includes 16 soccer fields, 14 baseball/softball fields, and four football fields.^[107]

Acouncil-manager governmenthas been in place in Norman since the adoption of itscity charteronJune 28, 1919.^[108]Acouncilorfrom each of the city's eight councilwardsis elected to office every two years, each serving a two-year term. Councilors are elected from their own respective wards based on aplurality voting system; a councilor from each ward serves on the NormanCity Council. A mayor is elected by the entire voting population of Norman and serves as anat-largecouncilor; the mayor serves a three-year term. As a whole, the council acts as the legislative body of city government; it aims to pass laws, approve the city budget, and manage efficiency in the government. The City Council appoints a professionalCity Managerwho is responsible for the city's day-to-day administrative activities.^[108]The City of Norman has approximately 650 employees working in 11 departments and 31 boards and commissions that help oversee and implement the city's policies and services.^[108][109]The City Council meets biweekly inCity Hall, at 201 W. Gray Street; various boards and commissions meet in accordance with their own schedules.^[108]The mayor is Larry Heikkila (elected in 2022),^[110]and the city manager is Darrel Pyle (appointed in 2019).^[111]In accordance with the charter of the city of Norman, all city elected positions arenonpartisan.^[112]

Municipal and state laws are enforced by the Norman Police Department.^[124]The police department consists of up to 171 commissioned officers and 71 office employees and is Oklahoma's third-largest police department.^[125]

The city serves as thecounty seatofCleveland County.^[126]

TheUniversity of Oklahomais the largest university in the state of Oklahoma, with approximately 30,000 students enrolled.^[53]The university was founded in 1890, prior to Oklahoma statehood.^[53][127]The university includes Norman,Oklahoma Cityand, Tulsa campuses with the main campus located in Norman.^[53]In 2007,The Princeton Reviewnamed the University of Oklahoma one of its "Best Value" colleges.^[128]The school is ranked first per capita among public universities in enrollment ofNational Merit Scholars^[53]and has seen 28Rhodes Scholarsgraduate since the program's inception in 1902.^{[53][129][130]}PC Magazine and the Princeton Review rated it one of the "20 Most Wired Colleges" in both 2006^[131]and 2008,^[132]while theCarnegie Foundationclassifies it as aresearch universitywith "highest research activity."^[133]

The school is well known for its athletic programs, having won many distinctions and awards including sevenNCAA Division INational Football Championships.^[96]

The city of Norman is served by theMoore Norman Technology Center. The school was established in 1972 and has been awarded the Oklahoma Association of Technology Center's Gold Star School Award on multiple occasions.^[134]The Franklin Road Campus consists of six buildings totaling 323,500 sq ft (30,100 m²) of classroom, meeting, and office space.^[135]The school has a full-time staff of 207.^[135]

Public school districts in Oklahoma are independent of other local governments. Several districts overlap the municipal boundaries of the City of Norman.

Norman Public Schoolsis the largest district serving Norman;^[136]there are 15 elementary schools, four middle schools, and two high schools in the district.^[137]More than 17,000 students are enrolled in the district, making it one of the largest in the state.^[138]

Noble Public Schoolsis a school district that serves southeastern portions of Norman, the adjoining cities ofNobleandSlaughterville, and other parts of Cleveland County.^[136]It consists of two elementary schools, an intermediate school, a middle school, and a high school.^[139]

Little Axe Public Schoolsserves the eastern area of Norman.^[136]It consists of an elementary, junior, and high school.^[140]

Other school districts with territory within the city areMcLoud,Mid-Del,Moore, andRobin Hill.^[136]

Several private schools also serve the area:

• All Saints Catholic School (Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City) – pre-kindergarten through 8th grade^[49]
• Blue Eagle Christian Academy – kindergarten through 10th grade^[49]
• Community Christian School – kindergarten through 12th grade^[49]
• Norman Christian Academy – pre-kindergarten through 7th grade^[141]
• Robinson Street Academy – kindergarten through 12th grade^[49]
• Rose Rock School – pre-kindergarten through kindergarten^[142]
• Terra Verde Discovery School – kindergarten through 5th grade^[143]
• Trinity Lutheran School – pre-kindergarten through 6th grade^[49]
• Veritas Classical Christian Academy – pre-kindergarten through 12th grade^[49]

The Norman Transcriptis the most widely circulated Norman-based newspaper in the city. It is a daily newspaper covering events in Cleveland and McClain counties. It is the oldest continuous business in Norman and was founded shortly after theLand Run of April 1889onJuly 13, 1889.^[144]

The Oklahoma Dailyis a student-run newspaper at theUniversity of Oklahoma. It was first published in 1897, several years after the university's founding. The paper has received numerous awards for journalism excellence including theAssociated Collegiate Press'Pacemaker Award.^[145]

KGOUis a full-service public radio station licensed to the University of Oklahoma. The station serves Norman and the greaterOklahoma Citymetropolitan area with a news/talk/jazz format, using programs fromNational Public Radio,Public Radio International, and others.^[146]

Norman TV is agovernment-access televisionstation airing on Cox Communications cable television channel 20. It broadcasts programming provided by the City of Norman, including video fromcity councilmeetings.^[147]

Scheduled air transport, major commercial air transportation is available atWill Rogers World AirportinOklahoma City, located approximately 20 mi (30 km) northwest of Norman. The airport serves more than 3.78 million passengers per year.^[148]

Norman is served locally byMax Westheimer Airport, ageneral aviationairport run by the University of Oklahoma.^[149]The airport is one of only two airports in theOklahoma City metropolitan areadesignated as areliever airportto Will Rogers World Airport. Max Westheimer Airport is capable of handling aircraft up through and including executive class jet aircraft.^[150]

TheCleveland Area Rapid Transit, operated by theUniversity of Oklahoma, provides bus service throughout the 191 sq mi (490 km²) Norman area.^[151]CART also provides service to theSocial Security Administrationoffices inMoore, as well as toOklahoma City'sEMBARKtransit hub downtown.^[151]EMBARK maintains a fleet of buses andtrolleysserving the greater Oklahoma City area, with a new light-rail system expected to begin operations in 2018. All service toWill Rogers World Airportis not currently available.^[152]

In 2008, CART became the 39th public transportation system in the United States to be featured onGoogle Transit,^[153]a website that allows transportation users to electronically plan their travel routes.^[154]In 2010, CART buses were modified to include aGPS trackingsystem that allows riders to see the location of buses and their predicted arrival times via the CART and Google websites.^[155]CART buses transport more than 1.3 million travelers annually.^[151]

Inter-citypassenger trainservice is available viaAmtrakatNorman Depot. Amtrak'sHeartland Flyerprovides daily round trip service to downtown Oklahoma City andFort Worth, Texas.

Although Norman currently has nolight railorcommuter railservice, there is growing interest in incorporating such services into the city's future transportation plans as part of the Oklahoma City metro area's regional transit system.^[156]

The predominant form of transportation in Norman is roads and highways with 80.0% of all residents driving alone to work, 9.0% carpooling, and just 1.3% taking public transportation.^[157]As of 2007,Interstate 35alone was handling over 99,000 vehicles per day.^[158]Other major highways includeState Highway 9, a portion of which serves 28,000 vehicles per day, andU.S. Highway 77, which serves more than 25,000 vehicles per day.^[159]

Norman is served by two major federal highways:^[159]

• Interstate 35
• U.S. Highway 77

Norman is served by two major Oklahoma state highways:^[159]

• State Highway 9
• State Highway 77H

Electric utility companies servicing Norman includeOklahoma Gas & Electric, which is headquartered in Oklahoma City, and Oklahoma Electric Cooperative (autility cooperative).^[160]Natural gas is provided byOklahoma Natural Gas.^[160]The city's Utility Department offers water, wastewater, and recycling services to parts of the city as well as solid waste pickup citywide.^[160][161]

In 2010, drinking water in Normal was identified as levels ofhexavalent chromium3 and 6 near the higher end of the acceptableEPAlimit.^[162]The Garber-WellingtonAquifer, which is known to have elevated levels ofheavy metals, was identified as a possible source.^[162]Norman's water supply has also been noted for excessive levels ofarsenic.^[163]The city responded by building new wells and removing old ones.^[164]

Norman Regional Health System is a multi-campus system that provides medical services in Norman and throughout south central Oklahoma.^[165]ItsPorter Avenue campus, located north of downtown Norman, is a 337-bedgeneral hospitalproviding a wide range of services includingacute care.^[165]In October 2009, the Norman Regional HealthPlex campus opened in west Norman.^[166]It provides a 152-bed facility specializing incardiology, cardiovascular services, as well as women's and children's services.^[166][167]

In accordance withSister Cities International, an organization that began under President Dwight Eisenhower in 1956, Norman has been given four international sister cities in an attempt to foster cross-cultural understanding:^[168]

• Arezzo,Tuscany, Italy
• Clermont-Ferrand,Puy-de-Dôme, France^[169]
• Colima, Col., Mexico
• Seika,Kyoto, Japan

• List of sundown towns in the United States

• Official website
• Norman Convention & Visitor's Bureau
• Norman's who's who website