Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Broken Arrow is a city located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state
of Oklahoma
, primarily in Tulsa County
but also with a small section of the city in western Wagoner County
. It is the largest suburb of Tulsa
. According to the 2010 US Census, Broken Arrow has a population of 98,850 residents and is the fourth largest city in the state. The city is part of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, which has a population of 937,478 residents.
Lots for the town site were sold in 1902 by the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad and it was named Broken Arrow by William. S. Fears, secretary of the company. The city was named for a Creek community settled by Creek Indians who came to Oklahoma from Alabama along the Trail of Tears
.
Though Broken Arrow was originally an agricultural community, its current economy is diverse. The city has the third largest concentration of industries in the state.
and founded a new community, they named it after their old settlement in Alabama. The town's Creek name was Rekackv , meaning broken arrow. The new settlement was located several miles south of present-day downtown Broken Arrow.
Decades later, the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad built a railroad which ran through the area. MKT was granted town site privileges along the route. They sold three of the as-yet-unnamed sites in 1902 to the Arkansas Valley Town Site company. William. S. Fears, secretary of the company, was allowed to choose and name one of the locations. He selected a site about 18 miles southeast of Tulsa and about five miles north of the thlee-Kawtch-kuh settlement and named the new town site Broken Arrow, after the former Indian settlement. The MKT railroad, which ran through the middle of the city, still exists today and is now owned by Union Pacific which currently uses it for freight.
For the first decades of Broken Arrow's history, the town's economy was based mainly on agriculture. The coal industry also played an important role, with several strip coal mines located near the city in the early 20th century. The city's newspaper, the Broken Arrow Ledger, started within a couple of years after the city's founding. Broken Arrow's first school was built in 1904. The city did not grow much during the first half of the 1900s. During this time Broken Arrow's main commercial center was along Main Street. Most of the city's churches were also located on or near Main Street as well.
Haskell State School of Agriculture opened in the Broken Arrow, Oklahoma Opera House on November 15, 1909. The school closed in 1917 for lack of funding, and the building was then used as by Broken Arrow High School.The building was razed in 1987. Only a marker remains at 808 East College Street in Broken Arrow. The school is commemorated on the National Register of Historic Places.
In the 1960s, Broken Arrow began to grow from a small town into a suburban city. The Broken Arrow Expressway (Highway 51) was constructed in the mid-1960s and connected the city with downtown Tulsa, fueling growth in Broken Arrow. The population swelled from a little above 11,000 in 1970 to more than 50,000 in 1990, and then more than 74,000 by the year 2000. During this time, the city was more of a bedroom community. In recent years, city leaders have pushed for more economic development to help keep more Broken Arrowans shopping and dining in town rather than going to other cities.
, situated between the Great Plains
and the Ozark Mountains. The city is part of the state's Green Country region known for its green vegetation, hills and lakes. Green Country is the most topographically diverse portion of the state with seven of Oklahoma's 11 eco-regions
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 45.6 square miles (118.1 km²), of which, 45.0 square miles (116.5 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (1.34%) is water.
of 2000, there were 74,859 people, 26,159 households, and 21,162 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,664.0 people per square mile (642.4/km²). There were 27,085 housing units at an average density of 602.0 per square mile (232.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.34% White, 3.73% African American, 4.02% Native American, 1.90% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.22% from other races
, and 3.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.56% of the population.
There were 30,154 households out of which 45.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.0% were married couples
living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.1% were non-families. 15.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the city the population dispersal was 30.8% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $65,118, and the median income for a family was $61,570. Males had a median income of $42,397 versus $27,559 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $23,238. About 3.4% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
Broken Arrow is home to a wide range of businesses and industries. In fact, the city is ranked third in its concentration of industries in the state.
Some of the city's more notable employers include:
Located in Broken Arrow since 1985, FlightSafety International (FSI) designs and builds aviation crew training devices called Flight Simulators at its Simulation Systems Division. With currently over 675 employees located there, about half of them engineers, FSI is the largest private employer in the city.
A number of new commercial developments are being built throughout the city, most notably along Highway 51 which runs through the city. A Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World opened several years ago as the anchor to a development that includes hotels, restaurants, shopping, and eventually offices. A new full-service hospital and medical office building are being constructed nearby as an anchor to another large commercial development that will include retail space and two hotels. Oklahoma's first Dick's Sporting Goods is expected to open before Christmas 2011.
In 2007, the city hired Texas-based AngelouEconomics to create a new "world class" economic development plan for the city. The city also created a Broken Arrow Economic Development Corporation to help oversee economic development.
In late 2007, the BA Chamber of Commerce began "Advance Broken Arrow", an economic development campaign aimed at expanding and diversifying the city's economic base.
In 2005, the city adopted a downtown revitalization master plan to help revive the city's historic downtown area. Some of the plans include a new 3-story museum to house the historical society and genealogical society, a farmer's market and plaza, a new performing arts center, updates and expansions to area parks, the conversion of the historic Central Middle School on Main Street into a professional development center, infrastructure and landscape improvements, and incentives to encourage denser infill, redevelopment, and reuse of the area's historic structures. Numerous buildings and homes have since been renovated, many new shops and offices have moved to downtown, and new townhomes are being built. The new historical museum, farmers market, and performing arts center will all open in 2008.
The city also set strict new design standards in place that all new developments in the downtown area must adhere to. These standards were created to prevent "suburban" development in favor of denser, "urban" development and to ensure that new structures compliment and fit in with the historic buildings in downtown.
Broken Arrow uses the council-manager
model of municipal government. The city's primary authority resides in the City Council
which approves ordinances, resolutions, and contracts. The City Council consists of five members with four members are elected from the four city wards
with the fifth member as an at-large member. Each council member serves for a two year term and is eligible to serve for four years. Out of the council members, a mayor and vice-mayor is chosen every two years. The day to day operations of the city is run by the City Manager
who reports directly to the Council.
At the federal level, Broken Arrow lies in Oklahoma 1st Congressional district
, represented by John Sullivan
. In the State Senate
, Broken Arrow is in District 25 (Mike Mazzei) and 36 (Bill Brown). In the House
, District 75 (Dan Kirby), 76 (David Brumbaugh
), 98 (John Trebilcock) covers the city.
. The district operates twenty five schools with fifteen Elementary Schools, Five Middle Schools, and Five Secondary Schools. A portion of Broken Arrow is also served by Union Public Schools
.
Broken Arrow is also served by Tulsa Technology Center
Broken Arrow Campus. Established in 1983, it has an enrollment of about 3,500 full and part-time secondary and adult students.
System.
, which connects the city to Muskogee
. Partial beltway, Creek Turnpike
turnpike circles around the south of the city and connects the Turner Turnpike
to the west terminus of the Will Rogers Turnpike
.
Public transportation for Broken Arrow is provided by Tulsa Transit. It has one route that connects the city to Tulsa. Bus services run Monday through Friday.
, Missouri
, and Arkansas
. The Tulsa World
, northeast Oklahoma's major daily newspaper, also features Broken Arrow
news regularly.
Broken Arrow has a community website, N2BrokenArrow that provides everyone in the community a free place to discuss local topics, share status updates, blog, list events, participate in discussions, and share photos and videos.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
, primarily in Tulsa County
Tulsa County, Oklahoma
Tulsa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population is 603,403. Its county seat is Tulsa.-History of Tulsa County:The history of Tulsa County greatly overlaps the history of the city of Tulsa...
but also with a small section of the city in western Wagoner County
Wagoner County, Oklahoma
Wagoner County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010, the population was 73,085. Its county seat is Wagoner.-Early History:The area of Wagoner County was settled by the Creek after their forced removal in Alabama in the 1820's...
. It is the largest suburb of Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
. According to the 2010 US Census, Broken Arrow has a population of 98,850 residents and is the fourth largest city in the state. The city is part of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, which has a population of 937,478 residents.
Lots for the town site were sold in 1902 by the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad and it was named Broken Arrow by William. S. Fears, secretary of the company. The city was named for a Creek community settled by Creek Indians who came to Oklahoma from Alabama along the Trail of Tears
Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears is a name given to the forced relocation and movement of Native American nations from southeastern parts of the United States following the Indian Removal Act of 1830...
.
Though Broken Arrow was originally an agricultural community, its current economy is diverse. The city has the third largest concentration of industries in the state.
History
The city's name comes from an old Creek community in Alabama. When members of that community moved to Oklahoma along the Trail of TearsTrail of Tears
The Trail of Tears is a name given to the forced relocation and movement of Native American nations from southeastern parts of the United States following the Indian Removal Act of 1830...
and founded a new community, they named it after their old settlement in Alabama. The town's Creek name was Rekackv , meaning broken arrow. The new settlement was located several miles south of present-day downtown Broken Arrow.
Decades later, the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad built a railroad which ran through the area. MKT was granted town site privileges along the route. They sold three of the as-yet-unnamed sites in 1902 to the Arkansas Valley Town Site company. William. S. Fears, secretary of the company, was allowed to choose and name one of the locations. He selected a site about 18 miles southeast of Tulsa and about five miles north of the thlee-Kawtch-kuh settlement and named the new town site Broken Arrow, after the former Indian settlement. The MKT railroad, which ran through the middle of the city, still exists today and is now owned by Union Pacific which currently uses it for freight.
For the first decades of Broken Arrow's history, the town's economy was based mainly on agriculture. The coal industry also played an important role, with several strip coal mines located near the city in the early 20th century. The city's newspaper, the Broken Arrow Ledger, started within a couple of years after the city's founding. Broken Arrow's first school was built in 1904. The city did not grow much during the first half of the 1900s. During this time Broken Arrow's main commercial center was along Main Street. Most of the city's churches were also located on or near Main Street as well.
Haskell State School of Agriculture opened in the Broken Arrow, Oklahoma Opera House on November 15, 1909. The school closed in 1917 for lack of funding, and the building was then used as by Broken Arrow High School.The building was razed in 1987. Only a marker remains at 808 East College Street in Broken Arrow. The school is commemorated on the National Register of Historic Places.
In the 1960s, Broken Arrow began to grow from a small town into a suburban city. The Broken Arrow Expressway (Highway 51) was constructed in the mid-1960s and connected the city with downtown Tulsa, fueling growth in Broken Arrow. The population swelled from a little above 11,000 in 1970 to more than 50,000 in 1990, and then more than 74,000 by the year 2000. During this time, the city was more of a bedroom community. In recent years, city leaders have pushed for more economic development to help keep more Broken Arrowans shopping and dining in town rather than going to other cities.
Geography and climate
Broken Arrow is located in the northeastern corner of OklahomaOklahoma
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...
, situated between the Great Plains
Great Plains
The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...
and the Ozark Mountains. The city is part of the state's Green Country region known for its green vegetation, hills and lakes. Green Country is the most topographically diverse portion of the state with seven of Oklahoma's 11 eco-regions
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 45.6 square miles (118.1 km²), of which, 45.0 square miles (116.5 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (1.34%) is water.
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 74,859 people, 26,159 households, and 21,162 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 1,664.0 people per square mile (642.4/km²). There were 27,085 housing units at an average density of 602.0 per square mile (232.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.34% White, 3.73% African American, 4.02% Native American, 1.90% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.22% 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 3.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.56% of the population.
There were 30,154 households out of which 45.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.0% 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, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.1% were non-families. 15.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the city the population dispersal was 30.8% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $65,118, and the median income for a family was $61,570. Males had a median income of $42,397 versus $27,559 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 $23,238. About 3.4% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
Awards
- A 2007 crime survey by CQ Press found Broken Arrow to be the 22nd safest city in the nation and the safest city in Oklahoma.
- Broken Arrow was listed as #66 in Money Magazine's 2006 list of the 100 best places to live.
- Broken Arrow was listed as one of the "Top 25 Affordable Suburbs in the South" by Business Week Magazine in 2007.
- The Pride of Broken Arrow marching band won 1st place in the Bands of America Grand Nationals championship at Indianapolis in 2006 and 2011.
- Broken Arrow has been listed as a "Tree City USA" for over 6 years in a row.
- Broken Arrow's new logo received an Award of Merit from the Public Relations Society of America - Tulsa Chapter in 2008.
- Broken Arrow's branding campaign received the 2008 Innovations Award from the Oklahoma Municipal League.
- Family Circle Magazine featured Broken Arrow as one of the 10 best towns for families in 2008.
Business and industry
Some of the city's more notable employers include:
- FlightSafety InternationalFlightSafety InternationalFlightSafety International is a provider of professional aviation training, simulation equipment and software, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, who has owned the company since 1996....
- Blue Bell CreameriesBlue Bell CreameriesBlue Bell Creameries, founded in 1907, is the manufacturer of Blue Bell brand ice cream.Blue Bell sells its ice cream directly in only 20 states, mostly in the Southern United States, although Blue Bell ice cream has also been eaten aboard the International Space Station and at Camp David...
- SkycamSkycamSkycam is the trademarked brandname of a patented, computer-controlled, stabilized, cable-suspended camera system. The system, similar to Steadicam, but maneuvered through three dimensions in the open space over a playing area of a stadium or arena by computer-controlled cable-drive system, is...
- Windstream CommunicationsWindstream CommunicationsWindstream Corporation is a local telephone provider. With headquarters in Little Rock, Ark., Windstream is an S&P 500 communications and technology company with operations in 29 states and the District of Columbia and about $4 billion in annual revenues...
Located in Broken Arrow since 1985, FlightSafety International (FSI) designs and builds aviation crew training devices called Flight Simulators at its Simulation Systems Division. With currently over 675 employees located there, about half of them engineers, FSI is the largest private employer in the city.
A number of new commercial developments are being built throughout the city, most notably along Highway 51 which runs through the city. A Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World opened several years ago as the anchor to a development that includes hotels, restaurants, shopping, and eventually offices. A new full-service hospital and medical office building are being constructed nearby as an anchor to another large commercial development that will include retail space and two hotels. Oklahoma's first Dick's Sporting Goods is expected to open before Christmas 2011.
In 2007, the city hired Texas-based AngelouEconomics to create a new "world class" economic development plan for the city. The city also created a Broken Arrow Economic Development Corporation to help oversee economic development.
In late 2007, the BA Chamber of Commerce began "Advance Broken Arrow", an economic development campaign aimed at expanding and diversifying the city's economic base.
Downtown redevelopment
The city also set strict new design standards in place that all new developments in the downtown area must adhere to. These standards were created to prevent "suburban" development in favor of denser, "urban" development and to ensure that new structures compliment and fit in with the historic buildings in downtown.
Government
| Ward 1 | Richard Carter |
| Ward 2 | Vice Mayor Craig Thurmond |
| Ward 3 | Mayor Mike Lester |
| Ward 4 | Jill Norman |
| At-Large | Wade McCaleb |
Broken Arrow uses the council-manager
Council-manager government
The council–manager government form is one of two predominant forms of municipal government in the United States; the other common form of local government is the mayor-council government form, which characteristically occurs in large cities...
model of municipal government. The city's primary authority resides in the City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
which approves ordinances, resolutions, and contracts. The City Council consists of five members with four members are elected from the four city wards
Wards of the United States
In the United States, a ward is an optional division of a city or town, especially an electoral district, for administrative and representative purposes...
with the fifth member as an at-large member. Each council member serves for a two year term and is eligible to serve for four years. Out of the council members, a mayor and vice-mayor is chosen every two years. The day to day operations of the city is run by the City Manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
who reports directly to the Council.
At the federal level, Broken Arrow lies in Oklahoma 1st Congressional district
Oklahoma's 1st congressional district
Oklahoma's First Congressional District is in the northeastern corner of the state and borders Kansas. It is largely coextensive with the Tulsa metropolitan area. It includes all of Tulsa County Washington County, Wagoner County, and parts of Rogers County and Creek County...
, represented by John Sullivan
John Sullivan (Oklahoma)
John A. Sullivan is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2002. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is based in Tulsa.- Early life, education and career:...
. In the State Senate
Oklahoma Senate
The Oklahoma Senate is the upper house of the two houses of the Legislature of Oklahoma, the other being the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The total number of Senators is set at 48 by the Oklahoma Constitution....
, Broken Arrow is in District 25 (Mike Mazzei) and 36 (Bill Brown). In the House
Oklahoma House of Representatives
The Oklahoma House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oklahoma Legislature, the legislative body of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its members are responsible for introducing and voting on bills and resolutions, providing legislative oversight for state agencies, and helping to craft the...
, District 75 (Dan Kirby), 76 (David Brumbaugh
David Brumbaugh
This article is about Oklahoma State Representative David Brumbaugh. For the U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania, see D. Emmert Brumbaugh.David Brumbaugh is an American businessman and Republican politician from Oklahoma...
), 98 (John Trebilcock) covers the city.
Primary and Secondary Schools
Education in Broken Arrow is provided by Broken Arrow Public SchoolsBroken Arrow Public Schools
Broken Arrow Public Schools is the public school district of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The Superintendent is Jarod Mendenhall. The district has a current enrollment of about 16,700 students, making it the seventh-largest district in Oklahoma.-Middle schools:...
. The district operates twenty five schools with fifteen Elementary Schools, Five Middle Schools, and Five Secondary Schools. A portion of Broken Arrow is also served by Union Public Schools
Union Public Schools
Union Public Schools is a public school district located in southeast Tulsa, and northwest Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The school district is the eleventh largest in Oklahoma. Union is notable among school districts in the area because Union does not encompass a particular city...
.
Colleges and universities
Higher education in Broken Arrow is provided by Northeastern State University (Broken Arrow campus). The campus opened in 2001 and has an upperclassmen and graduate student population of 3,000.Broken Arrow is also served by Tulsa Technology Center
Tulsa Technology Center
- Tulsa Technology Center :Tulsa Tech is a public independent school district affiliated with the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. Tulsa Tech is dedicated to preparing people for success in the workplace, and helps high school and adult students from across the Tulsa region...
Broken Arrow Campus. Established in 1983, it has an enrollment of about 3,500 full and part-time secondary and adult students.
Libraries
The city's two libraries, Broken Arrow Central Library and South Broken Arrow Library, are part of the Tulsa City-County LibraryTulsa City-County Library
The Tulsa City-County Library is the major public library system in Tulsa County, Oklahoma.-Overview:The library system serves those who live, work, go to school in, own land in, or pay property taxes on land in Tulsa County. There are 25 branches in the system: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,...
System.
Infrastructure
Major highways in Broken Arrow include State Highway 51 (Broken Arrow Expressway). It passes through the north side of the city and leads to downtown Tulsa to the northwest. Heading east on the Broken Arrow Expressway leads to the Muskogee TurnpikeMuskogee Turnpike
-Route description:Opened in 1969, the 53-mile route begins at the Broken Arrow Expressway southeast of Tulsa, near an intersection with the Creek Turnpike. The Turnpike ends at Interstate 40 west of Webbers Falls. There are two toll collection plazas located along the length of the Muskogee...
, which connects the city to Muskogee
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Muskogee County, and home to Bacone College. The population was 38,310 at the 2000 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in Oklahoma....
. Partial beltway, Creek Turnpike
Creek Turnpike
The Creek Turnpike is a partial beltway as a toll road around southern and eastern Tulsa, Oklahoma. It is long; its northern terminus is at the Will Rogers Turnpike, while the western terminus is at the Turner Turnpike...
turnpike circles around the south of the city and connects the Turner Turnpike
Turner Turnpike
The Governor Roy J. Turner Turnpike is a toll road in central Oklahoma, connecting its two largest cities, Oklahoma City and Tulsa. It was authorized by the Oklahoma Legislature in 1947 and opened in May, 1953, it is the oldest of the state's ten turnpikes. The route is signed as Interstate 44 for...
to the west terminus of the Will Rogers Turnpike
Will Rogers Turnpike
The Will Rogers Turnpike is a toll road in northeast Oklahoma that runs from Tulsa, Oklahoma to the Missouri state line. It is long and costs $4.00 to drive one way...
.
Public transportation for Broken Arrow is provided by Tulsa Transit. It has one route that connects the city to Tulsa. Bus services run Monday through Friday.
Newspapers
Broken Arrow has one newspaper, the Broken Arrow Ledger. The paper is published every Wednesday. It is owned by Community Publishers, a newspaper and Internet publisher and commercial printer that serves OklahomaOklahoma
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...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, and Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
. The Tulsa World
Tulsa World
Tulsa World is the daily newspaper for the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, is the primary newspaper for the northeastern and eastern portions of Oklahoma, and is the second-most widely circulated newspaper in the state, after The Oklahoman. It was founded in 1905 and remains an independent newspaper,...
, northeast Oklahoma's major daily newspaper, also features Broken Arrow
Broken Arrow
Broken Arrow may refer to:*Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, United States*Broken Arrow Public Schools- Film and television :*Broken Arrow , a Golden Globe-winning western film...
news regularly.
Television
Cox Cable channel 24 is the Broken Arrow Government-access television (GATV) cable TV municipal information channel. It displays, among other things, information about the city government, upcoming events, and general information about the city. The channel also features local weather reports.Internet
Broken Arrow has a website that provides a large amount of information on the city, its government, local amenities, safety, local news, and economic development. The city's chamber of commerce also has a website, which contains information about the chamber and economic development in the city.Broken Arrow has a community website, N2BrokenArrow that provides everyone in the community a free place to discuss local topics, share status updates, blog, list events, participate in discussions, and share photos and videos.
Notable residents
- Jim BaumerJim BaumerJames Sloan Baumer was an American infielder and front office executive in Major League Baseball. A right-handed-hitting shortstop born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he was a graduate of Broken Arrow Senior High....
, former Major League infielder and general managerGeneral manager (baseball)In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
for the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee BrewersThe Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League... - Jim BrewerJim BrewerJames Thomas Brewer was an American relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1960 through 1976, Brewer played for the Chicago Cubs , Los Angeles Dodgers and California Angels...
, former Major League pitcher with Los Angeles Dodgers - Archie Bradley, pitcher in the Arizona DiamondbacksArizona DiamondbacksThe Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
organization - Josh Bryant, UFC fighter, semi-finalist on season 11.
- P.C. Cast, author and novelist best known for the House of Night series
- Kristin ChenowethKristin ChenowethKristin Chenoweth is an American singer and actress, with credits in musical theatre, film and television. She is best known on Broadway for her performance as Sally Brown in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown , for which she won a Tony Award, and for originating the role of Glinda in the musical...
, actress and soprano - Ernest ChildersErnest ChildersErnest L. Childers was a United States Army officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his valorous actions in World War II.-Biography:...
, Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient in World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis... - DeDe DorseyDeDe DorseyDeDe Dorsey is an American football running back for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
, Las Vegas LocomotivesLas Vegas LocomotivesThe Las Vegas Locomotives are a professional American football team based in Las Vegas, Nevada who play in the United Football League. The team plays its home games in Sam Boyd Stadium, home field for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Jim Fassel is the franchise's head coach, president, and...
runningback, former NFL player with 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...
and Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis ColtsThe Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League .... - Ester DrangEster DrangEster Drang is an experimental, post rock musical group from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The band was formed in 1995, with guitarist Bryce Chambers recruiting drummer James McAlister and bass player Kyle Winner....
, indie rock band - Phil FarrandPhil FarrandPhil Farrand is an American computer programmer and consultant, webmaster and author. He is known for his Nitpicker's Guides, in which he nitpicks plot holes and continuity errors in the various Star Trek television programs and movies, and for the creation of Nitcentral, a website devoted to the...
, author known for Nitpicker's Guides - Destiny Frankenstein, pro softball player for New England RiptideNew England RiptideThe New England Riptide is a dormant women's softball team based in Lowell, Massachusetts. Since the 2004 season, they have played as a member of National Pro Fastpitch. Operations were suspended in February 2009 . The NPF website does not list the Riptide as a current team.- 2004 :The 2004 season...
and assistant coach at North Dakota State UniversityNorth Dakota State UniversityNorth Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, more commonly known as North Dakota State University , is a public university in Fargo, North Dakota. NDSU has about 14,000 students and it is the largest university in North Dakota based on full time students and land size... - Ralph Blane HunseckerRalph BlaneRalph Blane was an American composer, lyricist, and performer.-Life and career:Born Ralph Uriah Hunsecker in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Blane was the son of grocery store owners. He attended Tulsa Central High School...
, famous Hollywood singer, composer, and songwriter - Bill HaderBill HaderWilliam "Bill" Hader is an American actor, comedian, producer and writer. He is best known for his work as a creative consultant on the hit show South Park and as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and for his supporting roles in comedy films such as Superbad, Hot Rod, Tropic Thunder,...
, actor and current SNL member - Mike Iles, professional wrestling announcer, commissioner, and manager
- Steve Logan, running backs coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Phenie Lou (Gillett) Ownby, first woman in Oklahoma to become a mayor; served for one term in the 1930s and became nationally famous for her strict policy on water payments.
- Brad PennyBrad PennyBradley Wayne "Brad" Penny is a Major League starting pitcher. Penny has spent portions of his career with the Florida Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers....
, pitcher for the Detroit TigersDetroit TigersThe Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant... - H. Cecil Rhoades, historian and author, wrote "Establishment and Development of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma."<8>Broken Arrow
- Kahlen RondotKahlen RondotKahlen Rondot is a bartender and former model who is best known as the runner-up on Cycle 4 of America's Next Top Model.-America's Next Top Model:...
, America's Next Top ModelAmerica's Next Top ModelAmerica's Next Top Model is a reality television show in which a number of women compete for the title of America's Next Top Model and a chance to start their career in the modeling industry....
Cycle 4 Runner-up - Warren SpahnWarren SpahnWarren Edward Spahn was an American Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He played his entire 21-year baseball career in the National League. He won 20 games each in 13 seasons, including a 23-7 record when he was age 42...
, Hall of Fame baseball pitcher and longtime Broken Arrow resident - Will ThomasWill ThomasWill Thomas, born 1958 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, is a novelist who writes a Victorian mystery series featuring Cyrus Barker, a Scottish detective or "private enquiry agent," and his Welsh assistant, Thomas Llewelyn. The Barker/Llewelyn novels are set in the 1880s and often feature historical...
, historical mystery writer, winner of the 2005 Oklahoma Book Award for fiction - Kathryn Zaremba, Broadway and TV actress.