Midwest City is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 58,409, making it the eighth largest city in the state.

The city was developed in response to talk of an air field being located nearby and named for the Tinker Air Force Base's original designation as the Midwest Air Depot. The city suffered damage during two tornadoes, the first in May 1999 and the second on May 8, 2003.

History

W.P. "Bill" Atkinson bought land in the area that would become Midwest City after hearing speculation that an air field was going to be built nearby. The city, which was incorporated on March 11, 1943, was named for the air field's original designation as the Midwest Air Depot.

Seward Mott, the director of the Federal Housing Administration's Land Planning Division, helped design the city, gaining national print and broadcast attention, and it became a model for postwar community development.

In 1947, returning veteran Nicholas Harroz opened Nick's Brett Drive Grocery, which later became Crest Discount Foods, which is now one of the largest discount chains in the Oklahoma City metro area. Soon after its opening, Midwest City citizens opted for a charter-council-city manager form of government to better manage their rapid growth. The first Sam's Club was opened in Midwest City on April 7, 1983.

In the early 1970s, the Glenwood Addition subdivision, just north of the TAFB runway, was purchased from individual owners with funds raised in a county-wide bond election after plane crashes in the area killed several civilians and military crewmen. 835 homes were moved and an elementary school was closed down. The former subdivision is fenced off and used as storage and training exercises for TAFB personnel.

Portions of Midwest City particularly northwest of Tinker Air Force Base sustained extreme damage from a violent tornado that swept through the southern and eastern areas of the Oklahoma City Metro on May 3, 1999. While it produced F5 damage in South Oklahoma City, damage in Midwest City was rated high-end F4 (although F5 was considered), with numerous destroyed homes and three fatalities. Another F4 tornado struck the southeastern end of Tinker AFB and Midwest City four years later on May 8, 2003. The Town Center Plaza development replaced an aging, largely deserted Atkinson Plaza shopping center. In 2003, the Reed Center, a convention center, was built. Meanwhile, the Heritage Park Mall has slowly dwindled, becoming an issue of contention in the 2010 mayoral race.

The city is located in Oklahoma County and the area is known for low hills and two species of blackjack oak and post oak. Midwest City also falls into an ecological region known as the Cross Timbers, and the Frontier Country tourism region

Climate

Midwest City has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa).

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Midwest City had a population of 58,409. The median age was 36.3 years; 24.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 89.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 85.7 males age 18 and over.

99.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.4% lived in rural areas.

There were 24,274 households in Midwest City, of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 36.5% were married-couple households, 20.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 35.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Percent

|-

| White || 55.3%

|-

| Black or African American || 22.8%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 4.0%

|-

| Asian || 1.7%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 0.2%

|-

| Some other race || 2.6%

|-

| Two or more races || 13.4%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 8.4%

|}

2010 census

The census of 2010 recorded 54,371 people, 22,726 households, and 14,293 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 25,535 housing units at an average density of . Other large employers include the Midwest Regional Medical Center and aerospace industry businesses affiliated with the base. The General Motors Oklahoma City Assembly plant was another major employer from its opening in 1979 until its closure in February 2006. GM closed the plant as part of a cost-savings measure. The property was later acquired by Oklahoma County and leased to Tinker Air Force Base for $1/year. Tinker renamed the facility the Tinker Aerospace Complex.

During World War II, the Midwest City Douglas Aircraft Company Plant constructed more than half of the 10,000 C-47 Skytrain U.S. Army cargo planes. The plant cost $24 million and rolled out its first C-47s in March 1943.

When Midwest City's founder and developer, W. P. "Bill" Atkinson, died in 1999, he left his 1955 mansion in trust for the community's enjoyment and historical appreciation. Today, the Atkinson Heritage Center at N.E. 10th and Midwest Blvd. is owned by the Rose State College Foundation and maintained by the college. The 8,000 sq. ft. historic home, preserved in its original design when Atkinson was anticipating a run for governor, is available for free tours by appointment. To serve the community and help financially support the historic property, the house conference room and the 1951 pony barn are available for event rentals.

Education

Midwest City is within the boundaries of multiple school districts. The largest portion is within Mid-Del School District, and includes Midwest City High School, Carl Albert High School, Midwest City Middle School, Carl Albert Middle School and numerous elementary schools. The district also includes a post-secondary school, the Mid-Del Technology Center. Rose State College, a two-year community college, is also located in the city.

The school district was initially housed in prefabricated hutments and began with a high school and two grade schools that were precursors to the Sooner and Soldier Creek elementary schools. and Star Spencer Mid-High School.

Points of interest

  • Tinker Air Force Base

Outdoor air museum, on both sides of the I-40 freeway

==Notable people==<!--consensus reached to standardize this heading per WP:WikiProject Cities/US Guideline -->

  • Nina Akamu, artist
  • Royce D. Applegate, actor on such TV programs as seaQuest DSV
  • Ryan Budde, MLB catcher
  • Mike Gundy, head coach for Oklahoma State Cowboys football team
  • Cale Gundy, assistant coach for the University of Oklahoma Sooners .
  • A. J. Hinch, manager of the Detroit Tigers
  • Matt Kemp, left fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers
  • Angela Lindvall, supermodel
  • J. T. Realmuto (born 1991), a Major League Baseball player; catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies
  • Brian Tallet, pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals
  • 2Slimey, rapper

References

  • Official City Website
  • Midwest City Guide
  • Mid-Del Public Schools