History of Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and List of United States cities by population|46th-largest in the United States. With an estimated population of 387,807 in 2003, {{cite web | url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/40/4075000.html | title=Tulsa (city) QuickFacts | publisher=United States Census Bureau | date = 2007-01-12 | accessdate=2007-04-25}} it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 897,752 residents expected to reach one million between 2010 and 2012.{{cite news | date=2007-04-05 | url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=070405_1_A1_hThes35833 | title= Metro Area growth nearing 7 digits| first = Leigh | last = Bell| publisher= Tulsa World | accessdate=2007-04-13}} In 2006, the Tulsa-Bartlesville Combined Statistical Area had a population of 946,993 residents.{{cite web | url= http://www.hawaii.gov/dbedt/info/census/popestimate/2006_MSA_Hawaii/CBSA-EST2006-02.xls | title=Annual Estimates of the Population of Combined Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006 | work=United States Census Bureau | format=xls | publisher=University of Hawaii | accessdate=2007-05-05}} The city serves as the county seat of Tulsa County, Oklahoma|Tulsa County, the most densely populated county in Oklahoma, with 563,299 residents as of the United States Census 2000|2000 census. {{cite web | url= http://www.dataplace.org/area_overview/Tulsa%20County,%20OK?&ukey=x124812 | title= Area Overview of Tulsa County | publisher= DataPlace | accessdate=2007-05-05}} Located near Tornado Alley, Tulsa frequently experiences severe weather and is situated on the prominent Arkansas River at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains in northeast Oklahoma, a region of the state often known as "Green Country."
The city was first settled in the 1830's by the Creek Creek Native American tribe after the Trail of Tears|forced removal of the five civilized tribes into Indian Territory and what would later become the state of Oklahoma. The discovery of oil in the early 20th century surged the town's population from 1,300 in 1900 to 140,000 by 1930. In 1921, the city was the site of an infamous Tulsa Race Riot, one of the largest and most destructive acts of racial violence in the United States. One of the most important oil industry|energy hubs in the United States for most of the 20th century, declines in the city's oil industry led to diversification efforts and increased importance in the sectors of aviation, telecommunications and technology.{{cite web | url=http://tulsaok.usachamber.com/custom2.asp?pageid=1190 | title= Business Opportunities| publisher= Tulsa Metro Chamber of Commerce | accessdate=2006-04-14}} The Tulsa Port of Catoosa aids the regional economy as the most inland river port in the United States.{{cite web | url= http://www.tulsaport.com/profile.html | title= Port of Catoosa Profile| publisher= Tulsa Port of Catoosa| accessdate=2006-04-22}}
Considered the cultural and arts center of Oklahoma,{{cite news | first=Tarun | last=Kapoor | title=Business Viewpoint: Private sector plays big downtown role | date=2007-04-19 | publisher=Tulsa World | url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?articleID=070419_5_E4_spanc55548 | accessdate = 2007-05-05}}{{cite web | year=2006 | url=http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-South/Tulsa-Recreation.html | title=Tulsa, Oklahoma: Recreation | publisher=City Data | accessdate=2007-05-06}} the city boasts two world-renowned art museums, full-time professional opera and ballet companies, and one of the nation's largest concentrations of art deco architecture.{{cite web | date=2006 | url= http://www.okcommerce.gov/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=332&Itemid=413 | title= Quality of Life - Fun and Play | publisher=Oklahoma Department of Commerce | accessdate=2006-07-15}} The city houses two institutions of higher education operating at the NCAA Division I level, the University of Tulsa and Oral Roberts University, as well as branch campuses of Oklahoma State University and The University of Oklahoma. In 2005, Tulsa was selected as one of "America's Most Livable Large Cities."{{cite web | date= 2006 | url= http://www.mostlivable.org/cities/tulsa/home.html | title= Tulsa, Oklahoma | work=Most Livable| publisher=About Partners | accessdate=2006-07-15}} People from Tulsa are described as "Tulsans."
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