Oklahoma has truly had a uniquely colorful past, beginning with the now legendary Land Run of April 22, 1889, when thousands of people raced across the border to stake out homesteads on what was previously unclaimed land. It was the perfect beginning to this distinctive city and perfectly captures the free and pioneering spirit that is still evident to this very day.

Oklahoma again made headlines in April 1995 when the city’s federal building was bombed, resulting in the loss of 168 lives. The city has since rebuilt itself after this tragedy, and today it stands as a proud testament to its indomitable spirit.

Residential Places in Oklahoma

It would seem by all indications that 2008 is shaping up to be the year when the real estate market in Oklahoma City takes off. This could be due to the fact that home loan rates are lower than they have been in 40 years, or that prices of residential properties have gone down by as much as 10% to 15% since last year. Whatever the reason is, it seems that many residents are gearing up to buy houses over the next several months, as evidenced by the 12% increase in the number of people applying for mortgages.

Another indicator that real estate in Oklahoma is set to enter a new era of frenzied activity is the signing into law of the federal economic stimulus package in early February, which will allow potential homebuyers even lower mortgage rates. However, the reduced mortgage rates brought about by this law will only last until the end of this year. So if you intend to buy residential property in Oklahoma, now would be a good time to do so.

Hospitals and Universities of Oklahoma

Oklahoma has a well-developed health care industry with numerous hospitals, nursing homes, residential care providers, assisted living and adult day care centers, and county health departments. The city also has a number of hospitals and clinics that cater to the medical needs of the Cherokee Nation.

Some of the hospitals in the city are Baptist Medical Center, Bone & Joint Hospital, Children's Tower at the OU Medical Center, and the Deaconess Hospital.

Oklahoma has a highly regarded educational tradition, with the city home to some of the finest colleges and universities in the United States. The most famous of these would have to be the University of Oklahoma, which has its main campus in the suburb of Norman, and a medical center in the eastern section of downtown.
In the uptown part of the city can be found Oklahoma City University, which was formerly known as Epworth University. Some of the other universities in the city worth mentioning are United Methodist University, which is known throughout the country for its excellent performing arts program, Langston University, which is the only historically black college in the entire state, and Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City.

Commercial Places in Oklahoma

As you may have probably guessed, there is an abundance of western and cowboy wear in Oklahoma. The best examples of these can be found in Sheplers at S. Meridian Avenue, and Langston's in Stockyards City on Exchange Avenue. Both stores have huge selections of western style clothes cowboy hats, boots and everything else that a city slicker needs to fit in.

With all the outdoor activities to be had in Oklahoma, you will need to stock up on outdoor equipment, and Bass Pro Shop in Bricktown is just the place. No matter what type of outdoor pursuit you are into–camping, fishing, hunting, archery– Bass Pro Shop has you covered.

For a hefty, cowboy-sized meal, the obvious choice is Cattlemen's Steakhouse, in Stockyards City. Possibly the most famous restaurant in the city, they offer a range of hand cut and steaks that are superbly aged on the premises.

Service Establishments of Oklahoma

The office of the Department of Utilities can be found at 420 W. Main and you can call them at 297-2833 for billing inquiries and at 297-3334 for 24 hour emergency service, 7 days a week. You can also contact the company for trash collection services at 297-2833, and at 297-2338 to arrange for lake recreation activities.
Oklahoma Gas & Electric provides most of the energy needs of Oklahoma. It is the largest electric utility in the state, with an interconnected transmission and distribution network covering an area of more than 30,000 square miles. They provide electricity to more than 750,000 customers in Oklahoma and western Arkansas, along with a number of wholesale customers in the surrounding area. You can find out more information about the company through their Web site at www.oge.com, and you can also call their customer service department at 405-272-9741.

Embassies in Oklahoma

British nationals who need consular assistance while in Oklahoma can contact the British Honorary Consul in Tulsa. The office is located at University of Oklahoma, 4502 East 41st, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135. You can also call the office at (1) (918) 606 3924, and email them at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

You should be aware that just like all other British honorary consular offices, the Tulsa office is not authorized to issue passports or visas, nor do they handle passport or visa enquiries. For that, you will have to contact the British Embassy in Washington D.C. You can reach them at 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008, and you can call them at (1)(202) 588 6500 for the embassy, (1)(202) 588 7800 for consular assistance, and at (1)(202) 588 7830 for the British Council.