Norman, OK

Although Norman is the third-largest city in Oklahoma, with more than 102,000 residents and a major university, it still retains a historic feel and a community atmosphere. Norman's colorful history began with the Oklahoma Land Run, when the government opened up territory for would-be settlers to claim. Many folks started before the official opening time, and their nickname of "Sooners" was later adopted by the University of Oklahoma's famous football team.

Today, Norman's location (just about a 20-minute drive from Oklahoma City) and active community life continue to attract new residents. In fact, a recent Money magazine list of the 100 Best Places to Live in America ranked Norman at number six.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Among the many distinctive residential areas in Norman are:

• Brookhaven is an upscale neighborhood that features townhouses, houses and estates, as well as shopping and fine restaurants.
• In the Chautauqua Historic District, there are about 135 residences that date back to between 1915 and 1935. The districts runs for several blocks and is bordered by Symmes Street, Brooks Street, Chautauqua Avenue and Lahoma Avenue.
• The Miller Historic District is located adjacent to the Chautauqua district and is considered mostly residential. The architecture of the housing structures dates back between 1910 and 1938. Located close to the university and business center, this area is popular with faculty members and business people.
• South University Place, located near the University, has homes that were built in the past few decades.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

One of the major businesses in Norman is meteorology. The city is known for its extensive research in severe weather, and is home to the National Storm Prediction Center, National Weather Center and the National Severe Storms Laboratory. Businesses that revolve around weather information and meteorological research also make up part of Norman's economy.

Other major industries in Norman include education, engineering, health care and retail. University North Park is ranked the fourth-largest retail center in the United States.

Major employers in Norman include:

• University of Oklahoma
• Norman Regional Hospital
• Norman Public Schools
• York International
• City of Norman
• ClientLogic
• Hitachi
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• SYSCO Food Services
• Astellas Pharma

EDUCATION

In the Norman School District, there are 15 public elementary schools, four middle schools and two high schools serving the kindergarten through 12th grade population. High school scores on the ACT in Norman are consistently above both the state and national averages.

The main higher education institution in Norman is the University of Oklahoma. The university enrolls more than 29,000 students and was ranked by The Princeton Review as one of country's "best value" colleges. The school has more than 150 undergraduate programs and 200 graduate and doctoral programs. The University of Oklahoma is nationally recognized for its football program, which has won seven NCAA Division I national football championships. The baseball, softball and gymnastics teams have also won championships.

BEST BETS

In 2007, the city established a Norman Public Arts Board, whose goal is to enhance the city with world-class art. In the meantime, residents and visitors can enjoy many cultural opportunities, including:

• Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art: Located at the University of Oklahoma, the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art is considered one of the best university art museums in the United States, thanks in part to its Weitzenhoffer collection, a highly recognized collection of French Impressionism.
• Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History: Also part of the University of Oklahoma, this museum focuses on both the ancient and modern natural history of the state, including the world's largest exhibit of invertebrate paleontology.
• Rupel J. Jones Theatre and Sooner Theatre: Both of these theaters provide the community with programs throughout the year including stage productions, concerts and dance performances.
• Lloyd Noble Center: The Lloyd Noble Center seats more than 11,000 for concerts, comedy shows and other performances. It is also home to the University of Oklahoma Sooners basketball team.
• Little River Zoo: The Little River Zoo offers visitors and residents an opportunity to see more than 400 species of animals. Set on 50 acres of land, the zoo also provides educational programs for children.

SPORTS TEAMS

Not surprisingly, a lot of the entertainment in Norman is driven by activities at the university-and especially sporting events. Fans fill the stadium for Sooners games, and follow many of the other university sports, which include basketball, wrestling, rowing, soccer, gymnastics, golf, tennis, softball and cross-country.

LOCAL MEDIA

The Norman area is served by three area newspapers:

• The Norman Transcript is a daily newspaper and has the distinction of being the city's oldest business.
• The Norman Oklahoman is a supplement to The Daily Oklahoman three times a week.
• The Oklahoma Daily is published Monday through Friday as the student newspaper of the University of Oklahoma.