Living & Nursing in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Talking About T-Town
Tulsa may surprise you. Once a booming oil market, Tulsa has developed into a modern, technologically-sophisticated venue for new business and residents alike. The city has enjoyed a rich history, molded by Native Americans, pioneers, cowboys, and oil barons and those influences are still transforming this cosmopolitan town into the cultural center of Oklahoma. Tulsa has been named one of “America’s Most Livable Communities” and ranked by Forbes.com as one of the top “Best Cities for Jobs.”

The Cultural Center of Oklahoma
The influx of black gold into this city in the 1920s established a cultural and architectural heritage that can be revisited while walking the streets of Downtown.  Right away, you’ll know this ain’t no cow town.

Art Deco design is prevalent here with iconic buildings such as the Midcontinent Tower, Boston Avenue Methodist Church, and the Tulsa National Bank. The Philtower and Philcade buildings were important contributions from oil baron Waite Phillips.

The newest structural arrival to the city is the BOK Center. Designed by renowned architect César Pelli, this entertainment venue seats 18,000 and has hosted performances by the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Celine Dion. It is an amazing attraction in itself with its beautiful design and an impressive collection of art valued at close to $2 million.

The Tulsa Performing Arts Center occupies a half city block Downtown. It houses five theatres and a reception hall. More than a quarter of a million people visit the Center each year to attend a performance from one of Tulsa's seven acclaimed musical and dramatic companies including the Tulsa Opera, Tulsa Ballet Theater, and a variety of symphonic groups.

Tulsa is also home to two world-renowned art museums! But if the arts are not your thing, there are plenty of other attractions to enjoy—the Tulsa Zoo and Oklahoma Aquarium, Vegas-style gambling at Native American casino/resorts, the Tulsa Air and Space Museum and Planetarium, and the River Parks, a popular destination for outdoor recreation along the shores of the Arkansas River.
During the spring, summer, and early fall, concerts, festivals and the state's largest free fireworks display are popular draws to the river. The Riverwest Festival Park, with its floating stage amphitheater on the river's west bank, is the site of Tulsa's Oktoberfest and is also home to the Gatesway Balloon Festival.

The Friendly City
No matter your preference, you can find a place to call home in a variety of unique urban and suburban neighborhoods.

The Brady Arts District is one of Tulsa’s oldest areas, characterized by brick warehouses and is the home to two of the city’s most historic entertainment venues—The Brady Theater and Cain’s Ballroom.

Also a popular downtown entertainment area, the Blue Dome District, named for the distinctive Blue Dome building, is another masterpiece of Art Deco design along Route 66. Pubs and restaurants featuring local bands make this a happening spot.

East of the Brady District is the Greenwood Historical District. Once known as “Black Wall Street” because of the African American community’s affluence, it was the site of one of the bloodiest racial riots in American history. In the last 10 years, a revival has taken place to restore the community to its former glory. In 2008, Tulsa announced that it would construct the new Tulsa Drillers stadium in the Greenwood District.

An emerging upscale neighborhood, East Village features residential lofts and studios, the cornerstone of which is the second largest LGBT community center in the Midwest. 
Cherry Street is a great place to find collectibles and antique shops as well as fresh produce at the Farmer’s Market during the growing season. Shops, bistros, and funky vintage stores are filling the 1920-style storefronts. Fabulous historic homes surround this district.

Like Cherry Street, Brookside has become another popular shopping and entertainment district in Midtown. Sushi bars, coffeehouses, dance clubs and a trendy, eclectic mix of genres attract a diverse nightlife.

You’ll find “Black Gold Row” in the Maple Ridge Historic District, where legendary, 1920s mansions built by the oil tycoons still stand.

Southern Hills is an exclusive neighborhood on the south side of Tulsa built around the Southern Hills Country Club. The campus of Oral Roberts University with its distinctive modern architecture is just to the south.

Get Your Game On
No matter what your game of choice, you’ll find a professional team to cheer for. The Tulsa Drillers just celebrated 100 years of baseball in Tulsa. This minor league team draws hundreds of thousands of fans to their current location in Expo Square, establishing them as one of the highest-drawing seasonal entertainment options in the city.

The BOK Center has also brought new excitement to sporting events, now home to Tulsa Oilers hockey, Tulsa Talons arena football, and the Tulsa 66ers, NBA Development basketball team.
If you like sports of the four-legged variety, Tulsa attracts national equestrian events including the Pinto and Palamino World Championships, the National Team Roping Horse Association championship, and the Breeder’s Invitational. Quarter horse racing at Fair Meadows is also worth experiencing.

And if golf is your game, you’ll be impressed with the beautiful award-winning courses in Tulsa. Southern Hills Country Club, with its Perry Maxwell-designed championship course, is a premier destination. Thirteen majors have called it home, and in August 2009, the U.S. Amateur Golf Championship will be held here.
      
Medical Industry
Tulsans benefit from several major medical centers, more than 1,700 physicians, 24-hour ground and air emergency medical transportation, and enhanced 911 services.

Saint Francis Health System, St. John Medical Center and Hillcrest Hospital meet a majority of the health care needs for the greater Tulsa area as well as the majority of Northeast Oklahoma. In 1999, SouthCrest Hospital opened in the southern part of the city and the University of Oklahoma’s College of Medicine has long been a mainstay of Tulsa’s medical community.

The Oklahoma State University (OSU) College of Osteopathic Medicine, was recently named one of the best medical schools in the nation for primary care and rural medicine by U.S .News & World Report.

Find Your Place

Tulsa may be a small mid-size city, but it has big city benefits. A sound economy, architectural interests and cultural attractions, as well as a high level of medical care—together, make living and nursing in Tulsa, Oklahoma a solid choice.

Information for this article courtesy of the Tulsa Metro Chamber of Commerce (tulsachamber.com), the City of Tulsa (cityoftulsa.org) and the Tulsa Convention and Visitors Bureau (visittulsa.com).