Bethany, Oklahoma


Bethany is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. The community was founded in 1909 by followers of the Church of the Nazarene from Oklahoma City.

History

Bethany was founded July 28, 1909 as a community where members of the Church of the Nazarene could express their religious beliefs without interference by non-members. The town was named after the biblical place of Bethany. The community quickly established the Oklahoma Holiness College. Two other institutions were soon established, the Oklahoma Orphanage operated by Mattie Mallory, and the Nazarene Rescue Home for unwed mothers.
Bethany incorporated on August 8, 1910 as a rural town whose economy depended on the surrounding farmlands. It gained a post office on March 11, 1913. The relatively large population of Nazarenes soon caused the town to enact strict blue laws that banned alcohol, tobacco, gambling, dancing, movies, swearing, and working on Sundays. The blue laws have been relaxed since Bethany reorganized as a first class city in 1931. An F4 tornado nearly wiped out Bethany on November 19, 1930, killing 23 people and destroying 652 buildings. It is one of only three documented violent November tornadoes in Oklahoma since 1900. Recovery from the storm was slow until the outbreak of World War II, when the city began developing as a bedroom community for Oklahoma City.

Geography

Bethany is located at .
The city is in the central part of Oklahoma County, about west of downtown Oklahoma City, and is bounded by Warr Acres on the east and by Lake Overholser and Stinchcomb Wildlife Refuge on the west.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, all land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 20,307 people, 8,161 households, and 5,280 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,896.7 people per square mile. There were 8,874 housing units at an average density of 1,702.8 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 85.79% White, 4.36% African American, 2.87% Native American, 1.38% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.18% from other races, and 3.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.80% of the population.
There were 8,161 households, out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.0% under the age of 18, 12.9% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,073, and the median income for a family was $43,905. Males had a median income of $30,180 versus $24,747 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,793. About 6.9% of families and 9.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.

Governance

City government

The city operates using a council-manager government system. The city council comprises two members elected from each of the four wards. The city manager, city attorney, and municipal judge are appointed by the council. The mayor is elected at large. The current Mayor is KP Westmoreland.

State government

Most of Bethany is represented in the Oklahoma Senate by Julia Kirt, with some areas falling into the districts of Carrie Hicks and Greg Treat. It is represented in the Oklahoma House of Representatives by Tammy West and Marilyn Stark.

Economy

The largest employers in the area include: Southern Nazarene University, Southwestern Christian University, The Children's Center, Bethany and Putnam City Public Schools, City of Bethany, and Gilbert Medical Clinic. Bethany became the headquarters for the International Pentecostal Holiness Church in 1975. It is also the headquarters for the Pinto Horse Association of America.

Transportation

handles business and commercial aircraft. It also has an industrial park that contains about fifty aviation-related businesses, including Rockwell International, Million Air, Servicenter Incorporated, and the Federal Aviation Administration Systems Management Office.
The main vehicular route in and out of Bethany is the 39th Street Expressway, which runs through downtown Bethany.

Education

Public schools

Both Bethany School District and the Putnam City School District provide educational needs to citizens within its district borders. The chief educational providers for elementary-aged students include the Southern Nazarene University School for Children on the campus of Calvary Church of the Nazarene, about 1 mile south of Southern Nazarene University, as well as Bethany Earl Harris Elementary. Primary school goes from pre-K - 5th grade. Bethany Middle School and Western Oaks Junior High School respond to those in 6th - 8th grade. Bethany High School, home of the Bronchos, covers grades 9th - 12th. Putnam City schools located within Bethany include: Apollo Elementary, Lake Park Elementary, Overholser Elementary, Western Oaks Elementary, and Western Oaks Middle School.
The superintendent for Bethany Public Schools is Drew Eichelberger.
The website for Bethany Public Schools is http://bethanyschools.com/.
The superintendent for Putnam City Schools is Dr. Fred Rhodes.
The website for Putnam City Schools is http://putnamcityschools.org/.

Higher education

Bethany is home to two universities. Southern Nazarene University and Southwestern Christian University.
SNU offers adult degree completion and many masters programs including an MBA with evening classes. Southwestern Christian University is a Holiness–Pentecostal university specializing in Bible and Christian ministries and offers adult degree completion and master programs.

Attractions

The Bethany parks and recreation system includes many small neighborhood parks, and four large parks, Eldon Lyon Park, McFarland Park, Ripper Park, and Stinchcomb Wildlife Refuge. Eldon Lyon Park is the venue for the annual Fourth of July festival, which is an all-day event with fireworks, a carnival, and a parade that starts on main street. Downtown festivals include Bethany66, the Annual Tree Lighting, Cinco de Mayo and is home to many special one-time musical events hosted by main street businesses like Java39.

Notable people