Ardmore, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Ardmore is a business, cultural and tourism city in and the county seat
of Carter County
, Oklahoma
, United States
. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 24,283, while a 2007 estimate has the Ardmore micropolitan statistical area
totaling 56,694 residents. Ardmore is located 90 miles (144.8 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 ten-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 9 miles (16 km) 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.
On April 22, 1966 Ardmore was the site of the worst plane crash in Oklahoma history, which killed 83 people.
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 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. 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 recur in the future. The city has not experienced any major setbacks since the 1915 fire, save 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, due to the public being alerted by area news and tornado sirens.
On April 22, 1966 just outside of Ardmore was the site of the worst plane crash in Oklahoma history, when an aircraft of the American Flyers Airline
crashed and killed 83 people. There is a memorial to the crash just outside of town.
Ardmore became nationally famous in 2003 when 52 Democratic members of the Texas House of Representatives, known as the Killer Ds, left Texas for Ardmore to deny the Republican-controlled House a quorum when Republicans attempted to pass a redistricting plan for U.S. Congressional Districts. Redistricting of Congressional seats is traditionally done following the decennial U.S. Census; the 2003 plan, which had been engineered by U.S. Representative Tom DeLay (R-Texas), would have been an unprecedented second redistricting in the same decade, and was promoted as a way to increase Republican electoral success. By leaving the state to stay in an Oklahoma hotel, Democrats temporarily delayed passage of the redistricting plan the Republican-controlled House. Republicans eventually succeeded at the re-redistricting, although in 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that new borders of the 23rd Congressional District, a long thin chain of counties from Austin, Texas
to Mexico
, dubbed the 'Fajita Strip', was in violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1963, since it divided up predominantly Hispanic areas into multiple districts, and a U.S. District Judge ordered new boundaries favorable to incumbent Democrats Ciro Rodriguez and Lloyd Doggett
to be drawn.
Ardmore is located at 34.181240°N 97.129363°W (34.181240, -97.129363).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 50 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.
Ardmore is located about 10 miles (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
.
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 per square mile (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.
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
, Dollar Tree
(Marietta) and Dollar General Stores
, among others. Until early 2009, Ardmore was also home to a large regional distribution center for the now-defunct retail electronics chain, Circuit City and was also home to a 1-800-flowers call center. In 2010 Ardmore lost another technology company IMTEC which was purchased by 3M and moved away to California. The 85000 oilbbl/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. Located just to the south of the city limits on the Oklahoma-Texas border is the massive WinStar World Casino
which is speculated to be the fifth largest casino in the world bringing in a major revenue stream to the Chickasaw Nation.
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:
Ardmore has many civic organizations committed to its betterment.
The Ardmore Masonic Lodge is one of the oldest civic organization in Ardmore.
(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
).
http://www.ardmore.k12.ok.us/ operates public schools in Ardmore.
Plainview Public Schools http://www.plainview.k12.ok.us/ operates public schools in Ardmore.
Dickson Public Schools http://www.dickson.k12.ok.us/ is within proximity, however, part of the incorporated town limits of Dickson, which operates this public school district adjacent to the city limits of Ardmore.
Ardmore-Oak Hall Episcopal School http://www.oakhallschool.com/ one of only three Episcopal diocesan schools in the state of Oklahoma.
Lone Grove Public Schools http://www.lonegrove.k12.ok.us/ is 5 miles (8 km) away, with it being in the city limits of Lone Grove, which consists of a population that works and shops in Ardmore.
, a career and technical education school for high school, college and adult continuing education in technology and career development, is run by the state of Oklahoma with taxpayer assistance. It also serves as a training facility for the TASO (Training Alliance Services of Oklahoma) in which businesses train their employees to help perform their jobs better with better training.
FM
KFXI (92.1 FM broadcasting) is a 100,000 watt radio station with a 600 feet (182.9 m) tower, allowing it reach further than other stations in the Chickasha, Duncan and Lawton markets. KFXI Foxy92 radio broadcasts a Country music format and is known as "The Real Country Giant". Licensed to Marlow, Oklahoma, USA, with offices in Chickasha, Lawton, Duncan and Marlow, the station serves the Lawton, Duncan and Chickasha areas. The station is currently owned by DFWU, Inc. and features programing from Fox News Radio
is located within the city limits of Ardmore, as it traverses the United States from Duluth, Minnesota to Laredo, Texas.
Ardmore has four exits off I-35:
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.
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 (144.8 km) from Ardmore. Ardmore is linked by rail with the DFW Airport via the Heartland Flyer
to Trinity Railway Express
connection.
to Oklahoma City
(also connecting with Kansas City and 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 on July 28 in that year. 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.
on Amtrak's Heartland Flyer
train route, with daily service to and 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. The main part of the streetcar line originally ran down the center lane of Main Street. Service ended in 1922.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Carter County
Carter County, Oklahoma
Carter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010, the population was 47,557. Its county seat is Ardmore.Carter County is part of the Ardmore, Oklahoma, Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 24,283, while a 2007 estimate has the Ardmore micropolitan statistical area
Ardmore micropolitan area
The Ardmore Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in South Central Oklahoma, anchored by the city of Ardmore....
totaling 56,694 residents. Ardmore is located 90 miles (144.8 km) equidistant from Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
and Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
/Fort Worth
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
at the junction of Interstate 35 and U.S. Highway 70, and is generally considered the hub of the ten-county region in South Central Oklahoma
South Central Oklahoma
South Central Oklahoma, or Arbuckle Country, as officially defined by the Oklahoma Department of Tourism, is an amorphous 10-county region in the state of Oklahoma...
, also known by state tourism pamphlets as Arbuckle Country and Lake and Trail Country. Geologically, Ardmore is situated about 9 miles (16 km) south of the Arbuckle Mountains
Arbuckle Mountains
The Arbuckle Mountains are an ancient mountain range in south-central Oklahoma in the United States. The granite rocks of the Arbuckles date back to the Proterozoic Era some 1.4 billion years ago which were overlain by sediments during the Paleozoic Era. The range reaches a height of 1,412 feet...
, and is located at the eastern margin of the Healdton Basin
Mid-continent Oil Field
The Mid-continent oil field is a broad area containing hundreds of oil fields in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The area, which consists of various geological strata and diverse trap types, was discovered and exploited during the first half of the 20th century...
, one of the most oil-rich regions of the United States.
Ardmore was named after the affluent Philadelphia suburb and historic Pennsylvania Main Line
Pennsylvania Main Line
The Main Line is an unofficial historical and socio-cultural region of suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, comprising a collection of affluent towns built along the old Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad which ran northwest from downtown Philadelphia parallel to Lancaster Avenue , a road...
stop Ardmore, Pennsylvania
Ardmore, Pennsylvania
Ardmore is a census-designated place in Delaware and Montgomery counties in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The population was 12,455 at the 2010 census...
, which was named after Ardmore, Ireland by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1873. The name Ardmore is Gaelic signifying high grounds or hills.
On April 22, 1966 Ardmore was the site of the worst plane crash in Oklahoma history, which killed 83 people.
History
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
began with a plowed ditch for a Main Street in the summer of 1887 in Pickens County
Love County, Oklahoma
Love County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population is 8,831. Its county seat is Marietta.Love County is part of the Ardmore, Oklahoma, Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, Chickasaw Nation
Chickasaw Nation
The Chickasaw Nation is a federally recognized Native American nation, located in Oklahoma. They are one of the members of the Five Civilized Tribes. The Five Civilized Tribes were differentiated from other Indian reservations in that they had semi-autonomous constitutional governments and...
. 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 found itself positioned next to one of the largest oil fields ever produced in Oklahoma, the Healdton
Healdton, Oklahoma
Healdton is a city in Carter County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,786 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Ardmore, Oklahoma Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Healdton is located at ....
Oil Field. After its discovery in 1913, entrepreneurs and wildcatters flooded the area, and Carter County
Carter County, Oklahoma
Carter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010, the population was 47,557. Its county seat is Ardmore.Carter County is part of the Ardmore, Oklahoma, Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:According to the U.S...
quickly became the largest oil-producing county in Oklahoma, and has remained so ever since. 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
Halliburton
Halliburton is the world's second largest oilfield services corporation with operations in more than 70 countries. It has hundreds of subsidiaries, affiliates, branches, brands and divisions worldwide and employs over 50,000 people....
and the Noble Energy
Noble Energy
Noble Energy, Inc. of Houston, Texas, United States is the modern name of Noble Affiliates Inc., by which it was known through the 1990s, and it is now an oil and natural gas exploration and production company with almost US$3 billion in revenue at #660 on the 2007 Fortune 1000 list of the largest...
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 recur in the future. The city has not experienced any major setbacks since the 1915 fire, save a 1995 tornado that nearly destroyed the Uniroyal Goodrich (now Michelin
Michelin
Michelin is a tyre manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne région of France. It is one of the two largest tyre manufacturers in the world along with Bridgestone. In addition to the Michelin brand, it also owns the BFGoodrich, Kleber, Riken, Kormoran and Uniroyal tyre brands...
) 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, due to the public being alerted by area news and tornado sirens.
On April 22, 1966 just outside of Ardmore was the site of the worst plane crash in Oklahoma history, when an aircraft of the American Flyers Airline
American Flyers Airline
American Flyers Airline Corporation was a United States "supplemental" charter airline that operated from 1949 to 1971.- History :The airline initially started in Fort Worth with Douglas DC-3 aircraft. From 1960 to 1967 it took delivery of fifteen Lockheed Constellation and Lockheed L-188 Electra...
crashed and killed 83 people. There is a memorial to the crash just outside of town.
Ardmore became nationally famous in 2003 when 52 Democratic members of the Texas House of Representatives, known as the Killer Ds, left Texas for Ardmore to deny the Republican-controlled House a quorum when Republicans attempted to pass a redistricting plan for U.S. Congressional Districts. Redistricting of Congressional seats is traditionally done following the decennial U.S. Census; the 2003 plan, which had been engineered by U.S. Representative Tom DeLay (R-Texas), would have been an unprecedented second redistricting in the same decade, and was promoted as a way to increase Republican electoral success. By leaving the state to stay in an Oklahoma hotel, Democrats temporarily delayed passage of the redistricting plan the Republican-controlled House. Republicans eventually succeeded at the re-redistricting, although in 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that new borders of the 23rd Congressional District, a long thin chain of counties from Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, dubbed the 'Fajita Strip', was in violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1963, since it divided up predominantly Hispanic areas into multiple districts, and a U.S. District Judge ordered new boundaries favorable to incumbent Democrats Ciro Rodriguez and Lloyd Doggett
Lloyd Doggett
Lloyd Alton Doggett II is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He previously represented from 1995 to 2005. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
to be drawn.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 50 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.
Ardmore is located about 10 miles (16 km) south of the Arbuckle Mountains
Arbuckle Mountains
The Arbuckle Mountains are an ancient mountain range in south-central Oklahoma in the United States. The granite rocks of the Arbuckles date back to the Proterozoic Era some 1.4 billion years ago which were overlain by sediments during the Paleozoic Era. The range reaches a height of 1,412 feet...
, 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
Washita River
The Washita River is a river in Texas and Oklahoma, United States. The river is long and terminates into Lake Texoma in Johnston County , Oklahoma and the Red River.-Geography:...
and Red River
Red River (Mississippi watershed)
The Red River, or sometimes the Red River of the South, is a major tributary of the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers in the southern United States of America. The river gains its name from the red-bed country of its watershed. It is one of several rivers with that name...
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
Lake Murray, Oklahoma
Lake Murray is a 5,700 acre lake in south central Oklahoma, near Ardmore named for Oklahoma Governor William H. Murray. The lake is wholly within Lake Murray State Park, Oklahoma's largest state park, containing over 12,500 acres of relative wilderness...
, an impoundment of the two arms of Anadarche Creek, which eventually flows into the western reaches of Lake Texoma
Lake Texoma
Lake Texoma is one of the largest reservoirs in the United States, the 12th largest Corps of Engineers lake, and the largest in USACE Tulsa District....
.
Climate
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 23,711 people, 9,646 households, and 6,308 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 482.7 people per square mile (186.4/km2). There were 10,926 housing units at an average density of 222.4 per square mile (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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.
Economy
Ardmore is the principal center of trade for a ten-county region in south central Oklahoma, with a retail pull factor of 1.7 - 1.9. Ardmore's major employers are MichelinMichelin
Michelin is a tyre manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne région of France. It is one of the two largest tyre manufacturers in the world along with Bridgestone. In addition to the Michelin brand, it also owns the BFGoodrich, Kleber, Riken, Kormoran and Uniroyal tyre brands...
North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, with 1,900 employees and Mercy Memorial Health Center, with 900 employees. Several hundred employees work for regional distribution centers for Best Buy
Best Buy
Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates...
, Dollar Tree
Dollar Tree
Dollar Tree, Inc. is an American chain of discount variety stores that sells every item for $1.00 or less. A Fortune 500 company, Dollar Tree is headquartered in Chesapeake, Virginia and operates 4,010 stores throughout the 48 contiguous U.S. states. Its stores are supported by a nationwide...
(Marietta) and Dollar General Stores
Dollar General
Dollar General Corp. is a U.S. chain of variety stores headquartered in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. As of January 2011, Dollar General operated over 9,300 stores in 35 U.S. states....
, among others. Until early 2009, Ardmore was also home to a large regional distribution center for the now-defunct retail electronics chain, Circuit City and was also home to a 1-800-flowers call center. In 2010 Ardmore lost another technology company IMTEC which was purchased by 3M and moved away to California. The 85000 oilbbl/d Valero Refinery
Refinery
A refinery is a production facility composed of a group of chemical engineering unit processes and unit operations refining certain materials or converting raw material into products of value.-Types of refineries:Different types of refineries are as follows:...
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. Located just to the south of the city limits on the Oklahoma-Texas border is the massive WinStar World Casino
WinStar World Casino
Winstar World Casino is a hotel and casino located on the Oklahoma-Texas border, one mile north of the Red River, at Exit 1 off Interstate 35 in Thackerville, OK. Originally opened as Winstar Casinos in 2004, the facility was expanded and renamed Winstar World Casino in 2009 and the of casino...
which is speculated to be the fifth largest casino in the world bringing in a major revenue stream to the Chickasaw Nation.
Arts and culture
Such amenities include:
- Charles B. Goddard Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, sponsors various exhibits and productions brought into the region.
- Studio 107 Gallery & Art Studios, hosts regional and local exhibits
- Greater Southwest Historical Museum
- Ardmore Little Theatre
- Ardmore Convention Center, the newest convention facility in region.
- Ardmore Civic Auditorium a historic city building that hosts concerts and other local events.
- Hardy Murphy Coliseum, historic WPA-built facility that hosts rodeoRodeoRodeo is a competitive sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. It was based on the skills required of the working vaqueros and later, cowboys, in what today is the western United States,...
s, cutting shows and various regional events.
Ardmore has many civic organizations committed to its betterment.
The Ardmore Masonic Lodge is one of the oldest civic organization in Ardmore.
Colleges and universities
Ardmore is home to the Ardmore Higher Education CenterArdmore Higher Education Center
The Ardmore Higher Education Center is a consortium-model higher education delivery system which provides academic degree programs from four participating institutions of higher education located in southern Oklahoma...
(a consortium-model system of higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
) which offers courses and degrees
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
to the local population from four participating institutions of higher education: Murray State College
Murray State College
Murray State College, is a public, co-educational community college located in southeastern Oklahoma with the main campus located in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. The college is named in honor of former Oklahoma Governor William H...
, Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Southeastern Oklahoma State University, often referred to as Southeastern and abbreviated as SE, or SOSU, is a public university located in Durant, Oklahoma, with an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 4,229 as of 2009.-History:...
, East Central University
East Central University
East Central University is a four year public university in Ada, Oklahoma, located in the south central region of the state. The university also has courses available in McAlester, Shawnee, Ardmore, and Durant....
and Oklahoma State University (from the Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
campus
Campus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
).
Primary and secondary schools
Ardmore City SchoolsArdmore City Schools
Ardmore City Schools is a public school district in Ardmore, Oklahoma. The school district has a total enrollment of 3,064 as of October 2008....
http://www.ardmore.k12.ok.us/ operates public schools in Ardmore.
Plainview Public Schools http://www.plainview.k12.ok.us/ operates public schools in Ardmore.
Dickson Public Schools http://www.dickson.k12.ok.us/ is within proximity, however, part of the incorporated town limits of Dickson, which operates this public school district adjacent to the city limits of Ardmore.
Ardmore-Oak Hall Episcopal School http://www.oakhallschool.com/ one of only three Episcopal diocesan schools in the state of Oklahoma.
Lone Grove Public Schools http://www.lonegrove.k12.ok.us/ is 5 miles (8 km) away, with it being in the city limits of Lone Grove, which consists of a population that works and shops in Ardmore.
CareerTech
Southern Oklahoma Technology CenterSouthern Oklahoma Technology Center
Southern Oklahoma Technology Center is a public career and technology education center located in Ardmore, Oklahoma and is part of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education system. SOTC serves 13 high school's within seven counties. High school juniors and seniors attending one...
, a career and technical education school for high school, college and adult continuing education in technology and career development, is run by the state of Oklahoma with taxpayer assistance. It also serves as a training facility for the TASO (Training Alliance Services of Oklahoma) in which businesses train their employees to help perform their jobs better with better training.
Media
Television
- KTENKTENKTEN is the NBC-affiliated television station for Southeastern Oklahoma and North Texas that is licensed to Ada, Oklahoma. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 26 from a transmitter north of Milburn, Oklahoma along OK 7. Owned by the Lockwood Broadcasting Group, the station...
- Channel 10 (NBC) - KTENKTENKTEN is the NBC-affiliated television station for Southeastern Oklahoma and North Texas that is licensed to Ada, Oklahoma. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 26 from a transmitter north of Milburn, Oklahoma along OK 7. Owned by the Lockwood Broadcasting Group, the station...
- DT Channel 10-2 (The CW Texoma) - KXIIKXIIKXII, channel 12, is the CBS-affiliated television station for the Texoma region of Texas and Oklahoma. It is licensed to Sherman, Texas. Its transmitter is located southwest of Madill, Oklahoma...
- Channel 12 (CBS) - KXIIKXIIKXII, channel 12, is the CBS-affiliated television station for the Texoma region of Texas and Oklahoma. It is licensed to Sherman, Texas. Its transmitter is located southwest of Madill, Oklahoma...
- DT Channel 12-2 (My Texoma) - KXIIKXIIKXII, channel 12, is the CBS-affiliated television station for the Texoma region of Texas and Oklahoma. It is licensed to Sherman, Texas. Its transmitter is located southwest of Madill, Oklahoma...
- DT Channel 12-3 (FOX Texoma) - CableONE (Cable operator)
Radio
AM- KVSO - 1240 on the radio dial
FM
- KLCU - 90.3 (Public/NPR - Cameron University, Lawton)
- KFXI] - 92.1 (Country)
KFXI (92.1 FM broadcasting) is a 100,000 watt radio station with a 600 feet (182.9 m) tower, allowing it reach further than other stations in the Chickasha, Duncan and Lawton markets. KFXI Foxy92 radio broadcasts a Country music format and is known as "The Real Country Giant". Licensed to Marlow, Oklahoma, USA, with offices in Chickasha, Lawton, Duncan and Marlow, the station serves the Lawton, Duncan and Chickasha areas. The station is currently owned by DFWU, Inc. and features programing from Fox News Radio
Transportation
Highways
Interstate 35Interstate 35 in Oklahoma
Oklahoma is the second state that Interstate 35 passes through from south to north. In Oklahoma, I-35 runs from the Red River at the Texas border to the Kansas line near Braman, for a length of 236 miles . I-35 has one spur route in the state, Interstate 235 in the inner city of Oklahoma...
is located within the city limits of Ardmore, as it traverses the United States from Duluth, Minnesota to Laredo, Texas.
Ardmore has four exits off I-35:
- Exit 29 (US-70U.S. Route 70U.S. Route 70 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 2,385 miles from eastern North Carolina to east-central Arizona. As can be derived from its number, it is a major east–west highway of the Southern and Southwestern United States...
East) - Exits 31A-B (State Highway 199 East/US-70U.S. Route 70U.S. Route 70 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 2,385 miles from eastern North Carolina to east-central Arizona. As can be derived from its number, it is a major east–west highway of the Southern and Southwestern United States...
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
U.S. Route 77 in Oklahoma
In Oklahoma, U.S. Highway 77 runs north–south, paralleling Interstate 35, connecting Texas to Kansas and running for 268 miles through the central part of the state. It passes through many major cities, including Ardmore, Oklahoma City and its suburbs, Guthrie, and Ponca City...
, SH-142, and SH-199. Ardmore is connected to Lake Murray
Lake Murray, Oklahoma
Lake Murray is a 5,700 acre lake in south central Oklahoma, near Ardmore named for Oklahoma Governor William H. Murray. The lake is wholly within Lake Murray State Park, Oklahoma's largest state park, containing over 12,500 acres of relative wilderness...
via SH-77S.
Airports
Ardmore has two general aviation airports, Ardmore Downtown Executive AirportArdmore Downtown Executive Airport
Ardmore Downtown Executive Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located one mile southeast of the central business district of Ardmore, a city in Carter County, Oklahoma, United States.- Facilities and aircraft :...
and Ardmore Industrial Airpark. The nearest scheduled air service occurs at Will Rogers World Airport
Will Rogers World Airport
Will Rogers World Airport , also known as Will Rogers Airport or simply Will Rogers, is located in southwestern Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 6 miles from downtown and is the principal commercial airport of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area...
in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, both 90 miles (144.8 km) from Ardmore. Ardmore is linked by rail with the DFW Airport via the Heartland Flyer
Heartland Flyer
The Heartland Flyer is a daily passenger train that follows a 206-mile route between Fort Worth, Texas and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Amtrak serves as contractor, initially only for the State of Oklahoma, but now also to the State of Texas....
to Trinity Railway Express
Trinity Railway Express
The Trinity Railway Express is a commuter rail line in the Dallas – Fort Worth Metroplex. It was established by an interlocal agreement between Dallas Area Rapid Transit and the Fort Worth Transportation Authority . Each transit authority owns a 50% stake in the joint rail project and...
connection.
Rail
Ardmore has one principal rail line, that being one of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe mainlines running from Fort Worth, TexasFort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
to Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
(also connecting with Kansas City and 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 on July 28 in that year. 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
Michelin
Michelin is a tyre manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne région of France. It is one of the two largest tyre manufacturers in the world along with Bridgestone. In addition to the Michelin brand, it also owns the BFGoodrich, Kleber, Riken, Kormoran and Uniroyal tyre brands...
Tire Plant in west Ardmore, mainly intended for the transport of raw materials to the factory.
Mass transit
The historic Santa Fe depot in downtown Ardmore is also a stopArdmore, Oklahoma (Amtrak station)
Ardmore Station is an Amtrak station in Ardmore, Oklahoma, served by the Heartland Flyer. The station was built by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in 1909, although some sources claim it was built in 1916....
on Amtrak's Heartland Flyer
Heartland Flyer
The Heartland Flyer is a daily passenger train that follows a 206-mile route between Fort Worth, Texas and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Amtrak serves as contractor, initially only for the State of Oklahoma, but now also to the State of Texas....
train route, with daily service to and 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
Railway electric traction
Railway electric traction describes the various types of locomotive and multiple units that are used on electrification systems around the world.-History:...
(streetcar/interurban
Interurban
An interurban, also called a radial railway in parts of Canada, is a type of electric passenger railroad; in short a hybrid between tram and train. Interurbans enjoyed widespread popularity in the first three decades of the twentieth century in North America. Until the early 1920s, most roads were...
) railway system, franchised in February 1905, that linked outlying areas, such as the Dornick Hills Country Club, to the central business district. The main part of the streetcar line originally ran down the center lane of Main Street. Service ended in 1922.
Notable natives
- Eric FieldsEric FieldsEric Fields is an American professional boxer from Ardmore, Oklahoma.-Amateur career:Fields started boxing in 2003 and became the 2005 and 2006 National Golden Gloves Heavyweight champion. In 2005 he beat Tony Grano, the U.S...
, (born June 14, 1982) an American professional boxer. - Mark GastineauMark GastineauMarcus Dell Gastineau is a former American football player who was a leading defensive end for the New York Jets from 1979 to 1988. A five-time Pro Bowler, his 100½ quarterback sacks in only his first 100 starts in the NFL made him one of the quickest and most feared pass rushers of his generation...
, former All-Pro NFL defensive star for the New York JetsNew York JetsThe New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, was born in Ardmore in 1956. - John Hinckley Jr., the man who shot former President Ronald ReaganRonald ReaganRonald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
in a failed assassination attempt in 1981, whose father worked for a local oil company. - Justin BlackmonJustin BlackmonJustin Blackmon is an American football wide receiver. He currently attends Oklahoma State University–Stillwater in his junior season. He is considered one of the best wide receivers of his class....
, wide receiverWide receiverA wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
for the Oklahoma State CowboysOklahoma State Cowboys footballThe Oklahoma State Cowboys football program represents Oklahoma State University–Stillwater in college football. The team is a member of the Big 12 Conference and completes at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Cowboys are led by Mike Gundy, who is in his seventh year as...
. - Jermaine GreshamJermaine GreshamJermaine Gresham is an American football tight end for the Cincinnati Bengals. He was drafted by the Bengals with the 21st pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, despite the fact that he had missed all of the previous season with a knee injury....
, tight endTight endThe tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
for the Cincinnati BengalsCincinnati BengalsThe Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
. - Rue McClanahanRue McClanahanRue McClanahan was an American actress, best known for her roles on television as Vivian Harmon on Maude, Fran Crowley on Mama's Family, and Blanche Devereaux on The Golden Girls, for which she won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in 1987.-Early life:McClanahan was born Eddie Rue...
, Emmy award-winning actress best known for her role of Blanche DevereauxBlanche DevereauxBlanche Elizabeth Devereaux is one of the four main fictional characters on the 1985-1992 NBC sitcom The Golden Girls, and its CBS spin-off The Golden Palace. In the pilot episode her last name was given as Hollingsworth, but this was somewhat "corrected" in later episodes by making this her...
on The Golden GirlsThe Golden GirlsThe Golden Girls is an American sitcom created by Susan Harris, which originally aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992. Starring Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty, the show centers on four older women sharing a home in Miami, Florida... - Samuel Lloyd NobleSamuel Lloyd NobleSamuel Lloyd Noble, known as Lloyd Noble , was an oilman and philanthropist, founder of the Noble Corporation and the The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation...
(1896–1950), oilman and philanthropistPhilanthropyPhilanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
, founder of Noble CorporationNoble CorporationNoble Corporation is the modern name of Noble Drilling Corporation, by which it was known through the 1990s. The company was part of the S&P 500 stock market index until 3/26/2009, when the headquarters were transferred to Switzerland. Noble Corporation is a major contract driller of oil and... - Maurkice PounceyMaurkice PounceyThe Pittsburgh Steelers chose Pouncey in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. His rookie year, he started in all 16 games played at the center position, and was selected to the Pro Bowl.-Personal:...
, center (American football)Center (American football)Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
for the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
and twin brother of Mike PounceyMike PounceyJames Michael "Mike" Pouncey is an American football center for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Dolphins in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football for Florida....
. - Mike PounceyMike PounceyJames Michael "Mike" Pouncey is an American football center for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Dolphins in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football for Florida....
, center (American football)Center (American football)Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
for the Miami DolphinsMiami DolphinsThe Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and twin brother of Maurkice PounceyMaurkice PounceyThe Pittsburgh Steelers chose Pouncey in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. His rookie year, he started in all 16 games played at the center position, and was selected to the Pro Bowl.-Personal:...
. - Rex RyanRex RyanRex Ryan is an American football head coach for the New York Jets of the National Football League . After serving as an assistant coach for twenty-two years, Ryan attained his first head coaching job in the NFL with the Jets in 2009...
, current NFLNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
head coach for the New York JetsNew York JetsThe New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, was born in Ardmore in 1962; his twin brother is Rob RyanRob RyanRob Ryan is the defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He is the son of former defensive coordinator and head coach Buddy Ryan and the twin brother of current head coach of the New York Jets, Rex Ryan.-Early life:When his parents, Doris and Buddy Ryan,...
, the current defensive CoordinatorDefensive coordinatorA defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
for the Dallas CowboysDallas CowboysThe Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. - Russ SaundersRuss SaundersRuss Saunders was a fullback in the National Football League. He played with the Green Bay Packers during the 1931 NFL season.He was an All-American at USC and was one of the models for the Tommy Trojan statue...
, former fullback for the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
. - Cameron Todd Willingham, convicted of triple murder and arson; executed (1968–2004)
- The Biggest LoserThe Biggest Loser: Couples 3The Biggest Loser: Couples 3 is the ninth season of the NBC reality television series The Biggest Loser. The contestants competed to win a $250,000 prize, which was awarded to Michael Ventrella, the finalist with the highest percentage of weight lost. It first aired January 5, 2010...
contestants Cheryl and Daris George of the 9th season of the show are residents of Ardmore. - Dr. Terry ClineTerry ClineDr. Terry L. Cline, Ph. D., is an American psychologist and public health policy specialist from Oklahoma. Cline is currently serving in the dual position of Oklahoma Secretary of Health and Human Services and Commissioner of the Oklahoma State Department of Health...
Ph. D., Current OklahomaOklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
Health and Human Services Commissioner. Former head of United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services AdministrationSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services AdministrationThe Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is charged with improving the quality and availability of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitative services in order to reduce illness, death, disability, and cost to...
. Born in Ardmore in 1958.