Del City, Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
Del City is a city in Oklahoma County
, Oklahoma
, United States
, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area
. The population was 21,332 at the 2010 census
.
Del City is located near two major interstate highways, both of which connect it to Oklahoma City. Interstate 40
bisects the town from the northwest to southeast, and Interstate 35
lies just a short distance west of the city. The city borders southeast Oklahoma City
, Midwest City
and Tinker Air Force Base
. George Epperly founded the city, which was incorporated by a vote of its residents in 1948. Del City is named after Epperly's eldest daughter Delaphene.
Since its incorporation Del City has expanded three times, first by annexing Carter Park in 1954, Midway Village in 1963 and the acquisition of an undeveloped piece of land between the city and Tinker AFB
A large area of Del City was significantly impacted by the May 3, 1999 tornado outbreak that passed through the Oklahoma City metro area.
and on the east by Midwest City. Interstate Highway 40
bisects the town from the northwest to southeast. Oklahoma City streets define the boundaries: NE 10th Street on the north; Sooner Road on the east; SE 44th Street on the south; and Bryant Road on the west. Northwestern corner of the city is a mile from the junction of Interstate 35
and Interstate 40, justifying its claim to being "the Crossroads of America."
In the Land Run of 1889
, Jordan Pybas and his wife settled in what is current day Del City. Five generations later the family still lives in the house that was completed in 1907. Before 1946 there were only two families living in what would become Del City. Developer George Epperly purchased a wheat field 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) large at the corner of SE 29th Street and Sunnylane Road in 1946 with a plan to build fifty houses. In 1948 there were 582 homes in Del City, 75% of which were built by George Epperly, Despite opposition, the unincorporated Epperly Heights and its 200 families voted to approve incorporation on October 9, 1948. In February 1959, Del City adopted a charter and a council-manager form of town government. The city was named for Epperly's daughter, Delaphene Campbell.
The city expanded through the annexation of Carter Park
in 1954 and Midway Village in 1963. The city also acquired a piece of undeveloped land that separated it from Tinker Air Force Base
. Oklahoma City annexed this same piece of land, and a court fight ensued. In District court, Del City won and Oklahoma City appealed to the State Supreme Court. Del City officials, while awaiting the hearing, pursued negotiation again with Oklahoma City this time accepting 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) along the Tinker AFB boundary. Del City, having expanded to its greatest possible physical limits in 1964, joined Midwest City and Norman in underwriting the Little River Reservoir Project that became Lake Thunderbird
.
The Del City Historical Society was organized in 1975 with Andy Evans as its first president. Several children of the Eighty-niners (89ers) still lived in the area, and they identified every original homestead within city limits. Residents also learned that their town was on the path of the 1870s Arbuckle Trail, a Texas to Kansas cattle trail. Wrestler and two-time Olympic Gold Medal winner John Smith resided in Del City.
With home building and family-oriented amenities the founding focus, industry was slow to develop in Del City to create any jobs (99 percent of Del Citians commuted to work in 1948, while only 96 percent commuted in 2000). Don's Alley Restaurant and Midwest Trophy Manufacturing are two businesses of long standing. Don Moore opened his hamburger grill at 4601 SE 29th Street in 1955, and as of 2010, still served food in there. Midwest Trophy Manufacturing began in David R. Smith's garage in Del City in 1971. Midwest Trophy Manufacturing (now known as MTM Recognition) employs over 750 people throughout North America, 400 of them in Del City. It is the city's largest industry. MTM Recognition's corporate headquarters are in Del City at 3405 SE 29th Street.
The Oklahoma Legislature
was reapportioned in 1964. Del City has a State Senate seat(District 43) and a State House seat(District 94). The State Senate seat is held by Greg Childers, in 2012 the seat will be changed to cover parts of McClain
, Garvin
and Stephens
counties, and Del City will be added to District 42 which currently covers Midwest City. The house seat is held by Scott Inman
.
There have been four newspapers in Del City: the Del City Leader,Del City Sun, Del City Times, and the Del City News.
In 2000, Del City was served by the Mid-Del School District and Rose State College
.
, the city has a total area of 7.5 square miles (19.4 km²), all of it land.
The city is located in the Frontier Country
region in the center of the state. Del City lies in the Sandstone Hills region of Oklahoma, known for hills of 250 to 400 feet (121.9 m) and two species of oak - blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica) and post oak (Q. stellata).
Del City is in a region dominated by the Cross Timbers
, an area of prairie and patches of forest at the eastern extent of the Great Plains
. The region is essentially a transition buffer between the wetter and more forested Eastern Oklahoma and the semi-arid high plains of Western Oklahoma, and experiences extreme swings between dry and wet weather patterns. Climate is dominated by large differences in annual rainfall totals, with Central Oklahoma
's western boundary receiving far less rain than compared to its eastern boundary. Because of these convergences of dry and wet weather patters, Del City is located at the heart of what is known as Tornado Alley
, and is in one of the most tornado-prone areas in the United States.
Eagle Lake located within Del City the lake is located in the northern part of the city and is the only large body of water. The lake is stocked with Bass, catfish, bluegill, carp, and crappie.
, there were 21,332 people residing in the city. The population of the city peaked at 28,523 in 1980, just before the oil bust and subsequent economic downturn. In 2000, the population density
was 2,935.8 per square mile (1,133.1/km²). The population 66.04 percent white, 17.07 percent African American, 4.03 percent Native American, 1.06 percent Asian, 0.02 percent Pacific Islander, and 7.06 percent of mixed race. Hispanics or Latinos of any race made up 7.02 percent of the population.
There were 8,669 households and 5,538 families in the city in 2010. There were 9,580 housing units at an average density of 1,290.2 per square mile (498.0/km²). Of those 8,669 households, 27.6 percent had children under the age of 18, 38.9 percent were headed by married couples
living together, 18.8 percent were headed by a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1 percent were non-families. 27.2 percent of all households were made up of individuals and 2.9 percent had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.04.
In 2010, 26.1 percent of the population were under the age of 18, 9.01 percent from 18 to 24, 26.0 percent from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.7 percent who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
The median household income
was $32,218 and the median family income was $36,515. Males had a median income of $28,806 versus $21,997 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,717. About 10.5 percent of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.8 percent of those under age 18 and 7.2 percent of those age 65 or over.
, the largest single-site employer in Oklahoma. Other major employers in the area include Rose State College
, the Midwest Regional Medical Center, base-affiliated companies and many of the major employers in the Oklahoma City
metropolitan area.
is the main provider of education in Del City with one high school (Del City High School
), two middle schools (Del Crest Middle School and Kerr Middle School), three elementary schools (Del City Elementary School, Epperly Heights Elementary School and Townsend Elementary School) located in Del City.
Del City also has two private schools (Destiny Christian School and Christian Heritage Academy). Rose State Community College
is located within 15 miles (24.1 km) of Del City.
, the Vietnam War
and the Iraq War. Dedicated in November 2010, the memorials include an armored personal carrier and a Fallen Soldier Battle Cross
being watched over by two crouched U.S. servicemen. The memorial also has a time capsule
.
that passed through the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. The tornado first touched down southwest of the community of Amber
. The funnel was approximately a half mile wide when it entered Del City as an F4 from the west near the intersection of S.E. 44th Street and Spiva Drive. The tornado continued on a north-northeast trajectory, exiting the city near Sooner Road and Woodview Drive. Hail and high winds were experienced by residents in the surrounding area. President Bill Clinton
visited Del City and the surrounding areas a few days later to view the damage caused by the storm.
The tornado was the last to be classified as an F5 tornado in the United States under the original Fujita scale
system before the Enhanced Fujita Scale
was implemented in February 2007. Even so, within a few years most of the area had been rebuilt. The only visible evidence of the tornado's path today include the cluster of newly constructed homes, the absence of large trees, and an interruption in the row of evergreen trees that lined Sooner Road between 44th Street and 29th Street.
A memorial stands along a walking and bike path on Sooner Road and is dedicated to the seven people who lost their lives during the May 3 tornado. United States Air Force Staff Sergeant James Day was killed in an ATV accident on May 8, 1999, while he was patrolling an area of Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, which had been damaged in the tornado. He is also listed on the memorial.
The tornado was the worst of numerous tornadoes that were part of the 1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak. A 2006 National Geographic Channel documentary, Ultimate Tornado
, discusses unusually violent tornado events and includes footage of the outbreak. The Bridge Creek-Moore tornado claimed a total of 36 lives throughout the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.
Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
Oklahoma County is a county located in the central partof the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 718,633 at the 2010 census. The county seat and principal city is Oklahoma City...
, 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...
, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area
Oklahoma City metropolitan area
-Metro-area suburbs and exurbs:The following communities are suburbs and exurbs of Oklahoma City with populations of at least 1,000 found within the bounds of State Highway 33 to the north, State Highway 18 and US-177 to the east, State Highway 39 and State Highway 9 to the south, and US-81 to the...
. The population was 21,332 at the 2010 census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...
.
Del City is located near two major interstate highways, both of which connect it to Oklahoma City. Interstate 40
Interstate 40 in Oklahoma
Interstate 40 is an Interstate Highway in Oklahoma that runs 331 miles across the state from Texas to Arkansas. West of Oklahoma City, it parallels and replaces Old US-66, and east of Oklahoma City, it parallels US-62, US-266 and US-64.Cities along the route include Erick, Sayre, Elk City,...
bisects the town from the northwest to southeast, and Interstate 35
Interstate 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...
lies just a short distance west of the city. The city borders southeast 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...
, Midwest City
Midwest City, Oklahoma
Midwest City is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 54,371, making it the eighth largest city in the state....
and Tinker Air Force Base
Tinker Air Force Base
Tinker Air Force Base is a major U.S. Air Force base, with tenant U.S. Navy and other Department of Defense missions, located in the southeast Oklahoma City, Oklahoma area, directly south of the suburb of Midwest City, Oklahoma.-Overview:...
. George Epperly founded the city, which was incorporated by a vote of its residents in 1948. Del City is named after Epperly's eldest daughter Delaphene.
Since its incorporation Del City has expanded three times, first by annexing Carter Park in 1954, Midway Village in 1963 and the acquisition of an undeveloped piece of land between the city and Tinker AFB
A large area of Del City was significantly impacted by the May 3, 1999 tornado outbreak that passed through the Oklahoma City metro area.
History
Founded in Boone Township, Oklahoma County as a "bedroom" community, Del City lies three miles (5 km) east of Oklahoma City and one mile (1.6 km) west of Midwest City. At the turn of the 21st century, Del City was a 7.5 square miles (19.4 km²) community surrounded on the north, west, and south by Oklahoma CityOklahoma 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 on the east by Midwest City. Interstate Highway 40
Interstate 40 in Oklahoma
Interstate 40 is an Interstate Highway in Oklahoma that runs 331 miles across the state from Texas to Arkansas. West of Oklahoma City, it parallels and replaces Old US-66, and east of Oklahoma City, it parallels US-62, US-266 and US-64.Cities along the route include Erick, Sayre, Elk City,...
bisects the town from the northwest to southeast. Oklahoma City streets define the boundaries: NE 10th Street on the north; Sooner Road on the east; SE 44th Street on the south; and Bryant Road on the west. Northwestern corner of the city is a mile from the junction of Interstate 35
Interstate 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...
and Interstate 40, justifying its claim to being "the Crossroads of America."
In the Land Run of 1889
Land Run of 1889
The Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889 was the first land run into the Unassigned Lands and included all or part of the 2005 modern day Canadian, Cleveland, Kingfisher, Logan, Oklahoma, and Payne counties of the U.S. state of Oklahoma...
, Jordan Pybas and his wife settled in what is current day Del City. Five generations later the family still lives in the house that was completed in 1907. Before 1946 there were only two families living in what would become Del City. Developer George Epperly purchased a wheat field 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) large at the corner of SE 29th Street and Sunnylane Road in 1946 with a plan to build fifty houses. In 1948 there were 582 homes in Del City, 75% of which were built by George Epperly, Despite opposition, the unincorporated Epperly Heights and its 200 families voted to approve incorporation on October 9, 1948. In February 1959, Del City adopted a charter and a council-manager form of town government. The city was named for Epperly's daughter, Delaphene Campbell.
The city expanded through the annexation of Carter Park
Carter Park, Oklahoma
Carter Park was a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, USA. It was located south of S.E. 15th Street and west of Sunnylane Road, west of Del City. It was annexed in 1954 by Del City.-History:...
in 1954 and Midway Village in 1963. The city also acquired a piece of undeveloped land that separated it from Tinker Air Force Base
Tinker Air Force Base
Tinker Air Force Base is a major U.S. Air Force base, with tenant U.S. Navy and other Department of Defense missions, located in the southeast Oklahoma City, Oklahoma area, directly south of the suburb of Midwest City, Oklahoma.-Overview:...
. Oklahoma City annexed this same piece of land, and a court fight ensued. In District court, Del City won and Oklahoma City appealed to the State Supreme Court. Del City officials, while awaiting the hearing, pursued negotiation again with Oklahoma City this time accepting 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) along the Tinker AFB boundary. Del City, having expanded to its greatest possible physical limits in 1964, joined Midwest City and Norman in underwriting the Little River Reservoir Project that became Lake Thunderbird
Lake Thunderbird
Lake Thunderbird is a reservoir within the city limits of Norman, in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The lake was constructed between 1962 and 1965 for the purpose of providing municipal water to nearby communities. It is formed by an earthfill embankment 7,300 feet long and up to high on the...
.
The Del City Historical Society was organized in 1975 with Andy Evans as its first president. Several children of the Eighty-niners (89ers) still lived in the area, and they identified every original homestead within city limits. Residents also learned that their town was on the path of the 1870s Arbuckle Trail, a Texas to Kansas cattle trail. Wrestler and two-time Olympic Gold Medal winner John Smith resided in Del City.
With home building and family-oriented amenities the founding focus, industry was slow to develop in Del City to create any jobs (99 percent of Del Citians commuted to work in 1948, while only 96 percent commuted in 2000). Don's Alley Restaurant and Midwest Trophy Manufacturing are two businesses of long standing. Don Moore opened his hamburger grill at 4601 SE 29th Street in 1955, and as of 2010, still served food in there. Midwest Trophy Manufacturing began in David R. Smith's garage in Del City in 1971. Midwest Trophy Manufacturing (now known as MTM Recognition) employs over 750 people throughout North America, 400 of them in Del City. It is the city's largest industry. MTM Recognition's corporate headquarters are in Del City at 3405 SE 29th Street.
The Oklahoma Legislature
Oklahoma Legislature
The Legislature of the State of Oklahoma is the biennial meeting of the legislative branch of the government of Oklahoma. It is bicameral, comprising the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma Senate, with all members elected directly by the people. The House of Representatives has 101...
was reapportioned in 1964. Del City has a State Senate seat(District 43) and a State House seat(District 94). The State Senate seat is held by Greg Childers, in 2012 the seat will be changed to cover parts of McClain
McClain County, Oklahoma
McClain County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 27,740 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Purcell. McClain County is part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is in the top 3 fastest growing counties in Oklahoma with a growth rate of...
, Garvin
Garvin County, Oklahoma
Garvin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 27,210. Its county seat is Pauls Valley.-History:...
and Stephens
Stephens County, Oklahoma
Stephens County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 43,182. Its county seat is Duncan.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,308 km²...
counties, and Del City will be added to District 42 which currently covers Midwest City. The house seat is held by Scott Inman
Scott Inman (Oklahoma politician)
Scott Inman is a Democratic politician from U.S. state of Oklahoma. He serves in the Oklahoma House of Representatives as the Minority Leaderand District 94 State Representative...
.
There have been four newspapers in Del City: the Del City Leader,Del City Sun, Del City Times, and the Del City News.
In 2000, Del City was served by the Mid-Del School District and Rose State College
Rose State College
-History:Rose State College was originally named Oscar Rose Junior College in memory of Oscar V. Rose, a former Mid-Del School District school superintendent....
.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 7.5 square miles (19.4 km²), all of it land.
The city is located in the Frontier Country
Central Oklahoma
Central Oklahoma is the geographical name for the central region of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It is also known by the Oklahoma Department of Tourism designation, Frontier Country....
region in the center of the state. Del City lies in the Sandstone Hills region of Oklahoma, known for hills of 250 to 400 feet (121.9 m) and two species of oak - blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica) and post oak (Q. stellata).
Del City is in a region dominated by the Cross Timbers
Cross Timbers
The term Cross Timbers is used to describe a strip of land in the United States that runs from southeastern Kansas across Central Oklahoma to Central Texas...
, an area of prairie and patches of forest at the eastern extent of 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...
. The region is essentially a transition buffer between the wetter and more forested Eastern Oklahoma and the semi-arid high plains of Western Oklahoma, and experiences extreme swings between dry and wet weather patterns. Climate is dominated by large differences in annual rainfall totals, with Central Oklahoma
Central Oklahoma
Central Oklahoma is the geographical name for the central region of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It is also known by the Oklahoma Department of Tourism designation, Frontier Country....
's western boundary receiving far less rain than compared to its eastern boundary. Because of these convergences of dry and wet weather patters, Del City is located at the heart of what is known as Tornado Alley
Tornado Alley
Tornado Alley is a colloquial and popular media term that most often refers to the area of the United States where tornadoes are most frequent. Although an official location is not defined, the area between the Rocky Mountains and Appalachian Mountains is usually associated with it.The areas...
, and is in one of the most tornado-prone areas in the United States.
Eagle Lake located within Del City the lake is located in the northern part of the city and is the only large body of water. The lake is stocked with Bass, catfish, bluegill, carp, and crappie.
Climate
Demographics
At the 2010 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...
, there were 21,332 people residing in the city. The population of the city peaked at 28,523 in 1980, just before the oil bust and subsequent economic downturn. In 2000, 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 2,935.8 per square mile (1,133.1/km²). The population 66.04 percent white, 17.07 percent African American, 4.03 percent Native American, 1.06 percent Asian, 0.02 percent Pacific Islander, and 7.06 percent of mixed race. Hispanics or Latinos of any race made up 7.02 percent of the population.
There were 8,669 households and 5,538 families in the city in 2010. There were 9,580 housing units at an average density of 1,290.2 per square mile (498.0/km²). Of those 8,669 households, 27.6 percent had children under the age of 18, 38.9 percent were headed by 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, 18.8 percent were headed by a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1 percent were non-families. 27.2 percent of all households were made up of individuals and 2.9 percent had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.04.
In 2010, 26.1 percent of the population were under the age of 18, 9.01 percent from 18 to 24, 26.0 percent from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.7 percent who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
The median household income
Median household income
The median household income is commonly used to generate data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more...
was $32,218 and the median family income was $36,515. Males had a median income of $28,806 versus $21,997 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 $15,717. About 10.5 percent of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.8 percent of those under age 18 and 7.2 percent of those age 65 or over.
Government
The City of Del City has operated under a council-manager form of city government since 1959. Brian Linley has served as mayor since 2001. Four councilpersons represent each of the four wards of Del City. The city manager is currently held by Mark Edwards, he has held the position since 1999.Economy
Del City borders Tinker Air Force BaseTinker Air Force Base
Tinker Air Force Base is a major U.S. Air Force base, with tenant U.S. Navy and other Department of Defense missions, located in the southeast Oklahoma City, Oklahoma area, directly south of the suburb of Midwest City, Oklahoma.-Overview:...
, the largest single-site employer in Oklahoma. Other major employers in the area include Rose State College
Rose State College
-History:Rose State College was originally named Oscar Rose Junior College in memory of Oscar V. Rose, a former Mid-Del School District school superintendent....
, the Midwest Regional Medical Center, base-affiliated companies and many of the major employers in the 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...
metropolitan area.
Education
The Mid-Del School DistrictMid-Del School District
The Mid-Del School District is a school district based in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, encompassing schools in Midwest City, Del City, and Oklahoma City. It includes Tinker Elementary School, which is located on Tinker Air Force Base...
is the main provider of education in Del City with one high school (Del City High School
Del City High School
Del City High School is the only public high school located in Del City, Oklahoma and one of three high schools in the Mid-Del School District. The high school first opened in 1953. According to GreatSchools.org, the high school rates above Midwest City High School and is rated below Carl Albert...
), two middle schools (Del Crest Middle School and Kerr Middle School), three elementary schools (Del City Elementary School, Epperly Heights Elementary School and Townsend Elementary School) located in Del City.
Del City also has two private schools (Destiny Christian School and Christian Heritage Academy). Rose State Community College
Rose State College
-History:Rose State College was originally named Oscar Rose Junior College in memory of Oscar V. Rose, a former Mid-Del School District school superintendent....
is located within 15 miles (24.1 km) of Del City.
Annual cultural events
An annual Armed Forces Day Parade is put on by the city and Shriners in May each year.Museums and other points of interest
Historical exhibits can be found at the Oklahoma County & Western Museum, Del City Preservation & Historical Society, and War Memorial. The Oklahoma Country Western Music Hall of Fame hosts regular bluegrass and country events.War Memorial
The War Memorial located opposite the Del City Community Center has several monuments dedicated to those who were killed in combat who were ether born or lived in Del City. The memorial is dedicated to twenty one servicemen killed while serving in various branches of the U.S. Military during World War IIWorld War II
World 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...
, the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
and the Iraq War. Dedicated in November 2010, the memorials include an armored personal carrier and a Fallen Soldier Battle Cross
Fallen Soldier Battle Cross
The Fallen Soldier Battle Cross, Battlefield Cross or Battle Cross is a symbolic replacement of a cross on the battlefield or at the base camp for a soldier who has been killed. Made up of the soldier's rifle with bayonet attached stuck into the ground, helmet on top, dog tags sometimes hanging...
being watched over by two crouched U.S. servicemen. The memorial also has a time capsule
Time capsule
A time capsule is an historic cache of goods or information, usually intended as a method of communication with future people and to help future archaeologists, anthropologists, or historians...
.
Parks and recreation
Outdoor recreational areas include the Del City Ball Park, three bicycle and pedestrian trails, and Eagle Lake. The Eagle Harbor Aquatic Center water park is located behind the community center.Religion
Del City's largest church, St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, was founded in 1956 as the St. Francis Xavier Church. The parish had grown to 340 families by 1966 and broke ground on a new building on 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) along Sunnylane Road. Its name was changed to St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in 1967.Tornado outbreak
A large area of Del City was significantly damaged by the Bridge Creek-Moore F5 tornado1999 Bridge Creek – Moore tornado
The 1999 Bridge Creek – Moore tornado was an extremely powerful F5 tornado which devastated towns just outside of Oklahoma City on May 3, 1999. Throughout its one hour and 25 minute existence, the tornado covered , destroying thousands of homes, killing 41 people and leaving...
that passed through the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. The tornado first touched down southwest of the community of Amber
Amber, Oklahoma
Amber is a town in Grady County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 490 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Amber is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
. The funnel was approximately a half mile wide when it entered Del City as an F4 from the west near the intersection of S.E. 44th Street and Spiva Drive. The tornado continued on a north-northeast trajectory, exiting the city near Sooner Road and Woodview Drive. Hail and high winds were experienced by residents in the surrounding area. President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
visited Del City and the surrounding areas a few days later to view the damage caused by the storm.
The tornado was the last to be classified as an F5 tornado in the United States under the original Fujita scale
Fujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
system before the Enhanced Fujita Scale
Enhanced Fujita Scale
The Enhanced Fujita Scale rates the strength of tornadoes in the United States based on the damage they cause.Implemented in place of the Fujita scale introduced in 1971 by Ted Fujita, it began operational use on February 1, 2007. The scale has the same basic design as the original Fujita scale:...
was implemented in February 2007. Even so, within a few years most of the area had been rebuilt. The only visible evidence of the tornado's path today include the cluster of newly constructed homes, the absence of large trees, and an interruption in the row of evergreen trees that lined Sooner Road between 44th Street and 29th Street.
A memorial stands along a walking and bike path on Sooner Road and is dedicated to the seven people who lost their lives during the May 3 tornado. United States Air Force Staff Sergeant James Day was killed in an ATV accident on May 8, 1999, while he was patrolling an area of Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, which had been damaged in the tornado. He is also listed on the memorial.
The tornado was the worst of numerous tornadoes that were part of the 1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak. A 2006 National Geographic Channel documentary, Ultimate Tornado
Ultimate Tornado
Ultimate Tornado is a documentary that first aired on the National Geographic Channel on April 12, 2006. It focuses on several unusually violent tornado events that have occurred in the United States: the Attica, Kansas tornado outbreak, the Pampa, Texas tornado, the Jarrell tornado outbreak and...
, discusses unusually violent tornado events and includes footage of the outbreak. The Bridge Creek-Moore tornado claimed a total of 36 lives throughout the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.
Notable residents
- John SmithJohn Smith (wrestler)John William Smith is a successful college wrestler, 6-time World Champion, 2-time Olympic Games champion, and is currently the head coach of wrestling at Oklahoma State University.-High school career:...
, a two-time OlympicOlympic GamesThe Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
gold medalist who competed in the 19881988 Summer OlympicsThe 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
and 1992 Summer Olympics1992 Summer OlympicsThe 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
, grew up in Del City where he started amateur wrestlingAmateur wrestlingAmateur wrestling is the most widespread form of sport wrestling. There are two international wrestling styles performed in the Olympic Games under the supervision of FILA : Greco-Roman and freestyle. Freestyle is possibly derived from the English Lancashire style...
. - Bob KalsuBob KalsuJames Robert "Bob" Kalsu was an All-American tackle at the University of Oklahoma and an eighth-round draft pick by the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League in 1968....
, an All-American tackle at the University of OklahomaUniversity of OklahomaThe University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
and NFL player for the Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, attended Del City High School. Robert Kalsu Stadium is named in his honor. - Nick BlackburnNick BlackburnRobert Nicholas Blackburn is a Major League Baseball pitcher in the Minnesota Twins system. He graduated from Del City High School in Del City, Oklahoma. He attended Seminole State College. The 6-4, 227 pound right-hander was originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 34th round of the...
, was a Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player, pitching for the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota TwinsThe Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
from 2008-2010. He now plays for Minor league baseballMinor league baseballMinor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team Rochester Red WingsRochester Red WingsThe Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
. - Scott InmanScott Inman (Oklahoma politician)Scott Inman is a Democratic politician from U.S. state of Oklahoma. He serves in the Oklahoma House of Representatives as the Minority Leaderand District 94 State Representative...
, Democratic Leader and member of the Oklahoma House of RepresentativesOklahoma House of RepresentativesThe 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...
grew up in Del City and attends St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. - Josh ScobeyJosh ScobeyJoshua Payne Scobey is an American football running back and kick returner who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the sixth round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Kansas State...
, an ex-NFL player, is now playing for the UFL 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...
football team.